Issuu

Prentiss County Kidnappers arrested at traffic stop

Tippah County Family reunion set at Fairgrounds

Tishomingo County Pom Squad attends summer camp at MSU

Page 3

Tuesday July 19,

2016

75 cents

Daily Corinthian

P.M. storms Today

Tonight

30% chance of thunderstorms

Vol. 120, No. 173

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section

NWS urges caution for heat wave BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The hottest weather thus far this summer is likely to descend upon the region this week. The National Weather Service in Memphis is cautioning residents across the Mid-South to prepare for a dangerous heat wave.

“Starting with today, we are going to see life-threatening heat indices ranging from anywhere between 100 and 110,” meteorologist John Moore III said Monday. “This heat is going to be prolonged through at least the weekend. That is what is going to make it really dangerous.”

High temperatures are forecast to be in the middle to upper 90s throughout the week. Monday’s scorcher prompted a heat advisory for the western half of the region. Today, heat index values above 105 degrees will be possible areawide. Please see HEAT | 2

Possible contraband

“This heat is going to be prolonged through at least the weekend. That is what is going to make it really dangerous.” John Moore III NWS meteorologist

County to consider 911 system upgrade BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Alcohol, marijuana, cell phones and accessories are among the items seized by officers after a traffic stop.

Items seized in stop near justice center BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Three people are being held at the county jail after being apprehended with items officials believe they planned to bring to inmates at the justice center.

Charges are pending. Sheriﬀ Ben Caldwell said the Corinth Police Department made a traﬃc stop of a vehicle occupied by two males and one female in the area of the justice center Saturday night.

“During the stop, they did locate a large amount of marijuana, tobacco, alcohol, cell phones and other items that were packaged in a manner typical with people trying to get contraband into our jail,” he said.

Park unveils special USS Shiloh exhibit For the Daily Corinthian

SHILOH, Tenn. — The United States Navy ship USS Shiloh (CG 67) is a Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser currently forward deployed out of Yokosuka, Japan. It is named for the bloody Civil War battle fought at Shiloh on April 6- 7, 1862. Shiloh National Military Park will celebrate its namesake and the close partnership its staﬀ has with the captain and crew of the vessel with a new exhibit and interactive opportunity that was unveiled on Monday in the park’s Visitor Center. “We are excited to present this exhibit showcasing the duties of one of our naval vessels and her crew members,” said

Alcorn County will look at upgrading dispatch consoles in the 911 office. A lightning strike a few months ago took out a console in the 911 communications center along with the chillers in the HVAC system at the justice center. As the 911 office moved toward bringing the console back online, it became clear that the system is getting out of date and difficult to maintain due to an older computer operating system. The Board of Supervisors Monday evening voted to authorize the Northeast Mississippi Planning and Development District to include Alcorn County in a bid solicitation for the replacement of 911 consoles. NMPDD is putting together a package that includes multiple other counties, including at least two others that need totally new systems, in an effort to get the best possible pricing. An upgrade would also position the office for the future. The current system is not com-

The current system is not compatible with next-generation 911, which includes digital information such as text messages and photos, said 911 Director Kim McCreless. patible with next-generation 911, which includes digital information such as text messages and photos, said 911 Director Kim McCreless. It was also pointed out by a vendor that the communications center apparently has no grounding system in place, and the board expressed interest in exploring how to correct that. The board also wants more information on financing options if it does decide to make the system upgrade.

People of the Crossroads Macy Moore, Corinth Photo by Randy J. Williams

Keeping her eyes on the prize, 16-year-old Macy Moore has big aspirations. An incom ing junior at Corinth High School, she is a member of the 2014 state championship cross country team and the Lady Warrior soccer team. Her plans will most likely include attending Mississippi State University as a pre-med major. The daughter of Andy and Mikki Moore and sister of Molly Jane Moore, Macy was recently named the third place overall winner in the women’s division during the annual 5K Rooster Run. She is the granddaughter of Larry and Barbara Mitchell of Kossuth and Barbara Moore and the late John Moore of Belmont. Her hobbies include wake boarding, snow skiing, playing piano and watching “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Superintendent Dale Wilkerson. “The temporary exhibit will feature information about the capabilities and specifications of the cruiser, along with a scale model of the ship, and explanation of the ship’s crest, and a chance for visitors to write a note to the crew of the vessel which will be forwarded by the park to the USS Shiloh. The exhibit debuted on to coincide with the 24th anniversary of her commissioning. The USS Shiloh exhibit will be on display in the park’s Visitor Center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The park movie “Shiloh: Fiery Trial” is Please see SHILOH | 2

25 years ago

10 years ago

Twenty members of Tate Street Baptist Church join others from across the region for the World Changers national work project in California.

Oﬃcials add new reflective markers to the Shiloh Road underpass. Corinth Street Commissioner Jim Bynum hopes the markers will make the dangerous curve safer.

Doug Ann Michael Rick Jumper Hardin McCreary Jones

Neil Paul

Marea John & Alexis Wilson Brenda Rudd Hayes

Roger Audrey Carl Clark McNair Jones

2782 S Harper Rd

www.jumperrealty.com

•

Daily Corinthian

Local/Region

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Firm to expand Associated Press

BALDWYN — An Indiana company that makes stone countertops plans a factory in Lee County, investing $600,000 and hiring 60 workers. AIA Countertops, a unit of Patrick Industries of Elkhart, Indiana, announced its plans Monday. Chief Operating Officer Jeﬀ Rodino says the

Baldwyn location will help AIA sell countertops to nearby residential, commercial and recreational vehicle furniture makers. Mississippi Development Authority spokeswoman Tammy Craft says MDA is giving AIA Countertops $100,000 to relocate and install equipment.

HEAT CONTINUED FROM 1

Photo compliments of the U.S. Navy

The Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser, the USS Shiloh, transits off the northeastern coast of Japan.

SHILOH CONTINUED FROM 1

shown in the Visitor Center on the hour beginning at 8 a.m. with the last showing at 4 p.m.

Ranger led demonstrations and tours are offered every day during the summer months. A complete schedule will be available at the front

desk on the morning of the programs. Entrance to the park, Visitor Center and participation in all ranger programs is free.

NOTICE FROM ALCORN SCHOOL DISTRICT REGARDING PROPOSED AD VALOREM TAX EFFORT The advertisement listed below is required by state law to be published.

(For more information on this and other Shiloh events, please call the park at 731-689-5696 or go to www.nps.gov/ shil.)

Sentencing delayed in case of prison contracts bribery BY JEFF AMY

The Alcorn School District will not be requesting a millage increase for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. We are requesting the millage remain unchanged for the 2016-2017 year.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED AD VALOREM TAX EFFORT ALCORN SCHOOL DISTRICT The Alcorn School District will hold a public hearing on its proposed school district budget for fiscal year 2016-2017 on July 28, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. at the Administrative Offices, 31 CR 401. At this meeting, a proposed ad valorem tax effort will be considered. The Alcorn School District is now operating with a projected total budget revenue of $29,081,856. Of that amount, 20.86 percent or $6,065,449 is obtained through ad valorem taxes. For the next fiscal year, the proposed budget has total projected revenue of $28,812,163. Of that amount, 22.66 percent or $6,528,458 is proposed to be financed through a total ad valorem tax levy. For the next fiscal year, the proposed increase in ad valorem tax effort by the Alcorn School District may result in an increase in the ad valorem tax millage rate. Ad valorem taxes are paid on homes, automobile tags, business fixtures and equipment, and rental real property. Any citizen of the Alcorn School District is invited to attend this public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax effort, and will be allowed to speak for a reasonable amount of time and offer tangible evidence before any vote is taken.

Moore said part of the danger is the early hours at which the heat will become dangerous — it’s not just a late-afternoon threat. The weather service reported a heat index of 101 degrees at Memphis International Airport at 10 a.m. Monday. “If you must be outside, you want to make sure you stay hydrated, especially in the daytime,” said Moore. “You want to avoid all outdoor activities until the sun sets or late in the evening.” For those who prefer the morning hours, he

said, get those activities done before 10 a.m. He also advised people to remember the dangers of leaving kids, pets or anyone in a parked car in the heat. “It doesn’t take long at all for a parked vehicle to become deadly this time of year,” said Moore. “With heat in the upper 90s, it could reach 140 degrees in there probably in about five minutes.” Showers are expected to be scarce but may increase late in the weekend along with potential relief from the heat and humidity, according to the weather service.

Associated Press

JACKSON — Former Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps and Brandon businessman Cecil McCrory will wait a little longer to find out their sentence after pleading guilty in connection to a prison contracts bribery case. Federal prosecutors have said as many as 11 others could face criminal charges in the prison contract bribery scheme, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca said Monday prosecutors will announce some of those charged July 25, with defendants expected to appear before a federal magistrate in Jackson. LaMarca told U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate at least one defendant is expected to appear before Wingate that day, which could indicate that someone will make an immediate guilty plea. Meanwhile Monday, Wingate gave lawyers another month to obtain and examine records from 16 companies that benefited financially from contracts on which kickbacks were paid. It’s the fourth de-

lay in sentencing the two men, who pleaded guilty in February 2015 . After that, Wingate plans to hold another status hearing and reset sentencing dates. Epps faces up to 23 years on charges of money laundering and filing false tax returns related to $1.47 million in bribes prosecutors say he took. He’s forfeiting $1.7 million in assets. McCrory, a former state House member, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and faces a 20-year sentence. He’s forfeiting $1.7 million in assets. The sentencing of the men has been delayed because prosecutors want court oﬃcials to recommend a sentence based on the net monetary benefit obtained by companies from contracts tainted by bribery. Such a calculation would likely push up the sentencing recommendation for Epps. Defense lawyer John Colette has said Epps would face 14 years to 17 ½ years in prison based on the amount of bribes he took. But Colette said

in court Monday that prosecutors are claiming the companies obtained $100 million to $120 million in benefit, which would mean probation officers would recommend the maximum of 23 years for Epps. Wingate doesn’t have to accept sentencing recommendations, and prosecutors have agreed to recommend less prison time for Epps because of his cooperation. Defense lawyers Monday told Wingate they haven’t gotten all the documents they want and that they need more time to review documents submitted to decide whether they’ll question the accuracy of the companies’ figures. Colette also indicated he intends to argue about how prosecutors are making their calculations, saying they’re stripping out some overhead costs that should be included. Two companies associated with McCrory have yet to produce any information, although his defense lawyer, Carlos Tanner, suggested investigators had long ago seized any relevant documents.

BP fraud case’s charges decline The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — A Texas lawyer and six codefendants are now facing a reduced indictment of 73 charges, instead of 95, at federal trial on accusations that they faked more than 40,000 damage claims after the BP oil spill in 2010. Online court records show that prosecutors dropped 22 counts of identity document fraud before jury selection began Monday in Gulfport, Mississippi, in the case involving litigation arising from the 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico. U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. had said earlier that the charges that were dropped appeared to be the same alleged oﬀenses as the indictment’s 22 counts of aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors said attorney Mikal Watts of San Antonio, Texas, two nonattorney members of his

law firm and four contract field workers invented victims or used real people’s names without permission to land Watts a spot on the lucrative BP litigation steering committee and inflate legal fees he might collect. The judge has said trial is expected to take six to 10 weeks. He planned a short first day in court for the 70 to 80 prospective jurors. They were being asked to fill out a questionnaire and then take the rest of the day oﬀ while government and defense lawyers reviewed the questionnaires in hopes of whittling down the pool of candidates as quickly as possible. Prosecutors wanted to begin questioning prospective jurors Monday, but Guirola said he thought they’d need more time. The questioning called voir dire is set to begin Tuesday, the judge said.

Watts, an attorney who has earned millions suing corporations over client injuries, has pleaded innocent along with the others. The co-defendants are his brother David Watts as well as Wynter Lee, both of whom worked in his law firm; and BP claim field representatives Hector Eloy Guerra of Weslaco, Texas; Gregory Warren of Lafayette, Louisiana; and Thi Houng Le and her sister-in-law, Thi Hoang Nguyen, both of Grand Bay, Alabama. The indictment alleges that the contractors were paid more than $10 million to get names and other information about clients for the BP litigation. They allegedly used many names and Social Security numbers without authorization and Lee allegedly filled out a form listing a dog as a deckhand, according to the indictment.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Today in History Today is Tuesday, July 19, the 201st day of 2016. There are 165 days left in the year.

Todayâ€™s Highlight in History: On July 19, 1941, Britain launched its â€œV for Victoryâ€? campaign during World War II with Prime Minister Winston Churchill calling the Vsign hand gesture â€œthe symbol of the unconquerable will of the people of the occupied territories and a portent of the fate awaiting the Nazi tyranny.â€?

On this date: In 1553, King Henry VIIIâ€™s daughter Mary was proclaimed Queen of England after pretender Lady Jane Grey was deposed. In 1848, a pioneering womenâ€™s rights convention convened in Seneca Falls, New York. In 1903, the first Tour de France was won by Maurice Garin. In 1944, the Democratic national convention convened in Chicago with the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt considered a certainty. In 1979, the Nicaraguan capital of Managua fell to Sandinista guerrillas, two days after President Anastasio Somoza fled the country. In 1980, the Moscow Summer Olympics began, minus dozens of nations that were boycotting the games because of the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan. In 1986, Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy, married Edwin A. Schlossberg in Centerville, Massachusetts. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush joined former presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald R. Ford and Richard M. Nixon at ceremonies dedicating the Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda, California. In 1996, opening ceremonies were held in Atlanta for the 26th Summer Olympic Games.

Local/Region Across the Region Booneville Traffic stopÂ nets arrests of kidnapping suspects BOONEVILLE â€” Three individuals have been arrested by Prentiss County investigators and deputies as the result of an investigation into a July 4th incident involving the report of a man being assaulted, robbed and held L. Conley against his will. Arrested were Leela Annastasha Conley, 22, of Booneville, Chance Reed Conley, 17, of Tallahassee, FloridaÂ and John Rogers Seely,18, R. Conley of Tupelo. All three were arrested after a traffic stop in Marietta on Friday, July 8. The trio are charged with armed robbery and kidnapping Seely their bonds were set at $150,000 each. Both Leela and Chance Conley have bonded on the charge and Seely remains in custody at the present time. Â

Henderson Arts centers to feature work of FHU professor HENDERSON, Tenn. â€” The

art of a Freed-Hardeman University professor will be on exhibit at the Kentuck Art Center in Northport, Ala., Aug. 4-Sept. 30 and at the Arts Council Gallery in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Aug. 5-Aug. 26. These shows will display artwork by Laquita Thomson. The Kentuck Art Center will feature a reduction linocut exhibit, with a reception Aug. 4 from 5-8 p.m. and Artistâ€™s Talk at 5:45 p.m. A cyanotype exhibit will be held at the Arts Council Gallery, and the reception for this show will be Aug. 5 at 5-8 p.m. This exhibit contains work from her â€œRenovationâ€? and â€œPhotographing the Southâ€? series. With degrees in painting and printmaking, Thomson teaches art and art history courses at Freed-Hardeman University. She has presented numerous solo art shows in multiple states, and her art is permanently included in many museums across the South. Â

Ripley Rogers-Jackson family will hold reunion at fairgrounds RIPLEY â€” The descendants of Sam and Tine Rogers Jackson and their children will hold a reunion at the Tippah County Fairgrounds in Ripley at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 24. A potluck lunch will be served at noon. Those connected to the family in any way whether relative or friend are welcome to attend. For more information contact Noel at 662-837-8798 or 662-

882-1132 or Carolyn at 662837-4827. Â

Oxford Faulkner conference will discuss Native Americans OXFORD â€” The influence of Mississippiâ€™s Native American culture on William Faulknerâ€™s writing is among the focal points of this yearâ€™s annual conference on the prominent author. The theme of the University of Mississippiâ€™s 2016 Faulkner conference, through Thursday in Oxford, is â€œFaulkner and the Native South.â€? The Oxford Eagle reports that conference participants will discuss Faulknerâ€™s use of the Choctaw, Chickasaw, European and African cultures and histories in his writing. Â

Starkville Mississippi wheat value continues downward slide STARKVILLE â€” Another year of declining production value is forecast for Mississippi wheat. Mississippi State University says the stateâ€™s wheat appears to be heading for a third consecutive year in which the value of production drops by half from the previous year. Brian Williams, an agricultural economist with the universityâ€™s extension service, says state wheat production values in 2013 were $154.5 million. By 2015, they had dropped to $31.5 million. And another decline is expected.

Tishomingo County Bravettes Pom Squad

Daily Corinthian â€˘ 3

Lawyer clarifies school lawsuit BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press

Â JACKSONÂ â€” An attorney for Southern Poverty Law Center says the group is not trying to close charter schools in Mississippi, but is only trying to have the schoolsâ€™ funding formula declared unconstitutional. Jody Owens told The Associated Press on Monday that SPLC is not suggesting a new funding formula. However, he said that if the lawsuit succeeds, lawmakers could come up with a way to pay for charters without violating the state constitution. Although Owens is not endorsing any ideas, he said as an example that legislators could approve a lottery and designate the revenue to pay for charter schools. In its lawsuit filed last week, SPLC argues that charters violate the state constitution by making school districts share property tax collections with schools they donâ€™t supervise or control.

Tishomingo County Bravettes Pom Squad attended the Universal Dance Association Summer Camp at Mississippi State University in June. While at camp, the Bravettes learned new routines, competed for various ribbons and awards, and participated in many fun dance activities. The team received 35 Superior ribbons during routine evaluations throughout the camp session and earned an opportunity to perform in at the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl Pregame Show, and a bid to National Dance Team Competition held annually at Walt Disney World Resort in February. Six members of the team were nominated for the All-American team, UDAâ€™s highest honor for individuals. Those nominated were seniors Katelyn Barnes and Maya Lambert and sophomores Jordan Bray, Rheagan Coffman and Paige Hall. Jordan Bray was selected as an All-American team member. This award makes her eligible to participate in the London Varsity Tour in December. Team Captain, Katelyn Barnes, and team Co-Captain, Maya Lambert, received an invitation to participate in the Walt Disney World Spirit Spectacular held in early December. The Bravettes also perform at TCHS pep rallies, home football games, home basketball games and school and community events. Team members include (above, front row) Maya Lambert, Coach Nikki Clark, Katelyn Barnes, (above, middle row) Grace Carpentar, Paige Hall, Rheagan Coffman, Jordan Bray, (above, back row) Shelby Rooker, Morgan Beck, Summer Mock, Alex Rast and Mariah Vanderwaal. Not pictured is Mallory McNeely.

Legal Scene Your Crossroads Area Guide to Law Professionals ) ($Contact ) * Skylar Mincey ) - - ( ' / )

$ at 662-287-6111 "

/ to

advertise # )( !* * *

your () *& ! / #

Law Firm on this / (

* ( +++ - ( ' +.) ( page. * % ($ *& ) ($ ) * ( (* * - )* . * ( () , )* *& )

GREG MEYER Attorney At Law

Former Assistant District Attorney

( ! & %

for the State of Mississippi with 18 years of experience. Serving Northeast â€˘ Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Defense Mississippiâ€™s legal needs... â€˘ Felony and Misdemeanor Convicton Expungement â€˘ DUI " ! $ $ ! # v (Payment Plans available) â€˘ Car Accident/ Personal Injury ! " ! % ! â€˘' Divorce-Contested and Uncontested $ & % â€˘ Child Support/Child Custody " $ "! ! " ! v # " ( â€˘ Wills and Estates # " ! $ v â€˘ Deeds " "! $ " ! OfďŹ ce located at

# ' $ "# 616 Bunch Street â€˘ Corinth, Mississippi 662-287-5620 gmeyerlaw@hotmail.com

To Start your Home Delivered Subscription:

P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835

Odom and Allred, P.A.

Call 662.287.6111 Monday - Friday 8a.m. to 5p.m. for your convenience try our Office Pay Plans.

Miss your paper?

Attorneys at Law 404 Waldron Street â€˘ Corinth, MS _________________________________________ ' 3

- 1 / 2 1 * ' 0 / 1 . 2 & & 2

662-286-9311 William W. Odom, Jr. Rhonda N. Allred Attorney at Law Attorney at Law bodom43@bellsouth.net rallred@bellsouth.net ___________________________________________ &'& # $ ) #(& , ! "' #" & # $ ' # & "#' " ' ", ' ' #" # +$ ' & ' "

* ' " , * $ $ #$ # (" ' " ($' , # #(" " # ! ' #" ) ($#" %( &'

To report a problem or delivery change call the circulation department at 662.287.6111 Late, wet, or missing newspaper complaints should be made before 10 a.m. to ensure redelivery to immediate Corinth area. All other areas will be delivered next day.

For more information visit our website: www.dailycorinthian.com

USPS 142-560 The Daily Corinthian is published daily Tuesday through Sunday by PMG, LLC at 1607 South Harper Rd. Corinth, MS Postmaster send address changes to P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835

www.dailycorinthian.com

Opinion

Reece Terry, publisher

Mark Boehler, editor

4A • Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Corinth, Miss.

Summer of hate No good comes when all that’s left is hatred and rage. Hatred and rage must be cultivated, watered, and fertilized over many seasons to produce fruits of bitterness. Who planted the seeds of hatred and Danny rage? Who watered and cultiGardner vated this vile garden? As Pogo aka Walt Kelly said long ago, Columnist “We have met the enemy and he is us.” We need to roundup this garden and kill all the plants. Do you know angry people? Do you know people who rage? Do you know anyone who is consumed with hatred? Round them up and listen to them. Let them unleash the worst they have on you. Let them get the poison out of their systems. Ask them how you might help them. Then, pray for them right then and there. I’ve encountered angry people, sometimes even through my weekly columns. Readers’ angry and hateful comments have never hurt or threatened me, though I suspect their own rage has made them bitter. I’ve been angry many times before, even to the point of rage and, yes, hate. Not once have anger, rage, or hate ever done me good, but in every case these three have made me bitter. That’s not a good place to be. Laws don’t make us rage, and laws can’t prevent anyone from hating. This summer of hate has nothing to do with law enforcement. It’s more about vengeance, arrogance, and pride. You know, pride is not a virtue, though many have touted pride as a good thing to their own detriment and downfall. Pride is just another name for self-righteousness and generally always comes before a big fall. The next two weeks promise many opportunities for rage and hate to overrun and spill into city streets. The Republican National Convention this week in Cleveland and the Democratic National Convention next week in Philadelphia will provide platforms for all manner of hate speech. Wall to wall media coverage 24/7 on cable channels will compete with dozens of social media channels. It will be hot inside and out. People will get mad. Everyone will be self-righteous and indignant. Perhaps it’s time our leaders began showing a little humility. If they truly are leaders, then followers might catch a little of that trickle down humility. Pride hasn’t worked. Arrogance hasn’t worked. Flouting the law hasn’t worked. Humility brings one to pause, reflect, and reconsider. Rage, anger and hate will dominate the news alongside blame for the rest of the summer. More will kill, and more will die. Justice will disappear leaving just us. Us against them will continue to divide us according to Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. Top oﬀ domestic division and violence with a sprinkles of Islamic terrorism festering in our midst. It’s here and it’s going to get worse while we are fighting amongst ourselves. These will form the backdrop for electing the least liked president in American history whoever wins. After the hoopla in November and the holidays, we’ll return to our routines in January and hope something new will change things for the better. We’re all responsible for this mess, so we’d better stop fighting ‘them’ and get back to humbly helping our neighbors. (Daily Corinthian guest columnist D.L. Gardner resides in Starkville, but is a Corinth native.)

The dumbest idea If there were a contest for the most stupid idea in politics, my choice would be the assumption that people would be evenly or randomly distributed in incomes, institutions, occupations or awards, in the absence of somebody doing somebody wrong. Political crusades, bureaucratic empires and lucrative personal careers as grievance mongers have been built on the foundation of that assumption, which is almost never tested against any facts. A recent article in the New York Times saw as a problem the fact that females are greatly under-represented among the highest rated chess players. Innumerable articles, TV stories and political outcries have been based on an “under-representation” of women in Silicon Valley, seen as a problem that needs to be solved. Are there girls out there dying to play chess, who find the doors slammed shut in their faces? Are there women with Ph.D.s in computer science from M.I.T. and Cal Tech who get turned away when they apply for jobs in Silicon Valley? Are girls and boys not allowed to have diﬀerent interests? If girls had the same interest in chess as boys had, but were banned from chess clubs, that would be something very diﬀerent from their not choosing to

BY EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Under the Capitol Dome

A verse to share “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12

Letters Policy The Opinion page should be a voice of the people and reflect views from a broad range in the community. Citizens can express their opinion in letters to the editor. Only a few simple rules need to be followed. Please include your full signature, home address and telephone number on the letter for verification. All letters are subject to editing before publication, especially those beyond 600 words in length. Send to: Letters to the editor, Daily Corinthian, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, Miss. 38835. Letters may also be e-mailed to: letters@daily corinthian.com. Email is the preferred method.

conclusions on hard facts often reach very different conclusions than those who base their conclusions on the preconception that outcomes would be even or random in the absence of somebody treating somebody wrong. Something as simple as age differences among groups can doom any assumption of even or random outcomes. If every 20-year-old Puerto Rican in the United States had an income identical with the income of every 20-year-old Japanese American -- and identical incomes at every other age -- Japanese Americans as a group would still have a higher average income than Puerto Ricans in the United States. That is because the median age of Japanese Americans is more than 20 years older. People with 20 years more work experience usually make higher incomes. And age difference is just one of many differences between groups. You can study innumerable groups in countries around the world today, or over centuries of recorded history, without finding a single example of the even or random outcomes that are used as a benchmark for determining discrimination. Nevertheless, courts of law -- including the Su-

preme Court of the United States -- use something that has never been found anywhere as a norm to which current realities are to be compared. Billions of dollars, in the aggregate, have changed hands as a result of individual lawsuits charging discrimination. Life is undoubtedly unfair. But that is not the same as saying that the unfairness occurred wherever the statistics were collected. The origins of this unfairness often go back to different childhood environments for individuals or different geographic or cultural settings for groups and nations. These differences between nations, as well as differences between individuals and groups, reflect the fact that the world “has never been a level playing field,” as economic historian David S. Landes put it. Renowned historian Fernand Braudel said, “In no society have all regions and all parts of the population developed equally.” How long will we continue to take something that has never happened, and never had much chance of happening, as a norm? (Daily Corinthian columnist Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com.)

Charter schools debated on many fronts

Prayer for today Lord of strength, I pray that while I may lay a strong foundation for my life, I may remember that I should not delay the building by neglecting to complete the plans. May I look to-day and see if I am making my words stronger than my life. With thy wisdom help me to realize that the test of life is made with the soul. Amen.

play chess as often as boys do. As for chess ratings, that is not subjective. It is based on Thomas which playSowell ers, with which ratColumnist ings, you have won against and lost to. Are women and men not to be allowed to make different decisions as to how they choose to spend their time and live their lives? Chess is not the only endeavor which can take a huge chunk of time out of your life, and unremitting efforts, to reach the top. If you want to become a top scientist, a partner in a big law firm or a top executive in a major corporation, you are very unlikely to do it working from 9 to 5, or taking a few years off, here and there, to have children and raise them. Applying the same unsubstantiated assumption to differences in “representation” between different racial and ethnic groups likewise produces many loudly expressed grievances, political crusades, and millions of dollars from lawsuits charging discrimination -- all without a speck of evidence beyond numbers that do not match the prevailing assumptions. People who base their

JACKSON — The political debate about charter schools has been rumbling for years in the Mississippi Capitol and in the broader forum of public opinion. Now, a lawsuit is moving the fight into a Hinds County chancery courtroom. Charter schools receive taxpayer money but, unlike most public schools, they’re not run by a local board and they don’t answer to the state Board of Education. Instead, they are overseen by a state-level Charter School Authorizer Board. Supporters say charters have more flexibility than traditional public schools to use diﬀerent approaches to teaching and discipline. Opponents, though, say that charters are unproven and they drain money from other public schools, serving only a few students at the expense of the vast majority. Only two charter schools are operating in the state so far, and a third is set to open in the coming academic year. All three are

Reece Terry

Mark Boehler

publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

editor editor@dailycorinthian.com

Willie Walker

Roger Delgado

circulation manager circdirector@dailycorinthian.com

press foreman

in the capital city, where the local district — Jackson Public Schools — has a D rating on an A-to-F scale, according to the 2014-15 grades released Thursday by the state Department of Education. Southern Poverty Law Center filed suit July 11 seeking to close the existing charter schools and prevent any more from opening. On behalf of seven JPS parents, the suit argues that charter schools violate the state constitution by making school districts share property tax collections with schools they don’t supervise or control. It says that as a result of a charter school law signed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant in 2013, “traditional public schools will have fewer teachers, books and educational resources. These schools will no longer be able to provide Mississippi schoolchildren the education that they are constitutionally entitled to receive.” The Mississippi NAACP issued a statement supporting the suit, and several groups countered by calling

the litigation harmful. “The landscape of public education has room for new ideas,” state NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. “However, innovation must not come at the expense of our state’s traditional public school system. We must endeavor to improve our public education system, not destroy it.” Forrest Thigpen, president of the conservative nonprofit Mississippi Center for Public Policy, said: “Parents who have enough money to move to a better district or to send their children to private schools already have options. Charter schools, as demonstrated by the student population at the two schools that opened this year, primarily serve families who cannot aﬀord either of those options.” JPS, the governor and the state Board of Education are named as defendants in the suit, and in a statement three days after it was filed, JPS spokesman Sherwin Johnson said district oﬃcials had not yet been served with a copy. “We merely follow the

World Wide Web: www.dailycorinthian.com To Sound Off: E-mail: email: news@dailycorinthian.com Circulation 287-6111 Classified Adv. 287-6147

law as it relates to funding of charter schools,” Johnson said. “We value public education.” Mississippi has long struggled in national academic rankings, though it has seen some improvement in standardized test results in recent years. Charter school advocates say a diﬀerent approach could boost achievement, but opponents say a better tactic would be to fully fund all public schools. The 2013 state law said charter schools could only enroll students who live in the district where they operate. Bryant signed a revision this year, and it became law July 1. It removes the home-district requirement and says students who live in school districts with C, D or F ratings may attend charter schools anywhere in the state. Public money would follow: An amount equal to per-student local tax revenue would go to the charter school. (Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics for the Associated Press since 1994.)

How to reach us -- extensions:

Newsroom.....................317 Circulation....................301 news@dailycorinthian.com advertising@dailycorinthian. Advertising...................339 Classifieds....................302 com Classad@dailycorinthian.com Bookkeeping.................333

Editorials represent the voice of the Daily Corinthian. Editorial columns, letters to the editor and other articles that appear on this page represent the opinions of the writers and the Daily Corinthian may or may not agree.

Daily Corinthian • Tuesday, July 19, 2016 • 5

Businesses welcome Elvis trail The Associated Press

TUPELO — No more orange barrels to drive around, no more lane shifts, no more trouble getting in and out of parking spaces. “Hallelujah,” said Pam Fair, a co-owner of Sparrows on Main, a boutique on East Main Street that opened in May 2014. Four months later, work began on the Elvis Presley Birthplace Trail. The recently completed trail now seamlessly connects downtown Tupelo from Green Street, down Main Street and to the Birthplace, having added sidewalks, crosswalks, bike lanes, landscaping, lighting and other enhancements along the route. East Main Street was expanded to five lanes as well, and the bridges were widened. The multi-million-dollar project took about 20 months to complete, and at the groundbreaking ceremony in September 2014, Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association Executive Director Debbie Brangenberg warned that work would be “laborsome” at times. She and other officials also said patience would be needed at times, when construction would tie up parking and snarl traffic. And they were right. Business owners interviewed by the Daily Journal all complimented the new look along the route, described by many as the “welcome mat” to the city. While they’re thrilled the work is done, many said it would take time to recover from lost business caused by the construction work. Fair said Sparrows managed to survive due to the loyalty of customers who stuck with them and zig-zagged through the traffic barrels when needed. “We’re hoping things pick up now that construction is over,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong

- I don’t want this to sound negative, because we’re thankful we finally have a turn lane.” Traci Lewis, co-owner of Blairhaus and Farmhouse in downtown Tupelo, said business owners had to be more creative in attracting customers to their shops and restaurants while construction went on. “It was bumpy,” Lewis said. “I don’t think we were probably as prepared as we needed to be. However, I think the work was absolutely needed; it was necessary in order for all of us to thrive in the future.” Brangenberg said she understands the frustration business owners felt during the construction. She said a project of its scope is complex with many moving pieces, and sometimes things didn’t go as well as planned. “There were 14 subcontractors involved, for example,” she said. “If one of them had a delay, then it through the whole thing oﬀ. We didn’t have much of that, but coordinating that was a full-time job.” There were delays and minor mishaps along the way. While none were major, they did cause unwanted disruptions at times. One of the most-often asked questions was why some or most of the roadwork couldn’t have been down at night. Brangenberg said the contractor had originally thought it could do that, but with additional lights, equipment and other expenses that the work would have required, the cost of the project would have increased as well. When bids were unsealed in June 2014, Key Construction had the lowest bid at $11.5 million; Century Construction was the next lowest at $12.3 million. Project oﬃcials say they did what they could to inform the public and businesses about the project,

with regular updates. But while the “pardon the progress” signs and updates were helpful for some, they also served as a deterrent for other potential shoppers and diners who opted to avoid the area, some businesses say. “Front-door” parking is a premium, especially downtown, but they were temporarily eliminated with the work. Nearby parking lots oﬀered an alternative, but many customers simply don’t want to or aren’t used to taking a few extra steps. Spread over nearly two years, those moves cut into the cash flow and bottom line of businesses. Mitch McCamey, the co-owner of Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen, was quite vocal about his frustration with the project’s progress at times. He admitted he was quite passionate about stating his case, but said he learned from the experience. “Really, I don’t think anybody is as happy now about it being finished as I am, because we’re also open at night,” he said. “It was rough. Anytime you got though that long of construction, you definitely see the traﬃc change. Plus, I’m a young restaurant, a young business that probably doesn’t cash flow as well as other businesses.” McCamey said he’s mellowed, now understanding that, “you can’t control other people’s projects. If you’re going to be in a small business, as least in my perspective, you like to have that control and voice your opinion. I think for a while I had the idea that you could be for a project but be against the way it’s happening. I think now I realize I probably don’t know enough about it to really comment on how it went.” McCamey and other business owners on the Birthplace Trail are hope-

ful that the work will do as it intended: draw more people who will spend more time - and money while they’re in the area. Shop owners and restaurateurs are looking to make up from missed sales due to construction during the lucrative Christmas holiday season. Larry Ezell, who owns Tupelo Battery across East Main Street from Sparrows, said the payoﬀ will be coming. “I love the final look of everything,” he said. “We really needed that turn lane. Now you can pull in an feel comfortable and not get run over. It was money well-spent.” The project was funded by a combination of federal, state and local money. About $2.3 million came from the Federal Highway Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation, via the Mississippi Department of Transportation, which awarded a transportation enhancement grant. The City of Tupelo’s 20-percent match of the grant totaled $575,000, and the remainder of the project cost was paid through the citizen-funded Major Thoroughfare Project. Ezell said he was glad the work was finished, and he thinks East Tupelo will benefit with the traﬃc flowing better. He had high praise for the contractors, whom he said went out of their way to keep the entrance and exit of his business clear. And Lewis reiterated she welcomed the work downtown. “Again, I’m very grateful that it’s open,” she said. “It’s very beautiful and I think it will add a lot to downtown. But it’s going to take some time recover, and I think we need a lot more promoting of all the wonderful things we have in downtown Tupelo, especially with all the work that’s been done.”

MSU accountancy school gains traction STARKVILLE — The Adkerson School of Accountancy in Mississippi State’s College of Business has earned its first-ever rankings in the nationally recognized Commerce Clearing House Public Accounting Report. The recently released 2015 report ranked MSU’s graduate and undergraduate accounting programs 12th and 14th, respectively, among programs across the country with fewer than 15 fulltime faculty members. A division of the Wolters Kluwer tax solutions firm, CCH has published annual rankings of the nation’s best college accounting programs for almost 30 years. “Having these rankings does a lot for student recruiting and a lot for our program’s big picture,” Adkerson School of Accountancy Director Shawn Mauldin said. “We have a long history of providing quality accounting education, we have dedicated faculty concerned with engaging students, and we oﬀer students opportunities to engage with the professional world.” The school of accountancy graduates about 100 bachelor’s candidates and 35-40 master’s candidates each year, Mauldin said. All of its spring 2016 graduates from its two master’s programs—taxation and public accounting—secured employment as early as a year before completing the program. Many of those graduates go to one of the “Big 4” public accounting firms—Deloitte, Ernst and Young, KPMG or PricewaterhouseCoopers—while others land jobs with regional firms

or as corporate accountants. “The College of Business and Adkerson School of Accountancy offer an outstanding and stimulating learning experience for our undergraduate and graduate students, giving them an edge in the workforce after graduation,” said College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald. “The School of Accountancy’s recent rankings and 100 percent job placement further attest to our commitment to attracting and graduating the best and brightest students.” That longstanding legacy is continuing with upcoming graduating classes. Grace McKellip of Slidell, Louisiana, earned her bachelor’s in May 2015 and promptly began the master’s of public accountancy program. However, she’s had a post-graduation job lined up since interning with Ernst and Young’s Houston office last summer. She plans to begin work for the firm’s Washington, D.C., office as an auditing staff member in the fall. Typically, McKellip said, accounting students earn full-time job offers while serving their internships. The benefit of returning to school and completing a master’s program, though, is that it allows students to earn the required 150 course credits to complete the certified public accountant exam. Passing the exam greatly improves earnings and promotion potential, she added. Similarly, Tiana Grover, a Decatur native who plans to complete her MPA in August, earned a

full-time job oﬀer while interning with the Ridgeland-based Horne LLP firm last summer. Both McKellip and Grover credited MSU’s small class sizes, knowledgeable faculty and networking opportunities with professionals in the public accounting field for preparing them well for their careers. “It was so advantageous to be able to build relationships with my professors who all know me by name,” McKellip said. “And the practical skills I learned in class came in handy during my internship. I remember emailing one of my professors while I was in Houston to say ‘Hey, I won an umbrella today at work because of something you taught me.’” Neither McKellip nor Grover originally intended to be an accountant. McKellip started as a chemistry major at MSU but switched to accounting after taking business classes her sophomore year. Grover aimed to be a pharmacist when she started school at East

Central Community College, but she changed to accounting when she transferred to MSU as a junior. “I’ve always liked numbers, and I’m a problemsolver, so this fits me well,” Grover said. Mauldin said it’s fairly common for students to land on accounting after trying other majors simply due to misconceptions of the field. Plus, it’s not a field that high school students often consider. As part of a newly developed strategic plan, Mauldin said MSU’s Adkerson School of Accountancy is aiming to enhance its resources, increase its visibility and reputation, grow and improve academic programs, and recruit, develop and retain high quality faculty. “Obviously the foundation for what we’re doing is sound,” Mauldin said. “Many people care about what we are doing, and they want to see the school succeed. That just tells us how critical it is that we continue to implement the strategies we’ve developed.”

Brian McCullen, VP/Branch Manager/Loan Officer (MLO # 686741)

WE WELCOME JULIE LITTLE TO THE FMBANK MORTGAGE TEAM.

Brian McCullen, Manager/Loan JulieVP/Branch Little, VP/Mortgage LoanOfficer Officer(MLO (MLO##686741) 479445) Julie Little, VP/Mortgage Loan Officer (MLO # 479445)

Let Julie and our mortgage team lend a hand!

www.fmbms.com

Bank in a Flash from Anywyere: FMBank Mobiliti!

662-286-4300 or 662-365-1200

www.fmbms.com

Deaths Evelyn Rhoads

Evelyn Rhoads, 97, died Saturday, July 16, 2016, in Panama City, Fla. Arrangements are pending with McPeters Funeral Home of Corinth

Wendall Phifer

IUKA — Funeral services for Wendall Phifer, 61, of Burnsville are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 19 at New Lebanon Freewill Baptist Church with burial in New Lebanon Cemetery. Mr. Phifer died Friday, July 15, 2016, at his residence. He was a 29 year veteran teacher. Survivors include his wife, Kacey Phifer of Burnsville; one daughter, Riley Phifer of Burnsville; his father, M.B. Phifer of Burnsville; one brother, Waylon Phifer (Sheila) of Iuka; and his aunt, Glenda Wright of Cairo. He was preceded in death by his mother, Lavonne McAnally Phifer. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s’ Research Hospital at www.stjude.org. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka is in charge if the arrangements. Bro. Jack Whitley, Bro. John Grady Taylor and Bro. Phil Anglin will oﬃciate.

Kay Katherine Warren

Funeral services for Kay Katherine Warren, 59, of Booneville are set for noon on Thursday, July 21 at Oakhill M.B. Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 at the church. Mrs. Warren died Saturday, July 16, 2016, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis. She was born May 22, 1957, and was educated at Jumpertown High School. She was a member of Oakhill Warren M.B. Church. Survivors include her husband, Terry Wayne Warren; her children, Cherri Warren and Kenny Warren; step-children, Jennifer Atkinson, Demetria Warren and Terry Warren Jr.; her mother, Odesser Perrin; siblings, James Agnew, Perry Perrin, Julius Perrin, Cleon Anderson, Charlene Anderson; and a host of step-siblings; her grandchildren, Demarcus Young, Kenley Warren and Tristen Leverette; eight step-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Charles Anderson; and her late stepfather, Cecil Perrin. The Rev. J. Houston Owens will oﬃciate. Patterson Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Obituary Policy The Daily Corinthian include the following information in obituaries: The name, age, city of residence of the deceased; when, where and manner of death of the deceased; time and location of funeral service; name of officiant; time and location of visitation; time and location of memorial services; biographical information can include date of birth, education, place of employment/occupation, military service and church membership; survivors and preceded in death can include spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings (step included), and grandchildren, great-grandchildren can be listed by number only. All obituaries (complete and incomplete) will be due no later than 4 p.m. on the day prior to its publication. Obituaries will only be accepted from funeral homes. All obituaries must contain a signature of the family member making the funeral arrangements.

Some Men Who Did Not Write the Bible

In our study of the Bible we can learn much about the men who wrote it. We can also learn much about the men who did not write it. In this study we want to call attention to some men who had no part in writing the Bible. Innovators did not write the Bible. An innovator would not have written Deut. 4: 2: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it.” The innovator does not hesitate, to add to, or diminish from, the word of the Lord. When he finds no Scripture for his innovation, he just goes ahead and adds it, anyway. That is the way instrumental music got into the worship. It is a modern innovation. There is no Bible Scripture for it. Christ and his inspired apostles left it out, and it remained for innovators six hundred years later to introduce it. The Bible teaches Christians to observe the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week (Acts 20: 7), but those who diminish from the word do not hesitate to do away with the weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. What about these innovators and diminishers at the last day? “If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in his book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book oh his prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev. 22: 18, 19.) A grace-alone theorist did not write the Bible. The Bible writers did not believe this theory. “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2: 8, 9.) A human creed maker had nothing to do with writing the Bible. The makers and users of the human creeds are condemned by the writers of the Bible. Christians have no use for a human creed, either written or verbal. 2 Tim. 3: 16, 17.) God has given the man of God everything he needs to make him perfect. He has everything to furnish doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. A faith-alone theorist had nothing to do with writing the Bible. The Bible knows nothing about justification by faith only. In fact, the words “faith only” come together just once in the Bible, and there they are used together to condemn the theory. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2: 24.) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2: 17.) Lukewarm “Christians” did not write the Bible. “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12: 11.) That does not sound like the utterance of a lukewarm and indifferent Christian. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10: 12.) There are many who think they are standing who are riding for a terrible fall. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Heb. 2: 3) “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (James 4: 17.) A lukewarm Christian is a sickening thing, both in the sight of man and in the sight of heaven. My reader, are you obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have you come to him by faith, repentance, confession, and baptism? (Matt. 28: 18-20; Mark 16: 15, 16; Luke 24: 46, 47; Acts 2: 37, 38; 8: 26-39; 22: 16.) Read Your Bible - 2 Timothy 2. Welcome.

Northside Church of Christ

3127 Harper Rd. • Corinth, Mississippi 38834 415-3558 • Minister - Lennis Nowell Sunday Worship ............ 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 5:00 pm Wednesday Worship ...................................... 6:00 pm

6 • Tuesday, July 19, 2016 • Daily Corinthian

TUESDAY EVENING C A WATN ^ ^ WREG # # QVC $ . WCBI

WMC

% %

WLMT & > WBBJ _ _ WTVA ) ) WKNO * WGN-A + ( WMAE , , WHBQ ` ` WPXX / WPIX

MAX

0 3

SHOW 2 HBO

4 1

MTV

5 2

ESPN

7 ?

SPIKE 8 5 USA

: 8

NICK

; C

DISC

< D

A&E

FSSO

? 4

BET

@ F

H&G E!

C H D

HIST E B ESPN2 F @ TLC G FOOD H INSP I LIFE

J =

TBN

AMC

N 0

FREE

O <

TCM

TNT

Q A

TBS

R *

GAME TOON TVLD FS1

S T U K Z

Æ ;

OUT NBCS OWN FOXN APL

Ø ∞ ± ≤ ≥

HALL

∂ G

DISN

“ L

SYFY

7 PM