Alcorn County Former Southwest fire department treasurer gets probation
Garden Crape myrtle is garden must-have
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Wednesday July 19,
2017
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 121, No. 171
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Alcorn sheriff works City to pursue to reduce contraband $2 million bond BY JEBB JOHNSTON BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Sheriff Ben Caldwell talked about efforts to curtail contraband at the Regional Correctional Facility with the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors during Monday’s meeting. With a limited number of ways for contraband to enter the facility housing Mississippi Department of Corrections inmates,
“We’re working with the police department and some of our surrounding agencies to help us.” Ben Caldwell Sheriff
Please see CONTRABAND | 6A
Festival winners
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
“Infrastructure” is at the top of the list again as the Corinth Board of Aldermen pursues a new general obligation bond issue of up to $2 million. The funds will “be going toward continued improvements in our community,” including drainage work and street work, said Mayor Tommy Irwin during Tuesday’s meeting. Specific projects were not yet named. City Clerk Vickie Roach said the bond sale will likely happen during the winter
months, and no tax increase is anticipated in connection with the bond issue. It will be on a 20-year term. The available funds could also help jump start some of the ideas coming out of the Envision Corinth 2040 plan, said Alderman Ben Albarracin. The city’s last bond issue, totaling $1.6 million, was in 2013 and also went toward infrastructure. The board approved a resolution of intent and engaging of legal services to begin the Please see BOND | 2A
No tax increase yet for county schools BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Photo by Lisa Lambert
Ashlyn Inman, 19, of Walnut won the senior division of the Garrett Eye Clinic Slug Voice singing competition held last week during the 30th Annual Slugburger Festival.
‘Great crowds’ attend annual Slug events BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The 30th Annual Slugburger Festival is in the books and officials have deemed the threeday event a success.
Main Street Corinth Director Angela Avent reported “great crowds” and while weather was a factor on Saturday, Thursday and Friday attendance was impressive she said.
“We were very happy with the turnout – both for the entertainment and the Midway,” she said. “Thankfully rain didn’t Please see FESTIVAL | 2A
The Alcorn School District isn’t asking for a tax increase now, but that may change next year. Finance Director Kimberly Woodard told board members during Monday’s budget workshop that the district’s operational millage tax rate would remain 49.76 mills, a percentage that hasn’t changed since 2008. “We will not be asking for a millage rate increase this year,” said Woodard. “The millage amount will increase, but only because tax collections this year exceeded what we had requested in prior years due to new properties being added to the tax rolls.” The operational millage rate is used to help fund the district’s main operating fund and district maintenance fund. An additional 3 mills is also collected for debt service. “Thus, the total millage rate is 52.76 for the 2018 fiscal year,” said Woodard. The district hasn’t asked for a tax increase since 2010 and one hasn’t actually been approved since 2008 when the millage went from 45.24 to 49.76. The max amount a school district can receive is 55 mills. Superintendent Larry B. Mitchell said he plans to ask the board to approve a 2 mill
Superintendent Larry B. Mitchell said he plans to ask the board to approve a 2 mill increase for the 2019 fiscal year. increase for the 2019 fiscal year with the vote taking place in August 2018. “We need that extra 2 mills to be used completely on technology,” he told the board. “We need as much technology in the hands of these students as possible, and a 2 mill tax increase can help us do that.” According to Woodard, many districts in the state have a much higher millage rate. “We have always been way below,” she said. The millage rate is the amount per $1,000 used to calculate taxes on property. Millage rates are most often found in personal property taxes, where the expressed millage rate is multiplied by the total taxable value of the property to arrive at the property taxes due. Woodard also presented what she called a “sound and balanced budget” for the upPlease see SCHOOLS | 6A
Three Bridges will perform at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church in Corinth. The concert is part of the church’s annual Summer Concert Series.
Church continues tradition of music, faith BY L.A. STORY lastory@dailycorinthian.com
It is a annual event which provides music for the soul and an outreach of faith to the community. Continuing a tradition, First
Baptist Church of Corinth, located at 501 Main Street, will host the last two concerts of their annual Summer Concert Series with more music to uplift the weary soul. This Sunday beginning at
6:30 p.m., FBC will host the group, Three Bridges. The trio’s blending style of “southern and black gospel” music has made them an “internationally-acPlease see CONCERT | 2A
25 years ago
10 years ago
Richard Clark is named the new minister at Farmington Baptist Church.
The Siege and Battle of Corinth announces approval of a grant from Preserve America for marketing Civil War assets.
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