080216 daily corinthian e edition by Daily Corinthian

Corinth Local pleads to Alabama Walmart theft

Tishomingo County Man charged with residential burglary

Lee County Tupelo mayor pleased with uneventful protest

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Tuesday Aug. 2,

2016

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Daily Corinthian

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Vol. 120, No. 179

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section

MDOC offers county more state inmates BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Mississippi Department of Corrections is oﬀering Alcorn County the opportunity to house more state inmates, although the daily reimbursement for the new prisoners will

be at a reduced rate. With the county looking to bolster the finances at the regional correctional facility, it’s an oﬀer the Board of Supervisors welcomed. MDOC will continue to pay the county $29.74 per day per inmate for

the contractual minimum of 240 inmates and will pay $20 per inmate per day for any inmates above the contractual minimum. The board on Monday apPlease see INMATES | 5

“We let them know we can hold 120 more, and we’re hoping we get at least 100 more. I think anything we get is just adding to the revenues coming in.” Sheriff Ben Caldwell

Educators learn at Industry Tour Prominent farmer

killed in accident

BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

It was an informative Monday as local educators gathered at the Alcorn County Extension service for the 2nd Annual Industry Tour for Teachers. Presented by the Advisory Board and Steering Committees of the C.A.R.E Community Foundation and the Commission on the Future of Alcorn County, this year’s tour was exceptionally well attended. Approximately 200 teachers and volunteer commission members turned out for the event which began with muffins, fruit, coﬀee and juice at 7:45 a.m. The tour focused on local career opportunities, the skills and education required to do the jobs and their potential pay scales. Industries on the 2016 tour included: Timber Products, KeyTronicsEMS, Magnolia Regional Health Center, the Northeast WIN Job Center, CM Solutions, MS Polymers, Corinthian Furniture, Avectus, Caterpillar, Geartek, Kimberly Clark Professional Products and Kimberly Clark Corporation Nonwovens. Expressing his appreciation for the day’s purpose, Greg Williams, chairman of the commisPlease see TOUR | 15

BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

KOSSUTH — A one-vehicle accident claimed the life of a prominent farmer late Sunday night. Mitchell Farms owner Douglas “Doug” Mitchell, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene when he lost control of his truck on County Road 604 just north of Kossuth High School.

zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

As school starts back this week, safety is a top priority. Although summer break for Alcorn County kids doesn’t oﬃcially end until Thursday, school began for the K-12 Corinth Warriors across the city on Monday. “We are excited to have each of our students back on all three campuses,” said Corinth School District Marketing Director Taylor Coombs. “We hope that everyone will be patient at all three schools and let everyone work out the logistics of drop oﬀ and pick up.” Coombs said teachers and administration will work their

Please see MITCHELL | 2

Widow thrilled with POW bracelet find BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Kimberly Shelton

Instructor Rhonda Mullins of Kossuth Middle School uses the threading machine to test her dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Safety tips are shared as school year begins BY ZACK STEEN

“I heard tires squealing and a crash,” said Alcorn County Sheriﬀ’s Department Chief Deputy Dusty Essary. Essary was at Kossuth Elementary School checking on sprinklers when the accident occurred just before 11 p.m. Essary responded to the scene to find Mitchell trapped inside the truck upside down.

A member of the American Legion accomplished his mission. The widow of a former POW is thrilled he did. When Bobby McDaniel came across a POW bracelet while metal detecting last week near the Kimberly-Clark Road, he was determined to

return the item to a family member or friend. It took only a few days after the story appeared in the Daily Corinthian and shared on Facebook for a connection to be made. The name on the over 40-year-old bracelet was Capt. Dennis Wilkinson. The Please see BRACELET | 2

People of the Crossroads Pat Daniel, Corinth

hardest to make it as easy as possible in the coming days. “Everyone should be extremely observant when driving in the school zones,” she added. “Students are adjusting at each campus to the way things work and we hope everyone will be on the look out for them. Also take extra caution with the school buses and be aware of them loading, unloading and stopping.” The Mississippi Department of Transportation also recently released back-toschool safety tips. When dropping oﬀ, don’t park alongside another parked vehicle. Doing so

Staff photo by Zack Steen

“We’re always working,” said Pat Daniel, who along with her husband, James, has owned SMC Recycling for the last 18 years. With four locations in Corinth, Selmer, Tennessee, Booneville and Tupelo, they stay quite busy. Daniel’s downtime is spent with her three grown children, Zach, Grace and Ally. “We spend a lot of time with our grandchild Abby, as well,” said Daniel. The couple, married for 35 years, also owns Hillandale Golf Course in Corinth. “We are really enjoying developing Hillandale. We want to bring to back to what it used to be – to the way everyone who grew up in Corinth remembers it,” said Daniel. “It’s kinda our way of giving back to the community.”

Please see SAFETY | 5

25 years ago

10 years ago

Local Caterpillar employees win an award for Best Strategic Use of Business Television for their live telecast of “The Cat Reman Workshop” broadcast from Corinth.

ACCO Brands announces a $55 million expansion in Booneville, adding 300 new jobs.

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

2 • Tuesday, August 2, 2016 • Daily Corinthian

MITCHELL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mitchell was headed south on CR 604 when he somehow lost control of his vehicle and rolled it, according to the chief deputy. The vehicle came to rest on the opposite side of the road and was facing north on the road which is less than a quarter of a mile from the high

BRACELET CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

date – which is listed as 5-10-72 under his name – is the day he was reported missing. Nita Wilkinson – the widow of the Weapons Systems Oﬃcer – found out about the recovered bracelet and contacted McDaniel on July 29. Melissa and Harrison Smith, friends of her children, saw the story and sent it to them via Facebook. “It made everyone’s day,” said Nita, who recently celebrated her 70th birthday. “I called Bobby and we had a nice long chat.” “One way or the other I was going to find a family member,” added McDaniel. “When she called, I almost started crying and I am not a crier.” McDaniel had received possible numbers for the Wilkinson children, but had yet to get in touch with anyone after making a few calls. Dennis and Nita met in his hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida. They both went onto college at the University of Florida. “He was my best friend,” said Nita via telephone Monday. “I am thankful for what Bobby did and for the story being shared … it proves things like this can change lives.” Nita still has a box of

school. Essary went to a nearby home and a tractor was brought back to lift the truck. “Members of the Kossuth Volunteer Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to pop the door and get him out,” said Essary. “The fire department and witnesses were a big help.”

Visitation for Mitchell is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Tuesday at Kossuth Baptist Church. All other arrangements are pending with Magnolia Funeral Home. The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors observed a moment of silence for the Mitchell family during their Monday meeting.

“One way or the other I was going to find a family member. When she called, I almost started crying and I am not a crier.” Bobby McDaniel letters and things Dennis sent her through the years. She will let their children – Doug Wilkinson and Carie Majer – decide what to do with the box and the bracelet. “They both have done really well for themselves,” added their mother. Doug followed in the footsteps of his father and joined the Air Force. He retired after serving 20 years. “This could be the opportunity to do a display in Dennis’ hometown,” said Nita, who now lives in Shalimar, Florida. The bracelets, created by a California student group called Voices in Vital America, were popular in the 1970s. Those who wore the bracelets vowed to wear them until the soldier named on the bracelet, or their remains, were returned to America. “We all had one with Dennis’ name on it,” said Nita who has kept her bracelet. “It was a fabulous thing and I know everyone had one.” The bracelets, created in May of 1970, were sold for $2.50 and $3. Between 1970 and 1976, approximately five million bracelets were distributed.

Dennis Wilkinson was part of the LINEBACKER offensive in the spring of 1972, according to the POW Network. The offensive objective was to keep weapons of war out of North Vietnam. On the first strike day, the entire force encountered heavy concentrations of anti-aircraft fire and 16 MiGs were seen. Three of the MiGs were downed, but the Air Force lost an air crew. An F4E flown by Capt. Jeffrey L. Harris and Weapons Systems Officer Capt. Dennis E. Wilkinson exploded and crashed. The Air Force had reason to believe the two escaped the crippled plane and declared them both Missing in Action. Neither Wilkinson or Harris were among 591 Americans released from a Hanoi prison in 1973. In 1978, Wilkinson’s remains were returned when U.S. Congressman “Sonny” Montgomery led a muchmaligned delegation to Hanoi to determine whether any American POWs remained in Vietnam. “It is so unbelievable and I’m really happy,” said Nita. “It is a small world after all.”

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Today in History Today is Tuesday, Aug. 2, the 215th day of 2016. There are 151 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Aug. 2, 1776, members of the Continental Congress began attaching their signatures to the Declaration of Independence.

On this date: In 1934, German President Paul von Hindenburg died, paving the way for Adolf Hitler’s complete takeover. In 1939, Albert Einstein signed a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging creation of an atomic weapons research program. President Roosevelt signed the Hatch Act, which prohibited civil service employees from taking an active part in political campaigns. In 1943, during World War II, U.S. Navy boat PT-109, commanded by Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy, sank after being rammed in the middle of the night by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri off the Solomon Islands. Two crew members were killed. In 1964, the destroyer USS Maddox suffered light damage during a skirmish with North Vietnamese patrol torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin. (This and an alleged second incident two days later led to congressional approval of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that propelled America deep into war.) In 1974, former White House counsel John W. Dean III was sentenced to one to four years in prison for obstruction of justice in the Watergate coverup. (Dean ended up serving four months.) In 1985, 137 people were killed when Delta Air Lines Flight 191, a Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, crashed while attempting to land at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, seizing control of the oil-rich emirate. (The Iraqis were later driven out in Operation Desert Storm.)

Local/Region Across the Region

Iuka

Tupelo

Iuka man charged with burglary

Mayor relieved to have safe protest

IUKA — The Tishomingo Sheriff’s Department responded to a 911 call on July 22 of a burglary at a residence close to the Aqua Yacht Harbor area of Tishomingo County. According to the victim, the alleged suspect entered into the residence and assaulted the victim while there. It was determined through the initial investigation that the victim and the alleged suspect had a prior relationship with each other. Deputies were able to find the alleged suspect close to the victim’s residence where he was brought to the Tishomingo County Jail. Jerry Dale Phippen, 55, of Iuka, was charged with burglary of a dwelling and had a bond set at $30.000 for the charge. Phippen also faces misdemeanor charges in relation to violating a protection order.

TUPELO — While some cities experienced catastrophe during protests, Mayor Shelton was relieved to have a calm Saturday, reports WTVA. He said, “The most important thing is that everyone went home safe to their families. The law enforcement went home safe, the demonstrators went home safe, and our citizens our large went home safe.” He said the safety came with planning. Event organizers took steps to minimize any potential conflict. They set up roadblocks to separate the two groups of protesters and they prohibited them from chanting at each other. The steps were appreciated by locals, as they breathed a sigh of relief. Melvin Dancy said, “Yea I was glad, you know, that everything went the way it was suppose to have went.”

Corinth Corinth man pleads guilty in Walmart theft

Starkville

FLORENCE, Ala. — A Corinth man involved in the theft of a television from a Florence, Ala., Walmart in 2015 has been placed on probation for three years after pleading guilty to the allegations, according to the Florence Times-Daily. Reports say James Michael Gadbaw, 26, 1411 Old Highway 45, Corinth, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft of property during recent court proceedings in Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Mike Jones’ courtroom. According to a plea agreement, Gadbaw was sentenced to 22 months, which was suspended, and he was place on probation for 36 months. Court officials said as long as Gadbaw follows the terms of the probation, he will not have to serve a sentence. Police said Gadbaw was arrested May 10, 2015, in connection with the theft of the televisions. Florence police detective Sgt. Scott Perkins said the theft took place April 2, 2015, at the Walmart on Hough Road. Reports indicate Gadbaw, with the help of another man, loaded up a big screen television in a buggy and wheeled it out of the store. Gadbaw also faces similar charges in Colbert County, where he is accused of doing the same thing at the Wal-Mart in Muscle Shoals. He has been indicted on second-degree theft of property, and third-degree robbery charges in Colbert County.

MSU issues popular game safety tips STARKVILLE — As the mobile game Pokémon Go continues to grow in popularity, Mississippi State University students, employees and visitors are encouraged to use caution when playing the game on and off campus. MSU Dean of Students Thomas Bourgeois said players should remember to use common sense while pursuing Pokémon by avoiding restricted areas and keeping player safety in mind. He also advised players of the augmented realitybased game to stay hydrated and not overexert themselves while playing in hot weather. Pokémon Go, launched earlier this month by Niantic, allows players to catch Pokémon through an augmented reality interface on their phones in their surroundings. The game also includes gyms and Pokéstops at various locations where users can battle each other. The MSU campus has many gyms and Pokéstops, which has drawn people to areas all over campus while playing the game. “I think it’s a good way to get students out moving around campus and getting familiar with campus and all the different venues,” Bourgeois said. “Anytime you can get students up and moving, it’s a good thing.” Although players enjoy the

game for a wide variety of reasons, it is designed to showcase interesting landmarks and features of any area, including the MSU campus. Alan Burns, a research associate at MSU’s Social Science Research Center, helped mark campus and Starkville points of interest used in Pokémon Go while playing Niantic’s Pokémon Go predecessor, Ingress. In Ingress, players submitted points of interest as portals in the game, usually providing background information about what made a location unique or significant. Many of those same portals were then used by Niantic as gyms or Pokéstops in Pokémon Go. “If you went into a new town, you might not necessarily know where all of the cool murals and statues and sights to see are, but if you were playing Ingress, you could bring it up and know there was something interesting one block over because there’s a portal there,” Burns said, noting that the same logic now applies to Pokémon Go. When MSU senior biological sciences major Marissa Gonzalez recently was taking a break from her summer schedule to play Pokémon Go, she said she has learned about different sites on campus, such as the YMCA Building. The 102-yearold building, constructed with funding from John D. Rockefeller now is a virtual gym in Pokémon Go. Gonzalez recommended the game for incoming freshmen as a way to get to know the campus and socialize. Burns, who provides public relations and communication support to the SSRC, said the game can have positive benefits for organizations and businesses. For just over $1 an hour, players can put out lures, which brings more Pokémon into a specific area. In addition to luring Pokémon, the lures also can bring customers or event attendees looking to catch Pokémon into an area who may not otherwise have been there. Although the lures have positive uses, Bourgeois noted that those that wish to do harm could potentially use lures to draw players to an isolated or unsafe location. Although there have not been any Pokémon-related incidents on campus, Bourgeois emphasized that students should use good judgment and avoid isolated areas, especially late at night. Additionally, players should be mindful of their surroundings and avoid playing the game in a way that interrupts day-to-day campus functions.

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TUPELO — When many Northeast Mississippi students return to the classroom this week, they will see an increased emphasis on preparing them for their future careers. According to The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, career readiness has become a major focus in kindergarten through 12th-grade schools over the last few years. Now, more new initiatives will be rolled out at both the state and local levels during the upcoming school year. The effort is not new in Northeast Mississippi. The CREATE Foundation and Toyota Mississippi have played a part locally by providing funding for various initiatives and with the creation of the Imagine the Possibilities career expo last fall. The expo allowed more than 3,200 eighth graders from 33 schools to spend a day exploring careers through hands-on experiences at the BancorpSouth Arena. CREATE, through the Toyota Wellspring Fund, will roll out new grant programs this year. The Mississippi Department of Education also will kick off new career education initiatives this year, along with the expansion of high school diploma options to include five certificates. The movement isn’t just taking place in Mississippi, though. James Stone, director of the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education, said a national interest in career and technical education has really been generated in the last four years. “It’s driven in large part by the past 30 years of preparing kids to go to traditional colleges, and that hasn’t been working,” Stone said. “It is, nationally, something that has sort of taken hold.” The shift in thinking has moved from “college for all,” Stone said, to “college and career readiness for all.” Charles Garrett, retired New Albany Schools superintendent and senior consultant for CREATE, said he has seen area superintendents become much more supportive of career education in the four years since he’s been retired. Superintendents like Todd English, of Booneville Schools, are realizing that career readiness starts with exposure. English said many of his students simply aren’t aware of what their choices are.

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Corinth, Miss.

Income tax looms in budget review JACKSON — As legislative leaders’ plan to review taxes and spending kicks off this week, it’s still unclear what results the effort might produce. House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, and Lt. Gov. Tate Jeff Amy Reeves have made comments about shifting from taxing inColumnist come to taxing consumption. Such a shift could make poor- and middle-class Mississippians pay for a larger share of state services while easing the tax burden on the highest earners. But Gunn also talks about wanting “a more solid stream of revenue.” In a world where gasoline demand has never recovered from the recession and weakness in sales tax collections is one indicator of the shift of purchases to internet retailers, Mississippi’s existing consumption taxes could produce less revenue over the long term. Pressed last week after his Neshoba County Fair speech as to whether he’s trying to eliminate the state income tax, Reeves said he’d like to consider it, but maybe not immediately. “I do think it makes more sense over the long term to have more user fees,” said Reeves, a Republican. Another motivation for the tax-and-spend review is the failed effort earlier this year to increase taxes for roads and bridges. The budget review could exist mainly to prove to tax-averse Republicans that it’s not possible to squeeze the $400 million or so needed for road work out of the existing state budget. There’s certainly an effort to build support for more highway spending. After many Republicans balked at raising fuel taxes for roads last year, House Transportation Committee Chairman Charles Busby, R-Pascagoula, and Mississippi Department of Transportation leaders are giving a series of tours to lawmakers statewide to show off the underbelly of the state highway system — from aging bridges that are concrete on top and wooden below — to potholed and patched asphalt, to places where landslides have threatened interstates. MDOT chronicled July 19 and July 20 trips on its Twitter account, and Busby said more are planned around the state. As part of a roads push, Busby and House leaders tried last year to float a plan that included raising the state sales tax from 7 percent to 9 percent, while dropping most sales taxes on groceries. They also proposed changing the current 18-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel to a 10 percent sales tax, with a floor of at least 20 cents per gallon and a ceiling of no more than 30 cents. The plan never won majority support and never emerged from private meetings, so it’s unclear what else it included. It’s unclear whether these field trips will change the minds of lawmakers who balked at raising the hundreds of millions in yearly revenue that road advocates say is needed for Mississippi to halt the decay of its roads and bridges. Gunn, Reeves and Bryant didn’t focus on the situation last week during their speeches at the Neshoba County Fair. There was some discussion on roads among the speeches. Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall made his annual pitch for more money, urging lawmakers to raise taxes. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is time. It is time to properly repair what we have and build what we need,” said Hall, a Republican. “Yes, it’s going to cost money, and it’s not going to fall from the sky.” Rep. Scott Bounds, R-Philadelphia, voiced only qualified support, though. “Just throwing money at it doesn’t fix the problem,” said Bounds, a candidate to become the next chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “We have to have a plan. I support a reasonable plan that will allow us to fix our roads and bridges at a time we can do that.” (Daily Corinthian columnist Jeff Amy is a writer for the Associated Press based in Jackson.)

Prayer for today Loving Father, help me to guard my inclinations. May I be able to appreciate that though I may be restless from ambition, I also may be restless through discontent. Correct my life, that my desires may meet the true demands of my soul. Strengthen me with the power of calmness, that “I may go softly all my years,” even though I walk through the bitterness of sorrow. Amen.

A verse to share “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” —1 John 2:16

‘Cooperation’ shaping up nicely for Epps OXFORD — As her client entered a not guilty plea, Jackson attorney Lisa Ross hit the nail on the head. She used “shakedown” to describe the flavor of Mississippi’s unraveling corrections outrage. Exactly. The judicial wheeling and dealing continues. The big fly may avoid being swatted. In November 2014, Christopher Epps, respected by his peers, the press and public, suddenly retired as head of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The next day he appeared in federal court to face indictments charging dozens of corrupt activities — bribery, money laundering, conspiracy and tax evasion. In February 2015, Epps admitted guilt to one count of bribery and one count of tax evasion. His sentencing was delayed, then delayed, then delayed again and delayed some more. It is currently “indefinite.” As his attorney, John Collette explains, Epps has fully cooperated since and perhaps a bit before his own indictment. In more direct terms, he’s been providing evidence leading to the indictment of others who bilked taxpayers out of un-

told millions of dollars for the privilege of doing business with state government. Charlie At this Mitchell point, it appears anyColumnist one who provided even a nickel’s worth of goods or services to MDOC, which has an annual budget approaching $500 million, likely padded their bills to include the cost of payoﬀs. Ross indicated that was the case with her client, Jackson physician Carl Reddix. The indictment says Dr. Reddix gave cash bribes and kickbacks to Epps in the range of $8,000 to $9,500 monthly until October 2014, the month before Epps was indicted. In exchange, Dr. Reddix’s company, Health Assurance LLC, retained contracts worth $29 million to provide medical services at four prisons in the state. (For perspective, $29 million would provide pay and benefits to 1,000 corrections oﬃcers for a year.) Whenever scandals like this erupt, outsiders tend to wonder who played the role

of villain? Was a well-meaning official corrupted by bribes dangled by unscrupulous vendors of goods and services? Or were otherwise honest business folk told to pay up if they wanted to feed at the trough? Now, nearly two years after the Epps indictment and after a steady stream of vendor indictments, it certainly appears Epps was not sitting passively in his Jackson office being plagued by visitors who conspired to lead him down the path of illegality. A far more likely scenario, widely known in the business community and in the halls of government, is shakedown. Want a state contract? Find out who has to be paid off and add it to the bill. Yes, any and all who pay bribes and kickbacks are criminals. They could have walked away. They could have gone to the FBI or gone public. They chose to go with the flow, play along and give “gratuities.” So one by one they wait for the U.S. marshals to knock at their door and offer a pair of silver bracelets to wear down to the courthouse. Collette has been trans-

parent about Epps’ motive: A lenient sentence in exchange for his client list.It gives pause to ask whether this truly serves justice. When Epps was charged, Gov. Phil Bryant immediately formed a group to find out how it was that one state employee had so much power over who received the state’s business. It was a good panel that made good recommendations that have been enacted. But let’s be clear: The previous way of doing business was widely known. That said, there’s a stain on all who manage the finances of this cash-strapped state. All waste is regrettable, but somehow it’s worse to know corruption has cost Mississippi taxpayers untold millions at the same time services are being cut. Bryant took action, but there’s been an aura of silence elsewhere in state officialdom. One more thing: “Eliminate waste and fraud” is a familiar refrain in tight times. But in this case, once again Mississippi has left it to the feds. (Charlie Mitchell is a Mississippi journalist. Write to him at cmitchell43@yahoo. com.)

We don’t need to like them All politics is theater, but some parts are more theatrical than others. The nominating conventions have become pure theater. Once upon a time the conventions chose candidates for the presidency, but now we have primaries and caucuses to do that. The conventions could easily be dispensed with. They are vastly expensive and can be pretty darn boring. But they still exist because, like theater, they entertain. They are live events where the most beautiful people in our society – the network anchors and TV reporters – parade before us. Simon Rosenberg, who runs a left-wing think tank, told reporters recently: “I think part of what’s going on in this election is that Americans are bored with politics, and at least Donald Trump is interesting. What the Clinton campaign has to do is not make him interesting but make him threatening.” That both Trump and Hillary Clinton have the highest negative ratings among those who ran for president in both major parties this year seems to be telling us something. Maybe it’s: We don’t need to like them. We just need to get a kick out of them. The Republicans had their opportunity to get a kick out

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Mark Boehler

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of Clinton last week. And how fitting it was for an actress, America Ferrera, Roger to have one Simon of the more memorable Columnist lines in Philadelphia: “Donald’s not making America great again. He’s making America hate again.” But the Democrats choreographed their four days wisely. Powerful speeches in the beginning and then some compelling life stories and then Hillary’s speech. The final night seemed a flop until about 9 p.m., when a man named Khizr Khan, a Muslim immigrant whose son died saving the lives of 10 of his fellow soldiers in Iraq, came to the stage. Khan took a slim volume from his suit coat pocket and addressed Trump: “Have you even read the United States Constitution? ... “You have sacrificed nothing – and no one. ... We are stronger together. ... I ask every patriot American, all Muslim immigrants and all immigrants to not take this election lightly. ... On Election Day, take the time to get out and vote. ... “Hillary Clinton was right when she called my son ‘the best of America.’ If it was up

to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America.” And he never would have gone to Iraq as a U.S. soldier and saved 10 lives. Clinton was the star of the evening, of course, and though her voice lacked the power and richness of either her husband’s or Barack Obama’s, it was plenty good enough – especially for moments such as this one, when she said: “My mother, Dorothy, was abandoned by her parents as a young girl. She ended up on her own at 14, working as a housemaid. She was saved by the kindness of others. Her first-grade teacher saw she had nothing to eat at lunch and brought extra food to share the entire year. The lesson she passed on to me years later stuck with me: No one gets through life alone.” And that made it easier to understand Clinton and what drives her. “In the end, it comes down to what Donald Trump doesn’t get: America is great because America is good,” she said. “So enough with the bigotry and the bombast. Donald Trump’s not oﬀering real change. He’s oﬀering empty promises.” Some Trump people thought facing a woman would be easy. They thought wrong.

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“Do you really think Donald Trump has the temperament to be commander in chief?” Clinton said. “Donald Trump can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. He loses his cool at the slightest provocation – when he’s gotten a tough question from a reporter, when he’s challenged in a debate, when he sees a protester at a rally. ... Imagine him in the Oval Oﬃce facing a real crisis. A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.” So much for Trump. She concluded: “I know that at a time when so much seems to be pulling us apart, it can be hard to imagine how we’ll ever pull together. But I’m here to tell you tonight progress is possible. I know because I’ve seen it in the lives of people across America who get knocked down and get right back up.” A few moments later, she was finished and the roars began. Her running mate came out on the stage, and then Bill Clinton came out and gave her a hug that seemed as if it would go on forever. And she didn’t seem to mind that one bit. (Roger Simon is chief political columnist of politico. com, an award-winning journalist and a New York Times best selling author.)

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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 â€˘ Tuesday, August 2, 2016 â€˘ 5

Deaths Lavon Essary

A Celebration of Life service for Lavon Dean Essary, 70, of Corinth is set for 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Her family will express their love and appreciation for Lavon through words, stories and memories during the service. Interment will be at Forrest Memorial Park. Lavon died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo after an extended illness. She was born January 16, 1946 in Corinth to the late Carl and Ava Dean Wilkins. She was of the Baptist faith and attended Corinth and Kossuth schools. She was a retired hairdresser who enjoyed gardening, was an avid racing fan and enjoyed all other sports. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandsons Joshua and Alex who were the light of her life. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her infant sons, Manuel and Kevin;

Effie Mae McClintock

Funeral services for EďŹƒe Mae McClintock, 91, of Michie, Tenn. are set for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2 at Magnolia Funeral Home with burial in Forrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until service time Tuesday at Magnolia Funeral Home. Mrs. McClintock died Sunday, July 31, 2016, at Magno-

a brother, Marvin Wilkins. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Kenneth Essary, her daughter and best friend; Denise Essary Brooks & husband Chris of Bullard, Texas; grandsons, Joshua and Alex Tull of Corinth. Also left to Essary cherish her memory are her beloved sisters-in-law; Jane Rowsey of Rienzi, Sue Crum and Debbie Essary of Corinth; her cousin, Judy Bobbitt of Tyler, TX all of whom she shared a sister bond. She also leaves best friends; Jennifer and Ronnie Vernon of The Woodlands, Texas; special nieces and nephews; numerous cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Joshua Tull, Alex Tull, Chris Brooks, Andy Essary, Ronnie Vernon, Dennis McGee, JeďŹ€ lia Regional Health Center. He was born Dec. 16, 1924 and was retired as an inspector for the Wurlitzer Co. after 26 years of McClintock service. She was a member of Michie First Baptist Church.

INMATES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

proved an addendum to its contract with MDOC to make the new arrangement possible. â€œWeâ€™re not guaranteed on how many weâ€™re going to get,â€? said SheriďŹ€ Ben Caldwell. â€œWe let them know we can hold 120 more, and weâ€™re hoping we get at least 100 more. I think anything we get is just adding to the revenues coming in.â€? The facility will have some initial costs for clothing and mats, but he does not anticipate having to hire more staďŹ€ to manage the additional prisoners. Prior to the reduction at the regionals, the facility held about 300 state inmates.

The oďŹ€er from MDOC comes following the announcement that it will close the privately managed Walnut Grove Correctional Facility in Leake County in September due to budget constraints and the prison population. The 900 prisoners there will go elsewhere in the system. Walnut Grove opened in 2001 and has been run by Management & Training Corporation since 2012 with a current annual contract cost of $14.6 million. Its closing follows the reduction in population at the 15 regional jails, the closure of four community work centers and the end of the paid Joint State County Work Program.

SAFETY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

blocks visibility for other children and vehicles. Donâ€™t load or unload children across the street from their school and if possible, carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school. Donâ€™t block crosswalks when stopped at red lights or while waiting to make a turn. This often forces pedestrians to walk around the vehicle and enter the path of traďŹƒc. Always yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections, especially when flashers are blinking in a school zone. Always stop for crossing guards and patrol of-

Services to celebrate the life of Charles E. Shipman, 88, of Corinth will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at McPeters Funeral Home with Bro. Warren Jones oďŹƒciating. Burial with military honors will follow at the Corinth National Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at McPeters Funeral Home.

Charles passed on Saturday July 30, 2016, at his residence. He was born in Hardin County on September 7, 1927, to the late Edgar Charlie and Cleo Phillips Shipman. Charles was a graduate of Kossuth School and was a longtime member of Holly Baptist Church. He was a proud veteran of WWII and served in the MaShipman rine Corp. and the U.S. Army. At the age of 17 he joined the Marines and was stationed in Germany where his unit was responsible for testing the atomic bomb. After his service with the Marines he then joined the U.S. Army in order to return to Germany and worked as a border patrol agent. After his military service Charles had a successful career in construction. He traveled the United States and abroad building Holiday Innâ€™s and

other large hotels. When he retired from construction he started raising cattle with his good friend Steve Thompson. Charles was an active member for over 50 years with the American Legion where he received many honors and awards. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Briggs. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Edna Shipman of Corinth; two sons, Mike Shipman (Sherra) of Michie, Tenn. and Mark Shipman (Patricia) of Kennesaw, GA; grandchildren, Chris Shipman, Bradley Shipman, Nicole Shipman, Julia Shipman, Ashley Shipman; step-grandchildren, Sam Devine, Rachael Devine, Rebecca McKinney; great-grandchild, Caylee Shipman and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Condolences may be left at www.mcpetersfuneraldirectors.com McPeters Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her son, Gerald McClintock (Donna) of Michie, Tenn.; her daughters, Martha Brasfield (Bob) of Ramer, Tenn.., Charlotte Harris (Randall) of Williamson, Ga. and Sheila Davis (Timmy) of Michie, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Amber Davis, Amanda Davis, Clay Harris, Thomas Harris, Randy Brasfield (Mary) and Christy Seay (Ray); and six, great-grandchildren,

Michael Brasfield, Logan Brasfield, Lindsay Brasfield, Tallen McCrary, Taylor McCrary, and Alyssa Seay. She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Thomas Randolph McClintock; her father, Arbin Lamberth and mother, Maggie Lucille Simmons Lamberth; her brothers, Billie Lamberth, Terry Lamberth and Charles Lamberth

and sister, Miriam Rinehart. Bro. Thomas Magors II and Bro. Malcolm Garrett will oďŹƒciate.

Henderson and Rusty Henderson. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home and on Thursday 11 a.m. until service time. The family will also receive friends in the lobby immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers Lavonâ€™s family request contributions to be sent to the American Cancer Society, Liberty Hill Cemetery Fund or a charity of their choice. Condolences may be left at memorialcorinth.com

Charles E. Shipman

Grand jury doesnâ€™t indict Tupelo officer BY JEFF AMY Associated PressÂ

JACKSONÂ â€” Grand jurors on Monday cleared a northeast Mississippi police oďŹƒcer of wrongdoing in a June 18 shooting that left a man dead. District Attorney John Weddle told reporters that a Lee County grand jury declined to indict Tupelo OďŹƒcer Tyler Cook in the shooting of Antwun â€œRonnieâ€? Shumpert. An autopsy found Shumpert, who died at a hospital, was shot four times. â€œThe grand jury found OďŹƒcer Tyler Cook acted lawfully and has cleared OďŹƒcer Cook of any wrongdoing,â€? Weddle said. Cook is white. Shump-

ert was black. Shumpertâ€™s family members have said the shooting was unjustified, seeking $35 million in damages in a federal lawsuit against the city. Theyâ€™ve also called for a federal civil rights investigation into Shumpertâ€™s death and the broader practices of the Tupelo Police Department. â€œWhile we are incredibly disappointed that the oďŹƒcer who killed Antwun â€˜Ronnieâ€™ Shumpert will not be charged with a crime by the state of Mississippi, we will continue to monitor the investigations currently being conducted by the FBI and Department of Justice,â€? said Carlos Moore, a lawyer for Shumpertâ€™s family.

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Hundreds of people seeking changes in the cityâ€™s police department protested Saturday in Tupelo. Weddle refuted claims by Shumpertâ€™s family and their attorney that Shumpert had suďŹ€ered improper violence at the hands of Cook and a police dog. â€œThere are no wounds described in the autopsy that are consistent with a dog bite,â€? Weddle said in a news conference at the Lee County Justice Center. Weddle said physical evidence showed Shumpert was shot four times at close range, consistent with Cookâ€™s version of events that Shumpert had emerged from under a house and

attacked the oďŹƒcer, leading Cook to shoot Shumpert when the oďŹƒcer feared for his life. Weddle also refuted claims that Shumpert had been bitten in the groin by Cookâ€™s police dog, saying that was a gunshot wound. He also said cuts on Shumpertâ€™s back came from eďŹ€orts to remove the bullets and were not seen in pictures taken at the scene. Finally, he refuted Mooreâ€™s claims that he had found an eyewitness who had recorded video, saying the woman in question was held by a police oďŹƒcer near the scene of the original traffic stop and could not have seen the altercation in the backyard of a house.

Spiritual Collapse

ficers. Donâ€™t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way. Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians. Never pass a bus from behind and be sure to stop if the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children, so stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus. According to the National Safe Routes to School Program, more children are hit by cars near schools than any other locations.

â€œTerrific Tuesdaysâ€? in August @ 6:30PM

Doug Mitchell

Douglas â€œDougâ€? Mitchell, 51, of Kossuth died on Sunday, July 31, 2016, in Kossuth. Visitation is from 5 to 9 p.m. at Kossuth Baptist Church. Arrangements are pending with Magnolia Funeral Home.

Tuesday, August 2

Tuesday, August 9

Tuesday, August 16

Â›ÇŻČąČą ÂŽÂ?Â?Čą ÂŠ Â˜Â›Â?ČŹ ÂŠÂœÂ?Â˜Â›Čą ÂŠÂ’Â›Â&#x;Â’ÂŽÂ Čą ÂŠÂ™Â?Â’ÂœÂ?Čą Â‘ÂžÂ›ÂŒÂ‘Čą

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Â›ÇŻČą Â˜Â‘Â—Â—Â˘Čą ÂžÂ—Â?ČŹ ÂŠÂœÂ?Â˜Â›Čą Â’Â›ÂœÂ?Čą ÂŠÂ™Â?Â’ÂœÂ?Čą Â‘ÂžÂ›ÂŒÂ‘Čą Â˜Â˜Â?ÂœÂ?Â˜ÂŒÂ”Čą

The apostle Paul saw what happened in the first century when men forget God. There was a spiritual collapse! And the same consequence of such forgetfulness can quickly be seen in the twenty-first century. In the wake of forgetting God came: homosexual behavior, all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, gossip, slander, hatred of God, insolence, haughtiness, boastfulness, disobedience to parents, foolishness, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. Then the apostle went on to say that those who practice such things deserve to die. Of these sins he said, â€œthey not only do such themselves but approve those who practice them.â€? There is a double condemnation here, the doing of vice, and the approval of it. Read carefully Romans 1:18-32. In our day it is not uncommon to hear people actually applauding the evil of which they should be ashamed. Paul goes on to boldy proclaim something we are reluctant to mention - the wrath of God, and his righteous judgment again such sins. Paul knew the problem, but he also knew the solution - the good news of Jesus Christ. Listen carefully as he says, â€œFor I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation ot every one who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greekâ€? (Romans 1:16) The answers we seek today are still found in the gospel which Paul preached but as Halford E. Luccock observed, â€œSo much of our gospel has laryngitis, often it cannot speak above a whisper. Sometimes the word of God becomes as dumb as a bronze Buddha, or it is inoperative in the way in which a bill in Congress is passed, and then very simply the operating clause is removed!â€? Thereâ€™s nothing in the gospel of which to be ashamed, so may God grant us the boldness of those early Christians who declared it where ever they went in spite of persecution. In doing so they turned the world upside down! (And that wouldnâ€™t hurt the world we are living in.) What Must I Do To Be Saved? 1. Hear the Gospel - Acts 15:7 2. Believe the Gospel - Mk. 16:15-16 3. Repent of Sins - Acts 17:30 4. Confess Christ - Rom. 10:9-10 5. Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins - Acts 2:38 Read your Bible - Welcome

Tuesday, August 23 Â›ÇŻČą Â‘Â’Â•Čą Â˜ÂœÂ”Â’Â—ÂœČŹ Â&#x;ÂŠÂ—Â?ÂŽÂ•Â’ÂœÂ?Čą Â’Â—Â?ÂœÂ™Â˜Â›Â?Ç°Čą Čą

Tuesday, August 30 Â›ÇŻČą Â?ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂŽČą ÂŠÂ’Â—ÂŽÂœČŹ ÂŠÂœÂ?Â˜Â›Čą ÂŽÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂžÂŽČą ÂŠÂ™Â?Â’ÂœÂ?Čą Â‘ÂžÂ›ÂŒÂ‘Čą ÂŽÂ•Â•ÂŽÂ&#x;ÂžÂŽČą Â‘Â˜Â’Â›ČąÇČą Â›ÂŒÂ‘ÂŽÂœÂ?Â›ÂŠČą

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Northside Church of Christ

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

6 • Tuesday, August 2, 2016 • Daily Corinthian

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