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Daily Corinthian
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Vol. 117, No. 189
• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • 2 sections
Leaders consider budget requests BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Numerous budget requests came before city and county leaders this week as a new fiscal year looms. The city and county governments will finalize their budgets in September.
A look at some of the requests: ■ The Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is seeking an increase in its monthly allotment of tourism tax funding from $42,000 to $45,000. Crossroads Arena is poised to receive $200,000
from the tourism budget, down from $250,000 in the current fiscal year. The tourism budget anticipates total income of $588,570. CVB board member Sandy Mitchell told the Board of Mayor and Aldermen it has been a challenging seven months for
Celebration of Excellence in Education
the newly installed board and that they have worked hard to stretch the dollars. The CVB expects to have $13,500 left at the end of the current fiscal year. ■ Crossroads Arena Manager Tammy Genovese echoed the $200,000 request. “We are trying to build a fi-
nancial model that will help us be self-sustaining,” she said. ■ The Corinth School District had not yet adopted its budget but will request no change in the millage rate designated for schools, said Superintendent Please see BUDGET | 3
Alcorn Narcotics Unit collars man for meth tion from individuals about him selling meth in both the city and county,” said the unit’s Darrell Hopkins. According to Hopkins, McIerran is expected to face more charges in the next couple of days. McIerran remains in custody at the Alcorn County Justice Complex on a $20,000 bond set by Justice Court Judge Jimmy McGee.
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A 56-year-old Corinth man faces drug charges after being arrested by the Alcorn Narcotics Unit. Clyde Ellis McIerran, of 20 County Road 330, has been charged with the sell of methamphetamine after officers purchased the drug several times from the individual. “We had received informa-
VFW Post members avoid scam of woman representatives of TS2,” said the company in a statement on its site. “Please be advised that these communications are fraudulent and are not sent from anyone within or affiliated with TS2 … these messages are a scam and should be treated as such.” TS2 outlined the scam by stating a woman usually receives information in email that can be online with husband or family in Iraq or Afghanistan via satellite connection. All she needs to do is only pay some amount for private persons in Canada, U.S., Nigeria, mostly via Western Union or credit card. Chartres then called Rita a second time. “We wanted to let her know it was scam,” he said. “But she is convinced it is okay and had received confirmation the phone had already received paid minutes.” The woman informed the men’s auxiliary president the money had been sent, via Western Union, to a Wanda Sparks of Bessemer, Ala. “How anyone can believe a confirmation was achieved from Afghanistan that quickly is beyond my reasoning,” said Chartres.
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Corinth Superintendent Lee Childress and Alcorn Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith join speaker Willard Daggett at the Celebration of Excellence in Education.
Daggett’s address delivers wakeup call BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The world is changing. And America’s system of education must change if the nation is to keep up with a changing world. This was part of the wakeup call given in an impassioned address this week by William R. Daggett, founder and president of the International Center for Leadership in Education. Daggett’s discussion of the failings of America’s education system and the dire need for reforms was part of Celebration of Excellence in Education, an event held to discuss the changes that are coming to the education system. As founder and chairman of the International Center for Leadership in Education, Daggett is recognized world-
wide for his proven ability to move preK-12 education systems toward more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. He has assisted hundreds of school districts with their school improvement initiatives and collaborated with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association and many other national organizations. He has spoken to hundreds of thousands of educators and education stakeholders in all 50 states. Daggett emphasized that American schools are not failing, but the world outside is changing faster than the world inside the schools. America’s students are better
educated — but worse off in the long run. The combination of a massive percentage of young people who are dependent on public assistance and record numbers of retirement age Americans is creating an unsustainable situation in America, Daggett said. Citing abysmal dropout rates, Daggett placed a great deal of the blame on America’s colleges, which seem to be more interested in filling seats and making money than educating students. “Our colleges have not become a culture of high expectations,” said Daggett. Another problem is getting students who have made it to college to finish. Please see DAGGETT | 3
Checking things out saved VFW Post 3962 from taking a costly endeavor. The local post avoided being scammed by an individual calling to get cell phone minutes added to a deployed military person after doing some investigation on its own. “It sounded like a program we would support,” said Tom Chartres, Men’s Auxiliary President of the post. “We were thinking we could incorporate the plan into our support for deployed personnel.” Chartres called a woman named Rita to find out more about the idea. All the post had to do was send money to TS2, an Internet provider for U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, via Western Union. “By researching TS2, we uncovered what appears to be a scam preying on good hearted people trying to support our military,” said Chartres. TS2 warned individuals of the possible scam on its website. “We are aware that fraudulent satellite phone and Internet offers are being transmitted via Internet by people claiming to be employees or
Farmers and Merchants Bank acquires local branches For the Daily Corinthian
BALDWYN — Farmers and Merchants Bank of Baldwyn has announced it is acquiring the three branches of SouthBank, F.S.B. serving the Corinth and the Selmer, Tenn. markets. The bank will acquire selected deposit accounts of approximately $56 million as well as the purchase of the physical branch offices. The proposed transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval and cus-
tomary closing conditions, is expected to be completed during the 4th quarter of 2013. “On behalf of the FMB Board of Directors we welcome the staff and customers of SouthBank to the FMB family and expect to provide the best in personal banking to each and every one of them,” said Paul Haynes Jr., chairman. “We look forward to becoming a part of the Farmers and Merchants Bank family and welcome
this opportunity. This transaction provides our existing customers with the added convenience of seven well-positioned banking offices throughout the Northeast Mississippi region,” said Gerard R. McLemore, president of the Mississippi Region of SouthBank, F.S.B. “We will be communicating directly with each deposit customer of SouthBank’s Corinth and Selmer, Tenn. offices with detailed information about the
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transition of their deposit accounts to Farmers and Merchants Bank,” said John D. Haynes Sr., president and CEO of Farmers and Merchants Bank. “At this time, SouthBank and Farmers and Merchants Bank customers should continue to conduct their banking business as usual, using existing branches, checks and ATM or debit cards. Following system changes and conversion, customers of SouthBank’s Corinth, and Selmer,
Tenn. offices will have an expanded offering of products and services, as well as the added convenience provided by seven branches in the heart of Northeast Mississippi,” added Haynes. Farmers and Merchants Bank is a $227 million assets financial services company providing banking and financial solutions through seven offices located in Baldwyn, Booneville (two offices), Marietta, Mantachie, Mooreville and Tupelo.
On this day in history 150 years ago President Abraham Lincoln sends a letter to Gen. U.S. Grant promoting the enlistment of negro soldiers. “I believe it is a resource which if vigorously applied now, will soon close the contest. It works doubly — weakening the enemy and strengthening us.”
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