McNairy County Iuka man facing numerous charges in Selmer.
Tishomingo County New grease trap ordinance passed in Iuka.
Prentiss County NE students helped by multi-touch textbooks.
Page 3A
Page 3A
Page 3A
Tuesday Aug. 18,
2015
75 cents
Daily Corinthian
T-storms Today
Tonight
82
73
60% chance of thunderstorms
Vol. 119, No. 197
Inmate workers moved
• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections
Bryant announces industry expansion BY BRANT SAPPINGTON
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Questions remain for the inmate labor situation after the Mississippi Department of Corrections recently moved the joint state workers to the state-run Community Work Center. MDOC moved the inmates despite the Board of Supervisors voting in its Aug. 3 meeting to continue housing the inmates in the county’s facility for inmate workers without reimbursement from the state, as long as the state was going to continue covering the inmates’ medical costs. The Joint State Work Program no longer yields reimbursements as of Aug. 1. Sheriff Charles Rinehart said the situation has been “utter confusion” and could yet change again. For now, the agencies that depend on inmate labor are still able to get them at the CWC. “The street department is now getting five,” said Corinth Street Commissioner Philip Verdung. “When we dealt with the CWC prior to the joint center, we got between 20 and 28.” After the CWC was shifted Please see INMATES | 2A
Five eyed for board vacancy
More than 60 new jobs are coming to the region with the expansion of Baldwyn foam producer FXI. Gov. Phil Bryant joined with local and company officials Monday in announcing the project, which represents an investment by the company of more than $700,000 in the plant in Baldwyn’s industrial park. “These are jobs that will help change lives. Someone will have a job and they will have the opportunity to live the American dream,” said Bryant. The company is one of the nation’s leading producers of polyurethane foam and the expansion will bring new equipment to boost production of foam products for the healthcare industry. Kevin Partlow, vice president of operations for FXI, said the company is excited about the growth and grateful for the support of state and local leaders. “We continue to be pleased with the support we have of the facility here and the ability we have to reinvest and add jobs,” he said. Partlow praised the local workforce as a major factor in the decision to expand in Baldwyn. Prentiss County Board of
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
entire area. “Not only is good for the families that get jobs, it’s good for the town,” he said. Baldwyn Mayor Michael James expressed appreciation for the company’s commitment and for all those involved at all levels in making the expansion possible. “Economic development is a team sport,” noted the gov-
The vacancy for supervisor in Alcorn County’s Second District continues. In Monday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Board President Lowell Hinton said there are five people that the county will consider for the post left vacant by the resignation of Dal Nelms in the wake of his legal troubles. The names of those under consideration were not announced. None is a candidate in the current election for the post. Fourth District Supervisor Gary Ross said he hadn’t yet heard the names, and Jon Newcomb, who is running for the post, pressed for them to be made public. “Since things have wound up the way they are, in my personal opinion, the taxpayers and the voters deserve it out there,” he said. Board Attorney Bill Davis said the law does not prohibit disclosing the names, but there are factors to consider such as public embarrassment if a person is named but then not appointed. The board later set a special meeting for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 4, to act on the appointment. The appointee will likely
Please see JOBS | 6A
Please see VACANCY | 6A
Staff photo by Brant Sappington
FXI Vice President of Operations Kevin Partlow (left) talks with Gov. Phil Bryant about the company’s expansion plans at its Baldwyn facility. Supervisors President Mike Kesler said the county is appreciative of the company’s investment. “We’re very proud of FXI and its employees,” said Kesler. “We appreciate the expansion here today and we appreciate the jobs.” Kesler said the benefits of new jobs go beyond those who will be working at the facility by boosting the economy of the
B&G Club aims to get parents into reading BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Boys & Girls Club is getting everyone involved in reading. Including parents. “Reading Parent” is scheduled to kickoff Monday, Sept. 14 at the club on Clark Street. “There shouldn’t be an age limit in helping people,” said unit director Trecee Grayson. “Children want to do what they see their parents do and our goal is to get them involved in reading.” Grayson plans to use the John C. Maxwell book “Be a People Person” in the kickoff to the adult reading program. “We will start at 6 p.m. and do a chapter a week for 15 weeks,” she said. Those who take part in the
program will be provided all the material at no cost. “It’s not something they have to pre-read at home,” said Grayson. “The reading can take place the night of the study.” The program is being done in the newly renovated Educational Center next to the club building. “Our hope is to get parents active in reading,” said Grayson. “We aren’t going to turn anyone away … it would be awesome to get 50 parents.” Maxwell, an American author and pastor, has written numerous books focusing on leadership. Some of his over 70 books include “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth,” “The 5 Levels of Leadership,” “Ev-
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Please see READING | 2A
Unit Director Trecee Grayson gets the Boys & Girls Club Educational Center ready to host “Reading Parent” in September.
25 years ago
10 years ago
A dedication is held for the new Alcorn County Chancery Building at the corner of Waldron and Fillmore streets. State Auditor Pete Johnson is the featured speaker for the event marking the official move from the courthouse to the former Security Bank building.
Voters get their first look at new electronic voting machines as Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell displays a sample model at his office. Caldwell says the county will receive 59 of the machines in January for use in all local elections.
the
Signof
PROGRESS
Doug Ann Michael Rick Jumper Hardin McCreary Jones
Neil Paul
Marea John Wilson Hayes
2782 S Harper Rd www.jumperrealty.com