Thursday Aug. 28,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 204
Hot, humid Today
Tonight
95
68
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • 1 section
Sales, tourism tax has solid gains BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Sales and tourism tax collections made solid gains in the latest reported month. Both taxes saw increases of about 8 percent in the midAugust deposits. Seven of 11
northeast Mississippi communities experienced gains for the month, while results were mixed across the state with a 1 percent decrease statewide. Corinth’s latest sales tax deposit is $523,393.52, compared to $484,690.06 a year earlier.
The total reflects sales made in local establishments during the month of June and includes the first few weeks of Cracker Barrel’s business in the city. It is the eighth consecutive month of positive growth for the city’s sales tax. The year-to-
date total is at $5.337 million, up 5 percent, with one more deposit to be added in the current fiscal year. The tourism tax, meanwhile, rebounded to the plus side after two months of decreases. The 2 percent tax on prepared
food and lodging generated $103,893.54, about $7,500 more than a year earlier. Despite the two prior decreases, it remains in the black for the fiscal year with a total Please see TAX | 2
Booneville fires 3 police officers BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Booneville aldermen have voted to remove three officers from the city’s police force. Officers Clay Koon, Brian Mayes and Eric White were terminated following a closed executive session of the board held Tuesday evening during
Local musicians highlight festival
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Crosswind Ministry Executive Director Bobby Capps (right) goes over the role of the ministry with BNI President Steven Eaton.
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
IUKA — Tishomingo County’s premier event, the Iuka Heritage Festival, will kick off its 27th year this Labor Day weekend in the streets and parks around downtown Iuka. “We’re looking forward to a great time at the festival this year,” said festival committee member Martha Biggs. “As always, the festival is the highlight of our end of summer celebrations in Tishomingo County.” For the first time in its history, the festival will be held on Friday and Saturday. “We’re allowing vendors to set up and sell for on Friday and Saturday,” said Biggs. “The community service event
Network group helps Crosswind BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BNI is in the business of helping others. The local Business Network International (BNI) chapter recently gave back to the community with a $3,850 charitable donation to Crosswind Ministry. “The philosophy of the chapter is the giver gains,” said incoming chapter president Lesley Raines. “BNI is not about how much money you are going to make today.” Crosswind is set to use the
donation to help students who have fallen behind in their studies. “The money will be used as scholarships to help those students of the families we serve catch up and get back on their grade level,” said Crosswind Executive Director Bobby Capps. “BNI is investing in local charities evidenced by their significant donation to Crosswind.” The local chapter will turn one in November and currently has 28 members. “The group has changed the lives of a lot folks,” said chapter
a special called meeting. Mayor Derrick Blythe said he could not comment on the reasons for the termination due to privacy rules regarding personnel matters. He noted the special meeting was called in accordance with state law with notice having been posted last Friday in the lobby of city hall.
president Steven Eaton. “Our goal is to help others in the community.” BNI, the largest business networking organization in the world, offers members the opportunity to build its business through personal referrals. The network was started by Dr. Ivan Misner in 1985. The founder and chairman of the company is considered one of the world’s leading experts on business networking, according to CNN and Entrepreneur Please see BNI | 2
will be held Friday night instead of Saturday like in years past.” Festival committee member Sandra Medlin said she is excited about the festival’s theme this year, “Come Home to Iuka.” “Our musical entertainment lineup for this weekend matches our new theme,” Medlin said. “We decided to book all local talent from North Mississippi and the surrounding areas. We think folks are really going to like seeing their friends and neighborhoods on stage this year.” On Friday night, the music kicks off at 7 p.m., in Mineral Springs Park. The lineup Please see FESTIVAL | 2
Sportsman’s Banquet offers day of fun for whole family BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
SELMER, Tenn. — A community is reaching out to see a ministry continue to make a difference. The 2014 Sportsman’s Banquet promises a full-day of fun for the whole family on Saturday, Sept. 20 at McNairy Central High School and the McNairy County Fairgrounds. Proceeds from the annual event will benefit Lauren King Ministries and the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis. “Our goal is for the ministry to reach out further,” said event organizer Chris Whitten. Anita and the late Larron King founded Lauren King Ministries in 2000 to help the RMH. Lauren died in 1997 at the age of 1 year and 8 days. She was born on Mother’s Day May 12, 1996, and was taken to St. Jude six hours
after she was delivered, suffering with AML leukemia. Larron died from injuries suffered in a car accident in May of 2012. During last year’s event, over 1,100 attended the day of activities with 147 decisions of salvation or rededication made. “We are hoping our numbers grow,” said Whitten. “Especially the number of those who are saved … seeing that number increase would be important to Larron.” The family fun begins at 10 a.m. with a dunking booth on the grounds of McNairy Central. A skeet shooting contest is slated for 11 a.m. at the fairgrounds. A sample of some of the things slated throughout the day include a motorcycle run, duck and turkey call contest, paint party, Please see BANQUET | 2
Sportsman’s Banquet volunteers Jeremy Lyles (from left), Caroline Rowsey, Ashley Bowman and Becky Smith display some of the items to be awarded during the Sept. 20 event at McNairy Central High School.
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On this day in history 150 years ago
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2015 Hwy 72 E. Corinth, MS. 38834 • 662-594-1877
Gen. Sterling Price assumes command of two divisions of Confederates in Arkansas and initiates a plan to march across the Arkansas River and back into Missouri. Opposing Price is his old nemesis from Corinth, Gen. William S. Rosecrans.
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