Thursday Aug. 29,
2013
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 206
Hot, humid Today
Tonight
95
71
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Alcorn unemployment falls for July BY JOSEPH MILLER jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
As 2013 slowly approaches the autumn season, Alcorn County’s unemployment rate continues to show some slight improvement. Numbers released by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) show the county’s unemployment rate
for July is ranked at fourteenth in the state at 7.6 percent, compared to the 8.8 percent in June. Alcorn County had 15,480 people in the labor force with 14,310 of them employed and 1,170 unemployed, compared to 14,760 employed and 1,340 unemployed in June. Statewide, for July, only 27 counties in Mississippi posted
unemployment rates less than or equal to the state’s rate of 8.6 percent. Rankin County posted the lowest unemployment rate for July at 4.6 percent, followed by Lamar County at 5.9 percent. Six counties reported rates greater than or equal to 15.0 percent. Clay County had the highest unemployment rate for July at 19.0 percent followed by
Holmes County at 18.2 percent. Nationally, Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July was 8.6 percent, decreasing 1.2 percentage points from the previous month’s rate of 9.8 percent. When compared to the July 2012 rate of 10.3 percent, the rate decreased 1.7 percent points. The number of unem-
Service project remembers 9/11 BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The heroism and sacrifice of so many on Sept. 11, 2001, will never be forgotten. The city of Corinth is joining thousands of Americans around the country to make sure it never does. Residents will have a chance to serve during the National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 7 from 9-11 a.m. at Project Attention. Volunteers are slated to build an 8x10 flower garden in front of Project Attention as a community effort to bring awareness and remembrance to those who lost their lives during the tragic events in 2001. “Sept. 11 is a day of history, emotion and reflection,” said Amy Bonds, the VISTA of Project Attention. “For many Americans it is a day of service which provides an opportunity to join neighbors and local leaders to rekindle the compassion and unity shown that day.” Sept. 11 was designated a national day of service by the Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009. The Corporation for National and Community Service leads the annual event, working with MyGoodDeed and hundreds of nonprofit groups, faithbased organizations, schools and businesses nationwide. The effort first established the
ployed decreased 16,600 over the month, while the employed total increased 7,200 from the prior month. The nation’s not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for July at 7.7 percent dipped onetenth of a percentage point over the month, and was nine-tenths of a percentage point below the year ago rate of 8.6 percent.
Autopsy reports inmate died of natural causes BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Project Attention VISTA Amy Bonds and VISTA Team Leader Daniel Ward begin planning a flower garden to be constructed as a community service project for the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. inspiring tradition of engaging in charitable service on 9/11 as an annual and forward-looking tribute to the victims, survivors, and those
who rose up in service in response to the attacks. The nationwide event Please see 9/11 | 2
Preliminary autopsy results indicate a Corinth man died of natural causes while incarcerated in the Prentiss County Jail. Marterious Jerrod Swinney, 28, was pronounced dead Saturday at Baptist Memorial Hospital — Booneville after collapsing at the jail. Sheriff Randy Tolar said Swinney was talking on the telephone in the jail when he suddenly collapsed. He was immediately transported by ambulance to the hospital where he died. Swinney’s body was trans- Swinney ported to Jackson Monday for an autopsy. Prentiss County Coroner Greg Sparks said Wednesday preliminary autopsy results show no evidence of any internal or external injury. He said the death appears to be attributable to natural causes. A full autopsy report including toxicology results could take several months to complete, said the coroner. Swinney was being held in the jail for the First District Drug Court and had been booked into the facility on Friday around 10 a.m.
Long-Lewis honored with President’s Award
Broadband What: Zap the Gap forum on broadband access When: 6 p.m. Where: Corinth City Hall Who: Hosted by Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley for all interested citizens
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln knows the road to success. The dealership has driven the route before. Long-Lewis collected yet another honor when the dealer received the 2012 President’s Award for a third time. Long-Lewis’s Allen Vines was presented a plaque recognizing the honor last week by Memphis Region Manager Ken Hall. “This is a huge honor,” said Vines. “It’s all about good employees … they understand how important customers are to us.” The President’s Award is one of Ford Motor Company’s most prestigious honors. It recognizes dealers who have achieved the highest levels of customer satisfaction in their respective Customer Viewpoint Group. “It’s a top award for both sales and service,” added Hall. “We have 3,500 dealerships nationwide and only 10 percent qualify for the award … it honors the best dealers in not only sales and service, but also customer satisfaction and total dealership.” Kenneth M. Czubay, Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service for Ford, congratulated the dealership on receiving the award. “We are proud to welcome you into this elite group and offer our sincerest congratulations,” said Czubay in a statement. “Your team’s
Broadband access public meeting scheduled tonight BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Concerns about broadband Internet access can be aired in a forum today with Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley. The ratepayer forum is set for 6 p.m. at the Alcorn County Courthouse. While the primary focus of the session is high-speed Internet access, citizens will also have an opportunity to ask questions on other PSC matters involving regulated utilities, financial assistance to lowincome ratepayers and the No Call program for telemarketing. “I want to give people across my district the opportunity to share their concerns with me personally about the lack of broadband access in their area and how that affects their lives and businesses,” Presley said. “I am committed to using every power granted to the commission to ensure greater access to this vital service.” Please see FORUM | 3
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Memphis Region Manager Ken Hall (third from left) presents the 2012 President’s Award to Long-Lewis owner Allen Vines. Also on hand for the presentation were Memphis Region Service Manager Mike Wine (far left) and Memphis Region Sales Manager Tanner Gigas.
success is the result of its continuing commitment to providing exemplary customer service which is coveted by many but claimed by few.” According to Ford, in order to achieve the President’s Award, deal-
ers must exceed customer expectations every day in every department. The pursuit of excellence is not for the faint of heart, it requires passion, tenacity and, of course, hard work. The prestigious award salutes those top-performing Ford and Lincoln dealerships that embrace these philosophies, achieving among the highest levels of customer satisfaction in both sales and service along with automotive retailing. Long-Lewis is located at 1500 South Harper Road.
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
A trial run of the submarine C.S.S. Hunley ends in disaster. The craft was floating with all hatches open for ventilation when the wake from a passing steamer flooded the vessel, sending it to the bottom of the Charleston Harbor. Six men are drowned.
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