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Daily Corinthian
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Vol. 117, No. 208
• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • 1 section
Citizens air concerns at forum 2 men arrested in theft
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Several residents aired complaints and concerns about utilities and services in a public forum Thursday night. Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley met with citizens at the Alcorn County Courthouse for a wide-ranging discussion touching on 911 fees, issues with electric cooperatives, broadband Internet access and others. Gary Ross, 4th District supervisor, brought up the issue of declining revenue from fees imposed on phone customers for 911 service. The decline has come as people have shifted from land lines to cellular phones and is leaving the 911 office in a deficit. “Every county I talk to says, ‘We’ve got 911 problems,’” said Presley. “We’re on a collision course with disaster on 911 if we don’t get it fixed.” With less money coming in to support 911 operations, counties are faced with dipping into the general fund and possibly raising property taxes. “It’s going to come back to you people sitting right here in this room,” said Ross. Presley wants to see the revenue problem addressed through 911 fees rather than property taxes, and he believes it would make sense for
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
about meter practices and meter testing.” Childs also voiced concern about procedures in the recent election for a seat on ACE Power’s board of directors. Presley would like to see uniformity across the state. “The law says they must hold an election, but it does not say how they have to do it,” he said. It is a situation that he believes would best be addressed through the state as-
SELMER, Tenn. — A pair of West Tennessee men were arrested in Baldwyn for the theft of a trailer in McNairy County. Casey Scott Wilson, 22, of 227 Max Lane, Bethel Springs, Tenn., and Christopher Jeffcoat, 26, of 416 Clift Road, Bolivar, Tenn. were both arrested in Prentiss County while trying to Wilson sell the stolen trailer, according to McNairy County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Robert Hitchborn. “Apparently, while taking the trailer to Baldwyn, the two stopped at Jeffcoat a convenient store,” said Hitchborn. “While the cashier left the register for something, Wilson reached in and
Please see FORUM | 3
Please see THEFT | 3
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Brandon Presley, Northern District Public Service commissioner, speaks with citizens at the Alcorn County Courthouse Thursday evening. counties to be able to request a fee increase through an entity, possibly the public service commission. “Right now, the county has no way of being heard,” he said. A considerable portion of the meeting was devoted to electric power cooperatives, particularly concerns about board election procedures and the smart meters which report power usage from a home or business to the office. Harrison Childs said a problem with a meter at a
MHP urges road safety
rental property he owns resulted in a $2,000 power bill. Presley said the PSC is taking a close look at the meter issue, particularly after Hernando High School was overcharged by $900,000. The power company agreed to pay back that amount plus interest. “We have got right now a comprehensive review going on of meter testing and meter reading procedures that go on in our electric utilities statewide,” said Presley. “We’re going to get some answers
Heritage Festival enters full swing BY JOSEPH MILLER jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
Motorists are urged to pay extra attention to their driving and be aware of other drivers in an effort to have a safe holiday travel period. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is beefing up patrols and increasing safety checkpoints in an effort to have fatality-free weekend on the state’s roads. The Labor Day holiday period began Friday and ends Monday at midnight. Last year Labor Day was one of the deadliest holiday weekends in recent memory with five people killed on state highways despite heavy enforcement efforts in which more than 4,000 traffic citations were issued. “We understand as troopers, we are truly the last line of defense for
IUKA — This Tishomingo County town is again celebrating its proud heritage with a weekend full of exciting activities that will be fun for the whole family with the Iuka Heritage Festival. Iuka’s Heritage Festival began in 1987 as a one-day event. Iuka has a di■ See related verse heristory on Page 6. tage including Indian heritage, Civil War Battle of Iuka, a railroad town, and its world famous Mineral Springs. In the years since its beginning, the festival has evolved into a weekend event celebrated over Labor Day Weekend. It is the highlight of residents’ “end of summer” celebrations. “We have a lot going on this
Please see TRAFFIC | 3
Please see IUKA | 6
BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
The 1st Street Light Artillery Battery from Starkville prepares to shoot the cannon that was on display at the Iuka battleground on Friday’s Education Day as part of the Iuka Heritage Festival.
Index Stocks........8 Classified...... 15 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
On this day in history 150 years ago Union garrisons at Corinth, LaGrange and Germantown are placed on alert when a Confederate cavalry of 1,200 men with 4 pieces of artillery is on the prowl. Union patrols are sent out to defeat the force, which proves to be a wild goose chase.
When is a Physical NOT a Physical?. .When When it’s a WELLNESS EXAM! Medicare will now cover one wellness visit per year, at NO additional cost to the patient.
Call And Schedule Yours Today!
Cynthia Pearson, MSN,ANP-BC,FNP-BC
123 Alcorn Dr. • Corinth, MS 38834 662-286-2866