090915 daily corinthian e edition

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McNairy County MCHS senior takes on project of new planetarium.

Sports Lady Warriors hit the road in softball and volleyball.

Prentiss County Enrollment levels off in Booneville School District.

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Wednesday Sept. 9,

2015

75 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 216

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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections

4 sentenced in corruption case Nelms gets 12 years in prison

Pleas heard in corruption investigation

BY JEBB JOHNSTON

BY JEBB JOHNSTON

jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

jjohnston@ dailycorinthian.com

Officials described it as one of the largest public corruption sentences in memory Tuesday as former Second District Supervisor Dal Nelms was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison. Standing before Judge Paul Funderburk in Alcorn County Circuit Court with his uncuffed hands clasped behind his back, Nelms expressed remorse for the circumstances that brought him there. “I apologize for betraying the trust of the public that elected me to a very important office,” he said. “I’ve shamed myself and I’ve shamed my family, and I’m sorry for that.” Nelms pleaded guilty to embezzlement by a public official, two counts of false representation to defraud government and two counts of fraudulently obtaining public funds. He was sentenced to 30 years with 18 years suspended, leaving 12 years to serve, followed by five years of probation. He was ordered to pay

you stated, ‘So help me God,’” said Funderburk. “There may have been more blatant violations of the public trust than yours. I can’t recall any in recent times. Almost like you

Three men connected to former Second District Supervisor Dal Nelms were sentenced Tuesday in Alcorn County Circuit Court Rhodes for their involvement in the county corruption case. William Paul Rhodes, 55, the former county purchase clerk, pleaded guilty to one count of hindering prosecution, one count of fraudulently Mitchell obtaining public funds and one count of false representation to defraud government. Judge Paul Funderburk handed down a net sentence of 15 years in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections with Peters 10 years suspended, leaving five years to serve, followed by five years of probation. He must also pay restitution of $72,466.28; a

Please see NELMS | 3A

Please see SENTENCES | 2A

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Dal Nelms is led to the Alcorn County Courthouse on Tuesday morning. restitution of $308,244.71 to Alcorn County plus a $5,000 fine and court costs of $3,157.50. He was placed in custody of the Prentiss County sheriff to await transport to a Mississippi Department of Corrections facility.

The judge rebuked Nelms and suggested he deserves more time than he is getting. He spoke of the oath of office Nelms recited when he took office, swearing to obey the law. “And at the conclusion of it,

Dexter named Yellow Creek Port director Alcorn campuses closer BY ZACK STEEN

to new waste system

zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

IUKA — Tupelo native Robert Dexter will be sworn in as the new executive director of the Yellow Creek Port Authority in Tishomingo County on Thursday. Dexter will fill the post left vacant following the October 2014 death of longtime director Eugene Bishop. “The board is glad to have Robert as the new port manager,” said Port Authority President Benny DeVaughn. “He is a man that has proven himself in business and will be a good manager to carry the Port forward.” Dexter is a former operations start up manager for GRAMMER, Inc., in Tupelo. He has also worked as an operations manager for Southern Components in Lee County. “Robert is a respected leader in the Northeast Mississippi’s business community with a proven record of success,” said Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. “Robert is committed to growing Mississippi’s economy, and I have

BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Zack Steen

New Yellow Creek Port Authority Executive Director Robert Dexter met with deputy director Tina Williamson and Port Authority President Benny DeVaughn on Tuesday. Dexter will be sworn in on Thursday.

“Robert is a respected leader in the Northeast Mississippi’s business community with a proven record of success.” Glenn McCullough, Jr. Mississippi Development Authority executive director

Please see DEXTER | 2A

FARMINGTON — Alcorn Central school campuses are one step closer to getting rid of the stink. Farmington Mayor Dale Fortenberry said this week that he has secured almost all the grant money needed to connect the school’s on-site waste system to the City of Farmington sewer system. “We have already been approved for a $200,000 grant,” said Fortenberry. “We are waiting on one other before we can begin the studies.” Fortenberry said environmental and historical land studies will have to be completed before construction can begin. “We will also be using some of our leftover EPA money to help fund the project,” he said. Earlier this year, the Alcorn School District granted the city a standard easement to enter into an agreement to connect the school to the city’s sewer.

The agreement states if grants to fund the construction and installation of the connection is not secured by the city then the school district is not obligated to follow through with the project. Currently an older on-site water treatment plant provides sewer services for all three Alcorn Central schools. “This project is going to be a reality,” the mayor said. “I can’t really put a time frame on it, but it is going to happen.” Fortenberry believes this is a sign of progress for the school system. “That sewer system has been causing trouble at the school and a stink near the football field for years,” he said. “Soon the city will be able to provide a long term fix to the problem and I couldn’t be happier about it.” Fortenberry said he has received help from District 2 Rep. Nick Bain, District 1 Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter and Please see WASTE | 3A

25 years ago

10 years ago

Farmers continue to struggle with a lack of rain. Alcorn County Agriculture Program Assistant for the Mississippi State University Extension Service Lowell Hinton predicts a 25 percent reduction in cotton production due to the dry weather.

Local cooking teams are seeking support for “Feed the Coast”. Led by Hog Wild festival organizer Joe Franks, the teams are preparing to travel to the Gulf Coast for two weeks to provide food for storm victims and emergency volunteers.

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