Local/Nation
2 • Daily Corinthian
Thursday, October 27, 2011
LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION TOY STORE Registration for 16th annual Christmas event kicks off Monday BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian. com
Christmas may be just around the corner, but for those families suffering during the ongoing economic downturn the holidays bring worries along with visions of holiday joy. The Lighthouse Foundation is seeking to help those who are struggling provide Christmas presents for their children during its 16th annual Toy Store Christmas program. Registration kicks off Monday and runs throughout the month of November.
“The need just seems to be so huge. It’s bigger than ever before.” Gary Caveness Executive director, Lighthouse Foundation For the last 15 years, the Toy Store has helped those in need by providing assistance in an environment of love and dignity. The Toy Store operates by allowing those being served to come in on the annual Shopping Day and pick out gifts for their children. Those served are welcome to give a small donation if they wish so they can truly feel that they are doing
as much as they can for their families. Foundation Executive Director Gary Caveness said as they prepare for another season, they’re expecting to top the record number of families served through program last year as they continue to see a huge number of people struggling and hurting due to the difficult economy. “The need just seems
to be so huge. It’s bigger than ever before,” he said. The Toy Store program is open to Alcorn County residents only. Registration sessions will be held each Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in November from 9 a.m. to noon at the foundation headquarters on South Johns Street. A pair of evening registration sessions will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,
“The kids had a lot of fun playing in the hay and deciding what clothes to put on their scarecrows. It was also a chance for the staff to bond with the families.”
Nov. 10 and Thursday, Nov. 28, for those who work during the day and can’t make it to the morning sessions. The foundation will be closed the week of Thanksgiving and no registration sessions will be held during that week. Caveness said all those registering need to bring photo identification and proof of residency for themselves, along with a
Secrets to a long life sought in elderly’s DNA
Christy Grice Unit Director, The Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi
Associated Press
PLUS: Boys & Girls Club builds scarecrows, gives monthly awards CONTINUED FROM 1
reinforced at home. “The kids had a lot of fun playing in the hay and deciding what clothes to put on their scarecrows,” said Grice. “It was also a chance for the staff to bond with the families.” Members put together 12 scarecrows and placed them throughout downtown. Caleb Frambo’s basketball referee scarecrow was selected the first place winner. Tameron Patterson’s entry was second and Kristen Herman was third. Trustmark’s Tracy Welch and KimberlyClark’s Grover Hardin had the difficult task of judging the entries. The Boys & Girls Club also awarded monthly awards to members and staff during its Lights on Afterschool event at the Crossroads Museum. Axavius Strickland was selected the Youth of the Month while Herman received the Junior Staff of the Month honor.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Boys & Girls Club staff member Laura Marlar (left) helps Brisheunah Alexander with her scarecrow. Alec Gardner was presented the Employee of the Month award.
“Alec has a great skill with working with a variety of people,” said
Grice. “He has one of the most helpful attitudes of anyone.”
DROPOUT: Alcorn school district takes steps to reduce dropouts CONTINUED FROM 1
of block scheduling allows students to take more courses during their high school years, potentially earning 32 credits — seven more than the 25 required for graduation. Block scheduling can potentially lead a student to early graduation. ■ Credit Recovery: This gives students an opportunity to make up for failed objectives by retaking a test they failed previously. ■ Uniform Grading Policies: A district-wide uniform policy of grading puts all of the district’s students on the same page, with the
“I don’t think we solve problems by making it easier. We shouldn’t foster false pretenses and hopes that way.”
cember, February and April. This is a program to help students who quit school before graduation.
Wayne Henry
Assistant Superintendent Wayne Henry said he believed the next step is focus dropout prevention efforts on younger students — to develop relationships through teachers and advisors to work of developing goals for kids in the seventh and eighth grades and to keep them progressing as they enter high school. Henry said it is important to find a balance between a “stringent and tough” system of education and “keeping kids involved.” “I don’t think we solve problems by making it easier,” Henry said. “We shouldn’t foster false pretenses and hopes that way.”
Assistant Superintendent, Alcorn School District
same amount of grades for each course. While implemented earlier in Alcorn schools, the uniform grading policies are now required by the state’s Department of Education. ■ Early Graduation: In certain circumstances students can petition for an early graduation. Eligibility will be determined by the high school principal, district superintendent and school At least three ICK AIN board. students in the Alcorn FOR School District have chosen this route. STATE ■ After School TutorREPRESENTATIVE ing: District schools are
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P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835
now paying educators to tutor students after class in the evenings and mornings. ■ Mentoring Program: Approximately 160 mentors meet each week for hourly sessions with students to support them socially, emotionally and academically. The district has witnessed great results with the program, with 67 percent of participating students’ grades coming up as well as improvement in students’ behavior. ■ GED Program: GED testing is offered four times during the school year — in October, De-
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birth certificate and social security card for each child they are registering for assistance. The foundation is also already seeking donations and volunteers for the project. Volunteers will be needed to work in all types of roles in setting up for the store and assisting clients on shopping day on Dec. 8. Those interested in helping with the project can call the foundation at 286-0091. Donations may also be mailed to The Lighthouse Foundation, P.O. Box 2121, Corinth, MS 38835.
NEW YORK — George Eberhardt turned 107 last month, and scientists would love to know how he and other older folks like him made it that far. So he’s going to hand over some of his DNA. He’s one of 100 centenarians taking part in a project announced Wednesday that will examine some of the oldest citizens with one of the newest scientific tools: whole-genome sequencing, the deciphering of a person’s complete collection of DNA. Scientists think DNA from very old healthy people could offer clues to how they lived so long. And that could one day lead to medicines to help the rest of us stay disease-free longer. By the time you reach, say, 105, “it’s very hard to get there without some genetic advantages,” says Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrics expert at Boston University. Perls is helping find centenarians for the Archon Genomics X Prize competition. The X Prize Foundation, best known for a spaceflight competition, is offering $10 million in prize money to researchers
who decipher the complete DNA code from 100 people older than 100. The contest will be judged on accuracy, completeness and the speed and cost of sequencing. The contest is a relaunch of an older competition with a new focus on centenarians, and it’s the second sequencing project involving the elderly to be announced this month. Genome pioneer J. Craig Venter says the centenarian project is just a first step in revealing the genetic secrets of a long and healthy life. “We need 10,000 genomes, not 100, to start to understand the link between genetics, disease and wellness,” said Venter, who is co-chairing the X Prize contest. The 107-year-old Eberhardt of Chester, N.J., played and taught tennis until he was 94. He said he’s participating in the X Prize project because he’s interested in science and technology. It’s not clear his genes will reveal much. Nobody else in his extended family reached 100, and he thinks only a couple reached 90, he said in a telephone interview.
DRUG: Alcorn County Narcotics Unit works with other counties to make several drug-related arrests CONTINUED FROM 1 “We all have a good working Tenn., possession of two or more precursors with relationship, intent to manufacture a which helps controlled substance. ■ Kenneth Rinehart, 31, in finding of 37 CR 430, Rienzi, feland arresting ony possession of a controlled substance. suspects who ■ Thelman Smith, 32, flee to other of 145 Barid Drive, Ashland, felony possession of jurisdictions.” a controlled substance. ■ David Ladron Willis, 50, of 136 CR 715, Corinth, possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. ■ William Randall Baldwin, 63, of 152 CR 755, Corinth, manufacturing a controlled substance. ■ Pamela Marie Baldwin, 47, of 152 CR 755, Corinth, manufacturing a controlled substance. The Alcorn Narcotics Unit was assisted in the sting by county agencies in Tippah, Tishomingo,
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Darrell Hopkins Alcorn Narcotics Unit Prentiss, McNairy, Hardin and Hardeman. “We all have a good working relationship, which helps in finding and arresting suspects who flee to other jurisdictions,” said Hopkins. Hopkins urges those addicted to some form of drugs to seek help. “We will put you in contact with people who are willing to help,” he said.
USPS 142-560 The Daily Corinthian is published daily Tuesday through Sunday by PMG, LLC. at 1607 South Harper Road, Corinth, Miss.Periodicals postage paid at Corinth, MS 38834
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