Prentiss Co. Unemployment rate takes a dip
McNairy Co. Photographer’s work will go on display
Sports This week Inside the SEC
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Thursday Oct. 12,
2017
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 121, No. 244
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
School board completes legislative survey board clerk Ginger Mills. The board said they support legislation that would legalize a lottery in Mississippi with part of the proceeds earmarked for K-12 public education. They also support changing the way the public education funding formula is determined and the fully funding of public education, as well as the changing of the public education funding formula from average daily attendance to total enrollment. The board also supports re-
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn School District board members agree funding is their top priority for the upcoming legislative session. During their October meeting, the five-person board answered a survey provided by the Mississippi School Boards Association. “The survey was sent to every school district in the state and is meant to help MSBA direct its lobbying efforts during the 2018 Legislative Session,” said
ducing the number of family members of the superintendent who can be recommend for employment, requiring all board members to be elected, requiring all school boards to adopt a board member code of conduct, allowing students from C, D or F schools to transfer to A or B schools, expanding the use of virtual classes and distance learning and the creating of a structured, statewide approach to quality early childhood education. Items the local board chose
to oppose included allowing a school board member to be removed from office for just cause, requiring a runoff election for local school board if no candidate receives a majority of the votes, changing the school board election laws so that all board members must stand for election at the same time, increasing qualifications for individuals running for local school board, the restriction of local control of school boards and allowing local school boards to design perfor-
mance based incentive packages for school staff. They oppose allowing student vouchers to be funded with public funds and allowing money to be diverted from public schools to nonpublic schools and home schools by means of vouchers, tax credits or scholarships, allowing public charter schools in districts with A, B or C ratings and mandating the start and end of each school year. Board members also oppose an increase in school board member compensation.
Lieutenant governor tours local sites Jobless rate dips BY JEBB JOHNSTON
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth played host to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves on Wednesday as the state official toured local sites and talked about state government. Reeves’ visit included stops at the courthouse, hospital, The Alliance and downtown, as well as a visit to the Burnsville Industrial Park. In a talk before a joint meeting of Corinth civic clubs at Pizza Grocery, he said he enjoyed visiting the downtown “and seeing the enormous amount of capital investment that is flowing into Corinth … Y’all have a lot of good things going on, and I think that is something that needs to be said. It’s because of the great leadership in this room and the great leadership in this community both from a political standpoint and from a business community that drives that.” He believes the state has good things to talk about, as well. “I believe we should spend a lot less time apologizing and a lot more time bragging about a lot of the good things that are going on in Mississippi,” said Reeves. He talked about the state budget and criticized media reporting on mid-year cuts. “There is a difference be-
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
in the 1 to 2 percent range — we actually projected that we would have zero growth this year — we will find ourselves in a very, very strong financial position.” The state’s rainy-day fund currently holds a little more than $300 million — the fourth-largest balance in the history of the fund, although he acknowledges it has de-
The monthly labor force snapshot showed Alcorn County with fewer people in the unemployed category in August than during the previous month and a year ago. At 4.6 percent in August, the rate is down from 5.3 percent in July and 4.9 percent a year ago. Mississippi’s jobless rate was nearly unchanged in both the seasonally adjusted and not seasonally adjusted figures, at 5.3 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively. The county had 47 new claims for unemployment insurance in August, compared to 54 a year ago, and 384 continued claims, compared to 444 a year ago. Benefits paid out in the county totaled $66,011, compared to $74,953 a year ago. Alcorn County ranked 14th among the 82 counties for the month. Among neighboring counties, Tippah ranked 13th with a rate of 4.5 percent; Prentiss, 17th with a rate of 4.8 percent; and Tishomingo, 27th with a rate of 5.1 percent. Mississippi’s not seasonally adjusted non-farm employ-
Please see REEVES | 2
Please see JOBLESS | 2
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Talking at Wednesday’s joint civic clubs meeting are (from left) Zeb Taylor, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, Lesley Raines and Sen. Rita Potts Parks. tween budget cuts and spending cuts,” he said. “That is a very important distinction to make when talking about budgets, when talking about government finance and when talking about what’s transpired over the last 15 months in Mississippi.” The state’s new fiscal year began July 1. “Our revenues are actually far exceeding expectations for the first three months this fis-
cal year, which is a positive thing,” said Reeves. “We’re actually up about $25 million year-over-year compared to our actual budget amount. We’re up about $35 million year-over-year compared to last year, so we’re continuing to see revenue growth. That’s about 6 percent year-overyear growth. I don’t anticipate that will continue throughout the entire fiscal year, but, if we can have revenue growth
Magnolia sponsors Monster Mash kid-friendly event BY ZACK STEEN
Funds raised at the event will benefit the Northeast Mississippi Boys & Girls Club - Corinth Unit. Set for the weekend prior to Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m., the event will happen at the C.A.R.E. Honor Garden and Corinth Depot Complex on Fillmore Street.
zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The community’s hospital is giving back ... again. This time with Monster Mash 2017, a kid-friendly Halloween event presented by Magnolia Pediatric Clinic. Funds raised at the event will benefit the Northeast Mississippi Boys & Girls Club - Corinth Unit. Set for the weekend prior to Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 28 from 5 to 8 p.m., the event will happen at the C.A.R.E. Honor Garden and Corinth Depot Complex on Fillmore Street. According to Magnolia Regional Health Center’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations Ben Tucker, the first time
event will feature trick-or-treating stations, a costume contest, an outdoor movie, bouncy houses and a pumpkin patch for photo opportunities. “We are excited to be a part of
such a great event for the community,” said Tucker. “There will be tons for families to take part in, and the proceeds of the sponsorships and donations go to benefit a great organization
25 years ago
Gavin Bain of American Legion Post 6 in Corinth is appointed state financial officer by the state department of the American Legion.
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like the Boys and Girls Club of Corinth.” Main Street Corinth will sponsor the outdoor movie at Monster Mash with the dusk showing of “It’s the Great
Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Tucker said various hospital departments, community members and businesses, Corinth Police Department, Corinth Fire Department and Magnolia EMS will hand out candy at the event. “This is a free event for all who want to attend,” he added. “Donations are welcome, with all proceeds going toward facility improvements for the Boys and Girls Club in Corinth.” Event sponsors include the Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Group, Garrett Eye Clinic, officePRO, Trustmark, Caterpillar Inc., Hamilton-Ryker, Dodd Eye Clinic, the Crossroads Museum and Bailey Williams Reality.
10 years ago
Steel manufacturer Roll Form Group officially begins operations in Tri-State Commerce Park.
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