Friday Oct. 24,
2014
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 247
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • 2 sections
Mayor proposes more improvements BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Mayor Tommy Irwin is proposing the city dip into reserve funds for another round of infrastructure improvements. He discussed the proposal with the Board of Aldermen in Tuesday’s meeting. The mayor would like to see $125,000 designated for each of the five wards, and he would also select
projects with another $125,000, for a total of $750,000. “I want you to consider that strongly,” he told the board. “It’s very important. We’re selling investment. We’ve got things going good. We don’t want to stop now.” The current board came into office with about $4.2 million in reserve funds in the city coffers, and that cushion now stands at
$5 million. “There is a balance between growing wealth and fixing stuff,” said Irwin. “I don’t think the taxpayers want us to have $5 million or $6 million cash and not ever fix anything. I think there’s a balance in there. I think instead of having $5 million, maybe $3.5 million is the right number. That’s four or five months of operations.
We’re going to be fiduciary responsible, but the taxpayers want stuff fixed.” He pointed to the city’s rising sales tax collections, which have recovered to pre-recession levels. Sales tax for the recently completed fiscal year was the highest in Corinth’s history, he said. Sales tax for fiscal 2014 generated a total of $5.809 million
for the city, rising 5 percent from the prior year. Several aldermen asked for a little more time to consider the proposal. Ward 4 Alderman J.C. Hill said he is looking forward to the opportunity to do more. “We’re in desperate need in my ward to fix some stuff that Please see UPGRADES | 2A
Parkway, 72 bids come in too high BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Dance sworn in Circuit Judge Jim Pounds administers the oath of office Thursday evening for Corinth’s incoming police chief, Ralph Dance, while Dance’s wife Penny holds the Bible. Well-wishers filled the courtroom of the Alcorn County Justice Center to witness the early inauguration ceremony. “I promise I’ll do the best job I can possibly do,” Dance said after reciting the oath. The new term of office officially begins Nov. 3. Mayor Tommy Irwin will take the oath of office at 1:30 p.m. today at City Hall.
Contractors’ bids were deemed “really high” Thursday morning on the South Parkway and Highway 72 intersection improvements project. Cook Coggin Engineers conducted the bid opening with the city clerk and director of community development and planning. The lowest of the three bids presented came from Colom Construction Co., Inc., of Ripley, at $394,885.95. The engineering estimate for the project was $276,000. The other bidders were J.M. Duncan, Inc., of Falkner, at $397,760, and Pittman Construction Co. of Corinth, at $521,598.78.
The bids will go before the Board of Aldermen for consideration, but it appears the bids are likely to be rejected and the project will be re-advertised after Cook Coggin examines the bids and determines what changes need to be made to get the project within budget. The scope of the work includes the widening of South Parkway on the north side of the intersection with the addition of a turn lane and a protected left turn; replacement of the existing traffic signal equipment; the addition of mast arms; installation of updated controller, signal heads and vehicle detection system; and drainage, overlay and striping.
Selmer church presents ‘Remember the Magic’ drama BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
SELMER, TENN. — Decisions, decisions, decisions. Each day individuals make thousands, but only one will determine where they spend eternity.
First Baptist Church-Selmer hopes to lead people in the right choice through a relationship with Jesus Christ when it kicks off its 11th Annual Judgement House on Saturday. “Remember the Magic” is set for Saturday and Sunday from 4-9
p.m. The free drama will also be presented Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 6-9 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 2 from 4-9 p.m. “Judgement House is the single most important event First Baptist does to reach the lost in this world,” said church youth
director John Chandler. “Remember the Magic” was the first judgment house drama taken on by FBC in 2004. Often referred as The Tornado Story, “Remember the Magic” is written by Rev. Tom Hudgins. Last year, close to 1,900 at-
tended with 148 decisions made. “All of us have a choice to make,” said Chandler. “Regardless of who we are, all of us one day will die then face judgement. Our prayer is people will Please see MAGIC | 2A
Shiloh visitor center to close for renovations for few weeks SHILOH, Tenn. — The National Park Service Visitor Center located at Shiloh Battlefield is scheduled to undergo construction work to remove old tile flooring and carpet throughout the entire 79-year old building and replace it with new tile and carpeting. “This necessary construction work will require the park to shift daily visitor services to a temporary facility,” said Tyrone Brandyburg, Acting Superintendent of Shiloh National Military Park. “This work, scheduled to start the week of Monday, Oct. 27, will take at least two, maybe three, weeks to perform. During this period, visitors to the battlefield will view the film “Shiloh: Fiery Trial” inside a temporary tent erected adjacent to park bookstore, and park rangers will greet and serve visitors from the same sheltered location. The film will be shown on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. “We’re excited to have the opportunity to upgrade the worn floor surfaces in the old visitor center,” said Brandyburg, “but, understand
that this work will necessarily alter our daily operations.” Historically, park administrative history records that the initial park staff worked out of tents during the early years of the park, from 1895 until a permanent administrative building was finally constructed in 1911. “The current mild fall weather will hopefully make this unique temporary experience quite pleasant,” he added. Visitor service operations at the park, which manages Civil War battlefield sites in both West Tennessee and North Mississippi, as well as the Shiloh Indian Mounds National Historic Landmark, are conducted daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (For more information about the scheduled temporary change required to conduct daily visitor services at Shiloh Battlefield, or obtain further information about the park, please phone 731-689-5275, visit the park website at www.nps. gov/shil, or friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ShilohNMP.)
Shiloh Military Park’s Visitor’s Center will close temporarily for renovations.
Index
On this day in history 150 years ago
Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A
RENTAL
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
Photo courtesy of NPS
Missouri — Gen. Price continues his flight along the Kansas state line guarding his wagon train loaded with plunder from sacking numerous Missouri cities. The Union pursuit is bogged down as the Union commanders bicker over what to do next.
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