Warriors seeking 10th win on Senior Night. - 12A Friday Nov. 1,
2013
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 261
Officials: Owners indicted for felony BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
The owners of a Prentiss County assisted living facility have been indicted for allegedly defrauding several residents of the facility out of more than $130,000. Dirley Jones, 63, and Rita Jones, 62, were arrested Wednesday after being indicted on one count of felony embezzlement and three counts of felony false pretense. The 2 arrests were announced Wednesday by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. The couple, owners and operators of Scott Del Cottage Assisted Living in Booneville, are accused of concealing Medicaid payments for the care of 19 residents and continuing to collect monthly payments for the residents. The scheme allegedly netted the couple approximately $133,000. The Joneses are also accused of depositing Social Security checks belonging to one resident into their own account in amounts beyond what was actually owed for the services provided to the resident. The indictment alleges they received more than $4,200 from those illegal actions. Each could face up to 40 years in prison and $55,000 in fines if convicted on all counts. The attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is in charge of the investigation.
BY HEATHER SMITH As the holidays are getting closer, there are some who are dealing with their first holiday season after the loss of a loved one and Legacy Hospice of the South will be holding a meeting to discuss ways for them to deal with this difficult time of the year. “Anyone that has lost a loved one and who might anticipate having a difficult time grieving with the upcoming holidays, especially this being the first holiday after the loss of their loved one,� explained Legacy Hospice social worker Callie Emmons. This event is intended to help anyone who is dealing with loss this time of the year. “Our speaker is Jaylene Whitehurst and she has done a lot of work in grief counseling and giving people information on how
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two Sections
Potent Halloween Man storms topple trees pleads BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A spoiler of a Halloween storm brought down several trees and caused some property damage in the city late Thursday afternoon. Several calls in a short time span kept the street department, police department and ACE Power on the move.
As the rainy day turned blustery, wind toppled a Bradford pear on South Parkway across from Crossroads Regional Park, taking down a cable line. Soon afterward, a 12-inch diameter tree limb fell on two cars at Fillmore and Gloster, causing no injuries but significantly damaging one of the vehicles, said Corinth
Street Commissioner Philip Verdung. At Graham and Bunch, a tree fell onto a house, taking down power and phone lines. Another tree fell at the contraband camp site on North Parkway, taking down more power lines.
guilty in case BY JEBB JOHNSTON
Please see STORMS | 3A
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth man pleaded guilty to murder Thursday in the April 2012 shooting death of Tavarus Holland. Norman Tyrone Mitchell, 38, entered the plea in Alcorn County Circuit Court before J u d g e Thomas Gardner III. T h e judge sentenced Mitchell to life in custody of Mitchell the Mississippi Department of Corrections and ordered him to pay a fine of $1,000 and restitution of $6,193.75 for the victim’s funeral expenses. Although he was indicted as a habitual offender, the Please see CASE | 3A Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Janari Pritchard leads the fourth grade to the Reading Rap title at the Lighthouse.
Reading challenge kicks off BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Reading is fundamental to future success. That’s the message a coalition of local youth service organizations is seeking to put forward through the 30/30 Reading
Challenge, kicking off today. The effort is being spearheaded by the Lighthouse Foundation joining with the Corinth Boys and Girls Club, Project Attention, the homework club at Farmington Arms Apartments overseen by Crosswind Minis-
tries and the Corinth Elementary School extended day afterschool tutoring program. Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director Gary Caveness said they are throwing down the
“What works for one person might not necessarily work for another person. Having a plan is the biggest thing so the holidays won’t just creep up on you and you are left in a total emotional state.� Callie Emmons Social worker, Legacy Hospice to prepare for the upcoming holidays. The more you plan ahead, the better off you will be. They should not isolate themselves and they need to know their limitations. At Christmas time, look at the traditions you have had in the past with your family members, you may want to create a new tradition. Whether it is putting an ornament on the tree in memory of them or donating to their favorite cause in memory of them,� replied Emmons as she explained how this meeting
is intended to help those who attend. Ms. Emmons described the topics which will be discussed during the meeting, “How to take care of yourself as the holidays approach, let other people help you, and letting other people know what you need; whether you need time alone or you need to talk about something. You need to go ahead and have a plan about what your Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve will be like and expect that different
BY JOSEPH MILLER
Please see CHALLENGE | 2A
holiday songs, different memories, and different traditions that you have had in the past with your loved one are not going to be the same. You may get emotional, and that is alright, that is a part of it.� “Helping people come up with ideas, to be prepared, and what each person comes up with is going to be unique to that individual. What works for one person might not necessarily work for another person. Having a plan is the biggest thing so the holidays won’t just creep up on you and you are left in a total emotional state,� Emmons explained the expected results of the meeting. “It is going to be held next Tuesday, November 5 from eleven to noon in the parlor at The First United Methodist Please see EVENT | 3A
A Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate was found dead at his mother’s house last week. The deceased inmate was identified as Timmy Dale Whitaker, 48, who was out of jail on a pass the Whitaker night of his death on Saturday, Oct. 26, according to Sheriff Charles Rinehart. “Mr. Whitaker was found dead at his mother’s home and we are investigating his death,� Sheriff Rinehart said. “An autopsy is being performed about the cause of death.� Whitaker was convicted in November of 2010 and sentenced to 25 years on a burglary of a dwelling charge and 20 years on an aggravated assault charge.
On this day in history 150 years ago
Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A
Inmate dies while on pass jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
Legacy Hospice hosts event to help with holiday grieving hsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Sunny
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
President Davis writes Gen. Bragg to express his disappointment that Grant has broken the siege of Chattanooga. Steam boats arrive at the city wharves throughout the day, bringing food and supplies. The initiative has passed to Grant who is planning an attack.
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