111914 daily corinthian e edition

Page 1

Taste

Home & Garden

Wednesday Nov. 19,

2014

50 cents

Snapdragons meet winter challenges.

Vegetarian gravy sure to please everyone.

Page 2B

Page 1B

Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 270

Warmer Today

Tonight

51

28

0% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 26 pages • 2 sections

Stolen ‘hot rod’ driver gets 8 years BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Several recent guilty pleas in Alcorn County Circuit Court resulted in prison sentences for the defendants. Joshua Balentine, 30, of Florence, Ala., pleaded guilty to fel-

ony taking of a motor vehicle in a case involving a 1969 Corvette that was taken on a high-speed ride from Corinth into Tishomingo County. The judge handed down a 20-year sentence with 12 years suspended, leaving eight years

to serve in custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, followed by five years of probation, according to court records. The sentence also includes a $1,000 fine. In July, police said Balentine came to the Hot Rod Shop on

Highway 72 East in Corinth and began looking into vehicles parked on the lot. The classic Corvette had the key in the ignition, and Balentine got in the car and drove away, according to the police report. Officers who observed the ve-

BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Corinth Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to send letters to the governor and the Mississippi Department of Corrections requesting a formal inquiry into “failures in security” at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility and seeking “immediate corrective action.” “I have no intention of singling out any individual employee at the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility,” said Ward 1 Alderman Andrew “Bubba” Labas. “I am sure they are fine employees and do their jobs to the best of their ability. I do, however, feel that there has been a complete and total breakdown of

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Kayla White with Farmers & Merchants Bank checks out some of the many items which will be available during Celebrate Corinth. See related photos on Page 3A.

Annual event features silent auction, food Farmers & Merchants Bank is hosting a party as Corinth gets set to celebrate. Celebrate Corinth is set for Thursday at the downtown bank on Fillmore Street. Numerous silent auction items are on display in the bank lobby and will be awarded to the highest bidder at the 6 p.m.

12th annual event. Proceeds collected from Thursday night go directly to benefit historic downtown. The highlight of the evening will be the raffle of a one carat pear of diamond earrings set in 14K white gold from Clausel’s Jewelry. Retail value of the earrings is $1,995. Raffle tickets are $10. Cost to attend Celebrate

Corinth is $20 with a limited number of tickets remaining. About 50 individuals or businesses are sponsoring the annual event. Local restaurants and caterers will also be set up for individuals to sample their food. (For more information about Celebrate Corinth call the Main Street office at 662-287-1550 or email Coombs at tcoombs@ mainstreetcorinth.com.)

the processes and operating procedures associated with the facility. The fact remains that there have been multiple escapes, which is completely unacceptable, in my opinion. The citizens of Corinth should not have to wake up in fear that there are escaped prisoners roaming the streets.” Ward 3 Alderman Chip Wood offered a second to the motion, which passed unanimously. “I hope this would send a clear message of not only our desires but the entire city’s displeasure with the current blatant disregard for our citizens’ safety,” said Labas. Corinth pays $1,000 a day Please see PROBE | 6A

Many apply for food baskets BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

BY STEVE BEAVERS

Please see COURT | 6A

Aldermen want probe of correctional facility

Celebrate Corinth

sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

hicle reported it reached speeds of at least 120 mph before the driver lost control in Tishomingo County and was arrested. ■ In another case, Joshua Matthew Crump, 27, of Rienzi,

Applications for the annual Christmas Basket Fund giveaway have flooded the Daily Corinthian office this week ahead of today’s deadline. The newspaper has teamed up with Corinth Rotary Club for the 19th year this holiday season to provide approximately 1,000 boxes filed with food and paper goods to selected families in the Crossroads. The newspaper began accepting applications earlier this month.

“We’ve had a good turnout of applicants this year,” said Reece Terry, Daily Corinthian publisher. “Without the generosity of those who contribute to the Christmas Basket Fund, this effort simply would not be possible.” The donation drive for the program has begun, and donating is a great way to honor or remember someone, according to Rotary member Rob Skelton. “The citizens of our comPlease see BASKETS | 3A

CT-A guest director Essary loves his role BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

With a passion for the performing arts and a big heart for others, Corinth Theatre Arts Guest Director Bryan Essary has made it his mission to involve as many people as he can in his shows. “I despise casting because someone always gets their feelings hurt,” said the music minister. “I find it hard to call someone and say ‘I’m sorry, but there isn’t a place for you in the show’.” To remedy the situation, the 57-year-old Corinth resident

often creates roles out of thin air. “When I did ‘Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’, there were a lot of children who wanted to participate. So, I ended up with a cast of 85,” he said. “I dressed them up as snow flakes and even trees just so everyone would have a part. It was probably a mistake, but I didn’t want anyone to be disappointed.” While he enjoys every aspect of his productions, Essary said his favorite moment occurs once the actors have learned their lines and are off book.

“It takes a life of its own once scripts are gone and the different personalities all melt together. I also enjoy watching the audience respond to the action on stage. Seeing their facial expressions and the way certain actions affect them. I love the animated crowds who become invested in the outcome. No one wants a stagnant audience that just sits there,” he said. “I always tell spectators that the more you react to the actors, the harder they will work to try and impress you. It’s like saying sic ‘em to a dog.”

Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......3B State......5A

Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A

Making his CT-A directing debut for the production of the wildly popular, “Hairspray”, the Corinth native said he was surprised to receive a phone call from Current Board President Cindi Bullard. “I was in Selmer finishing up my production of the ‘Wizard of Oz’ when Cindi called me up and told me that the theatre had lost its artistic director and needed my help,” he said. “As a music minister for 37 years, I had worked with the theatre before, having Please see ESSARY | 2A

Bryan Essary

On this day in history 150 years ago President Lincoln lifts the naval blockade over Norfolk, Virginia, and Pensacola, Florida, declaring them open for maritime business. Georgia Gov. Joseph Brown calls on men from 16 to 55 to report for duty to stop Sherman’s legions. Few respond.

BRAND NEW 2014 NOTE S BUY IT NOW! ZERO DOWN! *# $199 PER MONTH

HWY 72 EAST CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI LOCAL: 662-286-6006

$12,597 -$600. ^COLLEGE GRAD BONUS *#

*$11,997

CHOOSE FROM 5 @ THIS PRICE! STK# 2634N, 2636N, 2643N, 2718N, 2531N MODEL# 11454 VIN# 414396 DEAL# 31534

#PRICE & PAYMENT INCLUDES 500 NMAC FINANCE BONUS ALREADY APPLIED.

*ALL DEALS & PAYMENTS ARE PLUS TAXES, TITLE, STATE INSPECTION STICKER, & $255. DOCUMENT PROCESSING FEE. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THESE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OR PAYMENT LISTED. ALL DEALER DISCOUNTS, MANUFACTURES’ REBATES ALREADY APPLIED TO PURCHASE PRICE, UNLESS SPECIFIED. PRIOR DEALS EXCLUDED. FROM DEALER STOCK ONLY. NO DEALER TRANSFERS AT THESE PRICES. ACTUAL VEHICLE MAY DIFFER FROM PICTURE. DUE TO PUBLICATION DEADLINES, VEHICLE MAY BE ALREADY BE SOLD. RESIDENTIAL RESTRICTIONS MAY AFFECT REBATES ALLOWED. PAYMENTS FIGURED AT 75MO, 5.5 APR, TIER 1 CREDIT RATING, W.A.C. & T. ONLY. #INCLUDES THE NMAC CAPTIVE CASH REBATE WHICH REQUIRES YOU TO FINANCE THE PURCHASE WITH NMAC TO GET THE PRICE &/ OR PAYMENT SHOWN. W.A.C. & T. ONLY. SEE SALESPERSON FOR DETAILS. ^: RECENT COLLEGE GRADS SAVE ANOTHER $600 WITH THE NISSAN COLLEGE GRAD PROGRAM. CERTAIN RULES & RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE SALESPERSON FOR COMPLETE QUALIFYING DETAILS.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.