Tuesday Nov. 20,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 279
Mostly cloudy Today
Tonight
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44
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Two killed, two injured in wreck BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
MICHIE, Tenn. — A two-car accident claimed the lives of two individuals Saturday. Billy Ray Vunkannon, 31, Gloster Street, Corinth, and Angelia Leigh Richardson Price, 48, Tulu Lane, Michie, were both killed in a near head-on collision that took place at the Hubert Manuel Road intersection of Highway 22.
Two others were injured in the wreck that happened at 11:31 a.m., according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol report of Trooper Michael Richardson. Megan V. Ashe, 28, of Corinth, was a passenger in Vunkannon’s 1995 Chevrolet truck while 10 year-old Dylan M. Price was a passenger in the 1993 Chevrolet of Price. Dylan Price, a student at Michie Elementary School, was
listed in good condition at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. on Monday afternoon. The Daily Corinthian left a message with the Regional Medical Center (Med) in Memphis, Tenn. about the condition of Ashe, but an update was unavailable as of Monday evening. Vunkannon was traveling north on Highway 22 when he failed to maintain proper
lane. He crossed into the opposite lane and hit Price, who was traveling south, in the near head-on collision. Neither driver was wearing their seat belt. D. Price, the nephew of Angelia Price, was the lone passenger with a safety device on. Trooper Richardson said he did not believe safety restraints would have made a difference for either driver.
Funeral services for Price are scheduled for 3 p.m. today at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Acton, Tenn. Price was the office manager at the Rienzi Clinic of Magnolia Regional Health Center and member of Tate Baptist Church. Services for Vunkannon, a ceramic tile layer, are set for 2:30 p.m. today at Magnolia Funeral Home.
Police search for man who robbed bank BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington @dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Biggersville sixth-graders Maggie Harris (from left), Annah Claire Isbell and Alli Settlemires were behind the idea to collect canned food items for needy families in their community.
Biggersville students collect food BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BIGGERSVILLE — The desire to help started with three sixth-grade girls. Their goal to assist those in need quickly spread throughout Biggersville Elementary. BES collected 543 canned good items in less than a week to be donated to families in the area. “We know they’re folks out there in need,” said BES Principal Chris Butler. “It all started with the sixthgrade and turned into a friendly competition.”
Sixth-graders Alli Settlemires, Maggie Harris and Annah Claire Isbell came up with the idea after discussing the devastation brought by Superstorm Sandy to the East Coast. “They wanted to do something,” said sixth-grade teacher Pat Sawyer. “We have some really kindhearted kids and they know we are all blessed beyond compare.” The trio took their plan to Butler on Monday and a letter was sent home to parents notifying them of the idea later that day. By Friday, the over 500 items were being sorted to pass on to the families over
the weekend. “We are planning on buying some turkeys to go along with the canned goods,” said Butler. “We want to at least help four families through this.” The whole school got involved with the drive with the third and sixth grade bringing in over 100 items each. “The competition didn’t matter,” said Isbell. “It was all about those people in need getting food.” “We thought we could help and Please see FOOD | 2
Districts 3, 5 apply for equipment grants BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County’s third and fifth districts are applying for grant funds for equipment that will be used in the upkeep of roads and rights-of-way. District 3 is applying for $19,074 toward the purchase of a new Caterpillar 307D Excavator, and district 5 is applying for $36,744 toward the purchase of a used tractor, a side-mounted rotary mower and 1-ton dump truck, all
through the United States Department of Agriculture — Rural Development Community Facilities Grant program. Based on income guidelines, the 3rd and 5th districts are the only ones in the county eligible to seek funding through the program. District 3 will contribute $108,087, for a total project of $127,161. District 5 will provide $68,240, for a total project of $104,984.
“Emergency vehicles are highest priority in this Community Facilities Grant, but equipment is eligible as well,” said Darlene Grimes, small grants administrator with the Northeast Mississippi Planning and Development District, which is preparing the application. A public hearing on the grant application was held Monday morning at the supervisors’ board room with no comments submitted.
City board to hear about property cleanup BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Board of Mayor and Aldermen will hold a regular meeting at 5 p.m. today. Continued public hearings on property cleanup are on the agenda for the Bonds property on Box Chapel Road and the Napier property at 230 Frank-
lin Street. The board will consider setting new public hearings for six others — 1115 Douglas Street, 408 Violet Street, 514 Lilly Street, 1415 Foote Street, 1411 Foote Street, and a property described as “Speedway addition.” Returning to the agenda af-
ter previously being tabled is consideration of a resolution in support of an optional sales tax for municipalities that the Mississippi Municipal League is pushing for the upcoming legislative session. Also on the agenda:
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
Please see BOARD | 2
Investigators are continuing to search for clues in last Friday’s robbery of a downtown Booneville bank just before closing time. Booneville Police Chief Michael Ramey said a white male wearing a green jacket and baseball cap with sunglasses on top walked into the Renasant Bank office on Market Street in Booneville at approximately 4:57 p.m. Friday. He presented a note to one of the tellers demanding cash and the teller complied by giving him an undisclosed amount of money. The man then left the bank via the north exit onto Market Street and has not been seen since. The suspect is is believed to be approximately 30 years, standing around 6-feet tall and weighing between 180 and 190 pounds. Ramey said the robber did not display a weapon or make any threats and no one was injured in the crime. The police chief said the investigation re-
Submitted photo
This surveillance camera image, provided by the Booneville Police Department, shows the suspect entering the bank. Related photo, Page 2. mains open and they’re asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area or who may have any information on the crime or the identity of the suspect to call the Booneville Police Department at 662-7285611 or the Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi anonymous tip line at 1-800-773-TIPS.
City expands absentee voting for referendum BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth City Hall is expanding absentee voting for the upcoming liquor election to a third Saturday to help give people ample opportunity to cast a ballot for the Dec. 11 election. The first votes in the election have already been cast, as absentee voting began last week. The numbers are few thus far, however, with seven absentees cast as of Monday. In addition to the two required Saturdays, City Hall will open this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for absentee voting. “We are doing this because of the holiday season to give everyone plenty of time to vote,” said City Clerk Vickie Roach. “I believe the thought is you’ll have a lot of students and people in town this week for the holiday.” City Hall will be closed on Thursday and Friday of this
week. This Saturday is in addition to Saturday, Dec. 1 and Dec. 8, when City Hall will open from 8 a.m. to noon as required by law. Absentee ballots are also available during the regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For those who prefer not to get out, absentee ballots can be requested by mail by phoning City Hall. “Ballots that are requested by mail must be returned through the mail,” said Roach. “They cannot be hand delivered.” Mailed absentee ballots must arrive back at City Hall by Friday, Dec. 7, in order to count toward the election. Voters select either “for the legal sale of alcoholic liquors” or “against the legal sale of alcoholic liquors” on the special election ballot. A vote in favor will legalize Please see VOTING | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Burnside squandered his advantage at Fredericksburg by failing to cross the Rappahannock River and taking the heights on the opposite bank. Gen. Robert E. Lee arrives with the Army of Northern Virginia and digs fortifications on the high ground.