Friday Nov. 21,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 272
Some sun Today
Tonight
56
46
20% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 24 pages • 2 sections
Jail manager resigns after escape BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility will get new management. Irb Benjamin, whose Mississippi Correctional Manage-
ment, Inc., currently oversees the jail operation, notified the county on Thursday that he intends to resign from management of the facility. The Board of Supervisors had entered a two-year contract with Benja-
min last December. Benjamin confirmed his intentions to the Daily Corinthian and acknowledged the security issues at the South Harper Road facility. “We’ve had a couple of break-
downs in security that I’m not happy with,” said Benjamin. “I think it’s time to bring in somebody with a new set of eyes and a new approach to it. We need a better security situation than we’ve been able to put together.”
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
The Crossroads Museum will present professional photos with Santa inside the museum during the Red Green Market on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Green Market goes red for Christmas BY JEBB JOHNSTON Santa Claus is coming to the Red Green Market. Back by popular demand, Santa will be inside the Crossroads Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday during the season-ending Green Market, which will offer a chance to do some Christmas shopping on the depot grounds under sunny skies with a pleasant tempera-
ture in the 60s. Photographer Bill Avery will take pictures with Santa for a $15 donation to the museum. A high-quality 8 by 10 print will be made on site. “The photos with Santa fundraiser was such a success last year,” said Museum Director Brandy Steen. “We had more than 25 families come to get their photo with Santa. This year we hope to have just as
Symphony presents ‘Home for the Holidays’ concert BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Symphony Orchestra is getting in the Christmas spirit following a year hiatus. “Home for the Holidays” is slated for a Nov. 30 performance at the Corinth Coliseum Civic Center. “We are looking forward to the concert,” said conductor Maurice Weatherall of the 2:30 p.m. event. “Our goal is to reach out to the whole area and let them know Christmas in Corinth is ready to begin. Last year’s annual concert was canceled twice due to in climate weather. “The concert has been moved up earlier this year,” said Weatherall. Advance tickets are $15. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20. Advance tickets can be bought at Pizza Grocery, The Alliance and Tourism Office.
“The Christmas concert is a wonderful experience,” said Weatherall. “This year we want to impact more people.” Around 800 people are expected for the concert, according to Weatherall. Corinth’s symphony will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year.. “Our orchestra has come a long way,” said the conductor. “While a lot of orchestras are closing, we are still going in Corinth.”
many. And we would love to have pets — Santa and his helpers love pets.” Photos will take place in the center room of the museum. The Red Green Market, set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., is usually the biggest of the year. “It provides everyone the perfect event to start or finish their Christmas shopping,” said Please see MARKET | 2A
Charges were filed this week against the owners of the two large scale Alcorn County puppy mills raided in late October. Larry and Juanita Meeks of 3425 County Road 100 and Orville and Gloria Greenhaw of 15 County Road 159 had an initial appearance in Alcorn County Justice Court on Wednesday. Charges include cruelty, neglect and abuse of animals and livestock in connection with the search and seizure of more than 170 abused animals. The owners will appear back in court within six weeks where the county will present the judge with evidence gathered by investigators during the raids. The owners could face fines, but no jail time. “In the state of Mississippi the first animal cruelty offense is considered a misdemeanor. The second offense is considered a felony,” said Charlotte Doehner, CorinthAlcorn Animal Shelter volunteer director. “As massive of the amount of animals as the raids uncovered, the court will only count them as one offense. This is why these laws must be changed.” Doehner said the shelter is also seeking felony charges for the abused livestock on each property. She said the state issues $1 per animal fines for those without up-to-date rabies shots, as well.
“The conditions we found were deplorable,” Doehner added. “An action must be taken and a message must be sent to anyone else in our community doing this kind of activity.” Officials from the Humane Society of the United States assisted the local shelter in the more than $200,000 removal and onsite treatment of the abused animals during the Oct. 29 rescue. The animals, mostly expensive breed dogs and cats often sold at flea markets, were living in heart-breaking conditions with no access to clean water or food. Many of the animals were underweight and were suffering from a multitude of untreated medical conditions. Piles of feces and maggots were present throughout each property. Groups safely transported the animals to various locations outside the county where they were thoroughly examined by teams of veterinarians and received necessary medical treatment. (The Humane Society of the United States has established a reward program to offer up to $5,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of a puppy mill operator for animal cruelty. Persons wishing to report a valid tip are encouraged to call 1-877-MILLTIP and will remain anonymous.)
Business hosting adoption drive BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
A local business is going to the dogs. Crossroads Outdoor will host a special adoption drive for the Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter on Saturday at the Polaris ATV dealer’s new location at 2022 Highway 72 East in Corinth. The shelter will offer discount adoption rates on dogs and puppies during the event set for 1 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will also be available. “Our entire family loves animals, especially dogs,” said Ben Tomlinson, whose family owns Crossroads Outdoor. “I personally have three small breed dogs and love supporting the animal shelter whenever possible.” Tomlinson said he has volunteered at the shelter several times and is currently in the process of applying for veterinary school. “If we can do something like this to raise awareness for the shelter, adopt a few dogs and
Index Stocks......8A Classified....14A Comics......9A State......5A
Please see JAIL | 2A
Puppy mill owners face several charges
Merry Market
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
He plans to serve through the end of November. Last week’s second escape of rape suspect Garnett Denzell Hughes, a county inmate,
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
Photo compliments of Terri South
A Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter volunteer loads up in a new Polaris ATV with several shelter pups and Crossroads Outdoor’s Ben Tomlinson. The Corinth business will host a special adoption event on Saturday. gain some business, then we are done something right,” added Tomlinson. The shelter plans to have
several beagles and labs, among other hunting breeds Please see SHELTER | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago Hood’s Army of Tennessee sets out from Florence, Ala., with 31,000 men and heads toward Nashville. He has been waiting for three weeks for Forrest’s cavalry, three weeks that the Federals have spent strengthening the Nashville defenses.
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