Tuesday Nov. 25,
2014
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 275
Mostly sunny Today
Tonight
49
29
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Sentences announced in final week of term BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County Circuit Court completed its term on Friday. Following are some of the sentences handed down on guilty pleas during the final week of the term: • Christopher A. Robinson, 37, possession of Methylphenidate — Suspended eightyear sentence, three years probation and $1,000 fine
• Lamon Darrell West, 21, possession of cocaine with intent — House arrest, five years probation and $1,000 fine. On a separate count of possession of synthetic marijuana, the judge imposed a suspended three-year sentence. • Jacob Gaige Moss, 18, burglary of a dwelling — Sentenced to the Regimented Inmate Discipline Program; five years probation; $1,000 fine;
must pay restitution totaling $3,347.84 with a codefendant • Summer Monroe, 28, burglary of a dwelling — Sentenced to house arrest; five years probation; $1,000 fine; must pay restitution of $2,500. Monroe entered an Alford plea in the case, admitting no guilt. • Robert Morrison, 41, sale of methamphetamine — Suspended eight-year sentence, three years unsupervised pro-
bation and $1,000 fine • Lance Lasley, 25, attempted burglary and larceny of a building — Suspended sevenyear sentence. On a separate indictment for burglary and larceny of a church, the judge sentenced Lasley to house arrest, five years probation and a fine of $1,000. • Richard Smith, 60, abuse of vulnerable adult — Suspended 15-year sentence
with five years probation and $1,000 fine • Bobby Barnes, 35, sale of methamphetamine — Suspended eight-year sentence, three years probation and $1,000 fine • Christy Leigh Austin, 28, possession of methamphetamine in correctional facility — Sentenced to house arrest, three years probation and $1,000 fine.
Tourism tax sees continued growth BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Zack Steen
OneMain Financial Corinth branch account managers Andrea Robinson and Cherie Jamieson, along with branch manager Susanne Cooper, sign Christmas cards to be delivered to more than 20,000 families who use TAPS services.
Business spreads holiday cheer BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
A local business is spreading Christmas cheer this week by collecting cards to send to families of those grieving the death of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces. OneMain Financial has partnered with the nonprofit group, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) to offer employees and customers across the country a way to give back to military families who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Signed holiday cards will be delivered to more than 20,000 families who use TAPS services.
“We have done many things throughout the year for service members and their families,” said Susanne Cooper, manager at the Corinth Commons Shopping Center branch. “The Christmas card project is especially important to us because we know how hard this time of the year can be on family members who have experienced the loss of a loved one.” Cooper said the Corinth office has collected about 50 signed cards so far. People can visit the branch at 1747 Virginia Lane and sign a holiday card or drop cards ready to be mailed by the branch.
“We’ve really been pushing the cards,” she said. “Helping families of fallen soldiers have a merrier Christmas is something very near and dear to all of us.” Since 1994, the TAPS organization offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in the Armed Forces. TAPS also provides comfort and hope 24 hours a day, seven days a week through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. (For more information about TAPS, visit taps.org or call 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).)
The tourism tax is off to a fast start in the new fiscal year while sales tax had a small decrease in the latest reported month. The tourism tax set new high bars for the first two deposits of fiscal year 2015 — $100,215.86 in October, up 4 percent from a year earlier, and $95,086.56 in November, up 23 percent from an unusually low result a year earlier. It is the first time October has topped $100,000. The 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food and lodging sales in Corinth has generated $195,302.42 thus far in the new fiscal year, a 15 percent increase from the prior year. The city’s mid-November deposit of sales tax proceeds totaled $425,850.94, down 2 percent from a year ago. Funds returned to cities in November by the Mississippi Department of Revenue reflect sales activity in local stores during
the month of September. Gross sales in retail trade in the city totaled $56.8 million for the month and across all categories totaled $72.7 million. For the fiscal year, sales tax totals $921,650.22 through the first two months, up 3.2 percent from a year earlier. Collections across the state were slightly off for the month, declining less than a quarter of a percentage point. Other sales tax results from the region: • Booneville - $145,254.13 (+2%) • Burnsville - $11,247.60 (-11%) • Farmington - $2,190.12 (-38%) • Glen - $1,561.44 (-23%) • Iuka - $63,985.56 (+7%) • Kossuth - $3,669.99 (-1%) • Rienzi - $4,624.82 (+30%) • Ripley - $102,367.74 (+6%) • Tupelo - $1,325,652.98 (-4%) • Walnut - $16,765.99 (+2%)
Church continues tradition “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV) BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
While many gather to feast with family and give thanks for their yearly blessings, First Presbyterian Church is giving glory to God through the service of others.
Delivering meals to those who would otherwise go hungry, church members and volunteers will generously devote their time and efforts to the community on Thanksgiving Day as they have for the past 26 years. “Our plan is to provide 1,000 meals which will be delivered and distributed to the needy Please see CHURCH | 2
Lynette Miller (left) and Jenni Lambert were honored during the Boys & Girls Club’s Lights on Afterschool event. Miller received the Champion of Youth award, while Lambert was recognized for receiving a state CARE honor for her role in helping the club with its reading program.
Boys & Girls Club honors survivor BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi put the spotlight on reading. Cancer survivor Lynette Miller displayed the will to overcome for club youngsters. Miller was among those honored during the club’s annual Lights on Afterschool celebration. Miller, who completed her treatment the night of the banquet, was honored as the Champion of Youth. “She came out that night and was as sick as you could be,” said club unit director Christy Grice.
Miller kept the secret to herself. “You would have never guessed anything was wrong with her during the night,” said Grice. “We didn’t have a clue until her husband told us … she had a strong will to overcome and was determined not to let us down.” The determination of Miller is what Grice wants the kids of the club to see. “You are only defeated when you let yourself be defeated,” said the unit director. Volunteer Jenni Lambert was also honored during the night. Lambert was recognized for re-
ceiving a state CARE honor for her role in helping the club with its reading program. Lambert was among volunteer readers to come in when Grice started the “Own Little Corner of the World” book club. “Jenni really brought the club to life,” said Grice. “She was great lining up volunteers and getting sponsors.” Five club ambassadors were also awarded certificates for their work with the club. Rick Willis, Jay Walker, Emily McGrath, Debra Gallagher and Bobby Ratliff each were recognized during the “Alice in Wonderland” themed-event.
Index Stocks......8A Classified....13A Comics......9A State......5A
Weather...... 7A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....10A
On this day in history 150 years ago Nov. 25 — Confederate agents sent to Canada have slipped across the border and attempted to burn down New York City. They set fires in 10 New York hotels, but the fires are quickly extinguished. One agent is captured and eventually hanged. EXECUTIVE RENTALS COR CORINT INTH, H,, MISSISSIPPI MISSIS MIS SISSIP SIPPI PI CORINTH,
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