120514 daily corinthian e edition

Page 1

Friday Dec. 5,

2014

50 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 118, No. 284

Cloudy Today

Tonight

70

57

60% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections

Toy Store effort making final push for funds BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Randy Williams

A fire destroyed Smith Drug Store and Scott Nash Woodworks, along with one apartment and one vacant building in downtown Rienzi on Wednesday morning. See related photo on Page 2A.

Arson suspected in downtown Rienzi fire BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

RIENZI — Officials have wrapped up their formal investigation of the fire that destroyed an entire downtown block early Wednesday morning. The blaze started inside historic Smith Drug Store on Main Street after an apparent breakin. Dispatchers received a call from the business’s security company around 1 a.m. reporting a glass breakage. “We suspect arson, however it hasn’t been proven yet,” said Alcorn County Director

of Emergency Services Ricky Gibens. “Arson is one of the hardest crimes to solve.” Gibens is working with the state fire marshall and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on the investigation. “We did collect some evidence at the scene that could help us determine whether accelerants were used to start the fire,” he said. “Now we will begin doing followup interviews with possible eyewitnesses in the area.” Seven local fire departments responded to the blaze which

also destroyed Scott Nash Woodworks, one apartment and one other vacant building. “The town of Rienzi has been given the okay to begin the cleanup process,” added Gibens. Business owner Trevor Williams said he plans to open a temporary drug store as soon as possible while he rebuilds his family’s 100-year-old business. (To report a tip on this case, contact the Alcorn Sheriff at 662-286-5521 or the Alcorn Emergency Services at 662286-7737.)

There’s less than a week left until hundreds of hurting families will visit the Lighthouse Foundation to get Christmas gifts for their children. The big need has organizers of the annual Toy Store Christmas toy program reaching out to the community for support as the program’s big day nears. Foundation Executive Director Gary Caveness said more than 500 families, representing over 1,500 children,

have signed up for help from this year’s effort. Shopping day is set for Dec. 11 when these families will be given the opportunity to choose gifts for their children and hear the word of God from foundation volunteers. With less than a week to go they’ve raised approximately 40 percent of the funds needed to pay for this year’s program. More is needed to ensure these families get the help they need this Christmas. “We just need help in alPlease see TOYS | 2A

Council eyes strategies to boost development BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

After sizing up the competition, the Mississippi Economic Council is suggesting some new strategies in Mississippi’s playbook for economic development. As the Blueprint Mississippi initiative continues, the MEC recently compiled more than 1,000 pages of data about how competing states approach recruitment of employers. MEC

President and CEO Blake Wilson talked about some of the results Thursday in Corinth as part of the MEC Regional Round-Up. A “snappier” response to the labor needs of potential employers is one of the things the MEC found. “We’ve got a great community college system,” said Wilson, “but when it comes Please see MEC | 2A

Bright Stars teaching leadership skills BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Kimberly Shelton

Lavaughn Carmichiel performs a sewing demonstration.

Faithful employee sews up over two decades of service BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com

After years of working at Alco and standing on her feet for hours on end, Tippah county native Lavaughn Carmichiel decided a career change was in order.

“I had trouble standing on concrete as well as climbing stairs,” she said. “Unfortunately, everything at Alco was upstairs.” Praying for guidance during Please see CARMICHIEL | 2A

A quartet of former majorettes are helping young girls take on leadership roles. Angela Dilworth and Leola King — co-directors of Bright Stars — have been working with girls at the Boys & Girls Club three days a week. Marnesha Green and Kijana Hurd are also involved in the program as instructors. “We started with 10 girls and now are up to 28,” said Dilworth. “The girls are learning and are now bringing in more of their friends.” Three days a week participants, ages 5-18, practice at the Boys & Girls Club. Instruction is given on how to use a baton each Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Members are fed at no cost each Saturday following practice. “We also help them with social skills along with homework and tutoring,” said King. “We just saw a need in those and other areas for girls.” Bright Stars has joined right in with the Smart Girl program of the club. “Most of these girls don’t want to play basketball,” said club unit director Christy Grice. “This is something just for them here at the Boys Club.” Thus far, members of Bright Stars have performed in several area parades and are slated to be part of the Corinth Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A

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

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Bright Stars Co-director Angela Dilworth works with some of the program’s members at the Boys & Girls Club.

“We also help them with social skills along with homework and tutoring. We just saw a need in those and other areas for girls.” Leola King Co-director of Bright Stars “There is no charge for the kids to enroll,” said King. “We just want them to get interested in the Boys & Girls Club,” added Dilworth, a former member while growing up. Donations are appreciated, according to King.

“It really helps us to do the things we need to do with the children,” said King. (For more information about Bright Stars or the Smart Girls program contact the Boys & Girls Club at 662-286-2808.)

On this day in history 150 years ago An annual report of the U.S. Navy details 671 ships, including 62 ironclads, which carry a combined 4,600 cannons. They have seized a total of 1,400 Confederate vessels since the outbreak of the war.

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