Friday Dec. 7,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 295
2012 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
Basket fund tops $5,000 The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area, as donations continue to arrive daily for the 17th Annual Corinth Rotary Club/ Daily Corinthian 2012 Christmas Basket Fund. The civic club and newspaper have set a $20,000 community fundraising goal this year so 1,000 food baskets can be given away to local families at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Crossroads Arena. The total stands at $5,315, meaning $14,685 still needs to be raised from the community, as there will be no corporate match this year. Recent donations include $25 from Ruth Sunday School Class at West Corinth Baptist Church in memory of Joyce Oxford; $500 from Bell Gas Co. in memory of “Gee Gee” Palmer, Lucy Smith and Peyton Houchins; $100 from Suzy Burcham in honor Please see BASKET | 2A
Arena board discusses farm, outdoor show BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Crossroads Arena Board heard updates on its farm and outdoor show set for Jan. 17-19 during its Wednesday meeting. “Everything is coming together,” said operations manager Greg Moss. DeWitt Auctions has been sent a contract for the Alcorn Farm Machinery Home & Outdoor Show, according to Moss. SuperTalk’s Steve Knight, whose radio network was approved by the board to promote the event for $7,500 in a November meeting, said 8-10 sponsors have already been lined up. “Everything has been real positive,” Knight told the board. Board members also discussed the idea of using direct mail to further promote the show. “I think it would a good idea to try and get as much mileage out of this as we can.” said Moss. In other matters, the board: ■ heard from Lisa Yates with Kudzu 104.9 about also promoting the show. Please see ARENA | 2A
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Area already seeing flu cases BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Seasonal influenza is getting an early start in Corinth. “We have seen an uptick in our flu in the past few days,” Magnolia Regional Health Center CEO Rick Napper reported Tuesday. “We had not seen any flu and then we saw five positive flu in one day.” The Mississippi State Department of Health also reported this week that it is monitoring an increase in flu activity
that has occurred over the past several weeks, about a month ahead of the typical beginning of the peak season. “We are going to be doing some things out in the community to prepare people for the flu season,” said Napper. State Epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Dobbs said flu is widespread throughout the state. “Seasonal flu usually peaks from January to March in Mississippi, but infections can be seen before and after peak sea-
son,” he said. “Mississippians should take the threat of flu very seriously and get vaccinated now.” The CDC also says anyone who hasn’t already should get a shot now. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to begin to provide protection. The CDC’s weekly report noted substantial flu increases in the south central and southeast regions of the country, with widespread activity reported in Mississippi, Alaska, New York
and South Carolina. Influenza is at its most active level this early in the season since the 2003-2004 season. The flu vaccine is available at all of the state’s county health departments for $25 for adults and $10 for those 18 and under. High-dosage vaccinations for people 65 and older are available for $50. Medicare and Medicaid recipients need to bring their cards. Please see FLU | 2A
MRHC plans opening of new ER BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
County supervisors and city aldermen this week approved the hospital budget for fiscal 2013 and learned of the upcoming transition to the new emergency room facilities. The hospital building project is scheduled for completion Dec. 31, and the switch to the new ER will happen the early morning of Feb. 2. A test run on Jan. 5 and a public open house on Jan. 24 will precede the
transition. “On Feb. 1 at midnight, we will change the ER completely over,” Magnolia Regional Health Center CEO Rick Napper told the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors. “We may be asking the local police to assist us some in that, because that’s a little bit of a dangerous area when you move your emergency room.” The hospital’s fiscal 2013 budget keeps many numbers flat because of uncertainty re-
lated to health-care reform. Napper said anticipating the numbers right now is “a shot in the dark.” He told supervisors he expects total net income to hold at $1 million to $1.5 million for the next few years. The hospital had projected total net income of $5.3 million for fiscal 2012 but ended up at about $1.5 million after Medicare made a change in prior year calculations and took back $1.5 million, Napper said.
During FY 2012, the hospital had 31,090 acute patient days, down about 1,800 from the prior year. Napper believes confusion about the health care reform act, insurance products and Medicaid contributed to a decline in the number of patients coming to the hospital. The months of October and November saw a big rebound, however. Total surgical cases, includPlease see MRHC | 2A
Knights of Columbus presents check BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Knights of Columbus have been a sweet partner in helping Region IV Mental Health Services. Council 8912 presented Region IV a check for $3,174.70 from its “Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities” or “Toostie Roll Drive” held each spring. The money goes toward the purchasing of three new vans by the mental health services. “We use every penny as a match on a van,” said Region IV Executive Director Charlie Spearman. “It’s a wonderful fundraiser that allows us to provide transportation to all our clients.” Past Grand Knights of Council 8912 Bill Geer and Ray Ball were on hand to present the check to Spearman. “Seventy-five percent of the money goes here and the other 25 percent to Special Olympics,” said Ball. “It is a good combined thing for everyone involved,” added Geer. The Knights of Columbus has no official tie to Tootsie Rolls or their manufacturer. The fundraiser is often re-
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Region IV Executive Director Charlie Spearman (middle) receives a check from past Grand Knights of the Knights of Columbus Bill Geer and Ray Ball. ferred to as the “Tootsie Roll Drive” because each person that donates is offered a Tootsie Roll. According to Spearman, the Mississippi Department of Transportation pays 80 percent of the cost of the vans with Region IV picking up the
other 20 percent. “The donation today just about pays the match for a van,” he said. Region IV has recently added a trio of 15-passenger Ford vans. “We are the only mental health region who provides
wall-to-wall transportation for its clients,” said the executive director. Region IV serves over 10,000 clients in the five counties of Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Tippah and DeSoto. Please see KNIGHTS | 2A
ACHS dance team has holiday fundraiser BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
AC is using an ATV to help them get to nationals. The Alcorn Central dance team is currently selling chances on a Honda Recon four wheeler with money collected going toward the squad’s trip to the national event in Orlando, Fla. “We have raised enough to cover the expense of being out there,” said dance coach Rebecca Lewis. “Now we are trying to come up with the money for transportation.” Alcorn Central’s dance team
earned a berth to Orlando behind an impressive routine at the Mississippi State Camp back in June. The trip would be the first for the two-time defending Class 3A Hip Hop State Champions. The ATV will be awarded Dec. 29 at the school’s Peggy Bain Memorial Scholarship Holiday Hoops Tournament. Tickets are $10 each and three for $20. Those interested in buying a ticket can see Lewis, Brent Smith at Lake Hill Motors, or any member of the dance team. The dance team will leave for Orlando on Feb. 1. Another
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$6,500 is needed to cover the transportation. Since the strong showing at camp, in which they collected a superior rating along with the Super Spirit Stick and Coaches Leadership Award, the group has held numerous fundraisers to pay for the school’s first trip to a national tournament. “I promised them if they earned a trip to nationals that I would do everything I could to get them there,” said Lewis, who took over as coach in May. Cost for the hotel on the trip was $5,000 alone, according to
the coach. “People have really been great in supporting the team and our school, and we want to thank them for that,” added Lewis. Members of the 2012-13 team are seniors Erica Doran, captain; Abbey Brooks, co-captain; Anna Bowling; and Caleigh Newton; juniors Taylor Bordeleau, Lakin Little and Brooke Odle; sophomores Lindsey Miller, Alissa Ann Williams and Katie Smith; and freshmen Adrianna Ligon, Kayti Ligon, Annie Moody and Nikki Robertson.
On this day in history 150 years ago The Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark. The fight itself is inconclusive as the superior force of Confederates under Gen. Hindman fails to defeat the Union army under Gen. Steele. Each side suffers about 1,300 casualties and the badly demoralized Southerners quit the field.
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