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2013
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Daily Corinthian
Brisk, cold Today
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80% chance of wintry mix
Vol. 117, No. 291
2013 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Aldermen support optional sales tax BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Basket fund tops $6,000 The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area as donations are beginning to arrive for the 18th Annual Corinth Rotary Club / Daily Corinthian 2013 Christmas Basket Fund. The civic club and newspaper have set a $25,000 community fundraising goal this year so 1,000 food baskets can be given away to local families at 8 a.m. today at the Crossroads Arena. If the number of applications are any indication, the need this year will be an all-time high for folks who need help with a good holiday meal. The total remains at $6,145 after the most recent donations arrived. They are $1,000 from Mr. & Mrs. Nathan L. Hardin; $25 from the Ruth Sunday School Class at West Corinth Baptist Church in memory of JC and Betty Wammack; $500 from Oak Grove Independent Methodist Church; and $50 from Robert S. and Ernestine Vugrin. Please see BASKET | 3
Christmas event helps animal shelter BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A nice home for Christmas. The Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter is working hard to do just that for the numerous animals housed at the facility. “Take Me Home for Christmas” will provide those thinking about adopting an animal a reduced fee during the shelter’s annual Christmas celebration. The celebration is set for Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. “Now is the perfect time to adopt a special pet,” said shelter director Charlotte Doehner. “We have a large selection of both dogs and cats who will make wonderful Christmas gifts … those types of gifts make a lasting impression.” During the 10 a.m. to noon time, adoption fees for dogs will be $35 and $20 for cats. The fees return to the normal costs of $65 for dogs and $40 for cats after the noon deadline. Spay/ neuter and rabies shots are included in the adoption fee. Currently, the shelter is housing over 200 animals. “We need lots and lots of homes for the animals,” added Doehner. Individuals can also see all the new accessories in the shelter store on Dec. 14. Door prizes are slated to be drawn every Please see SHELTER | 3
The Board of Aldermen is again throwing its support behind the push for a local-option sales tax. The board on Tuesday adopted a resolution supporting introduction of the Citizens for Economic Development Act in the upcoming legislative session. If it became law, citizens would be able to vote on a sales tax of up to 1 percent on goods currently taxed at 7 percent. It must be project-specific and is time limited. If it becomes possible, Mayor Tommy Irwin said the city would look at a quarter-percent sales tax to address infrastructure. “There’s not a grant that’s going to rebuild our community … People are absolutely fed up right now,” said Irwin. “They’re tired of their streets and their infrastructure being in bad shape.” As chairman of the Mississippi Municipal League’s Legislative Committee, Irwin is lobbying for the bill.
In other business, the board received an update on activities at Crossroads Arena from General Manager Tammy Genovese. She also presented an update to the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors on Monday. With event attendance reaching about 48,000 this year, sponsors are taking note. “People are getting on board, wanting to be a part of next year,” she said. She hopes for similar trends in the coming year. “I think there is a lot of opportunity,” said Genovese. “I think that we’re getting on the map in Nashville now. There are people calling me instead of me calling them.” Notable shows in the past year included Travis Tritt, with attendance of 2,114, and Tracy Lawrence, with attendance of 1,610. The arena is taking a look at ticket prices to make sure they are affordable, the manager said, and considering facility needs such as paving, including the back graveled lot.
Weather may affect parade A cold and wet weekend may affect plans for today’s Corinth Christmas Parade. As of midday Friday, plans for the parade to be held today were still on. However, Main Street Director Taylor Coombs said parade organizers will assess the situation this morning and make a decision. They will make the call by 10 a.m. Residents will have several ways to find out whether the parade will still roll at 5 p.m. — call Main Street at 2871550 for a recorded message, check the facebook or twitter pages, and check dailycorinthian.com.
Singing tree celebrates holiday season BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Thousands of lights will reveal “The Face of Grace.” More than 40,000 lights will shine bright for another year in the Singing Christmas Tree of First Baptist Church. The annual church event is slated for Dec. 14-16. The opening and final night of “The Face of Grace” will begin at 7 p.m. A 5 p.m. service on Dec. 15 is also set. “This is our gift to the community,” said church member Peggy Morrison while getting lights ready to outline the 25foot tree structure. “Our hope is this will be an outreach where people can experience the true meaning of Christmas.” First Baptist’s tradition started in 1984 with a small wooden structure done by youth in the courtyard. Today, the massive tree has grown from a wooden piece of work to an eight-tier steel structure with lights already part of the greenery. “It’s a labor of love,” said choir member Sylvia Parsons, who has been part of about four ladies to show up every year to help put the lights on
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Sylvia Parsons (left) and Peggy Morrison get lights ready for the First Baptist Church Singing Christmas Tree. Additional photo on Page 3. the tree. “This is Christmas to us,” added Morrison. “So many people work behind the scenes to make this happen.” Members of the adult and
youth choir make up the tree. This season’s presentation, which also features an original video presentation from the First Baptist Video Ministry, of music is centered on
Christ and is a true reflection of the true meaning of Christmas. All three performances are free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
Ballet group to perform the Nutcracker BY JOSEPH MILLER jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth’s first full classical ballet of the Nutcracker will be the first in 150 years. The Crossroads community has a new form of art rising, anchored at giving back to the community. Turning Pointe Dance Academy, owned and directed by Crystal Sweeney Scarbrough, a Corinth native, will be presenting this unique event this Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Corinth Coliseum-Civic Center. The newly opened studio presented its first ballet dance with the symphony in Corinth last year, and it was very successful, according to Scarbrough. Scarbrough said this year’s presentation will look to be the start of many more ballet performances in the future. It will also serve as an attempt
Submitted photo
Madeleine Gardecki (left dancer) is playing Clara while Maurryn Bingham (right dancer) plays Heir Drosselmyer during the opening party’s scene of the Nutcracker. to give back to the community that has supported these dancers.
Index Nation........ 8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Television........9 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
“I was a Tiger dancer at Northeast Mississippi Community College and didn’t re-
ally want to leave the local area afterwards,” Scarbrough said. “However, I wanted to continue dancing and performing so, I traveled to Louisiana and Florida where I eventually began teaching with the Florida Community College system during camps.” Scarbrough said these specific camps were for underprivileged children to be exposed to the arts. She was enjoying her life and being a dance instructor, however, three years after September 11, 2001, her world took a turn for the worse. “My former husband served in the military during the years of 9/11, and he began to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), said Scarbrough. “One day, not long after his diagnosis -- in his unclear thinking -- he decided to Please see BALLET | 6
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Robert E. Lee declines the offer to reorganize the Army of Tennessee. “Unless it is intended that I should take permanent command, I can see no good that will result, even if in that event any could be accomplished.”