Saturday Dec. 14,
2013
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 296
2013 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
Basket fund increases to $10,695 The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area as generous donations are arriving daily 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 could be given away to local families on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Crossroads Arena. Baskets were given on faith and hope the goal will be reached. The total increased to $10,695 after the most recent donations arrived. They are $50 from Harold Rushing and Scherrye Burgess in memory of Jeanette Rushing; $100 from Brad Brawner in memory of Becky Brawner; $150 from H.L. Sandy and Rosemary T. Williams Jr.; $100 from the Corinth Civitan Club; and $100 from Glennan and Jan Grady. Donations can be the perfect time to make a holiday tribute to a special person. Contributions can be made “in honor of” someone living or “in memory of” someone who has passed. They can be family or friends, co-workers, employees, bosses or even groups who have made an impact on a person’s life. All tributes will be published in the Daily Corinthian until Christmas Day. Donations can be brought to the newspaper office at 1607 Harper Road or mailed to the Daily Corinthian, Attn: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, Miss. 38835.
Academy students, teams honored BY JOSEPH MILLER jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District board meeting held on Monday had plenty of honored guests on hand. Gina Rogers Smith welcomed a hosts of the Nan Nethery’s Teacher Academy students to the meeting, along with the Alcorn County High School and Kossuth High School Cross Country teams. “This is why we work and do what we love to do,” Rogers said. “We are so glad we have all these students here with us this evening. It is our honor to recognize this special group.” First up to receive recognition were the academy students. Marcus Watson, a student from Biggersville High School, stood to address the board to give his thanks for their support. “Being a part of this class at the Alcorn Career & Technical Center was a great experience for me,” said Watson. “It has helped me in many different ways, especially on how to just be a better person. Thank all of you for allowing us to be a part Please see BOARD | 2
A.M. shower Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • 1 section
Cracker Barrel coming here BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Cracker Barrel plans to open its Corinth restaurant in June with employment of 190. Representatives of Cracker Barrel and local leaders gathered Friday afternoon at the future restaurant site to formally announce that a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is coming to Corinth. The business plans to break ground on Monday. The location is the former Clayton Homes property near the Highway 72 and Highway 45 interchange. “It’s a great day for Corinth,” said Mayor Tommy Irwin. “There’s not a better brand than Cracker Barrel.” When Cracker Barrel executives scouted real estate in Corinth, the city reminded Regional Vice President Mark Romanko of the first Cracker Barrel city — Lebanon, Tenn. “We look for communities that have the potential for vibrant growth, and this certainly fits the mold,” he said. Romanko said the company will solidify its management
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Cracker Barrel District Manager Jeff Tompkins (left) discusses site plans for the Corinth location with Mayor Tommy Irwin (center) and The Alliance President Gary Chandler. team for the Corinth location in January, and the push for general hiring will begin about 10 weeks ahead of the opening. Management will include a general manager, retail manager and five associate managers.
“We generally get about 800 applicants” for jobs, he said. The brand has found success with home-style cooking such as buttermilk biscuits and dumplings made from scratch throughout the day. “Our guiding principal is
simply please the people,” said Romanko. “We look at it as just treat people like they want to be treated. It’s nothing fancy. It’s just doing what’s right. It’s things like we serve Please see RESTAURANT | 2
State to send inmates to Alcorn facility Staff Reports
The Mississippi Department of Corrections will resume sending inmates to the Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility starting Dec. 17. “The county has contracted with an experienced prison management company,” Corrections Commissioner Christopher B. Epps said. “Therefore, I am satisfied that state law and
established MDOC policies and procedures will be followed.” Epps had stopped sending state inmates to the Alcorn County facility in November after finding that Sheriff Charles Rinehart had violated MDOC policy and procedure. Specifically, the sheriff had granted passes to six ineligible inmates. The state’s inquiry into the death of one of those
inmates led to the finding. Rhinehart had until Nov. 29 to provide the commissioner with a plan detailing that the unauthorized passes were discontinued. On Dec. 2, the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors approved a two-year agreement with Mississippi Correctional Management Inc., or MCM, to operate, manage and maintain
the facility. MCM’s president, Irb Benjamin, a former state legislator, is a jail consultant with the county. “This contract is in the best interest of the county and public safety,” Epps said. “This whole matter boiled down to ensuring that public safety for the citizens of Alcorn County and the state was no longer jeopardized.”
Alcorn Narcotics Unit makes felony arrests BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn Narcotics Unit reported two arrests for felony drug possession in the last few days. A Rienzi man was arrested Friday after a County Road 405 resident reported that an intoxicated man had come to the home. Christopher Autis Robinson, 36, of County Road 430, Rienzi, was charged with
felony possession of morphine, felony possession of Ritalin and the misdemeanor charges of DUI and no proof of insurance. Justice Court Judge Steve Little set bond at $12,500. Narcotics Officer Darrell Hopkins said Robinson had been involved in a prior wreck on County Road 510 and was taken to the hospital for treatment. He was then taken to the jail and charged.
In another case, a woman was jailed after being arrested for felony possession of methamphetamine. Brenda Burks, 41, of 2902 Pinecrest Circle, Corinth, was taken into custody by the Alcorn Narcotics Unit on Wednesday following a call to the Farmington Police Department pertaining to a possible overdose at County Road 119. “Officers with the Farmington Police Department ob-
served a bottle of meth while responding to the scene,” said Hopkins. “Also in plain view was methamphetamine paraphernalia used to smoke meth.” Burks was on probation at the time of her arrest. According to Hopkins, the case is still under investigation with more possible arrests forthcoming. (Staff Writer Steve Beavers contributed to this report.)
Northeast, Blue Mountain enter partnership BY JOSEPH MILLER jmiller@dailycorinthian.com
Northeast Mississippi Community College of Corinth continues to grow in hopes of better serving the Crossroads area. NEMCC has partnered with Blue Mountain College and the open house announcement was held on Thursday afternoon. “This is a great day for both Northeast and Blue Mountain,” said Lynn Gibson, Associate Dean of Students, Director of Enrollment Services/ Registrar. “This will be a partnership which will have a long lasting effect for the region.” Northeast and BMC have entered into a partnership that will affect not only Corinth, but the region as a whole, according to Gibson. “BMC will offer undergraduate completion programs as well as graduate programs in education at the NEMCC Corinth Campus,” Gibson Please see PARTNERS | 2
Staff photo by Joseph Miller
Northeast Mississippi Community College Associate Dean of Students, Director of Enrollment Services/Registrar Lynn Gibson (left), Blue Mountain College’s Dr. Sharon Enzor, BMC President Dr. McMillian and NEMCC President Dr. Johnny Allen gather at the NEMCC campus in Corinth during the open house ceremony.
Index Stocks........8 Classified...... 15 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
On this day in history 150 years ago President Lincoln grants amnesty to his wife’s half-sister, who takes the oath of allegiance at the White House. She is the widow of Confederate Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Helm, Lincoln’s brother-in-law, who had died of wounds received at the Battle of Chickamauga.