Prentiss County City to again seek tourism tax
Region Elvis impersonator sues over arrest in ricin case
McNairy County Officials warn shoppers about identity theft
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Saturday Dec. 17,
2016
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 304
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • One section
Extreme cold prompts warnings BY BOBBY J. SMITH bsmith@dailycorinthian.com
With weather forecasters pointing to a dramatic dip in temperatures over the weekend, local emergency personnel are urging area residents to
be prepared and stay conscious of the weather. According to the National Weather Service in Memphis, temperatures this weekend could fall over 50 degrees, from a high of 71 on Saturday
to a low around 16 on Sunday. Forecasters are also giving a slight chance for severe storms before the cold front hits Saturday morning. “Possibly one or two could be severe from what the weather
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
BY BOBBY J. SMITH The First United Methodist Church of Corinth is celebrating the season with a pair of upcoming Christmas events. Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, the church Chancel Choir and guest orchestra will present a concert entitled “Invitation to a Miracle.” The choir and orchestra will be under the direction of Minister of Music Ken Lancaster. “We’re thankful for the community members and musicians who come in and help,” said First United Methodist Church Secretary Janet Wal-
became relics of their imprisonment. These range from carved wooden relics to a canteen painted with a scene of Union artillerymen. Libby Prison was a Confederate prison in Richmond, Va., which housed officers of the Union Army. Captured enlisted men were held at Belle Isle Prison, not quite a mile upstream from Libby Prison on an island in the
The new year will bring three new projects to the Alcorn School District. Superintendent of Education Larry B. Mitchell informed the board recently of his plans to convert an unused building at Kossuth Elementary School into the new pre-kindergarten building. Formerly known as the “first grade building,” Mitchell said it hasn’t been used in more than three years. “We think it’s quite suitable for our four pre-k classrooms at KES,” he said. The building remodel will include a new roof and a new HVAC unit. “We will completely gut the building,” said Mitchell. “There’s a lot of work to do, but most of it we can do ourselves.” The plan also includes the construction of a new, separate playground for pre-k students. Alcorn Central Middle School will see work done on an interventionist building. The building’s “shingled roof is leaking badly,” according to Mitchell.
Please see EXHIBIT | 5
Please see SCHOOLS | 2
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center Park Ranger Jim Minor (left) inspects an item of “prison art” from the new Libby Prison exhibit with collector Larry Mangus.
Exhibit shares story of Civil War prison BY BOBBY J. SMITH bsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A new exhibit of artifacts at the Civil War Interpretive Center focuses on Libby Prison, a facility that housed captured Union officers in the capital of the Confederacy. The exhibit features items from the collection of local Civil War collector and historian Larry Mangus. “It really brings home what the soldiers went through who were in Libby Prison and
shows what they would do to pass the time,” said Mangus. “In many ways this is common to prisoners of war in all of America’s wars.” Visitors to the exhibit will get a glimpse into life at Libby Prison through period photos of the facility and items including a piece of a rafter and a brick from the long demolished prison, as well as several examples of “prison art” — items created by prisoners of war to pass the time that
Corinth church hosts Christmas events bsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Please see COLD | 5
District plans work on buildings
Basket Fund continues growth The 21st Annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Fund continues to grow. A $23,000 fundraising goal was set so 1,000 food baskets can be given to local families beginning at 8 a.m. today at the Crossroads Arena. The newspaper has received $7,460 in donations so far. Donations include a $100 from Jimmy Howie in memory of Betty Howie; $100 from Peggy Wickersham in memory of Mike Wickersham; and $200 from the Sandy family in memory of M.L. Sandy Sr., Herb Sandy, Stephanie Sandy and Bob Wood. Christmas Basket Fund donations can be made “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special person or persons. The tribute will be published in the Daily Corinthian. The special fund will remain active until the end of the year. Donations can be brought by the newspaper office or mailed to: Daily Corinthian, Attn.: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, MS 38835.
is saying,” said Emergency Services Coordinator Ricky Gibens. “I just urge everybody to stay vigilant with the weather, whether it be by radio, TV, a
People of the Crossroads D.E. Wilson, New Candler Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
After spending some time in the likes of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, D.E. Wilson is back in the New Candler area of Prentiss County. Since September, he has served as librarian at Rienzi’s branch on School Street, and it is a good fit. “I’ve always been fascinated by the written word,” he said. He believes the book repository is important for Rienzi and communities such as Thrasher and Wheeler. “We’re the only educational institution between Booneville and Corinth that’s open to the public,” he said. Now is a time in which libraries are “rediscovering ourselves and finding out what the modern library will be,” he said. Outside the library hours of noon to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, he writes copy for advertisements and product descriptions and does some voice-over work.
“We’re thankful for the community members and musicians who come in and help. Janet Wallace First United Methodist Church secretary lace. “It’s always nice to have extra musicians and more instruments.” The church will also hold Please see CHURCH | 2
25 years ago
10 years ago
Alcorn Central boys basketball team makes a clean sweep in division 1-3A with their 10th straight win.
Northeast Mississippi Community College trustees vote to name Northeast at Corinth the Larry McCollum Center in honor of the longtime college trustee and Alcorn County Chancery Clerk.
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