122015 daily corinthian e edition by Daily Corinthian

Inside today: 9 inserts with lots of savings Alcorn County Auditor gives $30,000 to D.A.’s office

Prentiss County Law enforcement urges holiday safety

Tishomingo County Society seeks grants for courthouse upgrades

Page 3A

www.dailycorinthian.com

Sunday Dec. 20, 2015 $1.50

Daily Corinthian Vol. 119, No. 304

• Corinth, Mississippi •

BY JEBB JOHNSTON One important ingredient is fueling the tourism business. “For the last four or five months, people seem to be traveling more because of the gas prices,” said Alcorn

Basket fund nears $9,000 The spirit of giving the holiday season is alive and well in the Alcorn County area. Donations are beginning to pour in for the 20th Annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Fund. A $25,000 fundraising goal was set so 1,000 food baskets could be given to local families on Saturday, Dec. 5. Baskets were given away based upon faith the goal will be reached. So far $8,980 has been raised, meaning $16,020 still has to be raised to meet the goal. Recent donations include $100 from Soltz and Taylor families in memory of Jean Taylor; $50 from Bailey and Reichel Smith in memory of Erin Sanders; $200 anonymous gift in memory of Dock L. Oaks and J.C. Mathis; $100 from Ronnie and Natalie Sleeper in memory Please see BASKET | 6A

Board takes no action on pay change BY ZACK STEEN

Tonight

40% chance of rain

Welcome Center Supervisor Sherry Brown. Although the last fiscal year’s visitation total was down 2.7 percent based on the number of people who sign in at the state welcome center, recent months have seen an uptick. The period

from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, had 115,456 visitors, compared to 118,607 a year earlier. “I feel like we’re going to have an increase in this fiscal year because of the gas

Officials offer farewell BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Peggy Roach believes in celebrating Christmas all year. The 71-year-old crafter just loves what the time of year means. Roach’s talent for Scherenschnitte has brought a simple piece of paper to life on both ornaments and cards. “Most people have never heard of it,” said Roach of the German word which means scissor cuts. Roach, owner of Peggy’s Craft Closet, has completed thousands of the cuts since the 1980s with those pertaining to Christmas being her favorite. “I work on Christmas all year,” she said. “I love what it represents.” Handmade designs of trees, candles, angels, Christmas presents, ornaments and even a Nativity scene have all been made by Roach. “I think it’s simple,” she said. “It’s like cutting out pa-

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

County supervisors had their last scheduled meeting of the year Friday as the current term enters its final days. The new board will convene for the first time on Monday, Jan. 4. A couple of departing officials made comments as the meeting came to a close. Although he had a short time on the board, Ralph Coln said he has enjoyed serving for the Second District. “I appreciate everybody having faith in me to allow me to be a part of this system,” he said. “I met a lot of good people and hope the county moves forward in an aggressive manner with the new board coming on next year.” He served what was left on the term of Dal Nelms, who resigned July 24. Outgoing Chancery Clerk Bobby Marolt also said farewell. “I want to thank the people of Alcorn County for letting me serve two terms ... it was a pleasure to work with the county to help the families out, to help the kids out,” he said. It was also the last meeting for Gary Ross after three terms in the Fourth District. He made no comment. The board had a light agenda that included action on the following: ■ Supervisors approved Main Street Corinth’s request to place a bicycle rack on the south side of the courthouse. It is one of several racks Main Street is in-

Please see CRAFTER | 2A

Peggy Roach has brought thousands of ornaments and cards to life through her Scherenschnitte talent.

Please see COUNTY | 6A

Please see TRAVEL | 5A

Crafter loves holiday season BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

After being tabled in November, an administrative office pay scale adjustment died this week before the Alcorn County school board. Alcorn School District Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith presented the board with information last month on the 35year pay scale adjustment for all district employees, including the positions of accounts payable, board secretary, purchasing clerk/fixed assets and human resources/payroll clerk. The adjustment would not become effective until the 201617 school year. Smith, who will vacate her position later this month, said board members had asked several months ago for the change

Today

24 pages • Two sections

Low gasoline prices equals more travel jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Some sun

Staff photo by Zack Steen

School board member reflects on his service

Alcorn County’s new second district supervisor James Voyles received well wishes from Alcorn School District Board of Education President Mary Coleman last week. Voyles resigned from his post on the school board in order to serve as supervisor beginning in 2016.

BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

After serving the people just one year, James Voyles knew he was ready for the next step. The three-year board member of the Alcorn School District Board of Education resigned from his post earlier this week. He’ll take the oath of office as Alcorn County’s new second district supervisor on Dec. 29. “It has been an honor and a privilege to

Please see PAY | 6A

Please see VOYLES | 6A

25 years ago

10 years ago

Corinth High School weathers a computer virus attack. The Dark Avenger virus strikes their system, but Milton Sandy Jr., a member of the Horizon’s computer and technology committee, is able to repair the problem without loss of data.

The Corinth Civitan Club makes Christmas brighter for local kids in need. The club provides 12 children with lunch, toys, clothes and shoes in partnership with Belk of Corinth.

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2A • Daily Corinthian

Local/Region

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Church sponsors families, hosts candlelight service BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Grace Community Church is going to show it cares. The church will provide a Christmas meal for two families in the community and have a candlelight service on Dec. 23. “Grace wants to be known as a caring church who always reaches out to those in need,” said pastor Tim Alvis. “We have some families who are struggling and the Lord has placed two of them on

our hearts.” The candlelight service is set for 6 p.m. “This presents an opportunity to be one-onone with the community,” said Alvis. “We don’t want to miss those type of opportunities whether it’s someone we know or do not know.” Providing the two meals helps meet a physical need for the families. “No matter how minute the gift, it still shows we care,” said Alvis. “For us it is about becoming who

Christ wants us to be … by us being an open vessel for Him, we make sure His life flows through us to others.” Grace Community Church opened almost a year ago at the Alcorn Baptist Building. The church moved to its new location at 1527 Highway 72, Corinth in July.

“Some of the books can have two or three dozen patterns,” she said. “All you do is take a pattern and trace it on what you are cutting on.” The talented crafter has boxes of things she has made over the last 25 years.

“People are so generous in the craft world that they have given me books they are no longer using,” she said. “A lot of my books are from the 80s.” Scherenschnitte has symmetry within the design and common forms include silhouettes, valentines and love letters. The art tradition was founded in Switzerland and Germany in the 16th century, and was brought to Colonial America in the 18th century by immigrants who settled primarily in Pennsylvania. “Most of mine are of Christmas,” said Roach, as she decorated a small Christmas tree with paper cutouts. “I love to make designs which are intricate because they look more realistic.” Tree ornaments aren’t the only thing made by Roach. She dresses up gifts with the scissor cuts and also makes birthday cards and other seasonal cards.

(For more information about Grace Community Church call Alvis at 731645-2806.)

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Grace Community Church pastor Tim Alvis and wife Amy get food ready to be cooked for a pair of families this year.

CRAFTER CONTINUED FROM 1A

per dolls.” Roach discovered Scherenschnitte several years while shopping. She bought a book to see how to make the paper designs.

ONLY

“I love crafts and the Lord blessed me this talent and I’m supposed to share it with others.” Peggy Roach “I have so many framed and I just love decorating boxes,” she said of the cuts. Roach uses scissors and an X-Acto knife to make the handcrafted items out of copy paper. “Handmade gifts are more special,” said Roach. “I love crafts and the Lord blessed me this talent and I’m supposed to share it with others.” Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Peggy Roach has made countless ornaments since learning the art of Scherenschnitte.

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Local/Region

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Today in History Today is Sunday, Dec. 20, the 354th day of 2015. There are 11 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 20, 1945, the Office of Price Administration announced the end of tire rationing, effective Jan. 1, 1946.

On this date: In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States. In 1860, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union as all 169 delegates to a special convention in Charleston voted in favor of separation. In 1864, Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, Georgia, as Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman nearly completed his “March to the Sea.” In 1963, the Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners, who were allowed one-day visits to relatives in the Eastern sector for the holidays. In 1989, the United States launched Operation Just Cause, sending troops into Panama to topple the government of Gen. Manuel Noriega.

Daily Corinthian • 3A

Across the Region County restitution monies returned TUPELO — State Auditor Stacey Pickering was in Tupelo Thursday to hand over $30,000 to the District Attorney’s Office, according to WTVA. The money came from Alcorn County where the State Auditor’s office has been busy recently, convicting several public officials of fraudulent activities. Pickering says the money is part of restitution that has been ordered to return to the District Attorney’s Office to cover numerous expenses. District Attorney John Weddle says the funds will go toward more corruption investigation in the area. “That’s one of the roles the Auditor’s Office, recovering money that was embezzled, stolen, or misspent. We get the principal the interest as well as our investigative costs,” said Pickering.

Officials in Prentiss urge holiday safety BOONEVILLE — Tis the season for criminals to target those attempting to make merry at Christmas. Local law enforcement officials say property crimes, as well as scams, tend to rise

around this time of year and there are simple steps people can take to avoid becoming a victim. “I suggest that everyone be extra vigilant and observant,” said Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar. The sheriff said the last several years have not seen a dramatic increase in crime around the holidays, but it’s important for people to think about their actions and take precautions to protect their property. “As a deterrent we ask that you take precautions such as letting your neighbors and law enforcement know that you aren’t going to be at home for several days and to report any suspicious activity,” he said. He also encourages Christmas shoppers to lock their car doors and lock packages in trunks rather than leaving them in plain view inside the vehicles.

Society seeks grant for courthouse fixes IUKA — Renovations are coming to the Old Courthouse Museum in Tishomingo County. Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society chairman Bill Gurley said this week that the application process has began for funds to renovate sections of the courthouse. Renovations planned

Gift Shop OPEN Sunday-1:00pm-5:00pm Monday-8:00am-6:00pm Tuesday-8:00am-6:00pm Wednesday-8:00am-6:00pm Thursday-8:00am-3:00pm Closed Christmas Day

will include adding ADH approved handicapped accessibility to the north side of the building and the removal of extensive railing and ramp system installed in the front of the building. Gurley also said the long term goal is to restore the courthouse’s original third story and bell tower. The installation of an elevator, which would allow those who can’t climb the stairs access to the upstairs courtroom.

Child tests positive for meth; 1 charged HENDERSON, Tenn. — Deputies have arrested a man on a child abuse charge after a child living in his home tested positive for meth and other drugs, according WBBJ. Billy Walker is facing a criminal attempt to commit aggravated child abuse charge after a 7-year-old living in his home tested positive for meth and opiates, according to a report from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department. The Department of Children’s Services responded in October to a report of drug use in the home, according to the sheriff’s department. DCS later had the child removed from the home and returned to the custody of a family member.

Police investigate business break-ins SALTILLO — Saltillo police are investigating the Thursday morning burglaries of three businesses in the city, according to WTVA. Police Chief Grant Bailey says between 3 and 5 a.m., Fastenal, Subway and Design South Flooring were targeted by thieves. Bailey says at least two people are involved in the break-ins, although only one person entered the businesses. The person was wearing a mask, hoodie, solid black clothing and clothes to hide their identity. Bailey says a brick was thrown through a glass door to gain access to each business. Tools, iPads and cash were taken in the breakins. Fastenal’s manager told police locations in Amory and Holly Springs had also been broken into recently.

District selected for pilot program ABERDEEN — The Aberdeen School District is one of three school districts in the state selected for a pilot program through the Mississippi Association of Partnerships in Education (MAPE), according to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

The Certified Partnership Community program intends to expand and strengthen family and community engagement. MAPE President Dr. Suzanne Bean shared preliminary details with the district’s P-16 Council Dec. 7. “I met with the principals in November, and we looked at PTO officer training and helping officers understand the role of understanding what they should and shouldn’t be doing,” Bean said. The district appeared on MAPE’s radar earlier this year after receiving a Governor’s Award for the Aberdeen High School JROTC’s partnerships with Axiall and the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce.

Schools, agencies provide gift baskets TUPELO — Lee County area schools and law enforcement agencies pitched in to help provide 1,000 gift baskets for residents in nursing homes this week. Students enjoyed filling laundry baskets with items that they thought someone would enjoy. The lesson in the classroom on this day is kindness to others. Law enforcement and students delivered the baskets to area residents on Saturday.

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Opinion

Mark Boehler, editor

4A • Sunday, December 20, 2015

Corinth, Miss.

Our View

‘Fiber-ready’ industrial park has potential for job growth The recent news that Corinth has inked a promotional agreement with AT&T to tout the South Corinth/Alcorn Industrial Park as “fiber-ready” is a major development in local economic development. Recently approved by the Board of Aldermen, the agreement is designed to permit AT&T and the city to “effectively promote the advanced broadband communications capacity of the buildings in the development.” Words simply can’t express the importance of this measure in luring potential industry and future job creation for our community. AT&T representative Gunner Goad recently told the Board of Aldermen that fiber is in the ground there to provide communications services. “Hopefully, this will be an economic driver for you guys,” Goad told aldermen and the mayor. We are certainly as hopeful. Virtually every elected official for the city, county, region and state have cited industrial growth as a top priority during the most recent election cycles. This action by the city demonstrates the city’s commitment to keeping job creation as a high priority. And the added bonus? It involves no cost to the city. The agreement is for a term of one year but continues until either party terminates. The city agrees to provide AT&T’s contact information to prospective tenants and to share contact information with AT&T of those who lease or purchase property. The company plans to market the site as “fiber-ready” through news releases and promotional materials. A company representative will be designated to make presentations to prospective tenants. We believe this is a step in the right direction with hope for future success in job growth.

Daily Corinthian

Keeping in touch State: Sen. Rita Potts Parks Alcorn, Tishomingo, Tippah counties 662-287-6323 (H) 662-415-4793 (cell) rparks@senate.m.s.gov Rep. Nick Bain Alcorn County 662-287-1620 (H) 601-953-2994 (Capitol) nbain@house.ms.gov

The alpha dog of the GOP If there’s any lesson from Tuesday’s debate, it’s that six months after his entry into the Republican presidential race, no one has any better idea of how to handle Donald Trump than when he first got in. Las Vegas highlighted how Trump has established alpha-dog dominance in the Republican field. He’s not only the front-runner according to national polls, he’s a front-runner other candidates are literally afraid to criticize in his presence. Everyone’s happy to have his blessing. When Trump pronounced Ted Cruz “just fine” at the end of the debate, the Texas senator appeared as tickled as if he’d just won the Presidential Medal of Freedom or an Academy Award. Ben Carson seemed perfectly pleased to accept Trump’s compliment as “one of the finest men” – even though Trump had been denouncing him as pathological and a liar a couple of weeks earlier. Even Jeb Bush eagerly exchanged a low-five with the mogul during one of the early debates. It’s Bush, of course, who has taken it upon himself to constantly go after Trump

in the debates, and it always ends in roughly the same way. Bush criticizes Trump Rich and calls Lowry him unserious. Trump National makes faces, Review then interrupts Bush to mock him in harshly personal terms and cite his low poll numbers. Bush calls Trump unserious some more. Trump interrupts and makes more faces. Las Vegas was no different, even if Bush was more adept at grappling with Trump than he had been in past exchanges. It’s possible to imagine party elders finding Bush’s anti-Trump tack satisfying and brave, but it has gotten nowhere. If scolding Trump for being unserious, irresponsible, divisive and hurtful were the keys to bringing him down, Bush would have devastated Trump by now. Bush is an accomplished public servant and profoundly decent man whose theory of the race has been that the party needs an adult. But the party wants a leader. While there’s

overlap between those two things, they aren’t identical. An adult makes sure everyone is operating within the bounds of established rules; a leader changes the rules. The three most vibrant non-Trump contenders are the three who have been most careful to sidestep the mogul: Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie. This may be a coincidence, or it may have something to do with their ability to rationally calculate their political interest. It’s Cruz who has sidestepped Trump most determinedly. Rubio and Christie have slapped back when hit by Trump. Cruz appears to live in mortal fear that Trump might look at him crosswise. The several days prior to the Las Vegas debate, Cruz’s campaign appeared to have entered its “Thank you, sir, may I have another” phase. Trump questioned Cruz’s religion and his judgment, and Cruz brushed it off as a trifling misunderstanding between stalwart foes of the establishment. Cruz’s submissiveness to Trump is — depending on your tolerance for insincerity in the service of a larger political goal — either appallingly or gloriously disin-

genuous. It couldn’t be more transparent if Cruz had been caught on tape at a private fundraiser acknowledging that it was part of his plan to defeat Trump – and, in fact, he was! Still, by honoring Trump’s implicit rule that if you demonstrate respect for him, he’ll probably leave you alone, Cruz has so far avoided a Trump onslaught. Republican insiders find the Cruz maneuver galling. But consider this feat: Cruz has managed to maintain a fragile truce with Trump while surging past him in the crucial first state. If Trump is overly bothered by Cruz leading him by 10 points in Iowa, according to the widely respected Des Moines Register poll, and potentially dealing him a damaging blow at the outset of actual voting, he hasn’t given much sign of it yet. Those who think Ted Cruz is obliged to be more openly anti-Trump should consider that so far it is the shrewd Texan who has made the most progress in stopping him. (Daily Corinthian columnist Rich Lowry can be reached via e-mail: comments.lowry@nationalreview.com.)

Will elites blow up the GOP?

Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter Alcorn, Tishomingo counties 601-359-3374 (Capitol) 662-427-8281 (H) lcarpenter@huse.ms.gov Rep. William Tracy Arnold Alcorn (Rienzi area), Prentiss counties 662-728-9951 (H) warnold@house.ms.gov All state legislators can be reached via mail: c/o Capitol P.O. Box 1018 Jackson, Miss. 39215

Prayer for today Loving Father, teach me the secret of constancy, that none may ever be disappointed in me. May I not reckon what I give on recompense, but have the spirit of giving which has no measure for what it may receive in return. May I not be forgetful of thy love which will hold me to deeper reverence and devotion. Amen.

A verse to share “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” — Psalms 32:10

Letters Policy All letters are subject to editing before publication, especially those beyond 600 words in length. Send to: Letters to the editor, Daily Corinthian, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, Miss. 38835. Letters may also be e-mailed to: letters@daily corinthian.com. Email is preferred.

“Buchanan, if you ever hear of a group getting together to stop X, be sure to put your money on X.” So, Richard Nixon told me half a century ago, after he had been badly burned in just such a futile and failed enterprise. It was the Cleveland Governors Conference of 1964. Sen. Barry Goldwater had just defeated Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in the final and decisive winner-take-all primary in California. As the story is told, Stu Spencer, Rocky’s man in California, had come to his candidate and said, “Governor, I think it’s time to call in the Eastern establishment.” To which Rocky replied, “You’re looking at it, buddy. I’m all that’s left!” Rocky was cooked. But then the panicked Republican governors gathered in Cleveland — Rockefeller, George Romney of Michigan, William Scranton of Pennsylvania – to plot a path to deny Goldwater the nomination he and his conservative insurgents had won. Nixon was invited, and, according to Romney, privately urged him to get into the race. Nixon denied it. The governors, and Goldwater himself, suspected Nixon was pushing Romney onto the tracks to derail his bandwagon. And, presumably, after Romney had been run over, the convention, to heal the bleed-

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ing wound, would turn to a centrist compromise candidate – Nixon. “Nixon is Pat s o u n d i n g Buchanan more and more like Columnist Harold Stassen every day,” said Goldwater. Nixon pivoted swiftly to repair the damage, offered to introduce Goldwater to the convention, did so in a brilliant speech, then campaigned harder for Mr. Conservative than did Barry himself. And while Nixon enlisted in Goldwater’s campaign, Rockefeller, Romney and Scranton, arrogantly refusing to accept defeat graciously, crippled any chance Goldwater might have had by demanding that the platform condemn the John Birch Society as equally extreme as the Communist Party and Ku Klux Klan. The party said no. And the establishment cut Barry dead in the fall. Thus did the GOP establishment earn the eternal enmity of the right. And thus did Richard Nixon emerge in 1968 as the first choice of Barry Goldwater and the centrist Republican most acceptable to the conservative movement. The rest, as they say, is history. Which brings us to that dinner last week at The Source

on Capitol Hill where Republican Party elites discussed how Donald Trump, even if he wins the lion’s share of votes and delegates, might be denied the nomination in a “brokered convention.” The absurdity of such a conspiracy would be matched only by its stupidity. Has the GOP establishment learned nothing from history? Deadlocked conventions – like the 1924 Democratic convention, which went on for 104 ballots – virtually ended with the elimination, by FDR’s party in 1936, of the two-thirds rule for nomination. But assume at the GOP convention in Cleveland that Trump runs first, Ted Cruz second, Marco Rubio third and Ben Carson fourth. Rather than wait for Karl Rove & Co. to tell us whom the party shall nominate, Trump would phone Cruz, offer him second spot on the ticket in return for his delegates, and if Cruz declined, ask for Rubio’s phone number. Candidates who have gone through a yearlong campaign, and sustained the defeats and suffered the abuse, are not going to let a Beltway cabal decide the nominee. Carson has already warned he will walk away from the party if such a decision were imposed upon the convention. What is left are elites, col-

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lectives of officeholders past and present, donors, lobbyists, think-tankers angling for jobs, party hacks and talking heads. What the Republican collectivity has to realize is that it is they and the policies they produced that are the reason Trump, Carson and Cruz currently hold an overwhelming majority of Republican votes. It was the elites of both parties who failed to secure our borders and brokered the trade deals that have deindustrialized America and eviscerated our middle class. It was the elites of both parties who got us into these idiotic wars that have blown up the Middle East, cost us trillions of dollars, thousands of dead, and tens of thousands of wounded among our best and bravest. That Republican elites would sit around a dinner table on Capitol Hill and discuss how to frustrate the rising rebellion against what they have done to America, and decide among themselves who shall lead us, is astonishing. To borrow from the Gipper, they are not the solution to our problems. They are the problem. (Daily Corinthian columnist Pat Buchanan is an American conservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster.)

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Editorials represent the voice of the Daily Corinthian. Editorial columns, letters to the editor and other articles that appear on this page represent the opinions of the writers and the Daily Corinthian may or may not agree.

Daily Corinthian • Sunday, December 20, 2015 • 5A

Community Events VFW New Year’s Eve Party

fun and entertainment.

The VFW is taking reservations for its New Year’s Eve Party. The cost is $25 for nonmembers or $15 for members with valid membership cards. Reservations must be paid in advance. Entire tables can be reserved. Each table has eight seats. Tickets must be purchased by Sunday, Dec. 27. Hats and noisemakers will be included. Breakfast will be served at 12:01 a.m. Champagne will also be available two per table. For more information contact Tom Reinke at 731610-3251 or Bill Parker at the VFW at 662-287-6106.

Country Singing A karaoke featuring traditional country music is held at 6:30 p.m. each Saturday in the Corinth RV Park at 308 CR 604. A $100 prize will be awarded to the winner of the singing contest each Saturday.

Comedy Show Used Book Sale

The Living Healthy Free Medical Clinic, where residents with no way to pay can get free medical treatment, welcomes adults and children age 12 and up with no income and no

The North Mississippi All Celebrity All Star Comedy Show will be in Corinth at the Crossroads Arena at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. Comedian Rodney Perry will bring his act. Perry, who resides in Atlanta, was the co-creator of BounceTV and starred in the movie “Madea’s Big Happy Family” in 2013. The show will also feature comedienne Barbara Carlyle, from Showtime Apollo, Comedy Central and Comic view, along with comedian Marvin Hunter from the Rickey Smiley Tour. It will be hosted by BET Six-time All Star Comedian Shawn Harris. Tickets start at $23 (for all riser seating) and $33 for reserved floor seating. A limited quantity of 200 tickets will be available at $43 for the VIP meet-and-greet reception and first 6 rows. The meet-andgreet will be held inside at the Convention Center from 6:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will include refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres. For more information visit www.crossroadsarena.com or call 662-287-7779.

increase from last year. Shopping for antiques is one of the growing trends the welcome center’s staff has noticed. “It’s grown so much that I had to make my own little map for the area that I’ve got every place that has antiques,” said Brown. International visitors totaled 88 in October, including 49 from England and 17 from

Canada. “Some of them are doing hiking,” said Brown. “They love our state parks and hiking trails. The groups from England, a lot of them are coming to do the music trail.” Those tours often include stops in Nashville, Tupelo, New Orleans, the Delta and Memphis. October was a strong month

The Corinth Friends of the Library will have a Used Book Sale through Friday, Jan. 15. Holiday material will be special priced. All other materials will be 2 for 1. Check back often as new items will be put out every day.

Bishop Activity Center Farm Bureau Food Drive The Bishop Activity Center will hold the following events: Monday, Dec. 21: Legacy Hospice at the center for Bingo, Birthday and Christmas Celebration; Tuesday, Dec. 22: Doctor Day, exercise at Tate Baptist Church; Wednesday, Dec. 23–Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas Holiday – center closed. Daily activities include: Open discussion, quilting, jigsaw puzzles, table games, rolo golf and a washer game. Senior citizens age 60 and above are welcome.

Local Farm Bureaus are accepting food donations until Christmas to help feed the needy in the community. The donations will be dispersed. The Corinth Farm Bureau office is at 517 North Cass Street and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All donations will be appreciated, but the following items are being sought:canned vegetables, canned soups, cereal, pudding cups, fruit cups, juice boxes and dried pasta.

Free Medical Clinic ‘Just Plain Country’ Just Plain Country performs at the Tishomingo County Fairgrounds in Iuka every Saturday from 7-10 p.m. There is dancing and good family-friendly

health insurance. The clinic is at 2668 South Harper Road Suite 3 next to Physicians Urgent Care in the former Oasis Medical Center. The clinic seeks medical and non-medical volunteers. They can contact Ann White at eaw3@comcast.net or 662415-9446.

Corinth Artist Guild Gallery

Quilt Guild

The exhibit of photography by longtime Corinth photographer Joe McKewen is extended through Dec. 31. Images from senior photo shoots, family portraits and sports action are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the gallery’s educational efforts. ■ The paintings of Sweet Lips, Tenn., artist Victor Moore will remain on display until the end of December. Visit the gallery Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 662-665-0520 for more information. ■ The gallery has beefed up its selection of items made by artisans in Corinth and surrounding areas to consider for Christmas gifts. In addition to paintings, prints and photographs, the items include handcrafted furniture, jewelry, baskets, pottery, wood-turned items, metal sculpture, toys, knit and crochet scarves, baby clothes and note cards featuring the art of children and adults. ■

Musicians Needed A volunteer opportunity is available for a guitar or banjo musician to play with a band as part of a nursing home ministry during special programs held at 2 p.m. twice a month at Cornerstone and Mississippi Care Center. For more information call 662-287-3560.

Cross City Piecemakers

The Cross City Piecemakers Quilt Guild will meet at 1 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Extension Center (next to the Crossroads Arena). All are welcome. For more information, contact Gail at 662-287-7136.

Retired Railroaders There will be a meeting for retired railroaders at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Martha’s Menu Restaurant in downtown Corinth. Active railroaders are welcome.

Alliance Hospice Alliance Hospice is looking for volunteers ages 16 to 85, who would love to interact with local senior citizens. For more information, contact Angel Bradley at Alliance Hospice at 662-286-9833 or by email at angel@alliancehopice.net.

Legacy Hospice Legacy Hospice is looking for volunteers from the age of 17 and up. Legacy Hospice offers three types of volunteers: Direct patient volunteers do things directly with the patient and caregiver. Indirect volunteers help with clerical work in the office. Bereavement volunteers help families and loved ones on their journey through the grieving process. For more information contact Sherry Dalton at 662-286-5333,

TRAVEL CONTINUED FROM 1A

prices,” said Brown. “It’s getting better.” An upward trend has also been evident in 2015 at the Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center, where visits total 18,756 through November, an increase of 11.5 percent from the same point a year earlier. November visits totaled 1,381, a 31 percent

with 10,531, beating November by 1,000. “In October, we get a lot of football travelers,” said Brown. Domestic visitors most often come from Mississippi. Rounding out the top 10 in the latest quarter were Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama, Illinois, Florida, Kentucky, Texas, Michigan and Ohio. Alongside history and shop-

ping, food is one of the biggest draws, especially the “mom and pop” type establishments. Brown recalled one couple from Montgomery, Alabama, who seek slugburgers every year. “Each time when they come to Mississippi, they go to a different slugburger venue,” she said. “They travel 200 to 300 miles to try slugburgers from a new place.”

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6A â€˘ Sunday, December 20, 2015 â€˘ Daily Corinthian

Deaths

Helping Lighthouse Toy Store Modern Woodmen of America Representative Zeb Taylor; Director of The Lighthouse Foundation Bro. Gary Caveness; and Rowan House owner Emily J McGrath present a check to The Lighthouse Toy Store for the purchase of toys for children in the community. Funds were raised during the Nutcracker event at Rowan House on Nov. 22, and matched by Modern Woodmen of Americaâ€™s local chapter. Funds can still be donated to The Lighthouse by contacting The Lighthouse Foundation at 662-286-0091.

Ester Gearldine Dawkins

Funeral services for Ester Gearldine Dawkins, 73, of Booneville, are set for 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Hopewell M.B. Church with burial at Rienzi Cemetery. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Pleasant Grove MB Church. Mrs. Dawkins died Thursday, December 17, 2015, at Booneville Baptist Hospital. Born September 28, 1942, she went to Wick Anderson High School. Survivors include her children, Rita, Ronald McGee, Pauline McGowan, Jermaine, Latonya, Antonio and Angela Dawkins; grandchildren, Tiara, Destiny, Torey, Darnell, Shanice, Ashley, Dalisha, Demario, Danae, Bella, Keyonna and Kanyia; great grandchildren, Tyriona, Jaquan, Sheresse, Zayla, Daylan and Brayden; brothers and sister, Earnestine Taylor of Jackson, Charlie M. (Gertrude), Russell L., Merlon, Barbara Sorrell, Lorenza (Juan) McGee of Rienzi, James W. (Laverne) Sorrell of Baton Rouge, Eddie W. (Bertha) Sorrell of Hattiesburg, Jimmy E. (Dondal) Sorrell of Nashville and Jerry

L. (Monica) Sorrell of Corinth. She was preceded in death by her parents Murry and Ester Lee (Earnest) Sorrell; James Robinson of Booneville and Mary G. White of Rienzi. Brother Eddie Sorrell will officiant. Patterson Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Dennis LaPradd, Jr.

IUKA â€” Dennis LaPradd, Jr., 58, of Tishomingo died Saturday, December 19, 2015, at his residence. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Survivors include his mother, Margaret LaPradd of Cherokee, Ala.; daughter, Charlene Kennedy (Joseph) of Tishomingo; sister, Margaret LaPradd of Alaska; and grandchild, Joseph Kennedy, Jr. He was preceded in death by his father, Dennis LaPradd, Sr., and his brother, Donald LaPradd. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.

VOYLES CONTINUED FROM 1A

serve on the school board,â€? said Voyles, who while on the school board represented the second district and the campus of Alcorn Central. â€œI believe I have seen some of the greatest administrators take positions at Alcorn Central,â€? he said. â€œWe have really accomplished some great things in the last three years.â€? Voyles said he is most proud of the boardâ€™s agreement to pass a resolution which will soon connect Alcorn Centralâ€™s aging sewer system to the City of Farmingtonâ€™s water treatment plant. â€œItâ€™s been wonderful seeing the teacher-board relationship improve, as well,â€? Voyles said. â€œWhen I walk into the school these days, I receive such a warm welcome. Itâ€™s a very friendly and loving environ-

ment at Alcorn Central from the staff and the kids -- thatâ€™s really a great feeling.â€? The Glen resident is going to miss serving the children of the Alcorn County, but he said itâ€™s that love which pushed him to enter the race for supervisor. â€œThat ambition has grown over the past three years,â€? he said. â€œAfter I served one year on the school board, I knew I was going to run for supervisor. It lead me in that direction almost immediately.â€? From budgeting to building relationships and working

with the board, he said he has learned from serving on the school board will help him be a good supervisor. â€œThe position will fit me a little better, as well,â€? he said. â€œWorking in construction, I am always seeing how things are deteriorating in our community. I notice things like that so easy, because I have been around it so much. I have seen many things I knew I would love to be able to help with, and now I have been given that opportunity.â€? Voyes will inherit the troubled district from interim supervisor Ralph Coln, who was appointed after the resignation of Dal Nelms, who is now serving time after pleading guilty to charges brought by the state auditor. Voyles will also continue to serve as pastor of Mission of Hope Church in Glen.

Corinthâ€™s needs as it seeks to add land to the inert landfill on Linden Street in order to eventually close the landfill. â– In a 3-1 vote, the board approved an agreement with ChemPro for roadside spraying of a Bermuda grass release

application at a cost of $85 per mile and spraying for Johnson grass at $35 per acre. Alligare submitted a quote of $91 per mile and $38 per acre. â– The board had an economic development matter in executive session.

â€œWe have really accomplished some great things in the last three years.â€? James Voyles

COUNTY CONTINUED FROM 1A

stalling downtown. â– The board set a public hearing for 9 a.m. on Feb. 1 on proposed amendments to the countyâ€™s solid waste management plan to meet the City of

PAY

CONTINUED FROM 1A

of Joe Franks; $100 from Emily Grace and Carys Melvin in memory of Dayton Potts; $300 from Taylor Heating and Air in memory of Dennis E. Taylor; $150 from H.L. Williams Jr.; and $100 from Mickey Davis, Scott, Stefanie, Sarah and Sydney McClain in memory of Bobby Dean Davis. Contributions to the Christmas Basket Fund can be made â€œin honor ofâ€? or â€œin memory ofâ€? a special person or persons. The tribute will be published daily in the Daily Corinthian. Donations can be brought by the newspaper office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or mailed to: Daily Corinthian, Attn.: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, MS 38835.

to be presented. Board member Randy Wilbanks asked to table the vote in November because he said he had not thoroughly looked at the proposed changes. No board member made a motion on Monday to reopen discussion, killing the request. In other news: â– Five donations were accepted by the board this week. The districtâ€™s Alternative School received a $500 grant from Kimberly Clark Partners to help improve

Christmas in

technology at the school. Kimberly Clark also donated $500 to Kossuth Middle School girlsâ€™ basketball, $1,000 to Kossuth High School cheerleaders and $1,000 to Kossuth High School Band. The Glendale Elementary School PTC donated $1,572 to the school. Funds were raised from the GES Fall Festival. â– The release request for two sibling students was approved. The two will leave to Alcorn School District to enter the Corinth School District. An in-district transfer was also granted for a school from Alcorn

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Central Middle School to Biggersville High School. â– New hires approved by the board this month include Creighton Nelms, who will take over tennis coach duties at Kossuth High School and new KHS English teacher Kacie Green. Other hires include Alcorn Central Elementary School Pre-K assistant Roxane Dabbs, Biggersville Elementary self-contained special education teacher Jennifer Taylor and Alcorn Central Middle School custodian Donnie Baswell. Misty Johnson was also hired as Mentoring Site Coordinator for the district office.

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Across the Nation Associated Press

Sanders apologizes to Clinton for leak MANCHESTER, N.H. — Bernie Sanders apologized to Hillary Clinton and his own supporters Saturday night for a breach of her campaign’s valuable voter data, seeking to put the controversy to rest in a debate that quickly moved on to national security concerns and Americans’ heightened fear of terrorism. Clinton, the Democratic front-runner who kept an eye on the general election, was also sharply critical of Donald Trump’s plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States, calling the leader of the GOP race the Islamic State’s “best recruiter.” “Mr. Trump has a great capacity to use bluster and bigotry to inflame people,” said Clinton, the former secretary of state. Clinton and Sanders, her closest challenger, entered Saturday night’s debate in the midst of one of their fiercest fights — about the campaign itself rather than a national or international issue. Clinton’s campaign accused Sanders’ team of stealing information used to target voters and anticipate what issues might motivate them. In response to the breach, the Democratic National Committee temporarily cut off Sanders’ team’s access to its own data, a move the Vermont senator said Saturday was an “egregious act.” Still, Sanders said his staff had acted improperly. “This is not the type of campaign that we run,” he said. Sanders’ campaign fired a worker involved in the breach but also used the controversy to raise money, sending an email to supporters that said the national party had placed “its thumb on the scales in support of Hillary Clinton’s campaign.” Clinton quickly accepted the apology Saturday night, saying “We should move on because I don’t think the American people are interested in this.” The debate, the third for Democrats, was expected to have low viewership given that it was scheduled on the last weekend before Christmas, when many Americans have turned

their attention to the holidays.

‘Dark money’ grows in U.S., state races CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Just before Rhode Island voters chose their governor last year, a group in Ohio transferred $730,000 from secret donors to another Ohio organization that spent the money on television ads aimed at defeating Gina Raimondo, the Democrat who eventually won a tight race. More than a year later, it’s still not clear where the money came from or why two Ohiobased groups would want to influence an election 600 miles away. The same groups also funneled anonymously donated cash for major political ad campaigns in Arkansas and Illinois. Rhode Island’s disclosure laws are tougher than most, but this was a classic case of “dark money” keeping its secrets despite requirements that donors who pay for political ads reveal themselves to the public. With the presidency at stake in 2016 as well as a dozen governor’s races, 34 U.S. Senate races, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and scores of mayoral races, state legislative seats and ballot initiatives, this kind of unlimited anonymous spending is expected to grow, and handling it has become the biggest campaign finance challenge for states nationwide. Some legislatures are trying to collect and publish the sources of these donations, but most states allow independent groups to spend unlimited cash on political ads with little transparency. At least one state, Wisconsin, is moving away from disclosure: Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed laws Wednesday that blur the lines between the activity of candidate campaigns and groups that — in almost all other states — are supposed to act independently. This could set back democracy if other states follow suit, said John Pudner, the founder of Take Back Our Republic, a group based in Auburn, Alabama that argues for tighter cam-

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Daily Corinthian • 7A

Across the State

paign finance laws from a conservative perspective. “Disclosure is important and fair,” Pudner said. “If we want to get people away from their cynicism, let them know everything.”

Obama talks with victims’ loved ones SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The girlfriend of one of the 14 people killed in the Dec. 2 shooting in San Bernardino said President Barack Obama immediately asked her for a hug when he came to talk with her. Obama and his wife, Michelle, met with members of each of the 14 families in the library of Indian Springs High School on Friday night before heading to Hawaii for their annual holiday getaway. A separate table was set up for each family, and the Obamas moved from one to the next, spending about 10 minutes with each victim’s relatives. When Obama approached the table where Mandy Pifer was sitting, he said, “Words aren’t enough. How about a hug?” Pifer’s boyfriend Shannon Johnson, 45, was killed in the attack. “I’ve been watching you give hugs,” Pifer recalled telling him. “I need a hug.” “It just felt like they were really present in their conversation with me,” she said. “They are sick and tired of doing these things, meeting our families.” Obama said meeting with the families was a reminder “of what’s good in this country.” “As difficult as this time is for them and for the entire community, they’re also representative of the strength and the unity and the love that exists in this community and in this country,” Obama said late Friday after the meetings with family members. Pifer had told the Obamas about Johnson, how he loved life, his virtues and their future plans. She also shared with them what she knows about his last moments: His colleague Denise Peraza, who survived the attack, said he huddled with her under a table as bullets flew across the room. He held her close and told her, “I got you.”

Associated Press

JSU meets nonblack enrollment for funds JACKSON — Jackson State University will become the second of Mississippi’s three historically black universities to gain control of an endowment set aside in a desegregation lawsuit. Higher Education Commissioner Glenn Boyce announced the transfer of $24.3 million at a Thursday meeting of the College Board JSU became eligible for the funds this year, its third straight year with nonblack enrollment greater than 10 percent. Under the terms of the settlement of the Ayers desegregation case, the state agreed to endow JSU, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University with a total of $70 million. The College Board is also supposed to raise a $35 million private endowment. The late Jake Ayers Sr. sued in 1975, citing inequitable funding for Mississippi’s three predominantly black universities. The case was settled in 2001.

Bryant fills vacancy in circuit judge post JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant is naming a Eupora lawyer to fill a judicial vacancy being created by the retirement of Circuit Judge Clarence Morgan III. The appointment of George Mitchell Jr., announced Friday, is effective Jan. 1. A special election to fill the position will be held in November. Mitchell will serve in the 5th Circuit Court District, which includes Attala, Carroll, Choctaw, Grenada, Montgomery, Webster, and Winston counties. The new judge served as the city attorney and prosecutor for Maben for eight years and currently serves as the lawyer for the Webster County school board. Mitchell is a military veteran who has also served as a judge on the Mississippi Court of Military Appeals.

Pharmacy break-ins may be connected MERIDIAN — Investigators are trying to determine whether four recent break-ins at pharmacies in Lauderdale County are related.

The latest burglary happened early Thursday morning at a Mr. Discount Drugs on Meridian’s north side. Meridian Police Detective Dareall Thompson tells The Meridian Star that officers responded to an emergency call reporting gunshots, arriving at the pharmacy to find an alarm sounding and a window broken. The owner reported cash and other items taken. Someone tried to break into another Mr. Discount Drugs in Meridian Monday, and there were attempted burglaries reported at other pharmacies in Meridian and Collinsville earlier. Thompson says police aren’t sure whether the incidents are related.

USM helps Library of Congress project HATTIESBURG — The University of Southern Mississippi is working with federal officials on an oral history project aimed at preserving the story of the American civil rights movement. An interview team working on the national Civil Rights Project — a project managed by the U.S. Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution — traveled to Hattiesburg. The team surveyed USM’s extensive civil rights oral history collection and interviewed local residents who were involved in the civil rights movement. USM’s Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage helped arrange the interviews and shared their own research. The Civil Rights Project’s national database includes information about more than 1,500 oral history and interview collections from around the country.

Intruding wild dogs kill animals at zoo JACKSON — Wild animals at a Mississippi zoo continue to fall prey to wilder animals intruding from the outside. Jackson Zoo Director Beth Poff said Friday that an addra gazelle and five springbok were attacked and killed by feral dogs just before dawn Friday morning. Two spur-winged geese were injured. “This is a sad day, and the hardest thing about it is it didn’t have to happen,” Poff said in a statement. “There are

people out there who have not taken responsibility for their dogs, and unfortunately we all have to suffer the consequences.” It’s not the first time that dogs have killed animals that are supposed to be safely confined inside the zoo. A klipspringer, a small African antelope, was killed by a dog in 2013, while two gazelles were killed in 2008. The zoo sits in a neighborhood west of downtown that’s plagued by abandoned houses. All the animals killed are part of the zoo’s African savannah exhibit. The geese were being cared for in the zoo’s animal hospital. Poff said four of five dogs believed to have been part of Friday’s attack were captured by zoo employees and handed over to the animal control division of the Jackson Police Department. The fifth dog got away, and animal control was also unable to capture a dog sighted in the adjoining Cedar Lawn Cemetery. Spokeswoman Angela Harris said the zoo’s 24hour security has spotted dogs and called city animal control eight times since June. Animal control officers have captured dogs only three times.

Unemployment rate rises in November JACKSON — Mississippi’s unemployment rate ticked up in November as the economy didn’t generate enough jobs to absorb more people looking for work. The jobless rate rose to 6 percent from 5.9 percent in October, but was below November 2014’s 7.2 percent rate. Although more people reported having a job than in October, the labor force grew more quickly, pushing up the number of unemployed people. A separate survey shows Mississippi payrolls fell slightly in November, but total payrolls remained 10,000 higher than last November. Both sets of figures — adjusted to cancel out seasonal changes — were released Friday by the U.S. Labor Department. Mississippi remained above the nation’s 5 percent unemployment rate. There were 77,000 Mississippians unemployed in November, up 2,000 from October and 11,000 below November 2014.

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8A • Sunday, December 20, 2015 • Daily Corinthian

Business

THE WEEK IN REVIEW WEEKLY DOW JONES 103.29 156.41 224.18 -253.25 -367.29

Dow Jones industrials Close: 17,128.55 1-week change: -136.66 (-0.8%)

MON

19,000

TUES

WED

THUR

Power grid vulnerable to hacks

FRI

18,000

GARANCE BURKE & JONATHAN FAHEY

17,000

Associated Press 16,000 15,000

WEEKLY STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

NYSE 9,967.64 -9.01

NASDAQ 4,923.08 -10.39

S&P 500 2,005.55 -6.82

MARKET SUMMARY: NYSE AND NASDAQ GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) LOSERS ($2 OR MORE) Last Chg %Chg Name FXCM rs 12.43 +7.13 +134.5 GtBasSci rs 2.27 8.80 ReWalkRob 13.50 +7.68 +132.0 Teekay WestmRs s 5.80 +2.97 +104.9 PatriotN n 6.68 Acasti g rs 2.91 +1.28 +78.5 TeekOffsh 5.13 Sunrun n 13.74 +5.88 +74.8 TeekLNG 10.17 SunEdison 6.51 +2.36 +56.9 AMidstrm 4.10 ContraFect 4.92 +1.73 +54.2 ClayEng 31.22 SolarCity 56.91 +19.87 +53.6 Kennamtl 18.10 ChiFnOnl 6.31 +2.09 +49.5 AcornInt rs 6.54 Enphase 3.01 +.91 +43.3 AccVIXup rs16.98 VanNR pfA 10.36 +3.10 +42.7 AtaraBioth 24.08 Name

Last

Chg -3.43 -11.26 -6.40 -4.23 -7.34 -2.82 -14.66 -7.50 -2.65 -6.77 -9.12

%Chg -60.2 -56.1 -48.9 -45.2 -41.9 -40.8 -32.0 -29.3 -28.8 -28.5 -27.5

ACTIVES ($1 OR MORE) Name

Vol (00) Last Chg

BkofAm SunEdison GenElec Apple Inc FrptMcM KindMorg Microsoft Pfizer FordM SiriusXM AT&T Inc

6166790 16.76 3493596 6.51 3237284 30.28 3017821106.03 2977941 6.21 2553038 15.14 2419239 54.13 2210903 31.99 1757769 13.80 1696124 3.99 1573629 33.60

+.03 +2.36 +.25 -7.15 -.69 -1.52 +.07 -.07 +.16 -.02 +.43

STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST Name

Wk Wk YTD Div Last Chg %Chg %Chg

AFLAC NY 1.64 AT&T Inc NY 1.92 Alcoa NY .12 AlpAlerMLP NY 1.19 Aon plc NY 1.20 Apple Inc Nasd 2.08 BP PLC NY 2.40 BcpSouth NY .40 BkofAm NY .20 B iPVixST NY ... Bemis NY 1.12 Caterpillar NY 3.08 Checkpnt NY .50 ChesEng NY ... Chevron NY 4.28 Cisco Nasd .84 Citigroup NY .20 CocaCola NY 1.32 Comcast Nasd 1.00 CSVLgNG rs NY ... CSVLgCrd rs NY ... CSVelIVST Nasd ... CSVixSh rs Nasd ... Deere NY 2.40 NY 1.68 Dover DowChm NY 1.84 EnPro NY .80 ExxonMbl NY 2.92 Facebook Nasd ... FstHorizon NY .24 FordM NY .60 FrkUnv NY .47 FredsInc Nasd .24 FrptMcM NY ... GenElec NY .92 HP Inc NY .50 iShJapan NY .13 iShChinaLC NY .76 iShEMkts NY .84 iS Eafe NY 1.70 iShiBxHYB NY 4.78 iShR2K NY 1.68

58.29 -1.42 -2.4 33.60 +.43 +1.3 9.23 +.37 +4.2 10.44 +.14 +1.4 90.99 -2.31 -2.5 106.03 -7.15 -6.3 30.15 -.64 -2.1 23.98 -.06 -0.2 16.76 +.03 +0.2 21.77 -1.55 -6.6 43.69 -1.49 -3.3 65.11 -.32 -0.5 6.76 +.62 +10.1 4.05 -.11 -2.6 89.81+3.37 +3.9 26.27 +.11 +0.4 51.21 +.10 +0.2 42.50 +.23 +0.5 56.40 -1.57 -2.7 1.35 -.40 -22.9 3.67 -.44 -10.7 24.10 +.99 +4.3 7.45 -1.28 -14.7 74.97 -2.19 -2.8 58.50 -3.24 -5.2 49.63 -3.74 -7.0 43.58 -1.90 -4.2 77.28+2.94 +4.0 104.04+1.92 +1.9 14.30 +.13 +0.9 13.80 +.16 +1.2 5.66 +.09 +1.6 15.29 -.21 -1.4 6.21 -.69 -10.0 30.28 +.25 +0.8 11.51 -.70 -5.7 12.10 +.09 +0.7 36.18+1.65 +4.8 32.65+1.10 +3.5 58.35 +.18 +0.3 79.53 +.01 ... 111.48 -.43 -0.4

-4.6 ... -41.5 -40.4 -4.0 -3.9 -20.9 +6.5 -6.3 -30.9 -3.4 -28.9 -50.8 -79.3 -19.9 -4.9 -5.4 +.7 -2.8 -93.2 -92.5 -22.6 -73.0 -15.3 -18.4 +8.8 -30.6 -16.4 +33.4 +5.3 -11.0 -20.3 -12.2 -73.4 +19.8 -36.8 +7.6 -13.1 -16.9 -4.1 -11.2 -6.8

Name

Wk Wk YTD Div Last Chg %Chg %Chg

Intel Nasd .96 NY 5.20 IBM NY 3.52 KimbClk KindMorg NY .50 Kroger s NY .42 Lowes NY 1.12 MktVGold NY .12 McDnlds NY 3.56 MicronT Nasd ... Microsoft Nasd 1.44 NY Times NY .16 NiSource s NY .62 NorthropG NY 3.20 Oracle NY .60 OrbitATK NY 1.04 Penney NY ... NY 2.81 PepsiCo Petrobras NY ... Pfizer NY 1.20 PwShs QQQNasd 1.52 PUVixST rs NY ... ProctGam NY 2.65 RegionsFn NY .24 S&P500ETF NY 4.13 SpdrLehHY NY 2.30 SearsHldgs Nasd ... Sherwin NY 2.68 SiriusXM Nasd ... SouthnCo NY 2.17 ... SwstnEngy NY SP Engy NY 1.98 SPDR Fncl NY .44 SunEdison NY ... Torchmark NY .54 US OilFd NY ... VangEmg NY 1.10 WalMart NY 1.96 WellsFargo NY 1.50 Wendys Co Nasd .24 WestRock n NY 1.50 Weyerhsr NY 1.24 Xerox NY .28

33.87 -.41 -1.2 134.90 +.33 +0.2 123.54+4.34 +3.6 15.14 -1.52 -9.1 40.64 -.44 -1.1 73.89 -1.12 -1.5 13.64 -.75 -5.2 116.66 +.58 +0.5 14.36 +.32 +2.3 54.13 +.07 +0.1 13.40 +.16 +1.2 18.96 +.30 +1.6 184.86 -1.16 -0.6 36.35 -.86 -2.3 86.65+2.27 +2.7 6.63 -.71 -9.7 97.90 +.12 +0.1 4.35 -.13 -2.9 31.99 -.07 -0.2 109.83 -.96 -0.9 33.95 -5.86 -14.7 78.13 +.35 +0.4 9.35 -.02 -0.2 200.02 -1.86 -0.9 33.59 -.10 -0.3 19.46 -2.69 -12.1 256.23 -5.65 -2.2 3.99 -.02 -0.5 46.20+1.80 +4.1 5.54 -.36 -6.1 58.79 -1.67 -2.8 23.30 -.15 -0.6 6.51+2.36 +56.9 55.36 -3.12 -5.3 10.66 -.41 -3.7 32.64+1.08 +3.4 58.85 -.51 -0.9 53.79 +.48 +0.9 10.58 -.02 -0.2 44.09 -1.67 -3.6 29.51 -.97 -3.2 10.15 +.11 +1.1

-6.7 -15.9 +6.9 -64.2 +26.6 +7.4 -25.8 +24.5 -59.0 +16.5 +1.4 +16.7 +25.4 -19.2 +62.0 +2.3 +3.5 -40.4 +2.7 +6.4 -73.0 -14.2 -11.5 -2.7 -13.0 -41.0 -2.6 +14.0 -5.9 -79.7 -25.7 -5.8 -66.6 +2.2 -47.6 -18.4 -31.5 -1.9 +17.2 -30.4 -17.8 -26.8

AGRICULTURE FUTURES WkHigh WkLow Settle WkChg CORN 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Mar 16 May 16 Jul 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17

379.75 385.25 391 394.25 401.50 411 415.75

362.50 368.50 373.75 378.50 385.75 396 402.25

WkHigh WkLow Settle WkChg CATTLE 40,000 lbs.- cents per lb.

374.50 380.50 386.25 389.75 397 406.25 412.25

-.75 +.25 +1.50 +1.25 +1 +1 +.75

Dec 15 Feb 16 Apr 16 Jun 16 Aug 16 Oct 16 Dec 16

121.87 127.30 127.77 119.72 116.80 117.85 118.32

116.97 121.97 123.05 115.47 112.80 113.80 114.15

SOYBEANS 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel

HOGS-Lean 40,000 lbs.- cents per lb.

Jan 16 Mar 16 May 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Nov 16

Feb 16 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Oct 16

893.50 894.50 899 905.50 907 905.75 907.75

854 854.25 859.75 866.25 869.25 868 870

892.25 +21.50 892.75 +19 898 +18 904.50 +18 907 +18.50 905.50 +18 907.25 +17

WHEAT 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Mar 16 May 16 Jul 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17

499 505.25 510.25 519.50 533.75 545 542

472.25 479.25 485.25 495.50 509.75 522 538

60.82 64.92 72.35 76.57 76.85 76.27 67.92

54.95 61.02 70.02 74.25 74.60 73.77 63.95

120.15 125.52 127.17 119.72 116.80 117.85 118.32

-1.30 -.73 -.18 +.92 +.58 +.58 +.52

56.62 62.05 70.77 75.05 75.60 75.02 64.70

-3.93 -2.65 -1.23 -1.12 -.85 -1.08 -2.95

63.69 64.46 65.09 64.74 64.96 65.26 65.31

-.02 -.03 -.05 -.09 -.20 -.27 -.33

COTTON 2 50,000 lbs.- cents per lb.

486.75 493 499 508.50 523.25 534.75 538.75

-3.75 -3.25 -1.50 -2 -.75 ... +.25

Mar 16 May 16 Jul 16 Oct 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 May 17

64.00 64.70 65.32 ... 65.15 65.40 65.35

62.87 63.68 64.33 ... 64.42 65.11 65.13

Tables show seven most current contracts for each future. Grains traded on Chicago Board of Trade; livestock on Chicago Mercantile Exchange; and cotton on Intercontinental Exchange.

MUTUAL FUNDS Name

Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV

Vanguard 500Adml x LB Vanguard TotStIAdm x LB Vanguard InstIdxI x LB Vanguard TotStIdx x LB Vanguard InstPlus x LB Fidelity Contra LG American Funds GrthAmA m LG Vanguard TotIntl x FB American Funds IncAmerA m MA American Funds CapIncBuA m IH Vanguard WelltnAdm MA Dodge & Cox IntlStk FB Vanguard TotBdAdml CI PIMCO TotRetIs CI Dodge & Cox Stock LV American Funds InvCoAmA x LB Vanguard TotStIIns x LB American Funds CpWldGrIA m WS Vanguard IntlStkIdxIPls x FB Fidelity Spartan 500IdxAdvtg x LB American Funds WAMutInvA x LV American Funds AmBalA m MA FrankTemp-Franklin IncomeA m CA American Funds FnInvA m LB Dodge & Cox Income CI Metropolitan West TotRetBdI CI Vanguard MuIntAdml MI T Rowe Price GrowStk LG Vanguard HltCrAdml SH Harbor IntlInstl FB Vanguard InstTStPl x LB American Funds NewPerspA m WS Vanguard PrmcpAdml LG Vanguard IntlStkIdxAdm x FB Vanguard STGradeAd CS Fidelity ContraK LG Vanguard WndsIIAdm LV FrankTemp-Templeton GlBondAdv IB Vanguard TgtRe2025 TG Vanguard WellsIAdm CA

155,102 128,272 105,644 98,933 91,565 79,066 75,740 75,292 71,719 69,072 68,890 61,812 60,664 60,178 56,975 56,612 55,752 53,886 53,497 51,675 51,111 49,636 45,850 45,508 43,898 43,382 40,841 40,214 39,926 39,701 38,470 37,973 37,856 37,753 34,189 32,180 31,519 30,894 30,612 29,181

Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt

184.83 -3.6 49.83 -3.7 183.00 -3.6 49.81 -3.7 183.01 -3.6 97.74 -2.8 44.17 -3.3 14.28 -3.7 20.46 -2.5 55.54 -3.0 65.71 -2.6 36.88 -6.4 10.69 +0.2 10.12 +0.5 166.16 -5.2 32.69 -4.7 49.83 -3.7 43.75 -3.9 95.49 -3.8 70.41 -3.6 37.68 -3.9 24.51 -2.2 2.06 -5.1 51.79 -3.6 13.43 -0.4 10.64 0.0 14.26 +1.0 52.84 -1.9 95.97 -1.5 58.54 -4.0 45.07 -3.7 37.66 -3.1 101.51 -2.0 23.87 -3.8 10.58 -0.2 97.67 -2.7 58.36 -4.5 11.55 -2.7 16.22 -2.4 59.11 -1.0

-0.7/B +12.4/A NL 10,000 -1.4/B +12.0/B NL 10,000 -0.7/B +12.4/A NL 5,000,000 -1.5/B +11.9/B NL 3,000 -0.6/B +12.4/A NL200,000,000 +4.7/B +12.5/B NL 2,500 +3.5/B +11.9/C 5.75 250 -6.0/D +1.4/E NL 3,000 -3.1/D +8.2/B 5.75 250 -4.8/C +6.4/A 5.75 250 -1.0/B +9.1/A NL 50,000 -13.2/E +2.8/C NL 2,500 +1.1/B +3.3/C NL 10,000 +1.5/A +3.8/B NL 1,000,000 -6.2/C +11.4/A NL 2,500 -4.3/D +10.4/C 5.75 250 -1.4/B +12.0/B NL 5,000,000 -4.3/D +6.9/C 5.75 250 -6.0/D +1.6/D NL100,000,000 -0.7/B +12.3/A NL 10,000 -2.2/A +11.7/A 5.75 250 +0.8/A +9.8/A 5.75 250 -8.8/E +5.0/B 4.25 1,000 +1.6/A +11.1/C 5.75 250 0.0/D +3.7/B NL 2,500 +0.7/C +4.8/A NL 3,000,000 +3.1/B +4.8/B NL 50,000 +9.4/A +14.4/A NL 2,500 +8.6/A +21.2/C NL 50,000 -6.7/E +2.6/C NL 50,000 -1.3/B +12.1/A NL200,000,000 +3.5/A +9.0/A 5.75 250 -0.4/D +13.9/A NL 50,000 -6.0/D +1.5/E NL 10,000 +1.4/A +2.2/A NL 50,000 +4.8/B +12.6/B NL 0 -5.1/B +11.0/B NL 50,000 -3.7/C +2.9/A NL 0 -1.8/C +7.3/C NL 1,000 +1.0/A +7.7/A NL 50,000

CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, FB -Foreign Large Blend, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MI -Muni National Intermediate, TG -Target Date 2021-2025, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar. Stock Footnotes: g = Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars. h = Does not meet continued-listing standards. lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Security researcher Brian Wallace was on the trail of hackers who had snatched a California university’s housing files when he stumbled into a larger nightmare: Cyberattackers had opened a pathway into the networks running the United States’ power grid. Digital clues pointed to Iranian hackers. And Wallace found that they had already taken passwords, as well as engineering drawings of dozens of power plants, at least one with the title “Mission Critical.” The drawings were so detailed that experts say skilled attackers could have used them, along with other tools and malicious code, to knock out electricity flowing to millions of homes. Wallace was astonished. But this breach, The Associated Press has found, was not unique. About a dozen times in the last decade, sophisticated foreign hackers have gained enough remote access to control the operations networks that keep the lights on, according to top experts who spoke only on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter. The public almost never learns the details about these types of attacks — they’re rarer but also more intricate and potentially dangerous than data theft. Information about the government’s response to these hacks is often protected and sometimes classified; many are never even reported to the government. These intrusions have not caused the kind of cascading blackouts that are feared by the intelligence community. But so many attackers have stowed away in the sys-

tems that run the U.S. electric grid that experts say they likely have the capability to strike at will. And that’s what worries Wallace and other cybersecurity experts most. “If the geopolitical situation changes and Iran wants to target these facilities, if they have this kind of information it will make it a lot easier,” said Robert M. Lee, a former U.S. Air Force cyberwarfare operations officer. In 2012 and 2013, in well-publicized attacks, Russian hackers successfully sent and received encrypted commands to U.S. public utilities and power generators; some private firms concluded this was an effort to position interlopers to act in the event of a political crisis. And the Department of Homeland Security announced about a year ago that a separate hacking campaign, believed by some private firms to have Russian origins, had injected software with malware that allowed the attackers to spy on U.S. energy companies. “You want to be stealth,” said Lillian Ablon, a cybersecurity expert at the RAND Corporation. “That’s the ultimate power, because when you need to do something you are already in place.” The hackers have gained access to an aging, outdated power system. Many of the substations and equipment that move power across the U.S. are decrepit and were never built with network security in mind; hooking them up to the Internet over the last decade has given hackers new backdoors in. Distant wind farms, home solar panels, smart meters and other networked devices must be remotely monitored and controlled, which opens up the broader system to fresh points of attack. Hundreds of contrac-

tors sell software and equipment to energy companies, and attackers have successfully used those outside companies as a way to get inside networks tied to the grid. Attributing attacks is notoriously tricky. Neither U.S. officials nor cybersecurity experts would or could say if the Islamic Republic of Iran was involved in the attack Wallace discovered involving Calpine Corp., a power producer with 82 plants operating in 18 states and Canada. Private firms have alleged other recent hacks of networks and machinery tied to the U.S. power grid were carried out by teams from within Russia and China, some with governmental support. Even the Islamic State group is trying to hack American power companies, a top Homeland Security official told industry executives in October. The attack involving Calpine is particularly disturbing because the cyberspies grabbed so much, according to previously unreported documents and interviews. Cybersecurity experts say the breach began at least as far back as August 2013. Calpine spokesman Brett Kerr said the company’s information was stolen from a contractor that does business with Calpine. He said the stolen diagrams and passwords were old — some diagrams dated to 2002 — and presented no threat, though some outside experts disagree. Kerr would not say whether the configuration of the power plants’ operations networks — also valuable information — remained the same as when the intrusion occurred, or whether it was possible the attackers still had a foothold. The hackers stole user

names and passwords that could be used to connect remotely to Calpine’s networks, which were being maintained by a data security company. Even if some of the information was outdated, experts say skilled hackers could have found a way to update the passwords and slip past firewalls to get into the operations network. Eventually, they say, the intruders could have shut down generating stations, fouled communications networks and possibly caused a blackout near the plants. They also took detailed engineering drawings of networks and power stations from New York to California — 71 in all — showing the precise location of devices that communicate with gas turbines, boilers and other crucial equipment attackers would need to hack specific plants. Cylance researchers said the intruders stored their stolen goods on seven unencrypted FTP servers requiring no authentication to access details about Calpine’s plants. Jumbled in the folders was code that could be used to spread malware to other companies without being traced back to the attackers’ computers, as well as handcrafted software designed to mask that the Internet Protocol addresses they were using were in Iran. Calpine didn’t know its information had been compromised until it was informed by Cylance, Kerr said. Iranian U.N. Mission spokesman Hamid Babaei did not return calls or address questions emailed by AP. Cylance notified the FBI, which warned the U.S. energy sector in an unclassified bulletin last December that a group using Iran-based IP addresses had targeted the industry.

Chinese fakes challenge customs agents ERIKA KINETZ & ALEXANDRA OLSON Associated Press

NEW YORK — The U.S. is not winning the fight against potentially dangerous fakes, as corrupt investigators in China help counterfeiters perfect their art and make it easier for counterfeit goods to enter global supply chains. Seizures of counterfeits that can be harmful — including auto parts, semiconductors, and personal care items like toothpaste — are on the rise, according to U.S. Customs data. At the same time, the quality of fakes is improving, making them harder than ever to detect, said Stephen Long, deputy chief U.S. Customs and

Border Protection officer at the port of New York/ Newark. Long and his colleagues touch about 1 percent of the total container traffic at the port, which handles 3.3 million containers a year. Customs employs a sophisticated screening system to target containers for inspection, part of an effort to ensure that the hunt for fakes does not hinder the flow of legitimate commerce. Inevitably, things slip through. One reason Long’s job is getting tougher begins in China. Corrupt investigators can leak proprietary details they learn from brands, which help counterfeiters evade legal responsibility and craft

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more perfect-looking fakes, said Alex Theil, who runs an anti-counterfeiting company in Shanghai called Harvest Moon. Theil has spent nearly two decades investigating counterfeit auto parts in China. Fake auto parts are of particular concern to U.S. authorities. Seizures of such parts in the U.S. surged 83 percent in fiscal year 2014, according to customs data. Among the more than 585,000 parts seized in the last five years were fake brake parts and counterfeit Honda, BMW, and Toyota air bags, made in China. Some of the seized air bags not only failed to deploy but burst into flames and sent shrapnellike shards toward the driver’s face upon impact. “Everything within a car can be counterfeited and a profit can be made,” said Bruce Foucart, director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which is jointly run by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations. “We’re seeing counterfeit windshields and tires, safety belts that will open and air bags that will deploy when they shouldn’t or brake pads that don’t work. . . You’re talking about every day getting in the car and putting your life in danger.” On a recent Wednesday, Long stood in a warehouse with over 10,000 boxes pulled from some 30 suspicious ship-

ping containers towering around him. Dozens of customs officers spend the day at various warehouses sifting through boxes, searching for counterfeits. On an average day, about 10 percent of the goods at the warehouses are seized as fakes, more than 90 percent of them from China, officials said. One new counterfeiting strategy is to disguise knock-offs as generics, Long said. Smuggling rings send generic products in one shipment and fake labels in another. The labels are not affixed to the products until after arriving in the United States. Long pointed to a label that read Tough Crew, an unregistered brand. Customs officers tore it off and uncovered a fake tag for True Religion luxury jeans. Same thing with a pair of boots. Beneath soles marked Megagear inspectors discovered Timberland logos. At the New York/ Newark port alone, the number of counterfeit consumer product safety seizures nearly doubled last fiscal year, to 110 shipments worth of goods, Long said. Among them were counterfeit extension cords, Christmas lights and power strips with faked hologram safety seals. “They will counterfeit the hologram,” he said, “and it will have substandard wiring that poses a fire risk that could literally burn your house down.”

Daily Corinthian • Sunday, December 20, 2015 • 9A

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