Issuu

Prentiss Co. Booneville aldermen close out year

McNairy Co. Spree makes holiday brighter for kids

Tippah Co. Walmart Initiative supports healthy kids

Page 3

Tuesday Dec. 27,

2016

75 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 312

Cloudy Today

Tonight

40% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 14 pages • One section

Sales, tourism tax declines BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The latest round of sales and tourism tax results were down compared to the year-

ago marks. Funds returned to the city at mid-December from the Mississippi Department of Revenue showed a 3.9 per-

Staff photo by Mark Boehler

Meal founder Marea Wilson shares a moment with volunteer Diane Walker at the Christmas Day meal.

Meal brings community together BY BOBBY J. SMITH bsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Crossroads area volunteers turned out in force to spread goodwill in the community at the annual Christmas Day Community Meal. Over 100 volunteers pitched in to help with the meal, organized by Living Free Ministries and held

“We teach our children to save the world. They need to save it for their kids. And with one act of kindness, you can change somebody’s life. One little stone can cause a whole ripple of things to change.” Krystal Smith

Landon Caldwell, Corinth Staff photo by Zack Steen

Finding a fan of both Ole Miss and Texas in Mississippi is tough. Corinth’s Landon Caldwell calls himself a Rebel and a Longhorn. “They are both my teams,” he said. “Although when they play each other, of course, I cheer for the Rebels.” The 33-year-old is a huge sports fan. “Regardless of what it is, if it’s on TV, I’m interested,” he said. Caldwell, a multiple line representative at Penn Majors State Farm in Corinth, also loves Boston Red Sox MLB baseball and Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL football. The 2001 graduate of Corinth High School has been married to Haven for 11 years. The couple are members of First Presbyterian Church.

jor benefits to the community by providing funds to match grants, support development, improve parks and make the city more attractive to visitors and potential industry. Funds from the tax could not be placed in the general fund and would be required to be used for the purposes stated in the legislation, but their use for these areas would free up general fund monies to allow the city to address infrastructure issues and other needs. Blythe said it’s not about him or what he wants, he just wants the people of Booneville to have the opportunity to vote on whether or not they want the tax and the things it could provide. Please see TOURISM | 2

10 years ago

Larry H. Stewart of Selmer is named the new postmaster in Hornsby, Tenn.

Rick Jones

Please see NPS | 2

People of the Crossroads

25 years ago

Doug Michael Jumper McCreary

The City of Corinth has passed a resolution honoring the National Park Service (NPS) and its 100th anniversary. The resolution asks Congress to adequately fund the NPS. In light of a history of congressional underfunding, the resolution calls on Congress to create a reliable and predictable stream of resources to help the NPS address deferred maintenance at its more than 400 sites. The backlog aﬀects visitor services and repairs to park infrastructure at these sites, which span 84 million acres across all 50 states. It also aﬀects Mississippi’s eight national parks and 43 natural and historic landmarks and monuments, which generate over $198 million in economic benefits each year.

Volunteer

Please see MEAL | 14

Tourism tax idea draws big crowd BOONEVILLE — Leaders here are continuing to consider a new eﬀort to again seek a tourism tax for the community. The proposal would add a 2 percent tax on lodging and prepared food in restaurants in the city, similar to what the City of Corinth has. The bill must first be introduced in the legislature, pass both the senate and house and be approved by the governor. If approved aldermen would then set an election on the issue and the proposal would have to be approved by 60 percent of those voting. In a community meeting held Monday Mayor Derrick Blythe said he believes money from the tax would provide ma-

Please see TAX | 2

For the Daily Corinthian

The 21st Annual Corinth Rotary Club / Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Fund will accept donations until the end of the year. A $23,000 fund raising goal was set so 1,000 food baskets could be given to local families on Saturday, Dec. 17. The baskets were given away on faith the goal will be reached. The newspaper has received $12,495 in donations so far. 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.

BY BRANT SAPPINGTON

local establishments during the month of October.

True meaning of Christmas City asks Congress to amply fund NPS

Basket Fund to accept gifts until year’s end

bsappington@dailycorinthian.com

cent decrease for sales tax and a 6.9 percent decrease for the tourism tax collected in Corinth. The results reflect sales activity that occurred in

Neil Paul

Marea Wilson

John & Brenda Hayes

Alexis Rudd

Roger Clark

Audrey McNair

Echarial Gaines of Biggersville is named the 2006 AllCounty Softball Player of the Year.

Carl Jones

2782 S Harper Rd

www.jumperrealty.com

2 • Tuesday, December 27, 2016 • Daily Corinthian

Crossroads Happenings Pink Palace Museum Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees – The Pink Palace Museum, located at 3050 Central Ave. in Memphis will hold an Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees event now through Saturday, Dec. 30. The event will remain open until 9 p.m. on Friday nights. A Memphis Holiday tradition, the Enchanted Forest is full of delightful animated characters, model trains and dozens of beautifully decorated trees. The event is a fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. For more information call 901-636-2362. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $5 for seniors and children ages 3 to 12.

Oren Dunn City Museum Toy Exhibit – The Oren Dunn City Museum, located at 689 Rutherford Road in Tupelo will host their Annual Toy Exhibit through Friday, Dec. 30. For more information call 662-841-6438 or email rae.mathis@tupeloms.gov.

Tupelo Community Theatre • Red Carpet Masquerade – TCT Off Broadway will present its first Red Carpet Masquerade at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 213 East Franklin in Tupelo. Tickets are $20, which will include one free drink and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. This event is open to adults 21 and older. The evening will offer a red carpet with a “selfie station”, a trivia competition and music. For more information or to purchase tickets call the TCT office at 662-844-1935. • “Hairspray” Auditions – Tupelo Community Theatre will hold auditions for “Hairspray” with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O’Donnell

and Thomas Meehan, on January 4 and 5 at 5:30 p.m. on the stage of the Lyric Theatre. The musical with 1960s-style dance music is set in Baltimore, Maryland and tells of teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream to dance on a local TV dance program. Tracy wins a role on the show, becomes a celebrity overnight, meets a colorful array of characters and launches a campaign to integrate the show. The 2003 winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is based on the 1988 John Waters film. The diverse cast includes male and female roles of all ages 13 years and older. Advance preparation is needed and music may be picked up beginning Dec. 12 from 9-4 p.m. Monday–Friday at the Lyric Theatre office. Tom Booth will direct with musical direction by Debra Robison. Production dates are April 27-29. For more information email the director at 1tct@bellsouth.net or call the TCT office at 662-844-1935. • “Love Letters” Auditions – TCT Off Broadway will hold auditions for “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney at 3 p.m. on Jan. 22 and 6 p.m. on Jan. 23 at 213 East Franklin Street. The play is comprised of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. As the actors read the letters aloud, what is created is an evocative, touching, frequently funny but always telling pair of character studies in which what is implied is as revealing and meaningful as what is actually written down. The cast calls for one man and one woman 30 years of age or older and no advance preparation is needed. John McCustion will direct and production dates are Feb. 23, 24, and 25. For more information, contact the director at mccustion@gmail.com or call the TCT office at 662-844-1935.

TAX CONTINUED FROM 1

The monthly sales tax deposit totaled $477,631.83, down about $19,500 from the year-ago number. With the third deposit of the new fiscal year, the cumulative total goes to $1,511,569.42, a decline of 0.6 percent from the prior year. Tax collections were mixed among the local municipalities while rising slightly in total across the state by about 1 percent. The 2 percent tourism tax on restaurants and lodging generated

$103,630.68, falling more than $6,000 from the year-ago total. The prior year result was the highest to date for the month. The fiscal year total of $321,655.02 is oﬀ by 1.6 percent, or about $5,000, from the prior year. Other sales tax results from the region: • Booneville - $151,455.67 (-2%) • Burnsville - $13,592.21 (-3%) • Glen - $2,325.08 (+2%) • Kossuth - $3,099.87 (-8%) • Rienzi - $4,327.54 (-3%) • Tupelo - $1,644,568.16 (+5%)

TOURISM CONTINUED FROM 1

“All I’m asking for is to give the citizens of Booneville a vote. I’m here to serve the will of the people,” he said. Resident Lin Floyd said he believes the tax could be a positive but asked about exact plans for its use and how it will benefit the community. The mayor said if approved the city plans to split the revenue from the tax, estimated at around $300,000 annually, five ways with 20 percent each going to parks and recreation, the Prentiss County Development Association, the Booneville and Prentiss County Main Street Association and to an account to provide matching funds for grants. Alderman Mark McCoy said he believes the tax would allow the city to do much good for the community and he hopes residents would be allowed to vote on the issue. “It’s about your future for the city of Booneville,” he said. Several citizens spoke in favor of the proposal during Monday night’s public meeting. Daniel Tucker, who moderated the meeting, said the city can’t worry about the past and instead must focus on the future. He believes this can be the first step toward encouraging more investment. “If we get something like this moving, I believe private citizens will in-

vest their own money,” he said. Lisa Stevens, a Booneville resident who spent 20 years working with grant programs at the Northeast Mississippi Planning and Development District, said she understands nobody wants to pay taxes, but believes the proposal could benefit the community greatly. She said the money could eﬀectively be doubled or even quintupled when used as matching funds for grants. State and federal grant money is available, but all such programs require matches from municipalities. “They make you have skin in the game. They’re not going to give us 100 percent for anything,” she said. She pointed to a $600,000 grant approved years ago for the city which would have created pedestrian and bike friendly pathways connecting NEMCC, Booneville High School, Anderson Elementary School and the downtown area. The city could not provide the required $120,000 match and the grant was eventually relinquished. She said one person can’t do much to improve the community but by everyone giving a small amount through this tax a diﬀerence can be made. Donna Russell, who owns the soon-to-open Boone’s Camp Event Hall with her husband, said they’ve seen a great de-

mand for their business since they began booking events. They’ve invested their life savings in Booneville and they’ve seen what other communities have been able to do through the revenue from a tourism tax. “I want that for us. If you want Booneville to thrive, do something about it,” she said. Longtime Booneville resident and advocate for senior citizens Judy George said she has no problem with paying a bit more to boost the city. She believes it’s time for those who want to better the community to step up. “If we love Booneville as much as we say we do, we need to put up or shut up,” she said. Leigh Ann Michael, who is leading eﬀorts to improve the overhead bridge downtown, said she believes there is huge potential for the city. She said the tax is not a magic pill that will fix all of Booneville’s issues, but it is a step in the right direction toward making an investment in the future of the community that will yield positive results. She noted most other towns around Booneville already have the tax and are benefiting from it. “This is a beginning. You can’t invite people to your town when it looks like it does, when it looks like we haven’t invested in it,” she said. State Representative Tracy Arnold could not be reached for comment on the issue.

“Shiloh National Military Park is an important part of our city’s tourism industry, bringing in thousands of visitors each year. We hope Congress will fund these deferred maintenance costs at our national parks so that our communities can continue to enjoy them for years.” Tommy Irwin Corinth Mayor

NPS CONTINUED FROM 1

IN MEMORIAM Remembering loved ones we’ve lost.. ... in

2016

Please send your Memorial (Must be no more than 8 lines (approx. 4 words per line) With photo and payment of $25 to: Daily Corinthian Attn: Classiﬁed P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835-1800 or drop off at: 1607 S. Harper Rd. You may also email to: classad@dailycorinthian.com IN MEMORIAM 2016 WILL BE PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2017 DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 AT 5:00 P.M. For any questions or more info, call 662-287-6147

There is more than $308 million in deferred maintenance at national parks in Mississippi, including $11 million to critical systems like the

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Natchez National Historic Park, the Natchez Trace Parkway, Shiloh National Military Park, and Vicksburg National Military Park. Congressional legisla-

Making This World a Better Place The inspired writer declared in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation.” The desperation of our nation in areas of morality is apparent to any citizen. Fortunately, the Bible gives us many positive teachings that will help any government and people on this earth today. First of all, we who are Christians should pray for the rulers of the world, 1 Timothy 2:2. We must “render to Caesar then things which are Caesar’s.” Matthew 22:21 in paying our taxes; obeying the law of the land and honoring our rulers, Romans 13:1, 1 Peter 2:17. It is only when earthly powers try to force us to go against God’s will that we should resist: “We ought to obey God rather than men,” Acts 5:29. We should never be afraid to speak of heaven’s way- even before kings, Psalm 119:46. Secondly, we must contribute pure, godly lives of influence before our neighbors in order to improve society. We must have the attributes found in Philippians four: “joy and happiness,” v. 4; “gratitude,” v.6; “moderation,” v.5; “contentment,” v. 7; “peace,” v.7; and “pure and noble thinking,” v. 8. These traits will bless any community for as the Bible says, “Against such things there is no law,” Galatians 5:23. Thirdly, we can improve our nation by obeying the words of Christ found in Matthew 22. In this passage we are taught the three fundamental issues for success: “love God supremely” (v. 37), “love your neighbor sincerely” (v. 39) and “love ourselves properly (v. 39). Getting these priorities straight will make a balanced journey possible in this evil, godless world. It will help everyone see his own worth and the worth of others and to fit this into the pattern designed by God. We could never have the typical “welfare state” because each one would be unselfishly working to help others. Everyone would remember the command of 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If a man will not work, neither let him eat.” Laziness would die out and all would follow Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we faint not.” Finally, every nation on earth would be enriched by people who, as 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks.” We are not to murmur or complain, but rather we are to count our many blessings, Philippians 2:14. The question of Jesus still haunts us today, “Where are the nine?” Luke 17:17. Unfortunately, only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks to Jesus; the sad fact is the ratio is about the same today! If members of the church were happy and thankful as the Bible tells us to be, we could abolish much of the bad news the world feeds on now. We could “turn the world upside down,” Acts 17:6, with the sunlight of God’s love beaming in on our souls. How deeply this world needs to see the joy of our salvation in the Lord! If anyone has the right to be happy, the Christian does, Psalm 144:15. Let us be a blessing to our nation by practicing the precepts of righteousness, beginning where we are today, Romans 14:7. Read your Bible - Acts 8 -Welcome

Northside Church of Christ

3127 Harper Rd. • Corinth, Mississippi 38834 415-3558 • Minister - Lennis Nowell Sunday Worship ............ 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 5:00 pm Wednesday Worship ...................................... 6:00 pm

tion was recently signed into law that takes the first step toward addressing these issues, establishing a Centennial Challenge Fund which could generate up to $50 million per year in publicprivate matching funds to be used for park projects. Congress needs to do more, however, to stem the $12 billion maintenance backlog. “Shiloh National Military Park is an important part of our city’s tourism industry, bringing in thousands of visitors each year,” said Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin. “We hope Congress will fund these deferred maintenance costs at our national parks so that our communities can continue to enjoy them for years.” The Corinth Battlefield Unit at Shiloh National Military Park contains 14 historic sites associated with the siege, battle and occupation of Corinth during the Civil War. Throughout the war, Confederate and Union troops built miles of earthworks to guard the approaches to Corinth from the north, south, east, and west. Several miles of rifle-pits, trenches, and artillery positions still exist. All of the historic sites, including the Davis Bridge Battlefield 18 miles northwest of Corinth near Pocahontas, Tenn., are accessible by automobile. Natchez, Ridgeland, Tupelo and Vicksburg have also passed similar resolutions. (For more information, please visit cityofcorinthms.com. Chism Strategies is communications firm with oﬃces in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Memphis and Jackson, Miss.)

Local/Region

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Today in History Today is Tuesday, Dec. 27, the 362nd day of 2016. There are four days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 27, 1904, James Barrie’s play “Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” opened at the Duke of York’s Theater in London.

On this date: In 1831, naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a round-the-world voyage aboard the HMS Beagle. In 1927, the musical play “Show Boat,” with music by Jerome Kern and libretto by Oscar Hammerstein II, opened at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York. In 1932, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall first opened. In 1945, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were formally established. In 1947, the original version of the puppet character Howdy Doody made his TV debut on NBC’s “Puppet Playhouse.” In 1949, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands signed an act recognizing Indonesia’s sovereignty after more than three centuries of Dutch rule. In 1968, Apollo 8 and its three astronauts made a safe, nighttime splashdown in the Pacific. In 1970, the musical play “Hello, Dolly!” closed on Broadway after a run of 2,844 performances.

Daily Corinthian • 3

Booneville aldermen close out year BOONEVILLE — Booneville aldermen took care of routine business during their final meeting of 2016. The board approved hiring Casey Irwin as a full-time meter reader in

the gas and water department eﬀective Jan. 3. The board also approved appointing Rodney Barnes to the city park commission. Board members accepted the low quote of

$2,460 from Murphy Brothers for the purchase of a grapple attachment for the city’s front end loader that could be used to clear storm debris in the future. The board took note of

storm damage in the city park and mayor Derrick Blythe said downed trees removed from the park are being placed at the city compost pile across from the animal shelter on Townhouse Drive and

the public is welcome to come and cut any firewood from them that they wish. The next regular meeting of the board is set for Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

Spree makes holiday brighter for kids (The following story by Assistant Editor Steve Beavers first appeared in the Independent Appeal. It is being reprinted with permission.) It was a typical, normal shopping day. It was the best day ever, according to one of the children who took part in the annual shopping spree of McNairy Children Support Group Inc. Walmart was taken over by over 300 children and another large number of volunteers during the 34th consecutive shopping spree. “I get amazed every year,” said founder Jack

Cheshier. “The excitement of the kids and the amount of help has been awesome.” The annual shopping spree held Monday, Dec. 12 was for children Pre K through fourth grade. Those eligible to go were given a $60 limit to spend at Walmart. Phillips 66 Speciality Lubricants Manager Reid Dreher and his family volunteered for a first time. “We really believe in what Jack is doing,” said Dreher. “Our family is new to the community and we have always tried to serve.” Dreher and his wife,

Amy and their three children, Nathan, Ella and Drew each helped children find Christmas gifts. “The little boy I helped was bright and wonderful,” said Dreher. “He was thankful for being here and it was more fun for me than for him.” The Drehers used the spree as a teaching moment for their children. “We want our kids to see how to do life,” said Dreher. “It has been a real joy for all of us to be here.” The spree began at 8:30 a.m. with students from Bethel Springs Elementary School being the

first to shop. Elementary schools in Selmer, Michie, Ramer and Adamsville followed in order. Members of the McNairy Central High School Honor Society and around 10 Phillip 66 employees were on hand to help children with their shopping. Seven members of the Bethel University fraternity Phi Mu Alpha entertained the children with caroling. “This is the most exciting thing for me at Christmas,” said volunteer Kevin Roy. “I think I get the bigger blessing than the kids.”

Roy and his wife, Lisa have participated in 18 shopping sprees. Their children, Chandler and Roy, were involved this year. “I look forward to this every year,” said Roy. Roy’s attitude is what Cheshier wants all volunteers to feel. “I want them to have fun,” said Cheshier. “It is such a blessing for everyone who helps.” Steve Beavers is assistant editor of the Independent-Appeal in McNairy County where this story first appeared. It is used here with permission.

Initiative supports healthy local students For the Daily Corinthian

WALNUT — When people ask young children what they want to be when they grow up, you will often hear responses like “police oﬃcer,” “firefighter,” or a variety of other first responder careers. From an early age, children are engrained with the knowledge that law enforcement officials hold authority and trust and are helpful in many diﬀerent situations. The Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi

Foundation has partnered with the Town of Walnut’s Police and Fire Department to support local law enforcement oﬃcers and first responders with the Healthy Heroes Initiative, which is also helping to encourage healthy lifestyle habits for children. The Healthy Heroes Initiative, funded by a $25,000 grant from the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, is working to improve the quality of life for local students. The officers are visiting area schools,

talking to students about making healthy food choices and encouraging physical activity. The visits also include a celebratory fitness walk around the school. They are visiting P.E. classes each month and also leading exercises with students. As a Healthy Hometown winner in 2014 and “Mississippi’s Healthiest Hometown” honoree in 2015, Walnut is building on its wellness journey by installing outdoor exercise equipment available to members of the

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community. This includes a variety of cardiovascular equipment, steps and strength training stations. The Healthy Hometown Awards, developed by the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, recognize and reward municipalities for their eﬀorts in community wellness initiatives. (Learn more about the Healthy Heroes Initiative, as well as other eﬀorts of the Foundation at www.healthiermississippi.org.)

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Opinion

Mark Boehler, editor

4 • Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Corinth, Miss.

Politics is a constant cycle BY DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN Columnists

How do we make sense of the alternation in power of our two parties and their ideologies? Now that Donald Trump seems intent on repealing Obamacare and President Obama’s executive orders on the environment, we are given to wonder if we are not simply trapped between two forces alternately embracing and erasing their legacies. But we need to grasp the essentially cyclical nature of our progress. It is not a pendulum erasing with each swing from left to right and back again of all that happened before. It is an upward spiral -- not a downward screw -in which each shift of the dominant political ideology sifts through the wreckage left by its defeated predecessor, embracing the policies that have proven themselves and discarding the rest. It’s a lot like the business cycle -- from boom to bust -- where what Joseph Schumpeter called “creative destruction” destroys the unsound businesses, the overblown profits, the useless jobs, and the crazy investments that have accumulated and leaves standing, instead, the sound businesses and a business expansion based on meeting the real needs of the market. Because human nature -- with its innate propensity for excess -- rules politics as well as economics, the political cycle that paces our democracy parallels that which dominates our economy. The political cycle is less widely noticed, but is just as fundamental. When a political party or ideology takes over, it implements needed reforms to correct abuses that have multiplied under its predecessor. Where the ancient regime was too liberal, the new people cut spending and slash regulations. Where there had been higher taxes, they introduce lower rates. For a while things turn around. Jobs abound. Companies -- liberated from taxes and regulation -- start to hire again. Investors return to the market place. But inevitably, the political boom will overreach just as business prosperity always does. Important regulations are repealed. Free from scrutiny, businesses pollute, discriminate and shortchange consumers. Where the left rules, corruption -- its habitual failing -- sets in. When the right takes power, greed -- its constant defect -- always gets out of control and fuels voter disgust. And then the pendulum swings back again. Dick Morris, former advisor to the Clinton administration, is a commentator and writer. He is also a columnist for the New York Post and The Hill. His wife, Eileen McGann is an attorney and consultant.

Prayer for today Lord God of life, give me the desire to learn, and the wisdom to live in my best. May I not fail to culture my mind and heart and make life productive and worthy. Help me to see the mistakes that I have made in the past, and in the year that is approaching not only try to avoid them, but try to make amends for them. Amen.

Electoral College griping easier than change STARKVILLE — Recent polling bears out something that’s been a pretty standard political observation since the razor-thin margin of the 2000 U.S. presidential election that saw President George W. Bush lose the popular vote to Democratic nominee Al Gore but win the electoral vote and a court challenge to gain the presidency in a battle that divided the country. What is it? It’s the leadpipe-cinch fact that it’s a lot easier to gripe and complain about the Electoral College than it is to actually change or eliminate it. Why? The only people really concerned each election cycle about the Electoral College and the occasional disparity between the popular vote and the electoral vote are the people who came up on the short end of the electoral vote. The people who prevail in the electoral vote are genuinely pretty pleased with it and aren’t anxious to talk about changing it. And the real hypocrisy of the folks who bombarded the actual presidential electors with in some cases 20,000 pieces of mail is that from a practical standpoint, both the Republican

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. —Matthew 2:11-12

Letters Policy The Opinion page should be a voice of the people and reflect views from a broad range in the community. Citizens can express their opinion in letters to the editor. Only a few simple rules need to be followed. Letters should be of public interest and not of the ‘thank you’ type. Please include your full signature, home address and telephone number on the letter for verification. 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 the preferred method. Personal, guest and commentary columns on the Opinion page are the views of the writer. “Other views” are editorials reprinted from other newspapers. None of these reflect the views of this newspaper.

there is an almost perpetual debate over the wisdom and reliability of the electoral vote versus the popular vote as a means to choose America’s president. For many of those same Americans, there is a disconnect between their intrinsic belief that the candidate who wins a majority or plurality of the popular vote should win the election and the hard, cold reality that we actually elect presidents in this nation through the electoral vote. The conventional wisdom on the electoral vote is that it ensures that a U.S. president has suﬃcient popular support spread drawn from a distribution that is geographically diverse enough to enable the chief executive to be eﬀective in governing. A growing number of people disagree. Opponents of the electoral vote argue that the system favors rural, less populated states like Mississippi over more urban, heavily populated states like California or Florida. News flash, folks – it does. Then there’s the “swing state” argument against the electoral vote. In theory, a candidate would win the presidential election by car-

rying just 12 states that comprise a winning 283 electoral votes: California (55 votes), Florida (29), Texas (38), New York (29), Illinois (20), Pennsylvania (20), Ohio (18), Michigan (16), Georgia (16), North Carolina (15), New Jersey (14) and Virginia (13). Should that occur, it would be possible for a president with a significant minority of the popular vote to be elected. The bottom line is that while political gripes about the Electoral College will continue, getting threefourths of the states to ratify changing or eliminating the electoral vote process looms as a political improbability of historic proportions. Changing or eliminating the Electoral College is something a new president with control of Congress might be able to pull oﬀ were it a priority. But newly elected presidents and their political parties who benefitted from the old rules are highly unlikely to lift a finger to change them – whether that president is Republican or a Democrat. Daily Corinthian columnist Sid Salter is syndicated across the state. Contact him at 601-507-8004 or sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

Trump team reaches out to Marine veteran BY LARRY ELDER Columnist

A verse to share

and Democrat political parties and the people who comprise them long ago Sid Salter conceded to spend the Columnist majority of their time, campaign cash, and eﬀort in the 15 or so states with the largest blocs of electoral votes. And of course, the states with the largest blocs of electoral votes are also the states with the largest electoral vote totals as well. Need an example? Look back to the 2008 presidential election that eventually produced the election of Democrat Barack Obama. In that race, presidential candidates concentrated over two-thirds of their campaign appearances and advertising spending in just six states and 98 percent in just 15 states — surprise, surprise — the ones with the most electoral votes. The folks protesting the Electoral College this week were not engaged in that same fight at all in 2008. Why? They liked the outcome of the election. For some in the country,

Last week, I received this email from Rennae: “Dear Larry, “Larry Wayne Lindsey is from Colorado. He has been a staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, who had a big rally on the state capital steps in Colorado, where Larry did security. “Larry is a Marine veteran who served with honor. He has also been battling cancer for about three years. Three days ago, they only gave him the night to live. I fear he won’t get to see the inauguration. I am trying to get through a maze of people to see if we can get a call from President-elect Trump to Larry. It would mean so much to him. “I never ask for much, but this would be an amazing gift for a man who is a true patriot and an inspiration to so many. “Thanks, Larry. There is something about the guys named ‘Larry.’” Well, there’s something about Marines, too. My dad was a Montford Point Marine. I wrote back: “Dear Rennae, “I sent your message along to a top aide to Mr. Trump. Obviously, I don’t know what will happen. But let’s give it a shot.” The following day, I received this message from

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Rennae: “Thanks so much, Larry. He had a really tough night, but he is a warrior. You are better than the best! I owe you! “Here is the message,” she wrote, “that Larry Lindsey just posted.” It read: “So my charge nurse comes in this morning about 9 a.m. and asks if I feel up to an urgent call. I refused at first but acquiesced at her insistence. It turned out to be PJ Schrantz, President (-elect) Trump’s chief of security. It seems President (-elect) Trump, Vice President (-elect Mike) Pence and General (James) Mattis were requesting information about how I am doing. “PJ said that Gen. Mattis asked if there was anything he could do for me ... imagine that for a moment, if you will, exactly what that meant to me. I said, ‘Yes, sir, there is one thing. You can tell him I said Semper Fi and to give ’em hell!’ “What an honor to have the attention and concern of these courageous people who will be responsible for the rebuilding of this amazing country of ours. What a wonderful day today, with the tremendous outpouring of love and patriotism and birthday wishes from everyone! “God bless you all, from the bottom of my heart!

“Larry Wayne Lindsey.” Shortly after this Mr. Lindsey posted a video from his hospital bed. It was to be his last message: “President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Gen. Mattis, I would like to say that the greatest honor of my life has been to wage this battle with you. “I have been prouder of being a Marine than anything I have ever done in my life. Having a hand, in some small way, in fighting for my country has meant the world to me. There is no greater honor for me -- to have great men like you leading this country back to its foundation and back to God. “Because with Trump, I have no doubt in my heart and in my mind that you will be perhaps the greatest president in the history of our country. “Vice President Pence, I am so honored to call you my vice president. You are an incredibly good man, and probably the only vice president in 150 years to have any brains -- and I appreciate that about you. Your candor and your honesty, from both of you men, is much needed in this day and time. “Gen. Mattis, sir, it appears that I am now out of ammunition, but I continue to fight with my last breath. I do not fear death because I know where I’m going, and

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I’m only going home for a rest. It’s you people here, the good people of America, for whom I cry, my loved ones and my friends, and the sacrifices they continue to make in this fight to restore our country. “Dying is the easy part. Dying is the comforting part if you know who your God is and you know that He holds your hand. And I do. I praise God for a wonderful life. So many wonderful blessings that I have known. And so many wonderfully kind and loving people in this country whom I have met during my fight for this country. “I want you to know, each and every one of you, that we have taken on a challenge that has only just begun. The real battle lies ahead. “And Gen. Mattis, I have one request, sir, and that is: Give’em hell,” he said, saluting. “And ‘Semper Fi.’ God bless.” A few hours after this last post, according to his Facebook page, Marine Lindsey died peacefully in the arms of his wife Natasha on his birthday, Dec. 17. Semper Fi, Marine Larry Wayne Lindsey. Larry Elder is a best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an “Elderado,” visit www.LarryElder.com.

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Daily Corinthian • Tuesday, December 27, 2016 • 5

Deaths Jean Taylor

Belva Jean Harville Taylor, 80, of Glen, passed away on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at her residence. She was born in Glen on April 2, 1936, to the late Henry Archie Harville and Mamie Louise Oliver Harville and was a member of New Hope Church of Christ. Jean was Taylor always an encouraging voice, and took great joy in helping others to reach their potential in the Lord. To this end she served her God and her faith as secretary at the Memphis School of Preaching for 32 years. Her love for God’s people was nowhere greater than her love for her family, and she spent many happy hours with them. Jean lived out her love for God’s creation by exploring it; she read deeply, traveled widely, and loved endlessly. Her time here was well

Charles Brennesen

Charles Brennesen died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at Hardin Medical Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McPeters Inc. Funeral Directors.

Mary Hollis

Funeral services for Mary “Inez” Hollis is set for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Memorial Funeral Home with burial at Community Pentecostal Church. Mrs. Hollis died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at Forrest Cove Nursing Home in Jackson, Tenn. Bro. Tim Wilbanks will oﬃciate. Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Rossevelt Marcum

BEECH BLUFF, Tenn. — Rossevelt Marcum died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at his residence. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McPeters Inc. Funeral Directors.

Bob Sourek

Bob Sourek died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at Magnolia Regional Health Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McPeters Inc. Funeral Directors.

Mancel Veach

Mancel Eugen Veach, 65, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at Magnolia Regional Health Center. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Corinthian Funeral Home.

Betty Whirley

Betty Whirley died Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, at Cornerstone Health and Rehab. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Magnolia Funeral Home.

spent and will be forever remembered. Visitation is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Magnolia Funeral Home and 10 a.m. till service time Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at New Hope Church of Christ. A celebration of Jean’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, at New Hope Church of Christ, officiated by Roy Cox. Interment will follow in New Hope Church of Christ Cemetery. Pallbearers include Tom Bjornerud, Ryan Pace, Charlie Dotson, Max Hopson, Michael Litton and Steve McCoy. Magnolia Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements. Those left to honor Jean’s memory include her daughters: Terry Lynn McCoy and husband Steve of Glen, Shirley Rae Bjornerud and husband Tom of Olive Branch; a special family member: Cynthia Potter of Corinth; her grandchildren: Sara Lindley and Michael Litton and wife Magon; eight

Jack K. Whitten

Jack K. Whitten, 86, of Corinth, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016, at his residence. Visitation is Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Magnolia Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Magnolia Funeral Home.

Mildred Bass

Funeral services for Mildred Bass, 48, are set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tuscumbia Baptist Church with burial at the church cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. till service time. Ms. Bass died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at Magnolia Bass Regional Health Center. Born Nov. 10, 1968, in Tippah County, she was a homemaker and a member of Tuscumbia Baptist Church. Survivors include her mother, Joyce Kilcrease of Corinth; her brothers, Kelvin Dixon, William Dixon, Orbin Dixon and Shawn Dixon, all of Corinth; her sisters, Rachel Dixon, Norma Dixon, Terrie Dixon and Lauren Dixon, all of Corinth, and Melssia Rodriquz and Chelsea Flores, both of Memphis, Tenn. She was preceded in death by her parents, Olen and Arvie Dixon Bass; her grandparents, Odis and Renie Dixon and Mormon and Ruthy Jones Bass; and a brother, Dewey Dixon. Bro. Rodney Whittimore and Bro. David Giﬀord will oﬃciate. Corinthian Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

great-grandchildren: Ryan Pace, Layla Randolph, Kash Litton, Kamp Litton, Kamila Litton, Kalvary Litton, Keegan McCoy and Austin Julen; her brother: Archie Harville and wife Rosa of Corinth; her sisters: Genida Whitfield of Corinth, and Nell Dotson of Glen; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years: Richard Ray Taylor; her brothers: James Harville, Kenneth Harville, Cleve Harville, George Harville, Ashberry Harville (Infant), Ottice Harville (Infant) and Lloyd Harville (Infant); her sisters: Louise Harville (Infant), Betty Jo Harville (Infant) and Emmy Sue Harville (Infant). In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Memphis School of Preaching 3905 Forest Hill Irene Road Memphis, TN 38125. Online condolences may be expressed at magnoliafuneralhome. net.

Bonnie Cole

BURNSVILLE — Funeral services for Bonnie Sue Cole, 75, are set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Harmony Hill Baptist Church with burial at Harmony Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Mrs. Cole died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. Born Aug. 26, 1941, she retired from Genesco with 39 years of service. She was of the Holiness faith and attended Reaching Out For Souls Ministries. She was a member of Harmony Hill Baptist Church. Survivors include her husband of 15 years, Robert Cole of Burnsville; her sons, Ricky Voyles (Lowana) of Burnsville, Randie Voyles of Burnsville, and Bobby “John-John” Voyles of Burnsville; a stepson, A.J. Cole of Bends, Ore.; her daughters, Carolyn Pinkard (Roscoe Bandy) of Philadelphia, Miss., and Vickie Cox of Adamsville, Tenn.; a stepdaughter, Nicole Weem (Ricky) of Laurel; six grandchildren, Ricky Ray Voyles, Dwana Voyles, Casey Asa (Chris), Corey Pinkard, Misty Garland and Jerry Donavan Cox; four step-grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; one step-greatgrandchild; a brother, Charles Wesley Lambert (Jonie) of Iuka; and a sister, Debra Wiginton (Rodney) of Glen. She was preceded in death by her father, John Wesley Lambert; her mother, Edith Louise Crider Lambert; her brothers, Dan Lambert and Dennis Ray Lambert; and a sister, Shirley Puckett. Bro. Billy Powers and Bro. Kenny Woodruﬀ will oﬃciate. Magnolia Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Despite red flags, election system open to hacking time?’” These paperless digital voting machines, used by roughly 1 in 5 U.S. voters last month, present one of the most glaring dangers to the security of the rickety, underfunded U.S. election system. Like many electronic voting machines, they are vulnerable to hacking. But other machines typically leave a paper trail that could be manually checked. The paperless digital machines open the door to potential election rigging that might not ever be detected. What’s more, their prevalence magnifies other risks in the election system, such as the possibility that hackers might compromise the computers that tally votes, by making failures or attacks harder to catch. And like other voting machines adopted since the 2000 election, the paperless systems are nearing the end of their useful life — yet there is no comprehensive plan to replace them. “If I were going to hack this election, I would go for the paperless machines because they are so hard to check,” said Barbara Simons, a former IBM researcher and co-author of “Broken Ballots,” a history of the unlearned lessons of flawed U.S. voting technology.

BY MICHAEL RUBINKAM AND FRANK BAJAK Associated Press

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Jill Stein’s bid to recount votes in Pennsylvania was in trouble even before a federal judge shot it down Dec. 12. That’s because the Green Party candidate’s eﬀort stood almost no chance of detecting potential fraud or error in the vote — there was basically nothing to recount. Pennsylvania is one of 11 states where the majority of voters use antiquated machines that store votes electronically, without printed ballots or other paper-based backups that could be used to double-check the balloting. There’s almost no way to know if they’ve accurately recorded individual votes — or if anyone tampered with the count. More than 80 percent of Pennsylvanians who voted Nov. 8 cast their ballots on such machines, according to VotePA, a nonprofit seeking their replacement. A recount would, in the words of VotePA’s Marybeth Kuznik, a veteran election judge, essentially amount to this: “You go to the computer and you say, ‘OK, computer, you counted this a week-and-a-half ago. Were you right the first

Japanese prime minister visits memorial Associated Press

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii on Monday to recognize the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Abe landed at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for the historic visit. He will be the first Japanese prime minister to visit the memorial that honors sailors and Marines killed in the attack that spurred America to enter World War II. Japan’s former leader Shigeru Yoshida went to Pearl Harbor six years after the country’s World War II surrender, but that was before the USS Arizona Memorial was built. Yoshida arrived at Pearl Harbor in 1951, shortly after requesting a courtesy visit to the of-

fice of Adm. Arthur W.R. Radford, commander of the U.S. Pacific fleet. The office overlooked Pearl Harbor, offering a direct view of the attack site. The memorial will be closed to the public Tuesday when Abe visits the historic site, joined by U.S. President Barack Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii with his family. The importance of the visit may be mostly symbolic for two countries that, in a remarkable transformation, have grown into close allies in the decades since they faced off in brutal conflict. At the same time, it’s significant that it took more than 70 years for U.S.Japanese relations to get to this point. Abe won’t apologize for Japan’s attack when he visits, the government

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spokesman said earlier this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that “the purpose of the upcoming visit is to pay respects for the war dead and not to oﬀer an apology.”

The visit comes six months after Obama became the first sitting American president to visit Hiroshima for victims of the U.S. atomic bombing of that city at the end of the same war. 130 S. FILLMORE 662-287-1090

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