Taste
Wednesday Dec. 31,
2014
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Home & Garden
Ring in new year with treat bolder than bubbles.
Pyracantha adds spark to winter landscapes.
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Daily Corinthian
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Vol. 118, No. 304
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Police seek suspect BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
Basket fund needing donations Goal of $25,000 was set for yearly holiday fundraiser The spirit of giving this Christmas season is alive and well in the Alcorn County area. Donations are still needed this year for the 19th Annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Fund. A $25,000 fund raising goal was set so 1,000 food baskets could be given to local families on Saturday, Dec. 6. Baskets were given away based upon faith the goal will be reached. So far, $16,014 has been raised, meaning $8,986 still needs to be raised to make the goal. Donations will be accepted through the end of the year. Contributions to the Christmas Basket Fund can be made “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special person or persons. The tribute will be published 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.
Corinth Police are still searching for the suspect sought in the robbery of five businesses in late November. Police Chief Ralph Dance said the department received a number of tips following the burglaries. “After the original newspaper story published and we posted on our Facebook, we heard from numerous residents, but nothing ever panned out,” said Dance. “It’s been a tough one.” The break-ins happened during the early morning hours on Nov. 25 at four restaurants and the office of a storage business within the city limits. Cash was taken at
most of the locations. Video surveillance captured an image of what appeared to be a white male wearing blue jeans, a blue shirt with a noticeable white design, a jacket and a black face mask. Detective Dell Green said the method of entry was the same at each location — a rock or object thrown through a glass door or window. An alarm sounded at one of the businesses, and the suspect was gone when police arrived to find a shattered door. To report tips on the case, contact CPD at 286-3377 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800773-tips or crimestoppersms. com.
Extension cord helps nab suspect BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Video sur veillance at a Corinth storage facility captured this image of what appeared to be a white male wearing blue jeans, a blue shirt with a noticeable white design, a jacket and a black face mask during the breakins on Nov. 25.
Investigators followed the trail of a suspicious extension cord to nab a man on burglary charges. Deputies and investigators responding to a report of a burglary on County Road 3101 east of Booneville discovered the cord connecting the victim’s residence to another nearby residence. They determined someone had “forcibly entered the victim’s house and plugged in an extension cord. The depuPlease see CORD | 2A
Top 10 stories of 2014 County corruption scandal tops list BY JEBB JOHNSTON
Top stories
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Melody Patterson, Cleo Henderson’s daughter, visits the place where her beloved father died of a gunshot wound in downtown Corinth.
A little bit of everything can be found in a year’s worth of headlines. What will be remembered in five or 10 years? What has lasting impact on the community? These are some of the factors considered as the editorial staff votes on the year’s top 10 stories, and it was a particularly close race among this year’s top three. “Putting together this list usually leads to some lively debate in the office, and we hope the community finds it thought-provoking as well,” said Editor Mark Boehler. 1) County corruption scandal: The numbers are staggering: 259 felony counts among 2nd District Super-
1) County corruption scandal 2) Six homicides 3) Correctional facility troubles 4) Pastor’s trial 5) Corinth elections 6) Garnett Hughes sentenced 7) Rienzi fire 8) A winter to remember 9) Puppy mills raid 10) Park transitions visor Dal Nelms, Purchase Clerk Paul Rhodes and three county vendors — Jimmy Ray Mitchell, Joseph Lin McNair Jr. and Danny Roy Peters, and civil demands for repayPlease see TOP
10 | 2A
Corinth woman celebrates her 100th birthday BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Vella Gann will have plenty to celebrate during the first few days of 2015. Gann turns 100-years-old two days after bringing in the New Year. Neither her birthday or ringing in the New Year call for a party, according to the soon-to-be birthday girl. “I guess I am getting too old for that,” she said with a smile. Instead of a big bash, Gann will be spend the day with daughters, Shirley Wilson and Joan Gann. “We are hoping she gets 100 cards because she loves them so much,” said Wilson. Ms. Vella and her late husband, W.C. Gann, are familiar names when it comes to serving in the ministry. Bro. W.C. served as Director of Missions for the Alcorn County Baptist Association and also pastored several churches in the area, including Wheeler Grove Baptist Church and Glendale Baptist Church. “Vella is just a precious person,” said Oakland Baptist Church secretary Linda Winters, who has known Gann for
“We are hoping she gets 100 cards because she loves them so much.” Shirley Wilson Daughter at least 40 years. “She was always very active in church and is the kind of person you just want to love on.” Vella was able to do what she wanted until the flood of 2010. She had to be carried out of her Melody Park home when water rose to nine inches inside the house. “She didn’t want to live there any more after the flood,” said Wilson. Gann now lives on Downing Street with daughter Joan. “She could take care of herself until the flood,” said Wilson. “The last two years she has fell and broke an arm, but she still is able to get up on her feet.” The Ganns instilled strong faith to their children, accord-
Vella Gann, who turns 100 years old Jan. 3, was honored recently by Oakland Baptist Church pastor Dr. Randy Bostick (left) and Alcorn County Baptist Association Director of Missions Dr. Kenny Digby. Gann’s late husband, W.C., served as Director of Missions from 1971-78. ing to Wilson. “Every time I left the house, Daddy would say ‘remember who you are and act accord-
Index Stocks......8A Classified......3B Comics......2B State......5A
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....12A
ingly’”, she said. Birthday bashes are nothing new to Vella. She had a big birthday party when she turned
95. “I told her we would give her
On this day in history 150 years ago The remnants of the Army of Tennessee are encamped east of Corinth at Burnsville. Orders are given for tomorrow morning. Stephen D. Lee’s Corps will move to Rienzi, and Benjamin Cheatham’s Corps will enter Corinth and make camp.
Please see GANN | 2A