Thursday May 24,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 125
Mostly sunny Today
Tonight
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • 1 section
Sales, tourism taxes post big gains BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Sales and tourism tax had a booming month in the latest reported period, possibly reflecting increased tourism activity related to the Civil War Sesquicentennial. At $99,971.57, the May tourism tax deposit is the second largest in the history of the tax. It is also the largest May deposit
to date for the tax and a 19 percent increase from a year earlier. The mid-May deposit reflects sales activity from the month of March, when the city welcomed visitors leading up to the Battle of Shiloh reenactment events at the end of the month. The 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food and lodging stands at a 6 percent gain for the year to date with a total of
$685,253.51. Sales tax, meanwhile, continued to break out of its rut with a fifth consecutive monthly increase. The mid-May deposit of $507,754.11 is a solid 9 percent ahead of the previous May, and the year-to-date total has climbed to $3.63 million, 3.3 percent ahead of the previous fiscal year. Sales tax diversions to mu-
nicipalities across the state as a whole increased 4.5 percent for the month to $35.2 million. Six of 11 area municipalities posted gains. Other sales tax results from the region: ■ Booneville — $152,454.82 (+5%); ■ Burnsville — $12,948.62 (-1%); ■ Farmington — $4,326.53
(-3%); ■ Glen — $1,577.19 (-37%); ■ Iuka — $60,014.70 (-4%); ■ Kossuth — $4,174.99 (+18%); ■ Rienzi — $2,042.73 (-27%); ■ Ripley — $112,783.84 (+8%); ■ Tupelo — $1,640,650.02 (+9%); ■ Walnut — $18,247.20 (+13%).
Saving Abel to film video today at ACHS BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Golden Bears, along with rock band Saving Abel and friends from throughout the county, are ready to slay the giant today. The band, which originated in Corinth and scored a major rock hit in 2008 with the song “Addicted,” will shoot the music video for new single “Bringing Down the Giant” today at Alcorn Central High School. Filming is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and an open casting is set for 4 p.m. at the football field. “We haven’t been able to come back and play our hometown in a long time,” band member Jason Null said on Wednesday. “This is a way for us to come back and say ‘thank you’ to everybody.”
Photo by Lisa Wilbanks
Kossuth graduation Kossuth High School seniors Daniel Shawl, Tanner Mills and Will Roberson give a big thumbs up prior to the start of commencement exercises Tuesday night. Graduation ceremonies continue in the Crossroads on Thursday night with Alcorn Central at 7 p.m. and Tishomingo County at 8 p.m. Corinth High School and Walnut High School will both hold their ceremonies on Friday, both beginning at 7 p.m. For more photos from the KHS graduation, see Sunday’s Daily Corinthian.
The band wants students to show up in their school colors, and people of all ages are welcome to get involved under the stadium lights. “It would be nice to have a full field throughout the evening,” said Null. ACHS Principal Tim Littlejohn said students are excited about the band coming to the school. “They are ready to go,” he said. “I think it will be something good for the school and good publicity.” It is the last day of school and most of the exams have wrapped up, so he is expecting a fairly laid-back day on campus as filming begins. The video director arrived Wednesday afternoon to tour Please see ABEL | 3
Six-vehicle crash on new bypass claims 2 lives BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Two people were killed and six injured in a chain-reaction crash involving six-vehicles on the new Highway 30 bypass
Saturday. The crash claimed the lives of Harmon Laster, 65, of Booneville and William McKinney, 75, of Rienzi. Two individuals were airlifted from the scene with
critical injuries and three others sustained serious injuries and were taken to area hospitals by ambulance. A sixth victim suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Wanda Lynn Laster and Bobby Wayne Rooker were transported by air to North Mississippi Medical Center and Robert Parker, Teresa Parker and Margaret Rooker were
transported to NMMC by ambulance. Wanda Lynn Laster was listed in good condition at press time, Please see CRASH | 2
Field day celebrates end of school year BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Screams of laughter echoed throughout the Corinth Elementary campus. It was Field Day and only one more day of school remained. There were games of all sorts with teachers and volunteers all taking part in the day of fun. “This is to reward the kids for a great year of hard work,” said CES Principal Denise Webb-Harrell. “It’s a blast ... the kids love it and so do the teachers.” Field Day is sponsored by the school PTO, which also supplies each student with a T-shirt, and cost the kids nothing. “I love watching the kids have fun,” said teacher Allison Cornelius as students took part in an obstacle course. “They get a chance to be outside and just be kids,” added teacher Pam
“This is to reward the kids for a great year of hard work. It’s a blast ... the kids love it and so do the teachers.” Denise Webb-Harrell CES principal Robbins. Parents and volunteers also play a big part in the day as they run the games in all of the grades. “This is a great year-end project,” said parent Rod Scott who has volunteered the past four years. “I get a chance to be with my daughter (Katelynn) and help the school at the same time.” Parent Anthony “Amp” Marshall has been a volunteer fixture the past
eight years as his two sons, Austin and Alex, have taken part over those years. “I just enjoy being around the kids,” said Marshall who has been involved with most through baseball and football at Crossroads Regional Park. Jeremy Watkins was one of the parents to take a turn in the dunking booth. “I like getting out here with the kids and acting like a kid myself,” he said. The wish of both teachers and parents is there be more than one Field Day a year. An idea the kids would certainly like to see incorporated. “It would be neat to have more days like this,” said Harrell. “I think it would be fun to have one in the fall to go along with this one at the end of the year,” added teacher Haley Bingham.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth Elementary second grader Penn Majors takes his turn in the plunger race. Related photos on Page 2.
On this day in history 150 years ago All “newspaper and other correspondents” are expelled from Corinth and ordered not to approach within 25 miles of the city. Soldiers are forbidden to mention troop movements in their letters. Gen. Beauregard fears the enemy will learn of his plans if they appear in print.
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