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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 134
• Corinth, Mississippi •
P.M. t-storms Today
Tonight
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20 pages • Two sections
Jobless rate dips to 8.4 percent BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Unemployment rates across the state continued to moderate in April. Alcorn County’s jobless rate dropped to 8.4 percent from 9.1 percent in March. Mississippi unemployment went from 8.7 percent to 8.3 percent during the same period as all but five counties experienced decreases or no change in the rate. Alcorn County had 79 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the month, down from 92 a year earlier. Continued claims numbered 855, down from 1,440 a year earlier. Regular benefits paid in the county totaled $120,746, down from $255,627 a year ago. The county had 1,310 unemployed, down from 1,770 a year earlier, and 14,170 employed, down from 14,390 a year ago. Prentiss County fared best in the region at 8.3 percent. Tishomingo County was at 9.5 percent and Tippah at 9.8 percent. All three posted decrease from the prior month. Results from Mississippi’s non-farm employment survey,
which is counted by the location of establishments, reported a not seasonally adjusted employment increase of 3,700 over the month but a decrease of 2,500 from one year ago. Industry sectors registering the largest monthly employment gains were leisure & hospitality; trade, transportation & utilities; and manufacturing. The professional & business services sector had the largest over the month employment loss. Across the U.S., regional and state unemployment rates were little changed in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, five states posted rate increases, and eight states had no change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last week. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while only one state experienced an increase, and one had no change. The national jobless rate was little changed from March at 8.1 percent but was 0.9 percentage point lower than in April 2011.
Bingo! Senior group gets new equipment BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Fight against cancer Macy Moore puts sand in luminaries for the 2012 Relay for Life of Alcorn County on Friday. The theme for this year’s Relay for Life was “Cancer Never Takes a Holiday,” encouraging teams to use holidays as a theme for their booths and activities. All proceeds from the annual event goes to the American Cancer Society, and the amount raised this year will be announced later this week. (For more photos, see page 12A)
The Bingo Bunch has some new equipment. The senior citizen group got a chance to test the material at its annual Thursday bingo meeting at Arby’s. The Community Development Council of The Alliance purchased the new equipment for the 60-70 senior adults. “Corinth is a Certified Retirement City and retirees play a big part in the community,”
said Community Development Director Andrea Rose. “We want to get the word out on what we have to offer for senior adults.” To help make retirees feel welcome, included, and connected, The Alliance conducts a meet-and-greet monthly luncheon and speaker program called “Senior Connectors.” Many retirees learn more about their new community Please see BINGO | 2A
Artist Guild holds exhibit
Scouts refurbish court benches
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
editor@dailycorinthian.com
BY MARK BOEHLER
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Tennessee oil painter Rennie Herd is the gallery’s featured artist for June. An opening reception with Herd is set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the 507 Cruise Street gallery. The exhibit runs through June 27. Herd’s paintings leave no question that she is an animal lover, particularly horses. She said she enjoys painting animals because they “can’t complain.” The collection also includes some country landscapes and portraits. Herd, a resident of White House, Tenn., took up the brush when she entered an oil painting class with a friend at a college. Please see EXHIBIT | 2A
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Andy Clausel and other Boy Scouts and their leaders spent two entire days rebuilding and painting new benches around the Alcorn County Courthouse. It’s Andy’s Eagle Scout project.
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......6B Comics Inside Wisdom......4B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
The 'ole courtsquare whittlers' angels are smiling down from the heavens. The wooden benches around the Alcorn County Courthouse are now completely refurbished, thanks to an Eagle Scout project and plenty of volunteer labor sweat from Boy Scouts and their adult leaders. “People have been coming by and telling me how great it is to see this work being done,” said 13-year-old Andy Clausel of Corinth Boy Scout Troop 123 and the young leader working on his Eagle Scout project Saturday afternoon. “There has been some great feedback.” Clausel said he couldn't have completed the task all day Friday and Saturday without the help of Troop 123 as 11 Scouts Please see BENCHES | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago The continued bombardment of Fort Pillow and the loss of Corinth prompt Confederate forces to abandon the fort. The only protection for Memphis now consists of a small “mosquito fleet” of steam powered rams in the Mississippi River.