Tuesday August 28,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 207
T-storms Today
Tonight
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70
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
30 employers register for job fair BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The job search will end for some come Sept. 18. Those attending the Northeast Mississippi WIN Job Fair could find the type of work they have dreamed about. “Thirty employers have regis-
1 qualifies for school board BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
With less than two weeks to go for county school board qualifying, just one name is on the list thus far. As of noon Monday, only 3rd district incumbent Carroll Morton has submitted qualifying papers at the circuit clerk’s office. Based on the number of inquiries by prospective candidates, the clerk’s office is expecting one or two candidates for each position. The deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7. A majority of the school board seats are up for election — districts 2, 3 and 4. The District 4 incumbent is Mary Kathryn Coleman. In district 2, the current board member, Dale Bain, has said he will not seek election to the post. A special election to complete the term of his late mother, Peggy Bain, accompanies the regular election for districts 3 and 4. A six-year term is up for grabs in districts 3 and 4, while the district 2 winner will serve the four years left Please see BOARD | 2
Governor’s Job Fair Network — a statewide program created to aid Mississippians in finding safe and secure employment. Job seekers will also have access to the WIN Job Center bus. The bus is equipped with computers that can be used to touch up resumes and search jobs on
the extensive Mississippi Department of Employment Securities Job Bank. Those attending the fair should come with a positive attitude and dress as they would for an interview.
Alliance seeks members
Area preps for rain, wind from TS Isaac
tered and more will register before the event date,” said WIN Job Center Case Manager/ Custom Service Coordinator Amanda Johnson. Last year during the five hours of the Job Fair, 358 people were hired. Job seekers will have a chance
to make face-to-face contact with employers during the fair. That’s something that doesn’t usually happen during today’s method of online applications. The event, set for 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Crossroads Arena, is free and open to the public. The Job Fair is part of the
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Alliance kicked off its annual membership drive on Monday, with the goal of welcoming new members into the association. Alliance members have formed teams that will engage in some friendly competition to find out which team can recruit more new members through the end of the drive on Thursday. “Membership in the Alliance is something that is mutually beneficial for not only the Alliance, but for the business that sees the value in joining,” said Alliance President Gary Chandler. “The Alliance helps market all of our member businesses, and in turn, our member businesses are able to help the community advance with their investment in the Alliance.” Alliance member and team captains met at Pizza Grocery on Monday to officially kick off the membership drive. The main speaker at the kickoff lunch was Paul Oliver, the founder of Chamber of Commerce Consultants and past candidate for lieutenant governor of Mississippi. Oliver emphasized the need for chamber of commerce type associations — especially in times of economic woe. “You’re wondering if a membership drive is effective today, with the economy the way it is. It’s going to be more effective,” Oliver said, “because people
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
to the board how big of an upside we have … we have to build on what we already have.”
With Tropical Storm Isaac expected to turn into a hurricane sometime today, the Crossroads area is bracing for what could be a wet and windy approach to the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, the outer bands of Isaac will begin moving over the Southeast today. The Corinth area could begin seeing light rain tonight, with chances of precipitation continuing as the week progresses. As of Monday afternoon, forecasters were predicting two possible tracks for the storm as it moves to the north — up the Mississippi River or northward through the center of the state. The main storm will probably reach north Mississippi and Alabama either Thursday or Friday, according to AccuWeather. “If it goes up the mouth of the Mississippi, we can see mild flooding, possibly, but it’s more likely going to be in the Delta, around Clarksdale,” said Alcorn Emergency Management Director Ricky Gibens. “If it goes straight up through Mississippi inland, we could get three to five inches of rain and mild flooding.” The area could possibly get some mild to moderate strength straight-line winds that may cause damage, and there is a chance of flash flooding. Another effect of the storm may be an influx of displaced residents of the coast that could fill local motels and even necessitate the designation of temporary shelters. Gibens said the recent work done to Corinth’s draining system should prevent any major flooding in the city. “Since M.L. Sandy Jr. and some people have done so much dredging and all they’ve done, it may not affect us much,” said Gibens. Corinth Street Commissioner Jim Bynum and his crew are on standby, sharpening their saws and making sure the backhoes are ready. “We’re cleaning the storm drains and making sure there’s no debris in the ditches,” Bynum said.
Please see OUTREACH | 2
Please see STORM | 2
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Consultant Paul Oliver speaks to Alliance members during the membership drive kickoff lunch. need your Alliance more than ever.” Oliver told the group to focus on the PEC method — working with pride, enthusiasm and commitment. He spoke about the importance of believing in oneself. “A man can’t do what he don’t believe in no more than he can come back from where he’s never been,” he said, repeating the whole phrase to let it sink in. Team Captain Jonathan
Marsh said his team looks forward to the membership drive this year. “And if you’re not yet an Alliance member, contact me and we’ll get that done,” he said. The Alliance is the chamber of commerce and economic development for Corinth and Alcorn County. For more information about the Alliance or membership in The Alliance call 2875269 or email Kelly Rinehart at kelly@corinthalliance.com
Program: Stronger families mean better community BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The possibilities are unlimited. Those words were driven home to members of the Easom Outreach Foundation and Corinth/Alcorn County Excel By 5. The words came from someone who knows. Dr. Joan Butler has been there. The director of Family-Centered Programs with the Starkville School District started with no budget in her attempt to strengthen families of the students in the district. Her it-all-begins-with-the-family approach, helped FamilyCentered Programs produce a stronger school system and community. “Look at the community and see what is offered,” said Dr. Butler. “See where your strengths are and what services are not being offered.” Since incorporating the plan to make families stronger, the Starkville District has reached thousands of families with special attention paid to at-risk families.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Easom Outreach Foundation Chairman Samuel Crayton goes over ideas with a committee. “Take what we did in Starkville and make it better,” said Butler to the group of leaders on Saturday. “The main thing is to use all your commu-
nity resources.” “I got a lot of ideas out of this,” said Easom Outreach Foundation Chairman Samuel Crayton. “Her program conveys
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 13 Wisdom...... 12
Please see FAIR | 2
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
On this day in history 150 years ago Aug. 28 — During heavy fighting at Groveton, Virginia, “Stonewall” Jackson’s troops attack a Federal division but are stopped cold by a brigade of western troops. Under Gen. John Gibbon, the Union soldiers fight with such tenacity they are hereafter known as the “Iron Brigade.”
August is National CATARACT Awareness Month
Dr. John Shipp, M.D.
Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide, affecting nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older. By age 80, half of all Americans will have cataracts. Cataracts are a natural result of aging when the eye’s lens turns yellow and cloudy. Symptoms of cataracts may include blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, glare or sensitivity to light, faded colors, need for brighter light for reading, and frequent changes in eyeglass prescription. --- If you are experiencing trouble with your vision that may be due to cataracts, call (662) 286-6068 to schedule your cataract evaluation.
Eye Care Specialists 3302 W. Linden St. Corinth, MS 38834 (662) 286-6068