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Thursday Jan. 10,

2013

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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 9

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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • 1 section

Elementary student expelled over gun BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com

A Kossuth Elementary School Student has been expelled for bringing a gun to school, according to a statement from Alcorn Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith. On Tuesday, Dec. 18, a stu-

dent at Kossuth Elementary reported reported to a teacher that another student was carrying a gun. The teacher contacted the office, and administrators came to the room. Administrators removed the child and the child’s possessions from the classroom and took

them to the office. A gun was discovered — an unloaded .22 caliber pistol manufactured in 1908 — and school officials notified the sheriff’s department and the superintendent’s office. No ammunition was found on the child or in the child’s possession.

“The Kossuth Elementary teacher and administration handled the matter in the safest and most professional manner for all parties involved,” said Smith. “The children of the class or the school as a whole were never placed in imminent danger.” Upon notification, the Al-

corn County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the school, took control of the situation and removed the child from the campus. The child was expelled from the Alcorn School District according to Mississippi Code for possession of a gun on campus.

Tentative date set for liquor sales BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The City of Corinth continues to make preparations for legal alcoholic beverage sales to begin, and those who will sell liquor in restaurants and liquor stores are beginning to publish the required notices. Pat Daily, an agent with the Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control Bureau of Enforcement, met with the mayor, city clerk, police chief and other staff at City Hall on Wednesday for a discussion as the city and the ABC prepare for liquor sales in Corinth. City Clerk Vickie Roach said it appears tentatively that legal sales will begin Friday, Feb. 1. It had been unclear whether the date would be 30 days from legal publication of the ordinance

or 30 days from adoption by the Board of Aldermen, and she believes it is the latter. The board adopted the ordinance on Jan. 2. The ABC gave clearance this week to begin publishing the required legal notices for permit applicants in the Daily Corinthian. As of Wednesday, six applicants have submitted notices for publication: ■ Corinth Wine & Spirits, LLC — package retailer permit; 3113 Shiloh Road. ■ The Twisted Cork, LLC — package retailer permit; 108 Highway 72 West. ■ Ruby Tuesday, Inc. — onpremise retailer; 2110 Highway 72 West. ■ Wholesale Liquor — packPlease see LIQUOR | 2

Increase in flu cases evident at MRHC BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

December was a busy month for Magnolia Regional Health Center when it came to treating the flu. The hospital saw an increase of over 100 flu patients from last year. “Our ER is seeing an average of 100-130 patients each day with the majority presenting flu-like symptoms or positive flu cultures,” said Carl Clement, emergency department director. Thus far, MRHC has treated 115 positive flu culture patients. Last year, the hospital only saw 10 positive cultures in the month of Dec. There were 50 who tested positive for the flu in 2010. Overall, MRHC has seen an increase in patients the last month. “We have an increase of ap-

proximately 400 patients in the month of December compared to last year,” said Angela Nowlin, senior vice president of patient experience. The Centers for Disease Control are reporting an enormous cases of flu around the country. Forty-one states are reporting widespread flu activity. Outpatient visits have jumped from a base of 2.2 percent to 5.6 percent. Nine of 10 CDC have reported flu-like symptoms above the baseline of 2.2 percent. According to the CDC, each cough, sneeze or even conversation puts the virus into the air — and potentially into your lungs. The virus goes everywhere — onto railings and the salt shakers in the diner; on the Please see FLU | 3

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

National Cemetery Site Supervisor Rickie Brown was named the 2012 Worrell Contracting Company Inc. Employee of the Year.

What can Brown do for you? BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Rickie Brown has a quiet job with plenty to do. The site supervisor of the National Cemetery was rewarded for his quality of work by being named the 2012 Worrell Contracting Company Inc. Employee of the Year. Brown’s

Site supervisor named Employee of the Year ground maintenance crew was also recognized as 2012 Crew of the Year. “The National Cemetery is a holy place,” said Corinth Mayor

Tommy Irwin. “The work Rickie and his crew do is second to none … you never see the cemePlease see BROWN | 3

Girl Scouts begin cookie sales BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Jebb Johnston

Girl Scout Daisies Katie Hubbard (left) and her sister, Gracie, are taking orders for cookies such as Samoas, Thin Mints and Trefoils.

Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11

Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8

Local Girl Scouts are calling on friends and neighbors with order forms in hand as the annual cookie sale begins. Young ladies began taking pre-orders Saturday for Thin Mints, Samoas, Do-Si-Dos, Tagalongs, Trefoils, Dulce de Leche, Thank You Berry Munch and Savannah Smiles. The price remains $3.50 per box for each of the eight varieties. Each sale generates funds for troop activities. “Troops do many things with their money,” said membership manager Rhonda Tennyson. “Some spend it on their badges. Some like to do trips. It can be great or small.” The cookie program is designed to foster young leaders as the girls learn about goal setting, decision making, money management,

people skills and business ethics. “Every time you support girls through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, you are increasing girls’ abilities to make the world a better place in your own community,” said Jenny Jones, marketing director for Girl Scouts Heart of the South. “We want to thank everyone for supporting the girls as they begin this year’s program.” Tennyson said Samoas, with their combination of caramel, toasted coconut and chocolate, are the top sellers locally. They were formerly sold as Caramel deLites. The top seller nationally is the Thin Mint. Girl Scouts in Alcorn County have racked up some impressive numbers in recent years, with cookie sales almost tripling from 2010 to 2012. Last year, Scouts Please see COOKIES | 2

On this day in history 150 years ago In a highly politicized court martial, Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter is cashiered from the U.S. Army for his lackluster performance at the Battle of Second Bull Run. The verdict will eventually be overturned in 1879.

2 • Daily Corinthian

Local/Region

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Kid’s Kountry Daycare sets standard BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Local community and education leaders honored Kids’ Kountry Daycare in Rienzi as Alcorn County’s first Excel by 5 Daycare. Excel by 5 is a community-based certification designed to improve a child’s wellbeing by the age of 5. The program emphasizes the important roles communities play in educating their children during their most formative years — birth to 5. Kids Kountry joined the Excel by 5 program as a result of several Excel by 5 outreach events in the county, including the health fair at the Alcorn

County Fair last year. The program provides guidelines to help its member organization better prepare children for school “We’d like everyone to sign on for Excel by 5,” said Denise Webb-Harrell, elementary curriculum coordinator for the Alcorn School District. “These are the best practices to help our children succeed in school and in life.” This spring Kids’ Kountry Daycare will add its 19th class photo to the wall. The daycare currently has 15 kids on roll from ages two to school age. Owner and operator Mitzi Potts has spent her life caring for children. “I like teaching and

helping them learn,” Potts said. “I’ve always loved kids. I’ve been in it since high school.” She said the philosophy of Kids’ Kountry is to provide a loving environment for children in which a child can grow mentally, physically, socially, academically and spiritually. “I was honored to be invited to be part of Excel by 5,” said Potts. “I work hard to prepare kids for school.” Also on hand for the event were Rienzi Mayor Walter Williams, Rienzi Elementary Principal Stan Platt and Alcorn County Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith. “We are so excited about all this,” said Smith.

“Mrs. Mitzi Potts’ program has been excellent for a long time, and we’re excited to have her as part of the Excel by 5 community to improve education for our children.” Excel by 5 establishes a variety of standards for parent training, community participation, child care and health to help communities focus on supporting young children and their families. The certification process helps identify available resources and existing best practices to help Excel by 5 communities reach their goal — having all children ready to learn when they start school by age 5.

BMC president speaks of college’s changes Associated Press

TUPELO — The president of Blue Mountain College says the school will roll out its first fully online degree program in May. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Things to do Today Health care in Mississippi Aaron Sisk Sr., attorney for the Mississippi insurance department, will be the guest speaker tonight at 6 p.m. at the Corinth City Library for the Alcorn County Republican Party. Meet and greet begins at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited.

Guild exhibit

Jerry Long (far left), assistant to Northern Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert and District Engineer Bill Jamieson (far right) stand with MDOT District One employees from Alcorn County who received service awards — (L to R) Randy Dobbins, Carolyn McKinney and Larry Glidewell.

MDOT employees receive service awards Special to the Daily Corinthian

Recently the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) recognized employees in District One for their years of service. The MDOT Service Awards Program recognizes its employees for their length of service and dedication to the agency, according

to District Engineer Bill Jamieson. “Our employees are committed to serving the people of Mississippi,” said Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert. “The Service Awards Program gives us the opportunity to commend our employees for their profession-

alism and diligence they have demonstrated in providing quality transportation services.” The following received Service Awards in Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah and Tishomingo counties: ■ Alcorn County — Randy Dobbins, 25 years; Larry Glidewell , 25 years; and Carolyn McKinney,

25 years. ■ Prentiss County — Geary Caldwell, 25 years; Juan McGee, 25 years; and Jerry Williams, 25 years. ■ Tippah County — John Pannell, 5 years; Michael Bellew, 10 years; Jimmy Childs, 20 years. ■ Tishomingo County — Ray Epps, 35 years.

Jeremiah Briggs’ artistic works are the featured January exhibit at the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery. The gallery is also featuring a collection of Jesse Ables’ snow scenes during the month. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Viewings by appointment are also available. Contact the gallery, 507 Cruise St. in Corinth, at 662665-0520.

Corinth Library’s features Pre-school Story Hour is held each Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Corinth Library. Year-round art exhibits are also on display, and educational nonprofit groups meet in the auditorium

CONTINUED FROM 1

sold 22,690 boxes, including 202 through the Troop to Troop program, which sends cookies to soldiers. That was up from 13,482 boxes in 2011. Cookies are expected to arrive during the week of Feb. 18. Booth sales will be conducted at several local stores on weekends from Feb. 22 to March 17. In Alcorn County, 218 girls are participants in 19 Girl Scout troops. Ninety adults are involved in the program through leadership and support roles.

Staff photo by Jebb Johnston

Among the local Girl Scouts selling cookies are (from left) Marlee Seals, Catherine Grisham, Caroline Grisham, Shelby Hubbard, Katie Hubbard, Gracie Hubbard and T’Kyra Young. The Heart of the South Council includes 59 counties in Mississippi, Ten-

nessee and Arkansas. The original lineup of cookies sold from 1974 to

1976 included Van’chos, Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils and Do-Si-Dos.

monthly. The Corinth Friends of the Library hold their ongoing book sale inside the library. Hardback, paperback and audio books, and VHS and DVD donations to the library are always appreciated. For more information, call 287-2441.

Activity center The Bishop Activity Center is having the following activities the week of Jan. 7-11: Today - pet therapy with Corinth Animal Shelter, Bingo. Senior citizens, gate 60 and above, are welcome and encouraged to attend. Daily activities include crafts, jigsaw puzzles, quilting, table games (Dominoes & Rook), washer games and Rolo Golf.

Shiloh museum A museum dedicated to the Battle of Shiloh and area veterans is open next to Shiloh National Military Park. It is at the intersection of state Route 22 and Route 142 in Shiloh, across from Ed Shaw’s Restaurant. The Shiloh Battlefield & World War II Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call Larry DeBerry at 731-9260360.

LIQUOR CONTINUED FROM 1

reports that BMC leader Barbara McMillin told a civic club in Tupelo that the two-year program will allow students to graduate in business and could provide momentum for more online options in the future.

age retailer permit; 414 S. Cass St. ■ Twisted Spirits — package retailer permit; 1100-B Highway 72 West. ■ The Generals’ Quarters — on-premise retailer; 924 Fillmore St. Anyone who wishes to object to a location must contact the Department of Revenue in writing within 15 days of the notice’s first publication date in the legal section to request a hearing. Per ABC regulations, alcoholic beverages cannot be sold within 400 feet of a school, church, kindergarten, children’s

day care or funeral home, measured from the nearest points of each. However, in commercial and industrial zones, the minimum distance is 100 feet. Churches and funeral homes have the option to waive the distance requirements. Police Chief David Lancaster said Wednesday’s meeting included some discussion of the general regulations for liquor sales, including the stringent requirements for an establishment to be defined as a restaurant. He noted that convenience stores cannot sell liquor, and it is not permissible for package stores to sell both beer and liquor.

2 women indicted after murder-kidnapping Associated Press

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The widow and mother of a Mississippi man accused of a Tennessee murder-kidnapping have been indicted, a prosecu-

tor said Wednesday. District Attorney Mike Dunavant said that the Hardeman County grand jury met Monday in the case of Teresa Mayes and Mary Frances Mayes. Dunavant said details of the indictments, including the formal charges, will not be released until a Thursday arraignment in district court in Bolivar. Teresa Mayes is the widow and Mary Mayes is the mother of Adam Mayes, who authorities said killed Jo Ann Bain and her 14-year-old daughter before kidnapping Bain’s two other girls and taking them to Guntown, Miss. An intense search for Adam Mayes in the north Mississippi woods ended May 10 when he fatally shot himself. The girls, ages 12 and 8, were rescued. The Mayes women have been held without bond since their arrests in May. Teresa Mayes had been held on charges of

murder and especially aggravated kidnapping and Mary Mayes had been held on an especially aggravated kidnapping charge. They are expected to enter pleas in the case on Thursday. Authorities said Teresa Mayes was waiting in the car when her husband beat and strangled Jo Ann Bain and smothered Adrienne Bain at the Bain home in Whiteville, Tenn. on April 27. The couple then drove to Guntown with the bodies and the two surviving girls, 12-year-old Alexandria and 8-year-old Kyliyah. Adam Mayes, 35, buried the bodies in the backyard of the home he shared with his wife and mother before escaping into the woods with the two girls, authorities said. Mary Mayes is accused of knowing about the abductions and not telling authorities about it. A statement by Teresa Mayes was read in gen-

eral sessions court by a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation special agent in October. Teresa Mayes told investigators that her husband had been planning the kidnapping of the Bain girls for a year. She told investigators that her husband was infatuated with Alexandria and feared losing her because her family was planning a move to Arizona. Teresa Mayes said her husband drugged the girls’ father, Gary Bain, before the killings. Adam Mayes threatened to kill his wife if she didn’t help him, the statement said. Teresa Mayes lawyer, Shana Johnson, said she could not comment because she has not received a copy of the indictment. Mary Mayes lawyer, Terry Dycus, could not be reached for comment. Both women have undergone mental evaluations.

Local

3 • Daily Corinthian

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Private butterfly donation enhances MSU collection BY BONNIE COBLENTZ MSU Ag Communications

MISSISSIPPI STATE — A gift of butterflies has expanded the collection at the Mississippi Entomological Museum, the result of a life passionately dedicated to collecting the beautiful and fragile specimens. Ruth Williams of Hattiesburg, widow of James J. Williams, donated Jim’s collection of tropical South American butterflies to Mississippi State University in November. There are about 1,300 labeled and identified specimens displayed in 46 cases. JoVonn Hill, a research associate with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said the donation includes some high quality specimens, mostly from Ecuador and a few from Mexico. “Once they have been systematically organized into our collection, this donation will expand our collection by adding new species we did not previously have,” Hill said. “It is difficult to obtain permits to collect in South America anymore.” Ruth said she and her husband collected most of the butterflies on summer breaks from their jobs as teachers. Jim was a college and high school advanced-placement biology teacher in Chesterfield County, Va. Ruth taught both high school and college English. “We went to Ecuador every summer from 1994 to 2000,” Ruth said. “Jim

Photos by MSU Ag Communications/Kat Lawrence

Jim Williams, a teacher in Virginia, collected butterflies extensively in Ecuador for seven summers. He spent his free time during the school year labeling and pinning his specimens. was working with a professor at the Catholic University in Quito, Ecuador, who would sponsor him to work in the country. For seven summers, we went to different places. We only went to one place twice.” Many of these locations were remote and only accessible by perilous bus trips. One expedition required the Williamses to ride mules on a 61⁄2 hour trek. The couple stayed in Ecuador for two months at a time in the summers doing nothing but collecting. Living conditions were rustic, and Ruth would bring freeze-dried dinners and a portable cooktop for areas where other meals were not

readily available. “We didn’t think about teaching, didn’t think about the United States. We just thought about collecting. He collected and did the work of setting them himself and identifying them. I was his ‘my girl Friday.’ Occasionally I used his extra net, and I would play at collecting. I got a couple by mistake,” she joked. Ruth said her husband was fanatical about butterflies from childhood. In college, he collected on his own in the United States and in Mexico. Although Jim had the lifelong passion for butterflies, Ruth came to love them, too, and enjoyed the summers spent chasing butterflies.

“In college and high school, I hated biology. He opened up a whole new world to me, and I totally enjoyed it,” she said. Hill said Jim’s work was done with skill. “Lepidoptera, which are the moth and butterfly species, aren’t the easiest specimens to prepare,” Hill said. “It takes a lot of practice and is a very tedious thing to do. We have found Jim’s specimens to be well prepared and preserved.” Ruth is proud of her late husband’s collection. “When he was collecting the butterflies, he would carefully fold them and put them in a special envelope. Once we returned to the United States, he would spend all

BROWN

Photos by MSU Ag Communications/Kat Lawrence

This blue Morpho butterfly has a wingspan of about 4 inches and was one of about 1,300 butterfly specimens donated to Mississippi State University by Ruth Williams, widow of lifelong collector Jim Williams. his spare time during the school year labeling and pinning his specimens,” she said. “All his labels are hand-printed in tiny calligraphy, and he could set butterflies without touching a scale.” Ruth said she and her husband chose to donate the collection to MSU after they got a favorable impression of faculty in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology. “They were really interested in encouraging students,” she said. “He was impressed by their open and friendly attitude. They made him feel good about his science and his

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tery when it’s not pristine and well kept.” Brown, site supervisor since 2003, and his threeman crew of Phillip Burt, Britt Barnett and Angel Rodriguez take pride in caring for 7,800 graves and grounds of the cemetery. “This is the highest honor for me in a job,” said Brown. “I enjoy what I do and am humbled to be able to care for the graves of so many veterans.” “I am so proud of the honor Rickie and his crew received,” added the mayor. “They richly deserved it.” Worrell Contracting Company Inc. — headquartered in Goldsboro, N.C. — is owned and operated by Adrian Worrell. The company is a disabled veteran-owned service company, currently performing contracts administered by the National Cemetery Administration. It performs grounds maintenance contracts in Corinth, Memphis, Little Rock, Ark., Jacksonville, Fla., Mobile, Ala., and Staunton, Va. “The award represents the kind of job we are doing,” said the award winner. “We never stop going … there is always something to do at a place like this.”

keys of the ATM; and on every door anyone touches. The flu virus can survive two to eight hours on hard surfaces such as metal and plastic — touch it and you can spread it to your nose and mouth from your hand. The average person touches his or her face about 18 times an hour — giving the virus a path to the lungs. Symptoms of seasonal flu include fever, cough, and often, extreme fatigue. Sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and a runny or stuffy nose are also often present. The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends anyone age 6 months and older get vaccinated. Seasonal flu vaccinations are available at all county health departments. Vaccinations for adults are $25. Those 18 and under can receive seasonal flu vaccinations for $10 through the Vaccines for Children program. High-dosage vaccinations for those 65 and older are available for $50. The pneumonia vaccine is also available for

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin congratulates National Cemetery Site Supervisor Rickie Brown in being named the 2012 Worrell Contracting Company Inc. Employee of the Year. Also on hand for the event were Brown’s wife, Dee Dee, and Corinth Ward 4 Alderman J.C. Hill. Ward 4 Alderman J.C. Hill commended Brown for his work. “He sets the example for the way the area should be kept,” said Hill. “Rickie puts worth extraordinary effort and it shows … he is efficient and dedicated to what he does.” Hill also praised the supervisor for his effect on the area around the cemetery. “He is neighbor-friendly and is concerned about the entire community,” said the alderman. “He takes pride in his work and you can tell he loves his job.”

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

The National Cemetery staff was named the 2012 Crew of the Year by Worrell Contracting Company, Inc. Those in charge of caring for the cemetery include Phillip Burt, site supervisor Rickie Brown, Britt Barnett and Angel Rodriguez.

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work.” Hill said the collection will be an asset to the Mississippi Entomological Museum housed at MSU. “These tropical butterflies are all pinned, and the majority is displayed with the country of origin, province, dates, names and sometimes other information,” Hill said. “The value of this collection lies in the scientific information that comes with it, the value of the data. We can use this information to document many things about the species, such as its habitat, range and what time of year it is moving about.”

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$72. Medicare and Medicaid recipients are asked to bring their cards with them to the clinic. Here are some tips for avoiding, treating and dealing with the flu. ■ Sanitize your hands often with Purel or an alcohol-based product. Soap does not kill viruses. ■ Wipe down shared work or household objects such as telephones, keyboards, computer mice, and TV and stereo remote controls with Lysol. ■ Avoid people who are coughing. ■ Open the windows at home or in your workplace. The breeze can carry away the air droplets containing the virus. ■ If you are sick with the flu, stay home in bed, rest and avoid contact with others. Don’t be a martyr at work. You will just get other people infected and prolong your illness. ■ Get a flu shot. This year’s vaccine matches the virus going around and can help prevent you ever getting the flu, or if you do, it can lessen the severity of your illness. ■ Call your doctor if you have had a flu shot, but get sick anyway. Additional medications will make the illness easier and milder.

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Miss your paper? To report a problem or delivery change call the circulation department at 287-6111. Late, wet or missing newspaper complaints should be made before 10 a.m. to ensure redelivery to immediate Corinth area. All other areas will be delivered the next day.

USPS 142-560 The Daily Corinthian is published daily Tuesday through Sunday by PMG, LLC. at 1607 South Harper Road, Corinth, Miss. Periodicals postage paid at Corinth, MS 38834

Postmaster: Send address changes to: P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, MS 38835

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www.dailycorinthian.com

Opinion

Mark Boehler, editor

4 • Thursday, January 10, 2013

Corinth, Miss.

Local View Are citizens of Corinth watching and listening? BY TWILA BRIDGES Corinth, are you watching and listening? The Corinth Board of Alderman and the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors recently terminated the Corinth tourism directors and have appointed an entire new board. It is beyond obvious to me this small group has determined to do things the way they want and will remove anyone or anything standing in their path. The fact is, in the fall these men imposed on the tourism board the budget they would be required to use -- regardless of the contracts previously signed that would have to be fulfilled. Then in November and without explanation, they removed two of the board members who vocally disapproved of their actions. Now, they have just simply ousted the entire board. Why? So they can have more control over the way the tourism board votes? I suggest everyone who is concerned about the way these elected men are serving our city and county should attend all of the meetings and voice their opinions. Call them. Email them. Let your voice be heard. Of course, for a lot of us, it will be nearly impossible to attend the county supervisors’ meetings since they meet at 9 a.m. Corinth, I hope you are listening and will remember in a few short years who needs to be silenced in the public arena by not being elected again. I hope Alcorn County businesses that have been either on the receiving end of tourism money or those who collect these tax dollars will speak up and let their voices be heard. Pick up the phone or email them today, giving your thoughts on the mess they are creating. Does anyone remember Emy Wilkinson? She was a dynamo who came to Corinth from Vicksburg and spent her tenure doing a wonderful job of building Corinth’s name in the Mississippi tourism industry. Former tourism director Kristy White was at the museum then, working hand-in-hand with Margaret Rogers and learning all about our history and the things Corinth has to offer. She very ably took over the reins at the tourism office and Corinth and Alcorn County have been better because of it. Mayor Irwin and the Board of Aldermen and Board of Supervisors seem determined to put Corinth out of the tourism business. Maybe they should all get out from behind their desks and go find some other industry and jobs for Corinth and Alcorn County, then. Didn’t they all campaign on that premise? What a novel idea! When all of tourism’s money is taken away, it will effectively ruin the tourism industry in Corinth. Without publicity, tourists will quit coming. Now that two experienced employees at the tourism office have decided to get out of the battle, who can pick up the pieces and get anything done on Corinth’s behalf now? How will we be able to pay the salary of the new arena director — wasn’t it $90,000? — when the money from that tax cannot go for salaries and can only be used for promotion and marketing? And, how was it decided to cut Kristy’s salary 25 percent, dropping her to less than $40,000, and yet try to give a new general manager of the arena $90,000 to start out with? We cannot continue to bury our heads and allow these elected men to run our city for their benefit only. Most of all, don’t forget what they are doing behind closed doors. Corinth, are you watching and listening? (Twila Bridges is a resident of Corinth.)

Prayer for today Lord-Jesus Christ, as we go about our day, we pray that you would recognize not only your word on our lips but also your actions in our deeds. Amen.

A verse to share Jesus said, “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin . . . If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, . . . how much more will he clothe you?” — Luke 12:27-28 (NIV)

Worth quoting Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Cochran’s impact on new farm bill vital to state STARKVILLE — Fresh from winning selection as the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee for the 113th Congress, Mississippi U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s decision about whether or not he’ll seek re-election in 2014 becomes even more meaningful to Mississippians. Agriculture is a $7.5 billion business in Mississippi. There are some 30 million acres of the state’s land mass dedicated to farming or forestry. Agribusiness provides some 40,000 direct or indirect jobs and that’s just those involved in farming or related jobs as a primary occupation. But that’s only part of the story. As a senator from the poorest state in the union, the Senate Agriculture Committee also holds sway over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -- the federal program that my generation knew as “food stamps” -- a program that fed some 650,744 people in our state in 2012. Mississippi’s unfortu-

nate impoverishment makes this state ground zero for the SNAP program. A Sid Salter s t a g g e r i n g 21 percent Columnist of Mississippi’s population participates in the program. Between the business side of agriculture and the humanitarian need to fight what Americans once called the “war on poverty, perhaps no member of Congress has had more experience in seeking to formulate national agricultural and nutrition policies that worked both sides of that winding policy street than has Cochran. Cochran has served on the Senate Agriculture committee since 1978. He chaired the committee from 2003 to 2005. During that time, Cochran has fought at least three farm bill battles that sought to walk the tight rope between fiscal responsibility on federal nutrition policy and practical poli-

cies that gave the nation’s farmers a fighting chance to make a profit. From his new vantage point as the ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Cochran will once again renew that fight to determine whether U.S. farm policy shifts finally away from direct cash payments of commodity crop subsidies and price supports to new forms of subsidized crop insurance. The move on Capitol Hill away from crop subsidies and direct payments has been slow and inexorable, but visible all the same. Specifically, Cochran is now in a position to help determine the outcome of a farm bill fight that has degenerated into a sectional fight among farmers. Members of Congress from the Midwest and members from the South have spent the last year fighting over whether this nation’s farm policy will favor crops grown primarily in the South over crops that are more prevalent in the Midwest. At stake are Republican

efforts to save $23 billion in agriculture spending vs. what many Southern farmers see as an effort to nail down profitability for some Midwest farmers by taking it out of the financial hides of Southern farmers growing different crops. Or to put in more directly, Southern farmers who raise rice and peanuts are poised to see if the federal government gives them a smaller, less substantive farm safety net than that being afforded to farmers in the Midwest producing corn and soybeans. That’s the business side of the fight. On the humanitarian side of the farm bill fight is what happens to the SNAP program and how that impacts states with large poor populations -state’s like Cochran’s home state. Historically, Cochran has risen to that fight and been a voice of both fiscal reason and human compassion. (Daily Corinthian and syndicated columnist Sid Salter can be contacted at 601-507-8004 or sidsalter@sidsalter.com.)

Dodd-Frank’s problems — and potential solutions BY MICHAEL BARONE Over the next year, we will probably see much controversy over the implementation of Obamacare. Health insurance is something that almost every adult has some acquaintance with, and there seem to be glitches aplenty in the legislation, much delay in issuing regulations and some possible changes resulting from litigation. We’re likely to see or hear less about the operations of the Dodd-Frank financial regulation legislation, passed four months after Obamacare. Most of us don’t work at banks or financial institutions, which will have to grapple with its myriad provisions and the regulations to be issued thereunder, and we tend to toss out those disclosure forms our bank sends out. But Dodd-Frank may produce more problems than it solves. That is the thesis of David Skeel, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, in his new book, “The New Financial Deal: Understanding the DoddFrank Act and Its (Unintended) Consequences.” Skeel does not find fault in Dodd-Frank’s effort to regulate derivatives -- contracts in which one party agrees to pay another in case of changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, oil prices or just about anything else -- with provisions encouraging them to

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be conducted through clearinghouses. Derivatives were an obvious target for regulation, since it was derivatives based on the value of mortgage-backed securities that did much to trigger the collapse of Lehman Brothers and AIG in 2008. Skeel calls these Dodd-Frank derivative provisions “an unequivocal advance.” But he sees serious problems in what he describes as the two themes that emerge: “(1) government partnership with the largest financial institutions and (2) ad hoc interventions by regulators rather than a more predictable, rulebased response to crises.” The prime mover behind these policies, he argues, was Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who as a junior Treasury official played a role in the bailout packages for the Mexican peso in 1994-95 and the hedge fund Long Term Capital Management in 1998. They’re his models for future regulation. As president of the New York Federal Reserve, he played a key role in fashioning responses to the financial crises of 2008. DoddFrank, Skeel argues, was written to give regulators powers they felt they lacked when they allowed Lehman Brothers to go into bankruptcy in September 2008. Lehman’s collapse, followed by the Bush admin-

istration’s demand for the $700 billion TARP legislation and especially its initial rejection (reversed four days later) in the House, led to staggering losses first in the stock market and then in the economy at large. Skeel is one of many who argue, persuasively in my view, that the real mistake here was not the failure to bail out Lehman but the apparently successful bailout of a smaller investment bank, Bear Stearns, in March 2008. The Bear bailout created expectations that the Federal Reserve and the Treasury would bail out every big financial institution -expectations strengthened when the government took over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in August 2008 and AIG in early September. Lehman could and almost certainly would have sold itself out of trouble, Skeel argues, if its executives had not had such expectations. Dodd-Frank’s provisions requiring special treatment of the very largest financial institutions create similar expectations, Skeel says. And it enables those “too big to fail” institutions to borrow money at lower rates than smaller banks. Similarly, Fannie and Freddie -- with their implicit government guarantee -were able to borrow cheaply and engage in the practices that brought them down, which has cost taxpayers

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$140 billion. Skeel is a specialist in bankruptcy law, and he argues that the relatively fixed rules of bankruptcy could better handle the breakdown of big financial institutions than the discretion Dodd-Frank gives to regulators. One reason Dodd-Frank is tilted against bankruptcy, he says, is congressional committee jurisdiction lines: Dodd-Frank was the product of banking committees, and bankruptcy is handled by the judiciary committees. Solutions? Skeel argues that small amendments could improve the law. Remove special treatment for derivatives in bankruptcy. Allow investment banks to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy without liquidation. A special panel could be set up to handle financial firm bankruptcies. And, he argues that bankrupt firms should not be able to sell assets without an auction allowing outsiders to bid. Not everyone will agree with Skeel’s analysis and recommendations. But they’re worth looking at. (Daily Corinthian columnist Michael Barone, senior political analyst for The Washington Examiner, is a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a Fox News Channel contributor and a coauthor of The Almanac of American Politics.)

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Local Concealed weapons applications up in state Associated Press

JACKSON — The number of people applying in Mississippi for a concealed weapon permit more than doubled from 2008 to 2012, according to figures released by the Department of Public Safety. Department spokesman Warren Strain said Tuesday that December of 2012 saw the largest spike in the last five years, with 1,747 applications. Strain said total applications in 2012 were 12, 306. Between 2008 and 2012, permit applications have steadily increased — 2011 (7,358); 2010 (6,263); 2009 (6,859); and 2008 (5,593). “There has been an increase every month, all 12 months of 2012 compared to every month in 2011,” Strain said. In the last five years more than 38,000 people have

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“Anyone who applies for and receives a permit has gone through an extensive background check. You have to have your fingerprints rolled and submitted to national data bases.” Warren Strain Department of Public Safety spokesman applied for a concealed weapon permit Strain said MDPS screens all applications includes checks for felony convictions. “Anyone who applies for and receives a permit has gone through an extensive background check. You have to have your fingerprints rolled and submitted to national data bases,” Strain said. Strain said permit holders must reapply every five years. Security guards must

apply every four years. There is also an endorsement certification that requires an eight-hour gun safety course, allowing handgun owners to carry a weapon into public buildings, churches and malls. “It means that you have a certain level of training, a certain standard that you have met in order to carry that firearm. So, you will be allowed to carry it some places where you would not be able to otherwise,” Strain said.

More expansion at Presley birthplace Associated Press

TUPELO — Two new statutes of Elvis Presley will be placed at his birthplace in Tupelo. “We’re putting an emphasis on Elvis the boy instead of Elvis the entertainer,” said birthplace chairman Henry Dodge. “Elvis the boy is our story.” Dodge said the statues and a nine-table picnic area that can seat more than 50 people and will include a fireplace and more parking are in phase two of the expan-

sion. The second phase is expected to cost from $750,000 to $1 million. Dodge said fundraising will begin soon. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that the plans were unveiled Tuesday during the local celebration for the late rock ’n’ roll icon on the day he would have turned 78. Presley was born in Tupelo on Jan. 8, 1935, and moved to Memphis with his parents at age 13. He was 42 when he died Aug. 16, 1977.

Presley recorded his first song “That’s All Right” at Sun Studio in Memphis in 1954 and made the West Tennessee city his primary home until his death. A bronze statue of 11-year-old Elvis sitting on a milk crate will be placed at the overlook behind the birthplace. Behind him will be a bronze statue of Elvis the entertainer in full regalia, including a cape, with his arms outstretched and head tilted toward the sky. That’s the pose Elvis took when he closed his concerts.

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