Tuesday Feb. 5,
2013
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 31
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
60
37
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
School shooting threat BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Local law enforcement was working with federal authorities Monday to track down the source of an Internet rumor about a potential shooting at schools in Prentiss County that led to an increased security alert at those schools
Rumor leads to increased security alert and surrounding districts. Booneville Police Chief Michael Ramey said there was no actual threat made and they have no evidence of any credible threat to the schools. He
Supervisors concerned about jail finances
said it all began with a posting on the popular gossip website topix.com asking about a rumored threat of a shooting. “We have not seen an actual threat,” said Ramey.
He said they are working with the FBI to try to locate the source of the original rumor and learn more about what sparked the posting. Ramey said additional In-
ternet postings and posting on other social media sites fueled a variety of rumors that spread through the community causing concerns Monday. Booneville and Prentiss County school districts raised their alert levels and increased Please see THREAT | 2
Sisters Helping Sisters
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Jail finances continue to be a concern for Alcorn County. The Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed that another discussion with consultant Irb Benjamin is needed as the county looks at why the numbers for the new jail facility are not favorable. The discussion came about when the board was informed that the county has received reimbursement of $298,378 for June 2012 and a portion of July 2012. But the jail is in the red by about $1.4 million. It is supposed to be selfsustaining through reimbursements from the Mississippi Department of Corrections for the housing of state inmates. With the county housing close to 300 on a daily basis, it could even expect to turn a profit because the bond was based on payment for 240 prisoners monthly. “We’ve got to look at how to get this thing back in line,” said 5th District Supervisor Jimmy Tate Waldon. “I haven’t got a problem with it as long as we are getting there, but it doesn’t look like we’re getting there. It looks like we keep going up instead of going down.” Supervisors are concerned about taxpayer money having to be used to operate the jail. In his monthly report, Warden Doug Mullins said the county will bill the state $274,262.28 for inmates housed in the regional facility during January; $8,620 for state inmates housed on the county side; and $35,560 for those at the Community Work Center. The county will bill Corinth $31,000 and Farmington $675 for housing inmates. The regional jail population averaged 299 in January. Unexpected start-up exPlease see SUPERVISORS | 2
Submitted photo
Sisters Helping Sisters is a local program that pairs girls with positive role models who will have a healthy influence on their lives.
Agency provides opportunities for young women BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
In a small meeting room on the east side of Corinth, 16 sisters are helping each other develop better self-esteem. They’re not biological sisters, but Sisters Helping Sisters — a nonprofit agency founded by Corinth Middle School Guidance Counselor Shana Marie Green that provides guidance, mentorship and leadership opportunities to youth and young adult women age 10 and up. Green leads the discussion, but the girls are constantly encouraged to chime in and share their thoughts and examples
from life. For almost an hour Green talks about self-esteem, what it means for a person and how to develop it. “Self-esteem is an everyday problem — it’s a constant everyday thing,” Green said. Throughout the session she talks about why it’s so important to surround oneself with positive friends, the importance of providing a good example for others, the necessity of careful grooming, the value of keeping a list of one’s positive traits and other points related to self-esteem. What do the girls like best about the program? For
12-year-old Dejana Burns, it is getting together with the other participants. T’Keeyah Cummings, 14, says it’s all about inspiration and communication. “It’s really uplifting and helps you with expressing yourself,” said T’Keeyah. Fourteen-year-old Jalyn Owen said the program answers any questions that girls in middle school might have. The purpose of Sisters Helping Sisters is to pair youth in the community with positive role models who will have a healthy influence in their lives and to foster scholarship, community service and sisterhood.
“Through workshops, activities, volunteering and counseling, the young women learn to love and uplift their fellow sister, being of assistance whenever and however they can, becoming better people and productive members in society,” explained Green. The mission of Sisters Helping Sisters is to guide youth and young adults so that they may make smart choices when faced with the issues of bullying, violence, self-esteem, teen pregnancy and college/career choices. It focuses on trainPlease see SISTERS | 3
‘He’s like walking history’ Civil rights pioneer will be part of Tishomingo County High School event BY BOBBY SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A civil rights pioneer is coming to Tishomingo County High School. James Meredith, the first black Ole Miss student, will speak at Tish County’s “History and Unity Program” on Friday, Feb. 22, in the school gymnasium. In 1962 Meredith broke the color barrier by becoming the first African-American student to attend classes at all-white Ole Miss. Meredith’s admittance to the college sparked a campus
riot and made the 28-year-old air force veteran an icon of the civil rights movement. “Everybody is excited about him coming,” said TCHS career/technical counselor Diane Byars. “He’s like walking history. If you’re my age you remember him from hearing about what was going on at Ole Miss, and for the students, they all know about him from the history books.” Meredith will speak about his ideas for improving Mississippi’s education system. Last year, the civil rights icon
traveled extensively throughout the state on a “Walk for Education & Truth,” Meredith’s way of keeping his promise to God that he would spend the rest of his life helping black students get prepared for college. The “Walk for Education & Truth” isn’t the first time Meredith has used a trip across the state to raise awareness for a cause. In 1966, he began a one-man “March Against Fear” from Memphis all the way through Mississippi. Just south of Hernando on
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State/Nation ... 5
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Highway 51, Meredith was bushwhacked — blasted with three volleys of buckshot by unemployed Memphis resident Aubrey Norvell. After a brief period of recuperation, Meredith would continue his march and help hundreds of black Mississippians register to vote. While Meredith is a symbol of the civil rights movement, he has never allowed himself to be controlled by any organization. Years after he became the first black student in a Mississippi college, Meredith came out as
an opponent of ebonics, a word used to describe the language of African Americans. Along the way his seemingly contradictory actions have puzzled and enraged those who wish to use his energy and intelligence for their own ends. The “History and Unity Program” will also feature the music of Cassie Bonner, an Oxfordbased singer and songwriter who has worked with Beyonce and Alicia Keys. The program begins at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited and there is no charge.
On this day in history 150 years ago Queen Victoria gives an address to Parliament on why her government has refused to attempt in mediation between the United States and the Confederate States. Her reasons — there were few expectations of success.