Tuesday Feb. 19,
2013
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 43
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 14 pages • One section
Police search for shooting suspects BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Police Department is seeking two subjects involved in a Saturday shooting at a Norwood Drive residence. The victim was identified as Jesus Perez, 28, of Norwood Drive. Detective Capt. Ralph Dance said
Perez was shot once in the abdomen and is recovering from the injury. It happened about 11:15 a.m. at a residence where several individuals were gathered. The two suspects, who are brothers, apparently got into an argument with an individual and left the house.
“As they went into the front yard, one of them pulled out a handgun and shot back into the house twice,” said Dance. “Nobody was hit.” As they got into a vehicle to leave, the victim came out of the house and the suspect who fired into the house handed the gun
over to his brother in the passenger seat. Dance said the suspect fired twice at Perez, with one round striking him in the side of the abdomen. The suspects then fled the scene in a GMC Yukon. Both suspects are Hispanic males. The one who shot Perez was identified as Francisco Elizal-
de. If arrested, the suspects face charges of aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied dwelling. To report information about the case, phone the police department at 286-3377 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-tips.
D.A. says no charges filed on principal BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Crossroads Museum Director Brandy Steen gets ready to listen to local history — with a copy of Charley Kyles’ new album “The Mississippi Project.”
Kyles’ latest CD benefits museum BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A local singer and songwriter tells stories of Corinth in a new album of original songs. Walnut-based musician Charley Kyles’ album “The Mississippi Project” is available for
purchase at the Crossroads Museum. “The Crossroads Museum is excited to have this piece of entertaining musical history,” said museum Director Brandy Steen. “The Mississippi Project” features seven songs with Mis-
sissippi connections — and a pair of songs with an especially strong local flavor. “‘Roscoe Turner’ is a great song about the late local aviator,” said Steen. “And ‘Slug Please see KYLES | 2
No criminal charges have been filed in regard to the circumstances leading to the dismissal of Alcorn Central Middle School Principal Dan Burcham. On Monday, Northeast Mississippi District Attorney Trent Kelly said no criminal charges have been filed, but he is of the understanding the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Department is “looking into” the matter. Since the school board’s announcement that Burcham had been suspended with pay for the course of a school investigation last Monday, school officials have been reluctant to provide any details regarding their action. When contacted for information last Tuesday, Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith refused to comment and referred the Daily Corinthian to the board’s attorney. On Friday, school board attorney James Price confirmed Burcham’s termination — as of Wednesday — and said he couldn’t provide any more
information. Price refused to discuss the complaint’s origin or any other specifics. One teacher contacted by the newspaper said all employees had been told not to comment on Burcham’s suspension. The Alcorn School District’s silence on the matter has raised concerns throughout the community. Local attorney Joseph Wallace launched a website on Friday afternoon for parents of Alcorn Central Middle School students to submit claims regarding Burcham’s mysterious termination. The site will also help parents organize the effort to push for greater transparency in the district. According to Wallace, the site had more than 1,500 web views within the first 24 hours. The Alcorn School District dismissed classes at 2 p.m. Monday, calling for a ParentTeacher Conference at every school. The conference was not on the district's school calendar for the year.
Holiday shopping in December spikes sales, tourism taxes BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Holiday shopping may have helped add a little bonus to local tax collections. In the mid-February deposits, which reflect sales activity that occurred during the month of December, Corinth’s share of sales tax proceeds rose 4 percent in year-to-year comparisons, and the 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food
and lodging had a big month, setting a new high mark for funds received in February. A fifth consecutive month of growth for Corinth sales tax brings a deposit of $565,677.08, an increase of about $23,000. The year-to-date total of $2.33 million is up 2.5 percent from the same point in the prior fiscal year. Across the state, the trend was generally positive, with
diversions to cities rising 3.5 percent. Seven of 11 northeast Mississippi towns and cities posted gains. Municipalities receive 18.5 percent of sales tax collected within their boundaries. For the same period, the tourism tax saw a 16 percent spike, generating $92,751.67, about $13,000 more than a year earlier. It is the first time the tax has approached or topped
$90,000 for that month. The tourism tax year-to-date total is $434,127.01, up 3.6 percent from the prior year. The 2 percent tourism tax is collected in addition to sales tax at Corinth restaurants and hotels. Other sales tax results from the region: ■ Booneville — $183,104.15 (+12%) ■ Burnsville — $12,571.83
(no percentage change) ■ Farmington — $5,022.39 (+19%) ■ Glen — $1,667.79 (+1%) ■ Iuka — $66,451.32 (+2%) ■ Kossuth — $4,015.26 (-2%) ■ Rienzi — $2,826.12 (-2%) ■ Ripley — $113,020.47 (-2%) ■ Tupelo — $1.971 million (+4%) ■ Walnut — $16,854.28 (-4%).
Alabama dairy farmer will share story on the national stage For the Daily Corinthian
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has announced that Will Gilmer of Sulligent, Ala., has been selected as one of the winners of its Faces of Farming & Ranching program. This nationwide search was launched by USFRA in June 2012 as a way to identify farmers and ranchers who are proud of what they do and are eager to share their stories. Gilmer is the grandson of Ann Rhodes and the late Linton Rhodes of Biggersville. Gilmer and three other program winners were selected from a pool of more than 100 farmer and rancher applicants from across the country. As one of the Faces of Farming & Ranching, Gilmer will share his stories and experiences on a national stage to help answer consumers’ questions about how food is grown and raised to feed our nation. “By adapting advanced management practices we are able to raise healthy, comfortable cows that produce quality milk and dairy beef,” said Will Gilmer. “I want to help consumers see
“I want to help consumers see that farmers and ranchers have a genuine passion for what they do and take pride in the quality of the food they produce, hoping that it makes a positive contribution to society.” Will Gilmer Sulligent, Ala., dairy farmer that farmers and ranchers have a genuine passion for what they do and take pride in the quality of the food they produce, hoping that it makes a positive contribution to society.” Gilmer and his father own and operate a dairy farm, which has been in continuous operation since Will’s grandfather established it in the early 1950s. They currently milk 200 Holstein cows and raise their own replacement heifers, while managing 600 acres of land used for pasture and forage production. Those forages include hay, summer silage crops, and small grains/ryegrass for both silage and strip grazing. As a Faces of Farming & Ranching winner, Gilmer will receive a $10,000 stipend to
help offset the time he will spend away from the farm in the coming year serving as a USFRA spokesperson. He will also have the opportunity to direct a $5,000 donation to an agriculture-related charity. “So much of today’s conversation on food in media and popular culture is missing the perspective of the people who actually grow and raise our food,” said Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. “This lack of representation has led to a lot of misconceptions and questions about how food gets from the farm or ranch to our tables. Farmers like Will were named winners of this program because they are eager to share their stories
Index Kids........ 9 Classified...... 12 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........8 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 10
about the innovative ways they continue to improve food production each day. They have the first-hand experience to address complicated issues surrounding food production, by giving honest answers about what happens on today’s farms and ranches.” From Nov. 15 - Dec. 15, 2012, thousands visited www.fooddialogues.com to learn more about the candidates and to vote for whom they believed best represented American agriculture. In addition to the public vote, a panel of judges from throughout the food and agriculture community interviewed and evaluated the finalists to help determine the winners of Faces of Farming & Ranching. Winners were announced in January 22 during a live-
Will Gilmer, owner of Gilmer Dairy Farm, was selected via a nationwide search. Gilmer has ties to Alcorn County. streamed broadcast, followed by a media teleconference.
On this day in history 150 years ago Another test of the 1st Amendment occurs in Keokuk, Iowa. The local newspaper, The Constitution, has been writing anti-war editorials which anger wounded Union soldiers convalescing in a nearby hospital. Dozens of the soldiers, many on crutches, hobble over and ransack the newspaper offices.