Thursday Feb. 28,
2013
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 51
Mostly Cloudy Today
Tonight
45
32
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 Section
Crossroads area has snow in forecast BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A light snowfall accumulation could hit the Corinth area this weekend. A storm system that will usher in colder weather on Saturday and Sunday will also bring possible snowfall Friday night and
early Saturday. The National Weather Service Memphis Forecast Office said light snowfall is likely Friday night with accumulation of less than an inch possible. Accumulations could reach advisory levels but are expected to remain light. Snow will end before noon
Saturday with a chilly high temperature of about 37. An upper level trough of low pressure approaching the MidSouth from the plains will bring the chance of wintry weather. “Cold temperatures should be in place and support a light snow event over much of the region
beginning in earnest Friday afternoon and continuing through Saturday morning,” said NWS - Memphis. “The greatest potential for light snow accumulations and highest probability of precipitation should remain east of the Mississippi River through this time period.”
Mostly sunny skies will return by Sunday as a Canadian surface high pressure builds behind the departing storm. Temperatures will return to the 50s on Monday and Tuesday. The season has yet to deliver an accumulating snowfall in Corinth.
City court offering fine amnesty period in March BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth Municipal Court is offering a chance to get on the right side of the law during the month of March. The court is beginning an amnesty program on Friday and continuing through March 30 for people who want to clear up old fines and avoid a possible trip to jail for failure to pay. The offer of amnesty is for old fines only — those owed prior to March 1, 2012 — and requires the person owing the fine to voluntarily come to the municipal court office at the justice center on South Harper Road. Those who make a voluntary appearance during March to address delinquent fines and outstanding warrants will not be arrested, said Court Clerk Zane Elliott. After the amnesty period ends, the court intends to get tough with outstanding fines. “I would like to encourage anyone with outstanding old fines to take advantage of this program,” said Elliott. “We are going to work with you, but you have to come in and see us during the month of March, because after that, we will be com-
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Corinth Municipal Court is offering a month of amnesty on old fines to help people avoid arrest for failure to pay. ing after you with the full force of the law.” The program is intended to chip away at the backlog of old fines owed to the city and to
give relief to people who may be in violation of a court-ordered obligation because they simply couldn’t pay. Elliott said it will help the court clear out
delinquent cases and focus its resources on the collection of more recent cases. Those who owe money can resume their prior payment
plan or schedule a new one that fits their budget. Judge John Ross and the court administrators have seen people get buried by fines and have a difficult time catching up. “We find for some people their fines just keep adding on and on, and a person cannot pay a ticket even though they might have been able to otherwise,” said Elliott. “We are fairly certain that a great number of people are good, honest citizens who cannot get out from under this obligation. By offering this amnesty program, this will allow relief to those most affected.” He said some are reluctant to appear because they can’t afford to pay off the fines and court costs. The police department is also backing the program. “We are going to continue to actively serve warrants, and I encourage people to take advantage of this program,” said Police Chief David Lancaster. “Once they are arrested, it’s too late.” Elliott said he expects the Please see AMNESTY | 2
County Over 200 riders expected in Indoor Motocross offers photo contest as fundraiser BY BOBBY J. SMITH
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Tishomingo County Historical & Genealogical Society is looking for the best shots of Tishomingo County for the TCHGS Photo Contest fundraiser. All money made in the contest will go to the Old Courthouse Museum. “We just wanted to do something to get everybody involved and to raise funds for the museum as well,” explained event organizer Opal Lovelace. “We want to get people involved and out there taking pictures of all the beauty in the area. We’ve got a lot of beauty around here — we just have to get out and enjoy it.” Photos can be mailed or submitted at the Old Courthouse Museum on Quitman Street in Iuka between March 1 to April 30. There are 12 categories in all: people; animals (pets, wildlife, etc.); architecture (houses, sheds, barns, churches, etc.); Native American; Civil War; boating/fishing; nature/landscape; foliage/flowers; sunrise/ sunset; snow; historical landmarks; and cars, motorcycles, etc. “I can’t imagine people not finding at least one of the categories they’re interested in,” said Lovelace. The overall winner will rePlease see CONTEST | 2
A day of high-flying, dirtslinging Indoor Motocross is coming Saturday to Crossroads Arena. Sponsored by Lake Hill Motors, the event will feature hundreds of dirt bike riders of all ages and stunts by X-Games pro freestyle rider Cowboy Kenny Bartram. The Corinth event will be the last race of the series and is expected to be well-attended by riders as well as spectators, and possibly the biggest motocross event ever to be held in Corinth, said Crossroads Arena Manager Cindy Davis. “They’ve already had over 200 people enter the race and are letting people off the street enter, so it’s going to be big,” Davis said. Riders of all ages and experiences will compete in the races. “We’ll have about 35 different races,” said event organizer Scott Aaron. “We’ll have all ages, from four to 40, beginners to pros.” The races will also include ATVs in beginner and pro
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Arena Operations Manager Gregg Moss inspects the dirtwork as the arena prepares for Saturday’s motocross racing event. classes. “It’s so cute seeing the little ones,” said Davis. “It’s going to be a really good family event.”
Motocross riders have told Davis that they love the races at the Crossroads Arena because it is larger than the usual agri-
center venues — and the track can be constructed with more Please see ARENA | 2
Corinth High School Alumni seeking nominations BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth High School Alumni Association are now seeking nominations for two of its annual awards. “It’s time to nominate a former or current CHS faculty or staff member and deceased faculty or staff member for the 2013 Distinguished Fac-
ulty Staff of the Year,” said Callie Emmons, a 1983 CHS grad and founder of the Alumni Association. Each year the CHS Alumni Association selects one living (current or past) faculty member and one deceased faculty member to honor. The nomination process collects the nominees’ qualifica-
Index Stocks........9 Classified......14 Comics........ 8 State..... 2,6
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
tions, achievements and ability to make a difference in the lives of students. Providing scholarships is one of the main objectives of the group. This will be the sixth year the Alumni Association has given scholarships to graduating CHS seniors. Sixteen scholarships have been given out over the years for a total of $19,000.
The CHS Alumni Association is now in its fourth year as a 501(c)3 organization. Nomination forms must be in by March 31 by mail or email. The group has also launched a new website at corinthhighalumni.net. (For more information contact Emmons at 415-2206 or by email at calumni@yahoo.com.)
On this day in history 150 years ago The Union’s Yazoo River Expedition approaches the mouth of the Coldwater River. Several Federal gunboats and rams proceed ahead of transports filled with infantry and field artillery.