Thursday March 7,
2013
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 57
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Lions ready to compete for state title Team finds success in family ties BY DONICA PHIFER dphifer@dailycorinthian.com
BIGGERSVILLE — It's about chemistry and leadership. Both are attributes that the Biggersville Lions use to describe a 27-8 season and a second consecutive trip to the “Big House” — the Mississippi Coliseum — and the Class 1A State Basketball Finals.
“We've been together since we were young, since sixth or seventh grade,” junior starter Daniel Simmons said, “so we've had chemistry, and thats how we can play with each other we are used to each other.” The Lions claim seven junior members, one senior in Blake Stacy, and three sophomores on the 10-man roster. The 2012 team all took part in the 1A runner-up team, providing experience in playing in the biggest game of the season. As with the 2011 basketball team, one which graduated six seniors, expectations are riding high.
“The expectation is to win the gold ball, we came in second last year and now we want to go back and win - no doubt about it,” Head Coach Cliff Little said of the team. For the second year, the Lions have claimed undefeated records in Division 1-1A play. Little also lead his team to a Class 1A North Half Tournament title in 2011, defeating a familiar opponent in Coldwater High School. The Cougars went on to claim the gold ball and the title in a 68-55 defeat, and handed a loss to Biggersville during this years North Half Tournament -
the 76-55 final proved to be the highest margin in a loss for the season, and one of three double digit differences. “We've just kept bouncing back all season,” Blake Stacy said, “....the last one got away from us a bit, but we know what we can fix. “ Stacy and his teammates point to specific games in the season which taught them lessons, ultimately bringing the team closer together - like a large, boisterous family. “It is a family team, a lot of them are related, and the fact that they've grown up together really makes the team special.
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
In order to house inmates for the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the local facility has to fall under the ACA guidelines, according to the warden. Auditors inspected the facility on such standards as address services, programs and operations essential to good correctional management, including administrative and fiscal controls, staff training and development, physical plant, safety and emergency procedures, sanitation, food service, and rules and discipline. Standards reflect practical, up-to-date policies and procedures that safeguard the life, health and safety of staff and offenders. “This just didn’t happen overnight,” said Department of Cor-
Dan Burcham is still the Alcorn Central Middle School principal. Burcham will get the chance to prove he has done nothing to warrant his dismissal by Alcorn School District Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith in an executive session hearing. A date will be set once it is agreed upon by board attorney James Price and Burcham’s legal representative Thomas O. Cooley of Langston & Lott, P.A. The school board rejected the resignation request of the principal during a special called meeting Tuesday night. He will now have his case heard before hearing officer John C. Ross. “He is still considered the principal until the date of the hearing,” said Price. “It will be a full-scale hearing before a hearing officer and conducted in executive session unless he chooses to have it heard publicly.” Price said a written report by the officer will be sent to the board at the conclusion of the hearing. “The report will determine whether the termination was proper or improper,” added Price. Cooley believes his client has done nothing wrong to warrant termination. “We will vehemently fight the board over this issue,” said Cooley. “He was wrongly terminated and terminated before he had an execu-
Please see JAIL | 2
Please see BURCHAM | 2
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Please see MEETING | 2
Please see LIONS | 2
Burcham seeks full hearing on dismissal
Meeting to focus on gun control Want to know more about what’s going on with gun control? The Alcorn County Republicans are holding a “Meeting on Gun Control and Second Amendment” tonight at the Corinth Library. With the current high level of concern among gun enthusiasts and Second Amendment proponents lately, event organizers are expecting a big turnout. “I think it’s going to be a blowout,” said Mike Stewart, chairman of the Alcorn County Republicans. “This will probably be the biggest meeting we’ve ever had.” The event will begin with a meet-and-greet at 5:30 p.m. followed by a panel of speakers shortly before 6 p.m. Speakers will include: Sheriff Charles Rinehart, Detective Ralph Dance, American History teacher and Second Amendment authority Becky Whittemore, current affairs speaker Bo Perry, NRA Certified Instructor Heidi Hendrix and more. The event will also include a call to join the National Rifle Association. “We’re going to ask everybody to join the NRA. My check is going to be in there too,” said Stewart. The meeting will conclude around 7:30 p.m. with a question-and-answer session
The best teams are usually like that. You can't always get that if you just put a bunch of guys together,” Little said. Inside the family unit resides Little's wife Jana and his daughter Lainey who fill the roles of Team Mom and Little Sister. “A lot of our success comes from what my wife does to help us - things like washing uniforms, keeping the books - all of that adds up and really helps me and the team to focus on playing our best basketball,” Little said.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility Warden Doug Mullins (left) and Sheriff Charles Rinehart glance over the accreditation scores.
Alcorn County regional jail receives top marks in accreditation study BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn County Regional Correctional Facility was near perfect. The facility received a score of 99.7 in its initial attempt at accreditation by the American Correctional Association. “We were hoping for a good score, but we didn’t anticipate having the highest score in the state,” said warden Doug Mullins. “The ACA guidelines are pretty strenuous and we couldn’t have done this without the help of a lot of people.” A trio of ACA auditors released the scores Wednesday in the courtroom of the Alcorn County Justice Center. “I don’t know how 44 people get done as much as they get done,” said audit chairper-
son Robert Conley to the large group of people. “You should be very proud of this facility.” Conley continued his high praise of everyone involved. “This is a great day because less than a third of correctional facilities are accredited,” he said. “I am jealous of the complex you have built.” The correctional facility was a perfect 55-for-55 on the mandatory items inspected. It totaled only one non-compliance in the 414 non-mandatory things audited. “I can’t remember the last time I had a facility with only one miss,” added Conley. “When the auditors went through the mandatory files the first day and said everything looked good, I was fine,” added Mullins with a smile.
CT-A Cabaret will celebrate black history BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The second installment of Corinth Theatre-Arts’ new monthly event is coming Friday night to the Crossroads Playhouse. The Black History Month Cabaret begins at 7 p.m. Performances will include selections from the play “Gee’s Bend” by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder. “Gee’s Bend” is a story of some of Civil Rights told through the viewpoints of two sisters living in tiny Gee’s Bend, Ala., an isolated all-black community hemmed in on three sides by the Alabama River. The ladies of Gee’s Bend
eventually found fame and a better life because of their bold and distinctive quilt styles that blended traditional American and African American styles. “They quilted to keep themselves warm — but wound up with art,” said Director Mary Dilworth. Beginning in the late 1930s during the Depression, the story skips forward to the period when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought for civil rights in neighboring Selma, Ala., and focuses on the families and their involvement in marches for freedom. The director says working on the play has been an educational and unforgettable expe-
rience. “It’s been a wonderful learning experience,” Dilworth said. “It’s been really exciting, and I’ve learned so much working on it. Cast members include: Tiffany Agnew, Vincent Ross, Josephine Ross, Pam P.G. Taylor, Turkesha White, William Dilworth Jr., Albertine “Peaches” Warren, Andrette Morrison Dilworth and Donna Luster. Between scenes the show will feature poetry, dance and songs by Mary Dilworth, Tiffany Agnew, Katera Bridges, Alyssa Adams and Volante’ Jones.
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 9 State........ 5
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Please see CABARET | 2
Submitted photo
Josephine Ross (Sadie) and Vincent Ross (Macon) tell the story of “Gee’s Bend.”
On this day in history 150 years ago Federal forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks march north from New Orleans to capture the Confederate bastion of Port Hudson, La., on the Mississippi River. The movement is to be in conjunction with Grant’s forces working to take Vicksburg.