Friday March 15, 2013 50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 64
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections
Homestead filing deadline is April 1 BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
It’s time for new homeowners to think about filing for homestead exemption. The deadline is the close of business at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 1, at the Alcorn County
Tax Assessor’s Office. The exemption is an ad valorem tax credit given for home ownership. People who should consider filing include those who built or purchased a new home during the past year and those who reached age 65 or be-
came 100 percent disabled during the last calendar year. Tax Assessor Kenneth Brawner said he doesn’t want to see anyone who is entitled to the credit to miss out on the property tax relief. “It saves you money on your
taxes, and sometimes folks miss it when they move in from another state, and especially a lot of the first-time homebuyers will miss it,” he said. It is not part of the closing process on a home purchase, and sometimes people just are
not aware of it, he said. The credit, based on assessed value, saves a taxpayer $300 on a $75,000 home. The credit is $210 on a $50,000 home. The office has seen 487 apPlease see FILING | 2A
‘Religious Freedom Act’ signed into law
Dozen vie for title of Phenomenal Woman
BY BOBBY J. SMITH
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BY STEVE BEAVERS
A pair of city government officials are drawing attention to the E.S. Bishop Center. Mayor Tommy Irwin and alderman J.C. Hill made a donation to erect a sign signifying the center in a better light. The 4x8 sign — made by Nickels Signs and Graphics — has Bishop’s photo along with the center’s name above the entrance to the building that houses the Alcorn County Human Resource Agency, Inc.
It all comes down to one. The Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi has an impressive pool to choose from in naming its 2013 Phenomenal Woman of the Year. “The award honors ordinary women who have accomplished extraordinary things,” said club unit director Christy Grice. “It highlights their achievement, success and triumph.” Twelve monthly win- Burkholder ners were selected throughout the year with one being named during the 2nd Annual Phenomenal Woman Awards Gala on May 4 at the Crossroads Arena. An overall honoree will be determined by the amount of money each raise for the Boys & Girls Club. “All of these woman have inspired, educated and empowered other females to go beyond mediocrity and create excellence in their lives,” said Grice, who started the award last year. Those in the running for the honor include Kathi Irwin, Shana Green, Yulanda Grayson, Cory Holmes, Kristy Knight, Dorothy Cummings, Erika
Please see SIGN | 3A
Please see WOMEN | 3A
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
District 1 Rep. Bubba Carpenter is working to support the rights of children to express their beliefs at school. A bill co-authored by Carpenter was signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday after after passing in the House and Senate. Senate Bill 2633 — “The Religious Freedom Act” — enCarpenter sures Mississippi schoolchildren the right to pray and discuss their spiritual beliefs without fear of retaliation or criticism in schools, Carpenter explained. “It’s a clarification of the language for what we already have. There’s a lot of misunderstanding on what children can and cannot do in school,” said Carpenter. According to Carpenter, the new law will encourage a more respectful atmosphere in schools in regard to students who want to base papers and projects on religious figures. “If my son wanted to do a report on the Ten Commandments or the 12 disciples, he can Please see LAW | 2A
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth Alderman J.C. Hill (from left), Alcorn County Human Resource Agency Annette Stringer and Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin stand outside the entrance of the E.S. Bishop Center. Hill and Irwin combined to get a new sign (below) to draw more attention to the center.
Sign brings light to Bishop Center BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Three artists on display through end of month BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A joint showing by three northeast Mississippi artists is featured at the art gallery for the remainder of March. “The Three Painters” exhibit includes works by former Northeast Community College art instructor Judy Tucci, Mooreville resident Rhonda Grammer and Tupelo resident Bruce Bigelow. The opening reception is Sunday from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery at 507 Cruise Street. The three often paint together and agreed to combine their work for the exhibit, which will be on display through March 30. Each of the three artists has an eye for northeast Mississippi landscapes, and that emerges as the most common theme in the
exhibit. Images such as a swath of the Natchez Trace awash in bright fall colors and a rural barn scene are typical of the subject matter. The exhibit also showcases three mediums — pastel, oil and watercolor. Grammer, who became interested in art as a young child, favors watercolor. “It is like stained glass with the white of the paper as the light,” she said. Grammer was inspired by the artistic talent of her mother and aunts, “which made me think that, with hard work, producing art was normal,” she said. Baldwyn resident Tucci was Northeast’s art instructor for 26 years. During her tenure, a workshop with New Orleans artist
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Please see EXHIBIT | 2A
Former Northeast Community College art instructor Judy Tucci’s chalk pastel “Epting Barn” is part of the new three-artist exhibition at the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery.
Index Stocks......8A Classified......4B Comics......9A State......5A
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather....10A Obituaries......6A Opinion......4A Sports....11A
An armed force of sailors from the USS Cyane captures the suspected Confederate blockade runner J. M. Chapman in San Francisco Bay. A search of her cargo reveals she is indeed carrying military equipment destined for the South.
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