Tuesday August 14,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 195
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Tonight
86
63
Hunter discovers skeleton BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth police officers Robert Loyd (left) and Darrell Bullard show the new immobilization devices carried by city police. tion just by the presence of it.” The new ECDs hit the streets last week following training sessions.
With a range of more than 20 feet, the devices focus a red beam on the target. A small camera on the ECD records any
event in which it is aimed and fired to document the suspect’s Please see STUN | 2
Couple’s compassion runs bone deep BY MARLO KIRKPATRICK Mississippi College Beacon Magazine
(Editor’s note: This story is reprinted with permission from the Mississippi College Beacon Magazine. Carol Barnes is the daughter of Bobby and Betty Johnson of the Wheeler community. Carol also has twin sisters, Pam Stroupe of Booneville and Paula Hughes of Madison. Rusty Barnes is the son of Leon and Joyce Barnes of Corinth.) Carol and Rusty Barnes met when they both served as orientation counselors at Northeast Mississippi Community College, where Carol was a Tiger dancer and Rusty was a football player. Not long after they were introduced, Rusty presented Carol with a dime store ring and asked, “Will you marry me?” Before long, the pretend proposal became a real one. Following their graduation from the University of Mississippi, Carol and Rusty married, settling into a happy family life that soon included two beautiful daughters. Rusty became a major with the criminal unit of the Mississippi Highway Patrol while Carol, a Wheeler High School graduate, established a career as a professor in the kinesiology department at Mississippi College.
Today
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Police get 10 new stun guns Immobilization devices are back in the hands of Corinth police. Often referred to by the Taser brand name or “stun gun,” the 10 new electronic control devices (ECDs) are manufactured by Karbon Arms and give police an alternative to using deadly force in tense encounters with suspects. The police department had been without immobilization devices for about a year after those previously in use fell into disrepair and were shelved. “They allow officers to use strong but non-lethal force to subdue a suspect,” said Police Chief David Lancaster. “This is especially needed when we are dealing with violent or aggressive offenders. These devices give our officers a better alternative than physical combat or deadly force in many situations.” The department has found them to be an effective tool. “When we got Tasers the first time, we probably went close to a year before we had to discharge one,” said Capt. Chuck Hinds. “You achieve coopera-
Partly cloudy
Photo by Robby Followell
Rusty and Carol (Johnson) Barnes met at NEMCC in Booneville. Rusty grew up in Corinth, while Carol is a Wheeler native. They now reside in Brandon. Rusty recently underwent a bone marrow transplant from an anonymous donor. Because of what they’ve been through, it has given the couple a renewed appreciation for life and the power of prayer, and a heightened sense of compassion for others. Life for the college sweethearts seemed nothing short of idyllic. But in 2006, Rusty began com-
plaining of nausea and fatigue. A visit to the doctor brought a diagnosis of chronic myloid leukemia.
The 41-year-old and father had cancer. The Barneses were relieved to learn that chronic leukemia typically responded well to treatment. Rusty was given chemo through a simple pill, and within one month, the cancer was in remission. “He actually felt a little guilty because it seemed so easy,” Carol recalls. But during a routine follow-up visit in October of 2011, that relief changed to fear. The leukemia had evolved into acute myloid leukemia, a much more serious form of cancer. The couple broke the news to their children, Merrie Claire, then a freshman at the University of Mississippi, and Annelise, a student at Northwest Rankin High School. “Our older daughter is very sensitive and emotional,” Carol says. “When Rusty called her at college to tell her, she began to cry. The 13-year-old was very brave. She said, ‘OK, Daddy, we’re going to handle this.’” As recently as 10 years ago, a diagnosis of acute myloid leukemia would have been a death sentence. While there was hope for Rusty Barnes, fighting the cancer this time would take more than a simple pill. The treatment would
GUYS, Tenn. — A man hunting for arrowheads found something more gruesome over the weekend. The relic hunter came upon a dead body Saturday afternoon that could have gone undiscovered for over two months near Houston Cemetery and Dickey Road in Guys, Tenn. McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck was unable to release the name Monday until the autopsy report is returned, but noted DNA results have helped in the investigation for the man’s identity. “We have a presumptive idea of the man’s identity,” said Sheriff Buck. “There were only skeletal remains, but we know he was wearing bluejeans and boots.” The sheriff said Dr. Tim Linder, medical examiner, was called to the scene to begin identification process. The body was sent to Memphis for an autopsy. Please see BODY | 3
Boat theft suspect crashes BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A suspect in a Selmer boat theft faces felony charges after rolling his vehicle in Corinth early Monday morning. Kevin Lee Cox, 28, of Mitchell Drive, Selmer, Tenn., was arrested by Corinth police and charged with felony fleeing and possession of methamphetamine. McNairy County has placed a hold on the suspect for additional charges there. A female who was a passenger in the vehicle is not being charged by the Corinth Police Department. Corinth law enforcement received an alert from McNairy County that suspects in a boat theft were possibly
Please see MARROW | 2
Please see THEFT | 2
Former college coach talks character, traits for success BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Tommy Bowden doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. The former Clemson football coach knows a place that does hold the solutions to life’s decisions. “To be a Christian you need to understand this book,” said the former coach while holding up a Bible before a group of men. “It has all the answers … you will never understand the will of God until you understand His word.” Bowden spoke to close to 300 men at the Monster Garage Men’s Night at Holly Baptist Church on Saturday night. He also spoke at the church’s two services on Sunday morning. “Coaching matters to Coach Bowden,” said Holly pastor Bro. John Boler. “Character also matters to Coach Bowden … he is concerned with what is inside.”
The Monster Garage event all came about after men from Holly would get together for a time of Bible study. A desire to reach those unchurched rose within the group. “It is amazing to see this many men turn out to hear what God wants them to hear from something that all started in a twocar garage,” said Pat Barnes, who co-chaired the event with Scott Messer. Bowden, the son of legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden, was selected to lead the first men’s meeting. Since retiring from the college game, Bowden has been doing television work with Fox Sports and ACC Football. “A Christian life is not easy,” he said. “Life is a series of ups and downs. Men need something that is concrete … we need the solid foundation that God gives.” Please see COACH | 2
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Former college football coach Tommy Bowden signs copies of his book “Winning Character” after speaking at the Monster Garage Men’s Night. He is the son of legendary college football coach Bobby Bowden.
Index Stocks........7 Classified 14-16 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports.....8-9
On this day in history 150 years ago
Aug. 14 — The Union Army of the Potomac begins to board transports at Harrison’s Landing on the James River. The Peninsula Campaign to take Richmond has failed and the army is moved to Aquia Creek near Fredericksburg, Virginia, to protect Washington D.C.