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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 212
• Corinth, Mississippi •
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22 pages • Two sections
Corinth man sentenced in DUI death case BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth man pleaded guilty to a charge of DUI death stemming from a 2009 crash in the August term of Alcorn County Circuit Court. William M. Lipe Jr., 36, was sentenced to 20 years in custody of the Mississippi Depart-
ment of Corrections with 14 years suspended, leaving six to serve, followed by five years of post-release supervision, according to court records. He was ordered to pay $5,866 to the Mississippi Crime Victims Compensation Fund plus court costs and $500 to the district attorney’s office.
The crash on Sept. 24, 2009, resulted in the death of Misty Joy Barnett Lipe, 31, a passenger in the vehicle driven by William Lipe Jr. The vehicle collided with the back of a stationary City of Corinth brush truck on Proper Street near Pinecrest. According to the Corinth
Police Department accident report, two street department workers were loading brush into the truck on the side of the road when it was struck in the rear by a westbound Kia driven by William Lipe Jr. One of the street department workers was standing in the back of the truck while the oth-
er was handing brush to him. The two suffered minor bruises and scratches. Following the crash, William Lipe Jr. was airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo and released the following day. The deceased was interred in Tate County.
Math scores rise in Alcorn schools BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Iuka Heritage Festival
Jasmine Byrd of Houlka strums a dulcimer on the grounds of the old Tishomingo County Courthouse Saturday morning during Iuka’s Heritage Festival, which drew big crowds to the city. Activities continue today with a battle reenactment at 2 p.m. at a site on Chicken Run Road.
The Alcorn School District found some bright spots and some areas to work on in test data released last week. In the Subject Area Testing Program, which requires students to pass end-of-course exams in order to graduate, the district exceeded the state averages with 87 percent passing Biology, compared to 75 percent for the state; 93 percent passing Algebra, compared to 82 percent for the state; and 77 percent passing the English exam, compared to 73 percent for the state. “Our administration and staff members have already begun to work with the students who will retest in the fall, providing tutorial sessions and additional programs geared toward their individual growth and achievement,” said Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith. On the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2, she believes the new Math in Focus program helped the district see gains. The program aims to boost achievement while engaging students in real-world scenarios to utilize the skills. “As a result of this, our students’ math scores improved across the district,” said Smith. “It will take this type of com-
mitment in all areas of education to help our students meet the diverse and changing needs of our society.” Math scores generally improved across the state. In 2011, fourth-, fifth- and sixthgrade math scores all declined from the previous year. However, the 2012 MCT2 assessments show not only increases in those grades but also scores topping the mark set two years ago, the Department of Education reported. Language Arts scores also increased across each grade with the seventhgrade scores showing the largest increase at six points over the 2011 score. The tests have gotten tougher, and the Alcorn superintendent believes students are responding. With common core standards and a new assessment on the horizon, the district is continuing professional development efforts focusing on best educational practices. “The district has also purchased new textbooks that meet the changing and demanding standards along with programs such as ELS and MAP that will allow us to benchmark assess at certain points throughout the year to ensure our students are meetPlease see SCORES | 3A
Regional unemployment rates top 10 percent in July BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Area unemployment rates topped 10 percent again in July as a seasonal increase in jobseekers continued. Alcorn County’s rate rose from 9.4 percent to 10 percent, ending a brief run below the 10 percent mark. The rate was lower than the year-ago level of 12.9 percent. Prentiss was at 10.3 percent; Tippah, 11.2 percent; and Tishomingo, 11.5 percent, all slight to modest increases according to the latest report
from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The unadjusted rates reflect the seasonal summertime influx of students into the labor force. The unadjusted state rate rose from 9.8 percent to 10.1 percent. Alcorn County had 115 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the month and 971 continued claims, down from 145 initial and 1,501 continued a year earlier. Regular benefits paid in the county totaled $132,824, down from $208,112 a year earlier, while
benefits paid in all programs totaled $374,469, down from $474,398 a year earlier. The county had 1,540 unemployed, down from 2,030 in July 2011, and 13,790 employed, up slightly from 13,700 a year earlier. The civilian labor force, which includes those employed or actively seeking employment, totaled 15,330, down from 15,730 a year earlier. Results from Mississippi’s non-farm employment survey, which is counted by the location of establishments, reported a not seasonally ad-
justed employment decrease of 12,500 over the month and 4,600 from one year ago. Industries registering the largest monthly employment losses were the government sector and the leisure & hospitality sector. Rates across the state ranged from 6.1 percent in Rankin County to 18.9 percent in Clay County. Across the country, regional and state unemployment rates were generally little changed or slightly higher in July. Forty-four states recorded unem-
ployment rate increases, two states and the District of Columbia posted rate decreases, and four states had no change, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, four states experienced increases, and two had no change. The national jobless rate, at 8.3 percent, was essentially unchanged from June but 0.8 percentage point lower than in July 2011.
Eagles’ songs will close out county fair City tax hearing set for Tuesday BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Floyd Austin knows the Eagles when he hears them. Or so he thought. The owner of Big A Auto Sales is sponsoring the “Take it to the Limit” -- an Eagles Tribute Band -- concert at the Crossroads Arena on September 15 at 8 p.m. The concert is the finale for the Alcorn County Fair. “Those guys are just out-
standing,” said Austin. “If you close your eyes, you can’t tell the difference between them and the actual Eagles.” The business owner should know. He has been to a couple of Eagles concert and is a big fan. “I saw them when I was 15 at the Ellis Auditorium in Memphis,” he said. “When I heard them I knew those guys were going to be great.”
“Take it to the Limit” performs four nights a week in Branson, Missouri. Voted Branson’s Group of the Year last season, the band is one of the most popular in the vacation town. “It’s a Branson show so you know it’s going to be good,” said fair committee chairman Chris Porterfield. Those who purchase concert
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......7B Comics Inside Wisdom......3B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
Please see FAIR | 3A
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Several public hearings are on Tuesday’s agenda for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The board will hold a regular meeting at 5 p.m. First on the agenda is the public hearing for the fiscal 2013 budget and tax levy. The city proposes no change to the millage rate for the new fiscal
year beginning Oct. 1. The board will also have a continued public hearing for the rezoning of Droke Road property between Clark Street and South Parkway. The city has already held a public hearing on the proposal but did not take action. The property near Corinth Elementary School would change to a more rePlease see AGENDA | 3A
On this day in history 150 years ago From his headquarters in Tupelo, Gen. Sterling Price urges Gen. Van Dorn to join him in active operations against Union Gen. Rosecrans. The Confederates believe Rosecrans will leave the Corinth area to reinforce a Federal army near Nashville.
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