Wednesday Oct. 3,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 238
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
79
54
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Murder trial opens in Prentiss County BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Testimony began Tuesday in the murder trial of an Alabama woman accused of killing her mother at her Prentiss County home in 2010, with prosecutors depicting the case as one of deliberate murder after years of conflict between the two while the defense argued the shooting was a tragic accident that occurred
in the heat of a struggle over a weapon. Rebecca Lynn “Becky” Jones is charged with the murder of her mother, Jane Jones. Jane Jones died of two gunshot wounds suffered at her home at 439 Highway 4 East, Booneville on May 11, 2010. Assistant District Attorney Kimmi Kitchens opened the trial by telling jurors she would show Rebecca Jones deliber-
ately shot her mother during an argument over her mother’s plans to sell land the daughter had previously transferred to her. “The defendant was the one who started the argument and pulled the gun out. She fled the scene while her mother lay dying on the floor,” said Kitchens. The prosecutor said Rebecca Jones had a long history of drug and alcohol abuse that
Organizers ‘Hog Wild’ over live music menu BY STEVE BEAVERS
BY JEBB JOHNSTON Hundreds of people have joined the ranks of registered voters in the last couple of months, and the deadline for the presidential election is this Saturday. The Alcorn County Circuit Clerk’s Office at the courthouse is staying open until 7 p.m. through this week to help people register, and the final opportunity to be-
BY STEVE BEAVERS An area doctor knows what this sick world needs. The good news of Jesus. Dr. Greg Mitchell, a Savannah, Tenn., family physician, is bringing the Newboys' “God's
Please see TRIAL | 2A
would offer for smoking. He showed a sample of the product made by Al-Fakher to the board. He said he would supply the hookahs, which he described as like a water pipe; people would not bring hookahs to the business. Examining the packaging, City Attorney Wendell Trapp said it does indicate non-tobacco and “it does say components of natural plants.” “The smoking ordinance, what Alex is talking about, here defines smoking as using tobacco basically in any form,” said Trapp. “I think his suggestion is this is not tobacco, therefore it is not a violation of the smoking ordinance.” He requested more information on the product in order to make a determination. AlQuawwas said it would be the only smoking product his business would offer. He said the “smoke” produced is steam, like that produced by an electronic cigarette. The board tabled the request for further study.
State legislators highlight tourism’s busy schedule BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Giles and his Tricky Two Band have been known to rock the house at the establishment on historic Lower Broadway.
Over the past several years, he has played with many noPlease see MUSIC | 2A
come eligible for the Nov. 6 election will be Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon. Deputy Clerk Crystal Starling estimated the last couple of months have brought 600 people into the office for new registrations or address changes. “This is the busiest we have ever been this early in an election,” she said. Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell and
the county election commissioners are expecting this election to draw the biggest turnout to date, with predictions for turnout reaching as high as 17,000. Presidential elections always draw the biggest turnout, and election officials say people seem to be particularly interested this year. Residents who will be 18 years Please see DEADLINE | 2A
Christian concert scheduled at Arena sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
BY JEBB JOHNSTON Is it legal to light up a hookah in a Corinth business? That question came before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday evening. A hookah is an instrument generally used for smoking flavored tobacco. It includes a water basin through which the smoke passes before inhalation. Alex Al-Quawwas, owner of JT’s Falafel and Kababs on Highway 72, told the board he is interested in expanding his business with a hookah lounge, in which people would be able to smoke a non-tobacco product using a hookah. The issue before the board is whether this type of activity is a violation of the city’s public smoking ban. “I want to do it right and do it legally,” said Al-Quawwas. He said hookah lounges are popular in some areas as they allow people to enjoy smoking after a meal. “Basically it’s honey with molasses,” he said, describing the non-tobacco product he
Deadline looms for voter registration jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
confront her about the land. Kitchens said the evidence will show Rebecca Jones’ daughter had called her prior to the altercation and told her that her mother planned to sell the land “She took the gun to the residence to confront her mother about selling the land,” said Kitchens.
City board considers hookah lounge request jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The days of pig are near. Three days of tasty barbecue, good fun and lively entertainment are on the menu for the 22nd Annual Hog Wild BBQ Festival in downtown Corinth. The wildness begins Thursday night with the Happee Days Carnival starting the festival at 6 p.m. The carnival will be stationed around court square with the rest of the festival to be held at the corner of Fillmore and Cruise Street. “We have a good mixture of music … something for everyone,” said Main Street Board Member Steve Knight. Brandon Giles and Almost Famous are slated to headline the downtown event on Friday night. “We feel our biggest night is Friday,” said Knight. “Instead of splitting the headline entertainment over two nights, we brought in two for Friday.” Ben Ricketts opens the entertainment on Friday at 6:30 p.m. Brandon Giles takes the stage at 7:45. “If people like the Jerry Lee Lewis style of music, they are going to love Brandon,” added Knight. “I am told that he just plays the fire out of a piano.” A self-taught pianist, Giles brings a mix of hard rocking, honky-tonk classics, electrifying blues and boogie-woogie standards during his live shows. Born on a farm in Magnolia, Arkansas, he moved to Nashville, Tenn. and landed a gig at Layla's Bluegrass Inn.
had created conflicts between her and her mother and ultimately led to problems in her life that made it necessary for her to give her mother custody of her daughter and to sign over the property to her mother because she couldn’t afford to pay the taxes. The conflicts had intensified over the years, said Kitchens, and on the day of the shooting the defendant had come to her mother’s house to
Not Dead” fall tour to the Crossroads Arena on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the general admission concert are $17 with the doors opening at 6. “I thought it would be something to bring this type of concert to a close area and give
people a chance to go that wouldn't normally go,” said Dr. Mitchell. “My goal is to expose them to the gospel in a way they wouldn't typically get to see.” Please see CONCERT | 3A
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
The Corinth Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is staying busy this week showing off all Corinth has to offer to visiting groups. During the first part of the week, the Tourism Office is conducting tours to a group comprised of welcome center employees from around the state and employees of the Mississippi Development Authority. Getting the welcome center employees familiar with Corinth’s sights and scenes will allow the welcome center workers to better share Corinth’s attractions with the millions of visitors who pass through the 13 state welcome centers every year, said Tourism Director Kristy White. “This gives travel counselors the opportunity to say, ‘We were up in Corinth, and this is what they have to offer’,” explained White. The welcome center tour has a “vast” itinerary, White said. Stops include Corinth TheatreArts, Jacinto Courthouse, Lake Hill Motors and the Generals’ Quarters Inn. Today they will tour local Civil War sites, and tomorrow the group will enjoy Hog Wild festivities.
“We want to give them a wide variety of experiences in Corinth and Alcorn County,” said White. A group of 15 state legislators and their staffs will also tour Corinth beginning today. The State Legislature Tourism Committee will visit sites in Corinth and Alcorn County through Friday. “They want to see what Corinth has to offer,” White said. “Some have been here, and some have not.” District 2 Rep. Nick Bain said he, District 2 Rep. Bubba Carpenter and Sen. Rita Parks wanted to bring the state tourism committee to Alcorn County to highlight the part of the state they call home. “We wanted the leaders of our state to realize and be aware of the attributes Corinth and Alcorn County add to Mississippi and we concluded that bringing them here was the best way to do that,” said Bain. “We are grateful that they are coming and look forward to showing them the best part of the state — Alcorn County.” White said the legislators will tour sites associated with organizations that have received assistance from the tourism comPlease see TOURISM | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago The Confederate army attacks the Union garrison at Corinth. Heavy fighting occurs at Oliver’s Hill, Battery F and the White House fields. Union reinforcements arrive in the afternoon and a strong position is taken within the inner line of defenses.
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