Wednesday Oct. 17,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 250
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
82
52
90% chance rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections
Community mourns loss of caring couple BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Family members of Harris and Wanda Strickland, the Glen couple killed in an Iuka automobile accident Saturday, are mourning the loss of a loving couple who always made time for family and friends. “They had very open hearts and an open home,” said Heather Arnold, who lived three houses down the street from the couple and called them her favorite aunt and uncle. “Everybody was welcome — friends, family and all people in the community.” Wanda’s sister-in-law, Dimple McEwen, said Wanda and
Harris were pillars of the community. “They were both doing something for somebody all the the time,” McEwen said. “Wanda baked homemade bread and they brought jam to everybody -- everywhere they went.” Harris, 67, and Wanda, 62, were killed when their 2000 Buick was struck by a pickup truck which ran a stop sign at the four-way intersection of Mississippi Highway 25 and Quitman Street. A passenger, the Stricklands’ 13-year-old grandson, was airlifted to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., to be treated for several broken bones. He
is expected to be released from the hospital within a couple of weeks. The driver of the truck, Edward Sprague, of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., was not injured in the accident. The Iuka Police Department refused to provide details of the accident, referring questions to the Tishomingo County coroner. Arnold said her aunt and uncle’s passion was tending to the details of an antique booth in Iuka and helping out with their grandchildren. “Their grandson came to their house every day after school,” Arnold said. “I’m a single mom, and they were good to my kids,
always more than willing to help.” Harris was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a longtime employee of Jerry Fowler's Transmissions. Wanda was a nurse until she had children and became a full-time homemaker. The Stricklands’ niece said it was a blessing, in a sense, that Harris and Wanda left the world together. “They’ve been together for years, and I think they would be glad to go together,” Arnold said. “And it doesn’t seem like they suffered.” Funeral services for the Stricklands are set for 11 a.m. Thursday at Magnolia Funeral
Harris and Wanda Strickland Home Chapel of Memories. Visitation is today from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Restaurant owner wanting to add hookah lounge BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photos by Bobby J. Smith
Gov. Phil Bryant discusses the the economic impact of Contract Fabricators in front of a large vessel made by the company.
Companies bring jobs to area BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Gov. Phil Bryant joined a spate of state and local elected officials to cut the ribbons for two new manufacturing facilities at Yellow Creek Port near Iuka. The openings of the new facilities for Dennen Steel and Contract Fabricators will create over 100 jobs during their first year at the port. “What a great day this is for Tishomingo County, and what a great day this is for Mississippi,” said the governor. Other officials present for the dual ribbon cutting included Rep. Bubba Carpenter, Sen. Rita Potts Parks and State Auditor Stacey Pickering. The 50,000 square-foot Den-
nen Steel Corp. manufacturing facility represents a $7.4 million investment for the company and is creating 50 jobs. Dennen Steel, a contract stamping manufacturer of steel products, will purchase large master coils from steel mill producers and process steel slit coil into precision stampings, fabricated metal parts and assemblies at the new Tishomingo County location. Byrant welcomed Dennen Steel as the newest member of Mississippi’s business community. “The investment and jobs being created by Dennen Steel are further proof that ‘Mississippi Works,’ and the company’s decision to locate here will positively impact the community and the state as a whole,” said Bryant. The
governor thanked the company for its investment in the state, its confidence in the state’s business climate and for creating new job opportunities for area workers. Dennen Steel CEO Andrew Dennen said Tuesday was a great day for his company. “The support we have received from the Mississippi Development Authority, Tishomingo County, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Tennessee Valley Authority played a significant role in our decision to locate Dennen Steel’s southern operation here, and we look forward to many successful years in Tishomingo County,” he said. The Mississippi Development
The docket includes a number of indictments from the September session of Grand Jury. Cases on the docket include: ■ Jeffery D. White — Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine ■ Rickie Leatherwood — Sale of cocaine ■ James B. Tucker — Possession of methamphetamine ■ Jamie B. Henderson — Sale of oxycodone ■ Greg A. Cates — Possession of
two or more precursors ■ Lagene L. Conner — Sale of cocaine (two counts) ■ Rodney Wooden — Two indictments for sale of cocaine ■ Eric Gregory Davis — Possession of two or more precursors, enhanced ■ Lance Lasley — Two indictments for burglary and larceny of a building ■ Nathan Knight — Possession
Discussion of a possible hookah smoking lounge in Corinth came before the Board of Aldermen again on Tuesday. Alex Al-Quawwas, owner of JT’s Falafel and Kababs, presented more information to the board, and anti-smoking advocates Emily McGrath of the Mississippi Tobacco Free Coalition and Jennifer Cofer of the American Lung Association spoke against the request. Al-Quawwas is interested in expanding his business with a hookah lounge, which would offer a non-tobacco product to be smoked with a hookah, or waterpipe. A hookah passes charcoal heated air through a smoking product and through a water-filled chamber. Charcoal or burning embers are placed on top of a perforated aluminum foil, and the tobacco or other mixture is placed below. The user inhales the water-filtered smoke through a tube and mouthpiece. It is usually used with a flavored tobacco. Al-Quawwas contends that his idea is not a violation of the city’s public smoking ban because the ordinance refers specifically to tobacco, and he would not offer a tobacco product to customers. He told the board he wants to grow his business and believes a hookah lounge could attract people from surround-
ing areas to Corinth. “I know some people will like it and some people won’t,” he said. Cofer, a regional vice president of public policy with the American Lung Association, presented information from studies about hookah smoking. “Hookah smoking is a trend that is happening nationwide,” she said. “Hookah bars are popping up in different communities. One thing that we know is that hookah smoke carries some of the same health risks and has been linked to many of the same conditions caused by cigarette smoking. There are many studies going on right now that continue to prove that.” Targeted to young adults, it can serve as a gateway to drug use, she said. After the meeting, Attorney Wendell Trapp said there is unlikely to be a board action on the matter. He said the city can advise Al-Quawwas based on the materials presented and with input from the police chief, who is in charge of enforcement of the smoking ordinance. In other business, the board gave a continuance to Nov. 6 on property cleanup at 1301 East Waldron and dismissed cleanup proceedings on 815 6th Street, which has been satisfactorily cleaned. Aldermen also approved a permit for tree removal at 908 Gloster.
Please see JOBS | 5A
Grand Illumination Court docket set for another term remains on target BY JEBB JOHNSTON
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County Circuit Court is set to begin another term on Oct. 29. Civil cases are set for the first week of the term, and criminal cases will follow the weeks of Nov. 5 and Nov. 13. A plea and revocation day will precede the term this Thursday. No court will be held on election day, Nov. 6, and the Veterans Day holiday, Nov. 12.
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
Please see COURT | 3A
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
It's time to illuminate Corinth. Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Kristy White told the tourism board Tuesday morning that Grand Illumination is right on schedule. “Posters and brochures will be distributed around town starting today,” said the tourism director. White also said the event is in
need of volunteers. Grand Illumination is set for Saturday, Nov. 3 with the lighting of the 12,000 luminaries downtown beginning at 4:30 p.m. “We are ready to go,” said Ashley Berry, Supervisory Park Ranger with Shiloh National Military Park. “The camel is Please see LIGHTS | 3A
On this day in history 150 years ago Federal troops are sent to Luzrene County, Pa., to quell violent opposition to the draft. Soldiers fire into a crowd, killing at least four people. Most of the protesters are Irish immigrants working in the coal mines.
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