Thursday Oct. 18,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 251
Partly Sunny Today
Tonight
71
43
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Horseback riders struck by vehicle; MHP investigates Two injured horses die at scene BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
KOSSUTH — A pair of horseback riders were airlifted to an area hospital following a collision with a Jeep on Mississippi Highway 2 that remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. MHP Troop F Public Affairs Officer Trooper Ray Hall said Frankie Guynes, 53, of Corinth and Jessie Bowden, 54, of Rienzi, were riding separate horses in the eastbound lane of Mississippi Highway 2 around
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Wanda McNair was a big part of Biggersville being selected to take part in the Healthy Schools Project.
Kimberly-Clark, schools partner in germ fight BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Kimberly-Clark Professional is ready to take down germs. The Corinth Mill began a partnership with Biggersville Elementary and High School to reduce sickness spread through germs as part of The Healthy Schools Project. “Kimberly-Clark Professional strives to make a better work-
place and school,” said KC’s Chris Chapman. “We give our all every day to keep everyone safe.” BES and BHS were the overwhelming choice of mill employees to be the host sites of the project. Both schools were installed with paper towel and toilet paper dispensers along with hand sanitizer products. The schools will receive
the products at no cost for six months. “We will come out monthly and see how things are going,” said Chapman. “Videos will also be done to see how well the program works.” According to a video shown to Biggersville students on Wednesday, about 25 percent Please see GERMS | 2
7:15 p.m. Sunday when the riders and horses were struck by an eastbound 1997 Jeep driven by Robert Clayton, 44, of Rienzi. Guynes and Bowden were transported by helicopter from the scene to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. NMMC spokesperson Deborah Pugh said Wednesday Bowden remained hospitalized in fair condition. Guynes was treated and released from the emergency room at NMMC the night of the Please see WRECK | 2
Mother, her son face drug charges BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A mother and her son remain in the Alcorn County Jail following a drug arrest. The Alcorn Narcotics Unit arrested the pair on Tuesday night at 402 Young Street. “Officers found numerous pills and several bags of marijuana after serving the occupants with a search warrant,” said the unit’s Darrell Hopkins. Versia Vernell Scruggs, 47, of 402 North Young Street, and Christopher Derne Scruggs, 28, of the same ad-
dress, were both taken into custody. “The subjects have been selling marijuana out of the house for the past several months,” said Hopkins. “Neighbors voiced their complaints with the Sheriff’s Department and an investigation ensued.” Versia Scruggs was charged with possession of hydrocodone and conspiracy to sell marijuana. Chris Scruggs faces charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and conspiracy to sell marijuana. Please see DRUGS | 2
Injured school superintendent returns to work after wreck BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Prentiss County Superintendent Randle Downs was welcomed with hugs and handshakes Tuesday as he attended his first regular meeting of the county school board since being severely injured earlier this summer in a traffic accident that claimed the life of the district’s transportation and curriculum coordinator and also injured another top administrator. Downs has not returned to full-time duty but is working in
the office a few hours a week as his health and recovery allow, he said. Wheeler School Principal Todd Swinney continues to serve as interim superintendent as Downs recovers. The superintendent was seriously injured in an Aug. 22 crash that killed district curriculum and transportation coordinator Jason McKinney and also injured the district’s federal programs director Luke Ledbetter. Ledbetter returned to work several weeks ago. A Corinth man, 19-year-old Dylan G. King, has been charged with
leaving the scene of an accident where a death occurred and two counts of leaving the scene of an accident. McKinney was remembered warmly during Tuesday’s board meeting as the district presented a plaque to Marietta Elementary School principal Cathy Trimble in recognition of her school’s second year to rank as a Star School, the highest rating awarded in the state. Board member Steve Taylor told the crowd of teachers gathered for the presentation that the ranking is a testament to
the hard work and dedication of them, the parents, the administration and everyone in the district. Taylor also noted the district itself jumped to high performing, the second highest possible rating and every school in the district saw improvements including Hills Chapel and New Site which also achieved a high performing ranking. “You just don’t know how proud we are of all of you,” Taylor said. The plaque honoring Marietta’s accomplishment included a
dedication to McKinney in recognition of his dedication in the role of curriculum coordinator in pushing everyone in the district to achieve more and be the best they can be. “Jason pushed you all to the limit,” said Taylor. “If he hadn’t have pushed all of us, we’d never have done it.” Trimble accepted the plaque with words of praise for her entire staff, saying everyone at the school played a vital role in the success. Please see WORK | 2
‘You Can’t Take It With You’ comedy hits playhouse stage BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Theatre-Arts production of the comedy “You Can’t Take It With You” takes the stage Friday night. The play is the story of what happens when two young members of seemingly incompatible families, the Scyamores and the Kirbys, fall in love. This classic comedy by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman was originally performed in 1936 and won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. “This play is very family centric and a great expression of love for those that also make us crazy,” explained Artistic Director Cristina Skinner. Iuka’s Rebekah Petty, a CT-A veteran, plays the role of Essie,
a girl who loves ballet but whose real talent is in making candy. “It’s been really fun getting to be in this play with a lot of people I’ve been in productions with before,” said Petty. “We have a really good time.” The play is the first CT-A production for 15-year-old Alcorn Central student Gracie Smith. Her character doesn’t make an appearance until the second act, but Smith said she’s enjoyed working with the CT-A regulars during the twice-weekly rehearsals. “It’s been a really cool experience. Everybody is so funny and crazy,” said Smith, who “definitely” intends to be part of future CT-A productions. Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Please see DRAMA | 2
Essie (Rebekah Petty) learns some new steps from dancing master Boris Kolenkhov (Jeremy Taylor).
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
On this day in history 150 years ago Colonel John Hunt Morgan, at the head of 1,800 mounted Confederate raiders, captures the city of Lexington, Ky., and forces the Union garrison to flee. For the next 12 days, Morgan will ride virtually unopposed through Kentucky, burning railroad bridges and tearing up tracks.