Friday Nov. 9,
2012
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 270
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • Two sections
Officials prepare for liquor referendum BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
With the liquor petition verified, city officials have begun preparations for a special election on Dec. 11. For people who are not registered to vote but would like to cast a ballot in this election, today is the last day to register and be eligible. Anyone who wishes to register to vote should visit the circuit clerk’s office at the courthouse. City Clerk Vickie Roach said
absentee ballots are expected to be available Tuesday morning at City Hall. In addition to regular business hours, the clerk’s office at City Hall will open from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 8, for absentee voting. The issue will appear on the ballot as proposition 1 with the following wording: “Shall the city of Corinth, Mississippi permit, except as otherwise provided under section 67-9-1 Mississippi
Code 1972, as amended, the sale, receipt, storage and transportation for the purpose of sale of alcoholic beverages as permitted by section 67-1-14 Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.” Voters will choose either “for the legal sale of alcoholic liquors” or “against the legal sale of alcoholic liquors.” City officials are getting many questions about exactly what the city would have if voters approve the sale of liquor. A vote
in favor would make possible package stores and liquor by the drink in restaurants. Roach said state law gives municipal governing boards the authority to limit it to liquor by the drink in restaurants if they so choose. The law states that the governing authority of a municipality that has voted to come out from under the dry laws may, by ordinance, “provide that alcoholic beverages may
be sold in the municipality only by the holder of an on-premises retailer’s permit.” On Tuesday, the Board of Aldermen set the special election after receiving a petition with signatures in excess of the required number of 2,395. The city-only vote is made possible by a new law passed by the Mississippi Legislature this year allowing cities of certain population in dry counties to seek a city-only vote on the sale of liquor.
Arena board attorney resigns Position won’t be replaced BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Long-time Crossroads Arena Board attorney William “Bill” Odom has resigned. Odom's resignation took effect October 30 during the executive session of the board meeting. “I felt like it was time to move on,” said the attorney. “There are a number of projects I want to do at home and other places.” Board chairman Dr. Hardwick Kay praised the efforts of
Odom as board attorney. “Bill always provided quality service and we appreciate all he has done for this board,” said the chairman. “We hate to see him go.” The arena board will now operate without a retained attorney. “We are not going to have a board attorney,” said Kay. “We will use the existing city or county one should the need arise.” Please see ODOM | 2A
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
MDOT studies Home tour features art auction deadly intersection Art gallery volunteer Julie Hutchins positions the oil painting “Pinkalicious Elvis” by Dianne Papasan. It is on auction along with other art to benefit the Verandah-Curlee House restoration efforts and is part of a preview at the gallery on Sunday.
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A wide variety of creative expressions from local and regional artists is again on the auction block as part of the Corinth Home & Garden Tour benefiting the VerandahCurlee House. On Sunday, the Corinth Artist Guild Gallery will host a preview of the art featured in the auction from 2 until 4 p.m. The art will remain at the gallery until Nov. 17 and will be displayed in the garage of the
featured home during the tour. Sponsored by the Friends of the Verandah-Curlee House, the annual tour benefits the restoration of the historic residence. Set for Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the tour includes the home of Bailey and Gloria Williams at 1302 Taylor Street and the Fillmore Street Chapel. In addition to the silent art auction, the event will include the sale of holiday items, floral demonstrations, a gift wrap-
ping workshop, holiday music and a tea. “Many of these artists have donated before to this cause,” said Sonny Boatman, organizer of the auction. “They’re skillful and many are wellknown local artists. Most of the work is framed and ready to hang on the wall.” Forty-six artists contributed a total of 80 pieces. Paintings, photographs, pottery, metal sculpture and wood Please see AUCTION | 2A
BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is reviewing a Prentiss County intersection for potential safety issues after four traffic deaths at the location in less than year. MDOT engineers are conducting a review of traffic accidents and the design of the intersection of the new Mississippi Highway 30 bypass and Prentiss County Road 5031 (Meadow Creek Road) to de-
termine if there are any problems with the intersection, said MDOT District Engineer Bill Jamison. Citizens and government officials have raised concerns about the intersection after an accident last Friday at the site claimed the life of 35-yearold Becky Hatfield and her mother, 71-year-old Betty Turvaville. Hatfield was pronounced Please see MDOT | 2A
American Legion post plans Veterans Day celebrations BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth’s American Legion Post 6 will commemorate Veterans Day with events on Saturday and Monday. American Legion member Gary Briggs said it is more important now than ever to honor the nation’s living veterans. “We’re losing them by a dozen every day,” said Briggs. “Especially the ones who served our country in World War II.” Members of the local American Legion post began preparing for the Veterans Day weekend on Wednesday. They continue today, cooking up a 550 gallon batch of Brunswick stew, barbecue and Boston butts. “We used to have a veterans weekend — but now we’re hav-
“Last year they raised about $2,500. That’s not bad at all for one day.” Gary Briggs American Legion member
ing a veterans week,” Briggs said with a laugh. All day Saturday members of the American Legion will sell barbecue plates and Boston butts at the Post 6 building on South Tate Street. Barbecue is donated by local members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Free samples of the barbecue will be available. The Legion Riders will assemble at the post at 9 a.m. on Saturday, an hour before
the Legion Riders bike show begins. At 11 a.m. the group’s poker run will begin. All money raised by the Legion Riders will go to the Legacy Fund for underprivileged children of deceased veterans. “Last year they raised about $2,500,” remembered Briggs. “That’s not bad at all for one day.” American Legion members will take a day of rest on Sunday. At 11 a.m. on Monday, fol-
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......6B Comics......5B Wisdom......4B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
lowing the 10 a.m. annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Corinth, the Legion members will serve free Brunswick stew to the public at the legion building. To eat with Legion members is free of charge, but the stew will also be sold for carryout for $5 per quart. “We’re mixing up 60 gallons of crushed tomatoes, 60 gallons of creamed corn— and all the other secret ingredients that make it so good,” said Briggs. “Everybody is welcome to come
enjoy the stew with us. I think we’re going to have a really good weekend.” Veterans Day is a federal holiday observed on Nov. 11. It coincides with other international holidays — such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day — which marks the end of the First World War. While Memorial Day commemorates the men and women who died while serving, Veterans Day celebrates the services of all U.S. military veterans. The Corinth American Legion has roughly 350 members, from World War II veterans to the men and women who served during America’s more recent conflicts. (For more information and to place orders for Boston butts call 415-2890.)
On this day in history 150 years ago From his headquarters in Jackson, Gen. John C. Pemberton orders Gen. Van Dorn to withdraw his army from Holly Springs. A new defensive line is established near Abbeville on the south side of the Tallahatchie River and the men ordered to dig defensive earthworks.
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