Tuesday Nov. 27,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 285
2012 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
Donations arrive in food drive The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area as donations are beginning to arrive for the 17th annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian 2012 Christmas Basket Fund. The civic club and newspaper have set a $20,000 community fundraising goal this year so 1,000 food baskets can be given away to local families on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Crossroads Arena. The total now stands at $830, meaning $19,170 still needs to be raised. Recent donations include $100 from Susanne Cooper in memory of Rob Cooper; $100 from Handy Man Rentals; $500 from Nathan and Jean Hardin; $30 from Dean and Jennie Pearce in honor of the Lon Cleveland Sunday School Please see FOOD | 2
Lighthouse Toy Store registration deadline nears
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Cell Phones for Soldiers Organization helps active-duty military, veterans BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A yellow ribbon prompted Chessica Harville to get involved. The wife of an United States Air Force recruiter, Harville set out to find a way to help the military after seeing the numerous ribbons put up after the death of SSG William “Seth” Ricketts in 2010. Harville’s desire got her involved with Cell Phones for Soldiers, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active duty military members and veterans. In two years, Harville has helped the Corinth branch of the organization collect close to 5,000 cell phones. “I don’t think people realize what a call means to a soldier who is away from home,” she said. “Just being able to hear that familiar voice brings joy to them.” American Legion Post 6 and Stone Jewelers in Ripley have been key partners in drives to collect phones. “I know how important it is to be able to call family while away from home during the holiday season,” said Randal Mullins, Post 6 American Legion Rider assistant director. Mullins, who has totaled almost 31 years of consecutive military duty, has dropped off around 400 phones to Stone Jewelers over the two years. “They jumped in with both feet and have been a tremendous help,” said Mullins of the jewelry store. Mobile phones can be dropped at the Air Force Recruiting Office at 1723 Virginia Avenue, Suite 200 or at Stone’s in Ripley. “Every phone over a $5 value
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Chessica Harville and Randal Mullins go through some of the mobile phones collected for Cell Phones for Soldiers. will provide soldiers with 2.5 hours of free talk time,” said Harville whose husband, SSG Josh Harville, is a recruiter at the local office. All kinds of mobile telephones are accepted. “Phones are broken down
and parts are recycled,” said Harville. “We have received broken phones and several of the old bag telephones.” Since 2004, the organization — founded by the brother and sister team of 12 year-old Robbie and 13 year-old Brittany
Bergquist of Norwell, Mass. — has recycled more than 10.5 million cell phones and provided more than 168 million minutes of free talk time. In July, the Bergquist famPlease see PHONES | 2
BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Time is running out for those in need to register for assistance from the annual Lighthouse Foundation Toy Store. Registration winds down this week for the project which will help provide Christmas presents for hundreds of families throughout Alcorn County. The community has shown a huge need for the program since registration began at the first of the month, said foundation Executive Director Gary Caveness. As of Monday afternoon more than 400 families had already been registered for the program with four registration sessions still to be held. “It’s going to be an all time high,” he said. “There’s such a Please see LIGHTHOUSE | 2
Clinical therapists offering free workshop BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A pair of licensed clinical therapists are using their gifts so children can be heard. “The Gift of Listening: Hearing What Children Can’t Say’’ is a two-hour workshop of Jaylene Whitehurst and Margaret Wallace. The event is set for Saturday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. until noon at Box Chapel United Methodist Church -- a joint partner in the endeavor. “The workshop is to help people concerned about children who are hurting as they
cope with loss and difficult situations,” said Whitehurst, a local licensed professional counselor and board certified coach. “The holidays can be difficult when a family is dealing with less than ideal circumstances.” According to Whitehurst, the two hours will cover practical suggestions and group discussion to assist adults in helping children recover from a variety of traumatic situations. “It’s tough enough for adults to come up with answers to tragedies,” said the professional counselor. “It’s even tougher
for children to express what they are going through in those situations.” Whitehurst and Wallace, a licensed clinical social worker and children’s therapist from Horn Lake, have more than 25 years of experience in practicing the art of listening as the first and best response to childhood traumas. The workshop is free with parents, teachers and other adults encouraged to attend. “Children need the gift of our presence when they are hurting,” said Whitehurst.
“I feel this is a real need in our community,” added Box Chapel minister Ann Ferguson. “We are happy to co-sponsor the event and glad to help any way we can.” No RSVP is necessary for the event to be held in the church fellowship hall. To reserve a copy of printed information at the presentation, individuals can reach Whitehurst at 662808-0902 or at jaylenew@yahoo.com Box Chapel is located at 3310 County Road (Kendrick Road) in Corinth.
‘Jeweler to the King’ to dazzle at Corinth program BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The “Jeweler to the King” is coming to Corinth. Lowell Hays was a longtime friend and personal jeweler to Elvis Aaron Presley — the King of Rock and Roll. On Thursday, Hays and his jewelry will be the centerpiece of a program at Ann’s on Shiloh Road. For Hays, jewelry is a family tradition. His father opened a jewelry store in his native Memphis in 1937. After his father’s death in 1971, Hays was the proprietor of Lowell Hays Jewelers until he decided to re-
tire five years ago. Since then Hays has started a lucrative second business based on the work he did for his most famous client. Hays met Elvis in 1969. From then on, throughout the Vegas years and until the King’s death in 1977, Hays was Presley’s personal jeweler. By traveling extensively and spending a great deal of time with Tupelo’s most famous native son, Hays came to know a different Elvis than the one most fans know from his albums and live performances. “When it was just with his friends, he was just a normal
guy,” Hays said. “He joked, liked to play tricks. He was a real trickster! But a typical young man — and a great friend.” During those years, Hays crafted many custom pieces of jewelry for the King. Following his retirement, he dusted off the original molds used to make Elvis’ jewelry and began his new venture, based on his website, elvisjeweler.com. On the site, Hays offers a wide range of replicas of the Presley’s jewelry. He creates the only jewelry that is licensed by Graceland. It is also available in
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
the gift shops at Graceland and Presley’s Tupelo birthplace. The response to his Elvis Jeweler project has been amazing, said Hays. He has sold items all over the world. As more and more years pass since Elvis’ death, the interest in Elvis — and demand for items with a connection to his his life — have only increased. From 5 until 7 p.m. on Thursday, Hays will display his line of jewelry at Ann’s boutique on Shiloh Road. He will bring his line of Elvis jewelry as well as some of his backup inventory. Sterling, 14 karat gold and cos-
tume jewelry will be available for purchase. During the event there will also be refreshments, including hors d’oeuvres and the Elvis’ favorite snack: the fried peanutbutter and banana sandwich. (For more information about this Elvis-themed night of jewelry and refreshments email Lowell Hays at elvisjeweler@ yahoo.com. For more information about Hays’ Elvis Jeweler creations visit www.elvisjeweler.com. For more information about Ann’s visit www. annsofcorinth.com or call 2873606.)
On this day in history 150 years ago Three divisions of Union troops left Memphis yesterday and marched southeast into Tennessee. Under Maj.Gen. William T. Sherman, these soldiers are to rendezvous with Grant’s main force south of Holly Springs.