Thursday Dec. 20,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 306
Morning rain Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Basket Law enforcement boosts holiday patrols fund tops $16,000 Drivers should also expect heavy traffic and allow a little extra time to reach their destination. “We want everybody to have a good holiday season and be safe without endangering the lives of others,” said the police chief. The New Year’s holiday period is from Friday, Dec. 28 through midnight on Jan. 1. MHP has participated in “Drive Sober” for the past 10 years. This year the agency received $105,000 to step up enforcement.
“This is not about writing tickets. It is about saving lives,” said MHP Director Colonel Donnell Berry. “We want everyone to have a safe and enjoyable Christmas.” A first DUI offense carries a penalty of a fine of up to $1,000, up to 48 hours in jail and driver’s license suspension of up to 90 days. On a second offense, the fine increases to $600 to $1,500, up to one year in jail, two-year driver’s license suspension and 10 hours of community service. It becomes a felony on the third offense.
Knights spread Christmas cheer
Aldermen continue property cleanup
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area as donations continue to arrive daily for the 17th annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian 2012 Christmas Basket Fund. Please see BASKET | 2
Law enforcement agencies are planning to step up patrols for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Mississippi Highway Patrol is putting 117 extra troopers on patrol during the Christmas holiday period, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday and runs through midnight Christmas night. MHP will use check points and rolling patrols as part of its enforcement. For Christmas and New Year’s combined, the feder-
ally funded “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is putting an extra 285 troopers on the highways. The Corinth Police Department will also beef up manpower during the holidays. “As always, we will be looking for intoxicated drivers,” said Police Chief David Lancaster. “We urge people if they are going to drink, let somebody else drive or stay off the roads.” And it’s important to choose the designated driver and decide where to stay before the drinking starts, he said.
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The room was filled with energetic children running to and fro. There were also sweet treats and gifts to be passed out by Santa Claus himself. The afternoon was all part of the Knights of Columbus and Region IV Mental Health Services Christmas for Needy Children at the Region IV building on Franklin Street. “No words can explain what this means to us,” said Ray Ball, former Grand Knight of Council 8912. “This makes you wish you could do more.” Over 60 children -- ages K4th Grade -- took part in the party Tuesday after school. Each one was presented a gift by Santa Claus. “It's the most touching thing I see all year,” said Region IV Executive Director Charlie Spearman. “I truly look forward to this event every year.” The Knights of Columbus are able to fund the project through the selling of Belk Charity Day tickets twice a year. A party for needy children in Alcorn County has been held since 2005. “The Knights of Columbus have been involved in supplying the needs of children for years,” said Dr. Jack Hora, who started Council 8912 in 1985. “Today is part of the original goal of helping where there is a need.” Children for the event are selected by their school teachers.
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
“You look forward to things like this every year,” said Gri-
The Corinth Board of Aldermen pressed for improvements at a rental property as seven addresses came before the board for public hearings this week. The board gave a two-week continuance for an apartment building on North Polk Street near Little Zion Road which has been generating complaints. Adjudication is looming if the owner does not finalize a plan to improve the property. Ward 2 Alderman Ben Albarracin said neighbors are unhappy with the situation. “You don’t live there. You’re not having to see it on a daily basis,” he told owner Ricky Burns. “They are. They’re asking for it to be cleaned up.” Burns, who has owned the property for about a year and told the board he will fix up three of the units, was instructed to meet with the building inspector to set up a timetable and plans. The owner said the property
Please see KNIGHTS | 2
Please see CLEANUP | 2
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Knights of Columbus Grand Knight Mark Grieser passes out gifts to the children.
“It makes me happy inside to see all the kids having a good time,” said Region IV Case Manager Heath Cleary.
Grand Knight Mark Grieser noticed all the smiling faces as he passed cookies before helping Santa distribute gifts.
Church bells will honor shooting victims Shiloh battlefield to host upcoming Christmas events
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
KOSSUTH — A small community is showing its big heart to help a hurting nation. With America continuing to wonder why in the wake of a school shooting that left 26 dead in Newtown, Conn., community churches are coming together and honoring victims Friday at Kossuth United Methodist Church. The church is inviting area communities to join them Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. to honor the innocent victims of the shooting. Communities have been asked by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy to observe a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Malloy is also asking churches to ring their bells 26 times — once for each
BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Kossuth United Methodist Church member Taylor Jenkins will ring the church’s bell 26 times to honor those killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday.
Please see BELLS | 2
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
Upcoming events at Shiloh National Military Park include a Christmas program on Friday and an event to mark the anniversary of the park’s founding next week. On Thursday children are invited to Shiloh’s Civil War Christmas program beginning at 2 p.m. “We are excited to present this fun filled, yet educational, opportunity to area children,” said Superintendent John Bundy. “This unique hour-long program will introduce young people to how Christmas was celebrated 150 years ago in our nation.” The Christmas program will give children an insight into the different ways sol-
diers and their families celebrated the holiday in camp and on the home front. For example, Christmas trees were small during the Civil War era and were placed on top of tables. They were decorated with homemade paper ornaments, edible treats — like popcorn and peanuts wrapped in paper — and items found in nature, such as pinecones. Each child will construct a Victorian Christmas ornament to take home and decorate their Christmas tree. Kids will also have an opportunity to participate in Operation Christmas Cards. In this program kids decorate a Christmas card to spread Please see SHILOH | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Van Dorn’s troops destroy the Union supply depot at Holly Springs. 1,500 Federals become prisoners and a large portion of downtown is consumed when the Confederates burn the enemy supplies. The poorly armed Southerners re-equip themselves from the captured stores.
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