Tuesday Sept. 25,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 231
Partly Sunny Today
Tonight
88
61
0% chance of rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Boards shift tourism funds to arena BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth aldermen and Alcorn County supervisors on Monday voted to allocate $250,000 of the tourism budget for Crossroads Arena advertising and promotion, but an arena board member said the money will go largely untouched by the arena. A joint special meeting of the Corinth Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Alcorn County Board of Supervisors was held to set a budget for the Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau after the two boards separately rejected the CVB’s proposed budget. Some members of the two boards demanded a $250,000 allocation for grants to the arena along with no reduction in the amount going to local events. In an 8-3 vote, aldermen and supervisors adopted the citycounty rewrite of the budget with Aldermen Ben Albarracin, Chip Wood and Michael McFall voting “no.” Casting the “yes” votes were Aldermen Andrew Labas, J.C. Hill and Mike Hopkins and all of the supervisors — Lowell Hinton, Dal Nelms, Tim Mitchell, Gary Ross and Jimmy Tate Waldon. The result for the CVB is effectively a cut of 43 percent
“We won’t use the $250,000. Tourism can relax.” Alva Dalton Crossroads Arena board member from its budget, including a 24 percent slashing of salaries. However, comments from an arena board member cast doubt on use of the newly available pot of money. “We won’t use the $250,000,” said Alva Dalton. “Tourism can relax.” His comments followed a question from Supervisor Ross about how much the CVB contributed to support the recent successful arena concert by Luke Bryan, a current charttopping country music artist. Tourism Director Kristy White said the arena made no request for support of the show. “There was no request because we are not in the advertising and promotional business,” said Dalton. “When we have a show like Luke Bryan, the promoter promotes and advertises. We can’t give tourism enough justification to get any money. Please see ARENA | 2
Staff photos by Steve Beavers
Alcorn County Board of Supervisors President Lowell Hinton addresses the audience during Monday morning’s joint meeting of supervisors and the Corinth city board. In attendance were both tourism and arena board members.
Officials keep eye on landfill fire BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Fire Department is keeping tabs on a smoldering landfill fire that started sometime Sunday. The fire department was first called to the inert landfill on Linden Street late Sunday afternoon. “It’s in the mulch,” said Fire Chief Rob Price. “It’s not in the trees and stumps and other stuff. It’s a pretty good size pile. If the whole thing happens to go, it’s going to be there a while.” A bulldozer was called in to help contain the burning area. Price said the fire, which continued on Monday, is not posing a danger to any surrounding areas. “We’ve got our fingers crossed and are praying for rain,” said Street Commissioner Jim Bynum. “We’re keeping someone watching it around the clock.” The cause is unknown. The inert landfill makes mulch from leaves and tree debris collected throughout the city.
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A Daily Corinthian newspaper delivery driver escaped injury following a hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning. Dustin Gray not only avoided being hurt, but went on to complete his route. Gray, of 491 Dusty Lane, Selmer, Tenn. was traveling eastbound when he attempted to turn onto Harper Road off of Highway 2. A silver, four-door Grand Am or Grand Prix struck Gray’s 2004 Ford Focus, causing it to flip multiple times before coming to rest upside down in the northbound lane of Harper Road. Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Please see WRECK | 3
A fire continues to smolder at the city inert landfill.
NPS releases ‘Voices of Corinth’ CD BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth during the Civil War comes to life in a new audio recording made by the National Park Service. Produced by Shiloh National Military Park, the “Voices of Corinth” audio CD tells the story of wartime Corinth through the words of participants, both military and civilian. Shiloh Superintendent John Bundy said Shiloh Park personnel who worked on the project are very proud of the “Voices of Corinth” CD. “The project was produced completely ‘in house,’ with park volunteers and rangers not only lending their voices to the recordings, but our rangers also conducted all of the research, wrote the script and then recorded, edited and mixed the CD,” said Bundy. “We did all of it ourselves,” said Park Ranger Chris Mekow.
Paper carrier not hurt after hit-and-run
The “Voices of Corinth” project was recorded and mixed in just one week to make it available for purchase in time for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Corinth, which was fought in early October 1862. The CD’s purpose, explained Mekow, is to supplement any tour or study of Corinth by bringing to life the voices of the people who experienced the Civil War in the area. “The CD basically begins when Corinth was occupied in early 1862 and takes listeners from that point to when the Union abandons the town in 1864,” said Mekow. “We use letters, diaries and journals written by people where were there and use those to tell the story of the people who experienced it — generals, privates, teachers and the missionaries who established the Contra-
School hosts College, and Career Fair BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Students from the Alcorn County School District will have a chance to get a head-start on their futures at the College and Career Fair 2012. “This fair is all about showing students options that are available to them after high school, whether it be at our local community college, universities, in the military, trade and technical schools or in local business and industries,” said Alcorn Vocational Counselor Jennifer Koon. Seniors from Biggersville, Kossuth and Alcorn Central will attend the fair on Wednesday Please see CAREER | 2
Please see VOICES | 2
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 13 Wisdom...... 12
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
On this day in history 150 years ago Sept. 25 — General Rosecrans assumes command of the Corinth garrison, replacing Major General Edward Ord who takes over the garrison at Bolivar, Tennessee. A Confederate cavalry scout routs a Union force at Davis Bridge on the Hatchie River.