Friday Sept. 7,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 216
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Tonight
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Leaders seek compromise on budget BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board is willing to compromise. The tourism board voiced its willingness to work with both the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors and Corinth Board of Aldermen during a special called meeting on Thursday. “We want to be as fair and transparent as we can,” said tourism director Kristy White. The board voted to spend the
weekend going over the 2012 budget, 2013 proposed budget and the law in hopes of finding an alternative to the $250,000 scheduled to be shifted from tourism. City and county leaders are in favor of moving the money from tourism to the Crossroads Arena. Board member Johnny Ross made the motion to spend the weekend scanning the two budgets. “I want what is best for the community … city and county,”
said Ross. “Let's delay any decision we have to make until we have time to look at both budgets.” The board will meet again on Tuesday at 8 a.m. to decide what direction to proceed. “We are in uncharted territory.” said board member Glennan Grady. The tourism board submitted a budget of $567,000 for 2013. White said tourism could find $100,000-$125,000 to allocate to the arena without breaking
the budget. The director is also open to explaining what the office does in the community. “I am willing to sit down and show both boards what we do,” said White. Should the tourism board elect to not redo its budget and it is denied by city aldermen and county supervisors, both governments can hold a joint meeting to take a combined vote on the issue or issues, according to Senate Bill 3219. The Crossroads Arena re-
ceives funding from a Corinth tourism tax of 2 percent, which is equally divided with the Corinth Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The arena side of the funding cannot be used for operations. Money is used only to retire the debt on the building or for capital improvements. Alderman Andrew “Bubba” Labas said board attorneys have studied the law that established the tourism tax and found the two governments can make the change.
Grant leads to coliseum upgrades
Jumping deer strikes patrol car BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth Police officer Robert Loyd bagged his first deer over a month away from the start of season. The unconventional way. A doe's attempt to jump Loyd's patrol car was unsuccessful around 11:02 a.m. Monday as the officer was responding to a call. The 80-pound deer landed on the driver's side windshield and roof as the officer was traveling on Shiloh Road near Shiloh Ridge Golf Course. “I reached down to get the radio and it was in the windshield,” said Loyd. “She was almost in there with me.” Loyd was southbound on Shiloh Road at a speed of 45 mph when the deer tried to leap over the front of the 2011 Crown Victoria. The impact caused glass to fly into Loyd's eyes and mouth. He was taken to Magnolia Regional Health Center, where he was treated and released. The vehicle suffered damage to the windshield, driver's side door, roof and mirror. Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster estimated the damage to be around $1,500$2,000. “Deer are so unpredictable and they do a lot of damage,” he said.
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A representative of the Mississippi Arts Commission recently toured the Coliseum Civic Center to view improvements made with MAC grant dollars. A fiscal 2011 grant of $5,000 through the Building Fund for the Arts Program, combined with matching funds, went toward a number of interior improvements. “We put the new skirt in down in the orchestra pit,” said Rosemary Williams, executive director of the Corinth Area Arts Council. “All of the area around the stage has had plaster repairs and a new coat of paint.” The grant also helped improve seating and lighting in the balcony, make numerous paint and plaster repairs, and place additional lights for the marquee and interior lobby. A previous grant from the same program helped replace seats in the auditorium and refinish the stage floor. Larry Morrisey, director of
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Corinth Police Officer Robert Loyd checks out the damage to his patrol after a deer collided with the vehicle on Labor Day.
Please see GRANT | 2A
CT-A youth raising funds for Memphis trip Superintendent recovering BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Theatre-Arts Youth Action Committee is raising money for a trip to Memphis that will give its young members a chance to experience a world-class theatrical production. “We’re trying to raise about $2,000 to take a trip to Memphis,” explained 17-year-old Mikaela Hancock, the president of the committee. “It’s really to increase our exposure to theater and see how it is in other
places. It serves an educational purpose.” The Youth Action Committee is composed of 19 members between the ages of 13 and 19. The group’s purpose is to reach out to the community to generate more interest in the local theatre company. The committee began fundraising by selling handmade crafts, baked goods, T-shirts and bracelets at last weekend’s Green Market. While the heat kept many Green Market-goers at home, the YAC members
raised approximately $470. They plan to sell handmade items again at next month’s Green Market. Other plans include a Halloween festival in early October and a lock-in at the Crossroads Playhouse later in the month. The fundraising plan came together at a meeting of the committee in August. After the goal was identified and the plan was made to set up a booth at the Green Market, members of Please see TRIP | 2A
Alcorn County Fair features photo contest BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Organizers of the Alcorn County Fair want to showcase the area's talent when it comes to photography and art. The fair -- in its second season after being revived at the Crossroads Arena -- will have a photo contest and also allow artists to display their work during Sept. 12-15. “We are trying to make sure we have something for everyone,”
said fair committee member Amy Mercer. “The photo contest and art show is something we hope will be a great success and grow yearly.” In the photo contest, all entries must be 5x7 or 8x10 and matted. The entry form should be attached to the back of the photo. There is no entry fee and entries are unlimited. Photos can not be previously published, but can be taken anywhere from 2010 until present.
Entries can be digital, film, black and white or color. Categories are natural landscape, architectural landscape, people, pets, wildlife or animals, and digitally/computer manipulated. Photos need to be picked up prior to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15. Entry forms are on the fair website at alcornfair.com and Facebook.
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......6B Comics......5B Wisdom......4B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
Please see CONTEST | 2A
after deadly collision BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Prentiss County Superintendent Randle Downs is continuing to recover at home following last month’s deadly crash that left him severely injured and claimed the life of the district’s curriculum and transportation coordinator. Interim Superintendent Todd Swinney said Downs was released from the hospital early last week and is now recovering at home. Downs was airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo from the scene of the crash. Swinney, who was appointed following the crash to help lead the district while Downs recovers, said he has spoken with the superintendent once and it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to return to work. Swinney said the district is running well and he and other officials are continuing to work to make sure operations continue as they allow time
for Downs to recover. Federal Programs Director Luke Ledbetter was treated and released from Baptist Memorial Hospital in Booneville following the crash and has returned to work. Downs and Ledbetter were injured in the Aug. 22 crash that killed district curriculum and transportation coordinator Jason McKinney. Police say the crash on North Second Street in front of Valerie Jo’s (the former Grambo’s) happened when Dylan G. King of Corinth made a left turn in front of a southbound pickup driven by Jimmy W. Senter of Booneville. The impact between the two vehicles sent both spinning and Senter’s truck collided with Down’s 2003 Buick. Downs and Ledbetter were in the front seat of the Buick, and McKinney was in the rear seat of the car. King is out on bond after being charged with three Please see DOWNS | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago The population of the Union’s capital city, Washington, D.C., is panicked as Confederate forces under the command of Gen. Robert E. Lee occupy the nearby town of Fredrick, Md., — within striking distance of the capital.
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