Tishomingo County Sheriff’s department closes Facebook page
Sports McNairy Central will host day basketball
Saltillo Parents arrested for child neglect
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Wednesday Jan. 6,
2016
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 5
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections
Regional prison still vacant BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
As 2016 opens, the regional prison is still vacant. After several busy weeks of preparations for the return of inmates, new Sheriff Ben Caldwell hopes that changes
Basket fund tops $18,000
soon. “The two main things they asked for was a warden in place and a trained staff,” said Caldwell. “We’ve got that.” He had hoped to meet with Mississippi Department of Corrections leadership before
the turn of the year to nail down the inmates’ return. Warden Allen Lyles joined the jail staff Dec. 1, and new and returning correctional officers have been hired. “They have received all the mandatory Department
Local coordinator pleased with 2015 wreaths event
The spirit of giving continues into the new year in the Alcorn County area. Donations continue to arrive for the 20th Annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian Christmas Basket Fund. A $25,000 fund raising goal was set so 1,000 food baskets could be given to local families on Saturday, Dec. 5. Baskets were given away based upon faith the goal will be reached. The deadline to receive donations has been extended until Friday, Jan. 8. So far $18,586 has been raised, meaning $6,414 still has to be raised to meet the goal. Recent donations include $150 from Rogers Supermarket; $150 from Gardner’s Supermarket; and $1,500 from Mississippi Polymers, Inc. on behalf of everyone at Mississippi Polymers. Contributions to the Christmas Basket Fund can be made “in honor of” or “in memory of” a special person or persons. The tribute will be published daily in the Daily Corinthian. Donations can be brought by the newspaper office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or mailed to: Daily Corinthian, Attn.: Christmas Basket Fund, P.O. Box 1800, Corinth, MS 38835.
of Corrections training,” the sheriff said. “We’re continuing training on top of that every day.” Based on the contract for the housing of state inmates, Please see PRISON | 5A
Sentencing scheduled for Rhodes
BY STEVE BEAVERS BY JEBB JOHNSTON
sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The local coordinator of Wreaths Across of America isn’t deterred. Carlean Parker’s goal is still to see a wreath placed at every headstone of the over 7,600 graves at the Corinth National Cemetery. The number of wreaths placed during the Dec. 12 ceremony was down from the record number of 488 laid in 2014. “I am still proud of each sponsorship,” said Parker, president of the Ladies Auxiliary. “I know times are tough for everyone, but they still came through for the remembrance of our veterans.” Orders were taken by members of American Legion Post 6, Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of American Legion and Legion Riders. Donations were also welcomed. A total of 337 wreaths were placed during the annual event in December. “We had the best turnout ever,” added Parker. “People came despite the threat of rain.” Many young people attended the event, according to Parker. “It does my heart good to see the younger generation take part in honoring our veterans and military,” she said. “That is the way we help generations re-
Photo by Lisa Wilbanks
The U.S. District Court scheduled a sentencing hearing for Paul Rhodes, the former Alcorn County purchase clerk, on a mail fraud charge. The sentencing is set for Feb. 4 in Oxford before District Judge Michael P. Mills, according to court records. Rhodes’ sentence handed down Sept. 8 in Alcorn County Circuit Court is to run concurrently with the federal sentence. He was allowed to remain free on bond until the sentencing on the federal charge. The circuit court sentence on one count of hindering prosecution, one count of fraudulently obtaining public funds and one count of false representation to defraud government gave him five years to serve and ordered payment of restitution of $72,466.28; a fine of $5,000; and court costs totaling $1,894.50. Rhodes pleaded guilty to the mail fraud charge in U.S.
James Brentner takes part in the 2015 Wreaths Please see WREATHS | 2A Across America event last month.
Please see RHODES | 5A
Park inn temporarily closes BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Making repairs in order to better serve those who dine with them, Pickwick Landing State Park Inn is temporarily closed to guests as workers make improvements to existing floor drains in the kitchen. “We knew about the repairs and did not accept reservations during the time we would be closed,” said Park Manager Michael “Mike” Dobis. Closing its doors at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, the inn will remain closed to visitors until midJanuary. While an estimated time line was given, the total cost remains unknown as it is a capital project. “We have recently transitioned to a menu-based restaurant and only utilize our buffet for large groups and on the weekends. The items on our new menu are great and we have something for all age groups,” said Dobis. “We strive to provide our guests with a wonderful meal while they enjoy a wonderful view.”
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
“These repairs will allow us to provide better service to our guests,” he added. Located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce, Tenn., the inn features 119 rooms, five of which are two-bedroom, two-bath suites. The suites offer a living room, kitchen area with sink, coffee pot, microwave and television as well as a spectacular lake view. Other amenities include balconies for all rooms, two indoor and one outdoor swimming pool. “We host numerous groups throughout the year,” said the park manager. “Several of the groups we receive are large enough to utilize all our guest and conference rooms. We have three conference rooms which are approximately 6,000 square feet.” Putting its best foot forward, the inn will reopen at 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. The restaurant will reopen at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, providing all repairs have been completed.
Lawmakers seek FEMA assistance BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
TIPPAH COUNTY — Lawmakers sent a letter to President Obama on Tuesday requesting FEMA assistance in several Mississppi counties — including Tippah — as residents recover from tornado, flood and severe storm damage sustained in late December. The letter was issued prior to the President approving the aid on Monday, and included the support of U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker and U.S. Representative Trent Kelly. Strong storms moved through North Mississippi on December 23 and produced an EF-4 tornado. Tippah County was one of the hardest hit areas and the storm basically flattened the small community of Three Forks. County Road 111 resident Marieke McClure of Walnut died when a tornado ripped through her mobile home. The death was the only reported casualty in Tippah County. “Citizens have lost loved ones, homes and their livelihoods. Much of this destruction has occurred in parts of our
state that have been particularly affected by our nation’s current economic situation. Many of these counties also have poverty levels that are more than double the national average,” the Mississippi lawmakers wrote in their letter to the President. “We stand ready to face this new challenge by supporting the local communities, the state and federal agencies as we work together to rebuild and renew areas destroyed by this major winter storm system.” The issuance of a presidential disaster declaration will trigger the release of Federal Emergency Management Agency monies. The federal disaster declaration request seeks hazard mitigation assistance statewide, individual assistance for Benton, Coahoma, Marshall, Quitman and Tippah counties, and public assistance for Benton, Marshall and Tippah counties. (Affected individuals and business owners can register with FEMA online at disasterassistance.gov or 800-4627585.)
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Residents continue to recover from major flooding below Pickwick Dam. Approximately 17 homes were affected by the floodwaters on Dec. 24.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation installs a strobe light at the intersection of Central School Road and U.S. Highway 72. The new light is intended to draw attention to the traffic signal at the dangerous intersection.
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