011016 daily corinthian e edition

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Inside today: More than $135 in coupon savings Tishomingo County Supervisors make several appointments to start year

Prentiss County Radio station to return to FM broadcasting

Tippah County Firefighters receive statewide help

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www.dailycorinthian.com

Sunday Jan. 10, 2016 $1.50

Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 9

• Corinth, Mississippi •

Much colder Today

Tonight

34

15

0% chance of rain

20 pages • Two sections

Woman robbed at gunpoint at Wal-Mart BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Corinth police are investigating an armed robbery boldly committed in the busy Walmart parking lot Friday afternoon. It happened about 5:45 p.m. as a woman was finishing load-

ing purchases into her vehicle. “It kind of appeared like the guy had been casing the parking lot,” said Detective Heather Glass. The suspect, who took more than $100 from the woman, is described as a heavy-set white

male in his mid-30s to mid-40s with a scruffy beard. He wore a gray hoodie and drove a vehicle that a witness described as possibly a 2004 or 2005 Ford Explorer or Expedition. It didn’t have a tag and was described as “mossy oak” green in color.

The store’s video surveillance shows the suspect park on row nine about mid-way in the parking lot. “He left the car running and walked down the aisle toward the store and walked past the female that he eventually

robbed,” said Glass. “Then he came back and tapped her on the shoulder.” He asked for money, and the woman told him she didn’t have any. He then held a gun up to Please see ROBBERY | 2A

Locals comment on gun control County aims to BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

As he enters his final year of his final four-year term this week, President Barack Obama introduced his latest plan to strengthen the sale of firearms. The president hopes to help keep guns from people who shouldn’t have them.

At the center of the plan are new guidelines that seeks to clarify who is “in the business” of selling firearms and has to get a federal license. “I think there does need to be restrictions in place for those selling guns,” said Sammy Green, co-owner of Big Boys Pawn, Guns and Gold in

Corinth. “There are so many individuals out there who sell guns to known criminals, so I do think there should be something setup that forces a background check for any new gun owner.” Like all retail stores who sell

tighten spending, address deficit

Please see GUNS | 2A

BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

“Steppin’ Up and Steppin’ Out for Our Children” is set for Jan. 16 at the Weaver Center. Committee members Shirley Rolland (from left), Annie Bean, Marcus Simmons and Nellie Jones met recently to go over plans for the event.

Program to aid Project Attention BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

The Minority Volunteers Organization Inc. is stepping up for the child of Project Attention. “Steppin’ Up and Steppin’ Out for Our Children” is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16 at the Weaver Center. Proceeds earned from the event will ben-

efit the after school program at Project Attention. “We had a wonderful attendance last year,” said event committee member and Project Attention Director Shirley Rolland of the organization’s major fundraiser. Tickets are $75. Deadline to purchase tickets is Jan. 13. “We are shooting for at least

75 people,” said Rolland of the event held in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. “This helps keep the doors open at Project Attention.” Project Attention is a partner agency of United Way. Currently, 64 children take part in the after school program. Please see PROJECT | 5A

For the next few years, county offices may be asked to tighten the belt until it hurts. As the county looks to get in a better financial position, new Chancery Clerk Greg Younger is formulating a letter that, with the board’s approval, will soon go to department heads. “We have been in a tight financial position for the past three fiscal years,” he said. “We have addressed it somewhat by borrowing money, but we have got to change that outlook, because you cannot continue to operate in the red and to borrow money.” The county has two notes after borrowing $675,000 a couple of years ago and $900,000 more recently. Departments will be encouraged to live within their budgets. “Also, I want them to know that just because they have $100,000 budgeted doesn’t mean that they have to spend that whole $100,000,” said Younger. “If you’ve got $10,000 left at the end of the year, then that’s being a good steward of the county’s money.” Deficits in solid waste collection, 911 and the correctional facility have been blamed for the budget situation. At the end of December, which completed the first

quarter of the fiscal year, the jail had a negative balance of $645,753.10. But the correctional facility’s negative balance doesn’t paint a true picture of its financial situation, according to the new sheriff, Ben Caldwell. “It’s really not a deficit other than on paper,” he said. Under the original agreement for the facility, Alcorn County is to pay $50,375 monthly for the housing of 65 prisoners at $25 per day. Those funds, along with other reimbursements paid to the correctional facility, go to the Bank of Clarksdale, where the bond for construction of the facility is held. The county then has to request the funds for housing its own prisoners be returned to itself. The county has made that payment only sporadically. “If it’s correct that the county hasn’t paid $1.8 million, we would have over a $1 million surplus,” said Caldwell, who took over management of the jail in November. “The appearance now is that the way the jail has been run is that we’re losing money, but we’re not.” The garbage and solid waste fund will lose money again this year. The county’s costs for the year are projected to total $660,000, while millage is projected to bring in Please see BUDGET | 5A

Bain focused on transportation, education for new session BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

(Editors note: This is part one of a four part series featuring Crossroads area state lawmakers as they begin their new term in the Mississippi Legislature. District 2

Rep. Nick Bain, District 1 Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter, District 3 Rep. Tracy Arnold, District 4 Rep. Jody Steverson and District 4 Sen. Rita Potts Parks will be featured.) JACKSON — With his loving wife Lesley by his side and his three chil-

dren patiently watching from the sidelines, Corinth’s Nick Bain was sworn into his second term this week as Alcorn County’s voice in Mississippi’s House of Representatives. After coming off a successful first

four years representing the community he holds dear in Mississippi’s Legislature, the local attorney is ready for the 2016 four-month session to begin. Please see SESSION | 2A

Bain

25 years ago

10 years ago

The Alcorn County Firefighters Association hosts its first official meeting. President Ed Settle says the goal of the group is to improve fire protection in the county.

The American Legion Post 6 Auxiliary honors Mary Ruth Feazell for 33 years of service and membership in the legion support group.

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