McNairy County District names teachers of the year
Prentiss County Six charged in Booneville assault
Education ACHS names honor roll
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Friday Jan. 27,
2017
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 121, No. 23
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • Two sections
Park walking tracks to get upgrades BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Plans are beginning for improvements to the walking tracks at Crossroads Regional Park and Bishop Park. At Crossroads Regional Park,
the focus will be accessibility improvements for the track, which would be widened and reconfigured. The Bishop Park track would be reconfigured and surfaced. The plans are in anticipation of Lions Club grant
funding combined with support from others. Park Director Ray Holloway particularly credits Lions Club member Steve Little, who has a genetic vision disorder — Leber’s hereditary optic neu-
Corks for a cause Wine tasting supports friends of the park
ropathy — with pushing for the project. “My goal was to make it lowvision accessible,” said Little, a justice court judge. A planned site map and mile markers would all include
BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com
kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
City and county schools could see public education funding increases in 2018 if the recent EdBuild proposal is put into place by lawmakers. The Associated Press released a look at how districts might fare in a scenario breakdown of the proposal. The numbers show statewide funding would increase by $195 million. While the Alcorn School District might only see an additional $718,011 or $224 per student, it’s the Corinth School District who might come out in better shape. According to AP numbers, Corinth would receive an additional $1.2 million or $471 per student. Lawmakers first saw the proposal to change the state’s outdated education funding formula last week. EBuild, a research company hired by the state, presented those recommendations. The current formula, called the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, was put into law 20 years ago but has been fully funded only twice. In 2017, the underfunding of MAEP will cost Alcorn County schools $1.2 million. Corinth city schools will also see a loss of just under $950,000. Some lawmakers are unhappy the new EdBuild proposal will force locals — through tax
Staff photo by Kimberly Shelton
Committee member Jetta Conway offered a sampling of California wines during “Inn Love With Napa Valley” – the Friends of Pickwick Landing State Park’s 5th Annual Wine Tasting. wine tasting and somewhere in the neighborhood of 200 people in attendance, the 2015 event proved to be a smashing success. “We are expecting just as many, if not more this time and look forward to seeing ev-
eryone as enjoy a night out in support of the Friends of Pickwick Landing State Park,” said Event Chair Sheri Rinks. “The wine tasting is our largest fundraiser of the year and a great
Easom foundation hosts annual gospel concert BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Angelic voices will be lifted in praise as the Easom Outreach Foundation presents their 4th Annual Gospel Fest. Slated for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 12, the doors of the Easom Community Center will open promptly at 1:30 p.m. As in past years, the 2017 concert will feature local and regional talents. This year’s performers include: The “Alcorn Baptist Church Junior Choir” of Kossuth; The “Booneville Association Mass Choir” of Booneville; Lee and Glo-
Please see PARK | 2A
New funding plan could boost districts
BY KIMBERLY SHELTON Attendees will pop corks for a cause as the take part in the 6th Annual Friends of Pickwick Landing State Park Wine Tasting. Held at the State Park Inn, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, the “Wine & Jazz” event will feature a great selection of wines, live music and a taste of the “Big Easy.” Dishes on the New Orleans-inspired menu will include muffaletta dip, Jambalaya-stuffed peppers, Crawfish Monica, corn maque choux and New Orleans barbeque shrimp. Fruit, cheese, veggies, dips, olives and antipasto skewers will also be served. Decadent desserts will include bread pudding, King cake squares and banana pudding. The cost to attend is a $40 per person or $80 per couple donation to benefit the Friends. As an added incentive, the Inn is also offering a $20 discount on rooms for those who attend the wine tasting making their stay only $80 for the night as opposed to the normal $100 rate. Live musical entertainment will be provided by the “Harvey Thompson Jazz Trio” who has performed with such acts as Lyle Lovett, Bob Segar, Elton John, Buddy Guy, BB King, Levon Helm, Greg Allman and James Brown. With approximately $6,500 raised during the groups last
Braille text at Crossroads Regional Park. Holloway is also seeking to add a resting and stretching area, about 10 benches to be sit-
Please see TASTING | 2A
The current formula, called the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, was put into law 20 years ago but has been fully funded only twice. contributions — to pay more to fund education than the state. House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves have both promised to make changes to the state’s archaic education funding system during the current session. To reach the EdBuild scenario conclusions, AP took the base student cost, or amount allocated to educate a student with no special requirements, and then added extra per-student amounts proposed for special education students, gifted students, high school students and those learning English. Extremely rural districts received a extra bump. EdBuild proposes increasing amounts of extra funding for special education students Please see FUNDING | 2A
People of the Crossroads Sal Garcia, Corinth
ria Carswell of Olive Branch; “4-Christ Gospel Singers” of Corinth; The “New Prospect Gospel Group” of Nettleton; The “Mount Olive Male Chorus” of Baldwyn; The “Oak Grove Male Chorus” and “Oak Grove Junior Chorus,” both of Rienzi; “The Spiritual Travelers Gospel Group” and “Spiritual Travelers Junior Choir,” both of Ripley; The “Terry Street Male Gospel Group” of Ripley and others. Sisters Annie Agnew and Catherine Patterson of Corinth are also expected to perform.
When he turned 17, Sal Garcia started working for his dad, Tony, at Mi Toro Mexican Restaurant. “I was running chips, working in the kitchen ... doing whatever needed to be done,” said Garcia. “I started from the bottom.” Now 33-years-old, the Los Angeles native acts as the main manager at the Mi Toro empire’s flagship restaurant at U.S. 72 and Fulton Drive. “I’ve always loved meeting new people who come into the restaurant,” said Garcia, who never meets a stranger. “We’ve got people who have been eating here every week since we first opened ... they’re like family.” Garcia said he likes to take at least one trip a year back home to L.A. and to Mexico to visit extended family. Married to Beatriz, the couple has three children, 11-year-old Anthony, 6-year-old Henasie and 2-year-old Alizae. Staff photo by Zack Steen
Please see CONCERT | 2A
25 years ago
10 years ago
New Alcorn School District Superintendent Mike Wamsley begins serving on the Northeast Mississippi Community College Board of Trustees.
Legendary McNairy County Sheriff Clifford Coleman, who served five terms, dies at the age of 88.
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