Corinth E-Edition by Daily Corinthian

Inside today: Lifestyles Plus magazine

Daily Corinthian

Saturday Jan. 28,

2012

50 cents

Vol. 116, No. 24

Mostly sunny Today

Tonight

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section

Juveniles charged in tailgate thefts BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Corinth Police Department arrested two juveniles in connection with the theft of truck tailgates. The juveniles were charged

in youth court with grand larceny and released to their parents, said Detective Capt. Ralph Dance. The thefts happened last week on Thursday and Friday. In the first, a woman went into

a local store around 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 19 and found the tailgate of her truck was missing. The second occurred the following day at Walmart Supercenter while the owner of the vehicle was inside the store.

Both vehicles are Chevrolet S-10 pickups. Detective Dee Dee Smith obtained surveillance video from Walmart. Still photos made from the video led to an identification of one of the subjects by

school officials. Police located him at his residence and recovered both tailgates. Dance said the good quality surveillance video led to the crime being solved.

Cookie Kickoff

Residents urged to stay prepared Following the recent outbreaks of severe weather many area residents have worries about the upcoming tornado season. Alcorn Emergency Management Agency Director Ricky Gibens said the most important thing is to be informed of what is going on in one’s surroundings — and to be prepared for severe weather. “The big thing is not to panic and to have a plan in place,” Gibens said. “Most people wait until something is happening, but everyone should have an emergency kit and map.” The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency recommends the following items for a disaster supply kit: Flashlight(s) with extra batteries; portable radio with extra batteries; NOAA Weather Radio; Non-perishable food for at least three days; Bottled water (one gallon per person per day); First Aid Kit with prescription medications; Bedding and clothing for each family member; Blankets and towels; Plastic dishes/eating utensils; Rain jackets/ pants; Sun screen/sunglasses/ mosquito repellent; Baby supplies (food, diapers, medication); Pet supplies (food, leash & carrier, vaccination records); Sanitary supplies; Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, cleanser, bleach, towelettes, toilet paper, trash bags, feminine hygiene products; Copies of important documents; Driver’s license, SS card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, medical records, family pictures, etc.; Cash, enough to fill up your vehicle with

Staff photo by Jebb Johnston

Sydney Brooks (left), Anna Michael and Mollie Michael are ready to take orders for Girl Scout cookies. Old favorites such as Samoas and a new lemon cookie are available.

Girl Scout cookies offer tasty options BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Ready for a Thin Mint, Trefoil or chocolate and caramel Samoa? Local Girl Scouts are taking orders now. Still selling for $3.50 a box, the cookies come in eight varieties, and the cookie program supports a variety of activities for girls. A new cookie joins the lineup for this 100th year of Girl Scouting. “Because Girl Scouting started in Savannah, Georgia, the new cookie is a lemon cookie called Savannah Smiles,” said

Please see SUPPLIES | 2

Jenny Jones, marketing and communications director for Girl Scouts Heart of the South. “It’s kind of like a wedding cookie with a confectioner’s sugar on the outside. Everyone who has tried it has loved it.” Membership Manager Rhonda Tennyson said cookie sales will continue into March, and Corinth residents can look for booth sales at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, Kroger, Belk, Gardner’s and the Corinth Service Center at Harper Square on the weekends of Feb. 24 and March 2, 9 and 16. Cookies are due to arrive the week of Feb. 18.

Jones said the Thin Mint is top seller nationally, but the Samoa, with its chocolate, coconut and caramel, is the favorite of the local council. The rest of the lineup includes the DoSi-Do (peanut butter and oatmeal sandwich), Tagalong (peanut butter and chocolate), Dulce de Leche (a sandy cookie with caramel bits), Trefoil (the longestselling of the cookies) and Thank U BerryMunch (with white chocolate and cranberries). Please see COOKIES | 2

Event will boost ROTC program

Tax credit could boost refunds

BY BRANT SAPPINGTON

jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

BY JEBB JOHNSTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com

Students seeking a unique way to help pay the cost of college tuition combined with an opportunity to serve their country will get an up close look at the military’s ROTC program next week. Northeast Mississippi Community College will host an ROTC Tuition Extravaganza event on its campus on Thursday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Activities will be located in Holliday Hall and the Bonner-Arnold Coliseum parking lot. SFC Tony Shackelford, program director for ROTC at the college, said they’ve invited high school juniors and seniors from throughout Please see ROTC | 3

Photo courtesy U.S. Army

An Apache helicopter similar to this one will be on display at the Northeast Mississippi Community College practice football field as part of the ROTC Tuition Extravaganza scheduled for next Thursday.

Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 13 Wisdom...... 12

Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports...... 10

Don’t leave money on the table that could go in the bank. The Internal Revenue Service is offering that bit of advice to encourage people to take a look at the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as the tax season gets under way. Aimed at low- and moderate-income workers and working families, it is one that often gets overlooked. “One in five eligible taxpayers do not claim the credit, and the biggest reason is that people do not know about it,” IRS EITC Director Verlinda Paul said during a telephone conference with reporters on Friday. It can make a big difference in a taxpayer’s bottom line. Last year, families receiving the

On this day in history 150 years ago Flag Officer Foote advises departmental commander Gen. Halleck to commence operations against Forts Henry and Donelson before the water goes down on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.

Please see MONEY | 2

Local

2 • Daily Corinthian

Saturday, January 28, 2012

County searches for more poll workers BY JEFF YORK Special to the Daily Corinthian

SELMER, Tenn. — An opportunity to do your patriotic duty and help on Election Day is there for those interested in being a poll worker in McNairy County. The presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, March 6 in Ten-

nessee. McNairy County Administrator of Elections Joanie Collins said she is looking for those willing to help her office operate the election precincts in the county. The polls will be open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The main requirement is to be a registered voter

in McNairy County. Collins said the state also had approved allowing 17-year-olds to serve as poll workers in this election. The workers will be paid by the county. “We need around 100 workers to have enough to run our precincts in the county,” said Collins. “I

Things to do Today Red Cross benefit The 5th Annual Evening of Jazz with Grady Nichols will be presented tonight at The Summit in Tupelo from 7-10 p.m. Tickets are $30. For more information, call 662-842-6101. This is a benefit for the American Red Cross Northeast Mississippi Chapter which includes Alcorn County.

Culinary Food Month Alcorn County Welcome Center, 2028

South Tate Street, Corinth is observing Culinary Food Month for January. Visitors to the center can go by and pick up recipe cards, sweet potato recipe brochures, valuable restaurant coupons (while supplies last), menus, the new “eat.drink.Mississippi” magazine with lots of wonderful recipes and other information. The Welcome Center will also be doing random giveaways throughout the month to out of state and/or local travelers who come in and

Art exhibit Nineteen artists with the Mississippi Painters Society will be exhibiting their artwork at the Northeast Mississippi Community College campus in Booneville through Feb. 20. The paintings will be exhibited in the art gallery of Anderson Hall. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.3:30 p.m.

from wages could receive larger refunds threw EITC credit got an extra $2,200 tax refund. In Alcorn County, the mean amount of the credit was a bit higher — $2,465. The county had 4,182 returns claim the credit, for a total of $10.3 million. “It can mean a great deal to working families,” said Paul. “It can make a real difference in paying the rent, buying groceries or putting it away for a rainy day.” A tax return must be filed to get the credit. “Many people don’t take advantage of the credit because they fail to file a return and, in some cases,

they may not have a filing requirement based on income tax alone,” Paul said. She said there is also a misconception that people who do not have children are not eligible. Workers who earned $49,078 or less from wages, self-employment or farm income last year could receive larger refunds if they qualify for the EITC. That could mean up to $464 in EITC for people without children, and a maximum credit of up to $5,751 for those with three or more qualifying children. Unlike most deductions and credits, the EITC is refundable. In other words,

eligible people may get a refund from the IRS even if they owe no tax. The income limit for a single person with no children is $13,660. For a married couple filing jointly and having one child, the limit is $41,132. The irs.gov website offers an assistant to determine eligibility. Paul said the tax preparation software used by the majority of filers will determine eligibility through a series of interview questions. “It depends on the individual circumstances whether special forms are needed” to claim the credit, she said.

SUPPLIES: Gibens recommends people should keep up with local weather on Channel 3 or 5. CONTINUED FROM 1

gas and travelers checks; Emergency Generator. Gibens said families should designate a place to meet up in case of any catastrophic disaster. Also important is to establish emergency contact numbers. If a child can’t find its parents during a disaster, for instance, there should be a designated person to get in touch with.

Another crucial ingredient to preparedness is staying aware of the situation. Gibens recommended that people should keep up with local weather on Channel 3 or 5. “Both of them do a good job and are fairly accurate,” he said. “Both stayed on air and did excellent jobs of telling where the weather was at, where the storm was ap-

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or six workers. The administrator of elections said that all poll workers would be asked to attend an instructional class on the night before the election. This will be the first election in Tennessee that will require voters to have a Photo ID before they

are allowed to vote in the election. Collins does not feel that will be a major problem on Election Day. If you are interested in being a poll worker, call Collins at (731) 645-6432 or come by the election commission office in the McNairy County Courthouse.

Mathis student of the month

MONEY: Workers who earned $49,078 or less CONTINUED FROM 1

believe that being a poll worker is a way for someone to do their civic duty.” Collins said McNairy County has 17 precincts and that the law requires a minimum of four poll workers in each precinct. She did say that some of the larger precincts in the county could require five

proaching.” Another option is a weather radio. A good weather radio can be purchased for around $20 from Wal-Mart or Kroger, Gibens said. “The main thing is to stay informed of your surrounding,” Gibens said. For more information about preparing for severe weather visit www.msema.org.

BY KIM JOBE Corinth School District

John Thomas Mathis, the son of Dr. Phil and Cindy Mathis, was named Rotary Student of the Month for January for the Corinth School District. Mathis, a senior at Corinth High School, is ranked fourth in his class with a 4.1132 grade point average. He scored a 29 on the ACT. Active at CHS, Mathis has been a member of the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout high school. He has also been a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, CHS Hi-Tech Media Production Team, C Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Foreign Language Club, Interact Club, Pep Club and Key Club. Mathis was named to the CHS Hall of Fame. He also made a perfect score on the state algebra exam and scored advanced on the state English exam and the state history exam. Mathis was selected as a Boys State delegate in 2011 by the American Legion, was a Wendy’s Heisman school winner and was chosen as a Lindy Callahan Scholar Athlete for the 2011-2012 school year.

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#1 soccer player in Mississippi by Max Preps. During his senior year, Mathis played varsity kicker for the CHS Football team where he was named CHS 2011 Special Teams Player of the Year. He was also named 1st Team All-Division Punter. Mathis has also played varsity golf during his four years in high school. The team has been state champions in 2010 and 2011. Active in his community, Mathis is a member of First Baptist Church where he is active in the youth group. He has been a VBS volunteer and served Thanksgiving meals each year at The Lighthouse. Mathis has gone on mission trips to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Haiti as well as local and national ministry opportunities. He has been involved in Junior Leadership Alcorn and volunteered with a Community Clean-Up Campaign sponsored by The Alliance. Following graduation from CHS in May, Mathis plans to attend Mississippi State University in the fall and major in biological engineering. He is pursuing a career in dentistry.

Tennessee law extends for hay haulers BY JEFF YORK Special to the Daily Corinthian

Gov. Bill Haslam recently extended an executive order to allow haulers of hay to carry larger loads in their trucks as long as they observe safety requirements. The order is in response to drought and extreme weathers conditions in Texas and across the Southeast, which has left some farmers without access to hay for livestock. “Last year was a tough year for farmers across the Southeast, and we want to be responsive to their needs,” Haslam said. “This order will continue to ensure that much needed hay can be shipped

safely and without delay through Tennessee and along our major interstate corridors.” The order allows for an increase in gross vehicle weight to 95,000 pounds, not exceeding 20,000 pounds per axle load, for semi truck/trailers. The order also increases the height of trailer loads to 13 feet, 6 inches and the width to a maximum of 14 feet during daylight hours. The increase in width allows haulers to transport standard six- to seven-foot round hay bales side by side, increasing the capacity being hauled per truck without a permit. The executive order ex-

tension will expire on May 13. “The governor’s order will continue to help farmers in our own state who may need hay, and it will ensure that market supply and demand is met,” Johnson said. “I applaud the governor for recognizing that farming is a tough but important business in our state and across the region.” Tennessee is a major producer of hay, ranking fifth in the nation. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service forecast that Tennessee farmers produced 1.9 million acres of hay last year, excluding alfalfa, for a total of 4.3 million tons.

Correction

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For his senior project, Mathis co-developed a community sale for the Lighthouse Family Thrift Store with a specific focus on mark e t ing. He spent Mathis many hours over the summer developing the Little Red Wagon Sale, aiding the community with Back-to-School clothing needs. An athlete, Mathis was a member of the CHS Soccer team for four years. The team earned state championship honors in 2010. Mathis was named to the First Team All-State Soccer Team in 2010 and 2011. He was also the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Player of the Year in 2010 and as tapped for the All-Region Team in 2011. Mathis was named the Clarion-Ledger Athlete of the Week in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He currently holds the CHS school record on goals scored and is ranted the

A story on area driver’s license offices that appeared in Friday’s Daily Corinthian contained incorrect information on the Corinth office. The Mississippi

Highway Patrol driver’s license office in Corinth is located in the Northeast at Corinth building on Harper Road. A selfservice kiosk is also available after hours

and for those who don’t want to stand in line. The Burnsville office is open the second and fourht Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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USPS 142-560 The Daily Corinthian is published daily Tuesday through Sunday by PMG, LLC. at 1607 South Harper Road, Corinth, Miss.Periodicals postage paid at Corinth, MS 38834

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Local

3 â&#x20AC;˘ Daily Corinthian

Nominations sought for awards

Deaths

BY JEFF YORK

Joyce Whitaker Beck

Joyce Whitaker Beck died Jan. 25, 2012, at Country Cottage in Corinth. She was born Dec. 18, 1943, in Salisbury, N.C., to the late James and Dorothy Whitaker. She was a registered nurse that worked for Holly Springs Public School System for 11 years, Marshall County Hospital and retired from Marshall County Health Dept. Survivors include her son, Jerry B. Beck and his wife, Diane, of Glen; a daughter, Jacque Kazemba and her husband, Mike, of Holly Springs; brothers James (Carolyn) Whitaker, Gerald (Becky) Whitaker, Joe (Linda) Bartlett, Bobby (Pam) Bartlett all of Salisbury, N.C., and Jim (Kathy) Bartlett of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and sisters JoAnn Bartlett of Salisbury, N.C., and Evelyn Gray Biggs of Orange Park, Fla.; and grandchildren Jake and Kimball Beck and Hallie, Drew and Will Kazemba. A memorial service will held at 2 p.m. Monday at Christ Episcopal Church in Holly Springs with The Very Reverenced Bruce M. McMillan officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to service time. Memorial contributions can be made to Christ Episcopal Church of Holly Springs or First United Methodist Church of Corinth. Memorial Funeral Home of Corinth is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences: www.memorialcorinth. com

Raevyn King

A graveside service for Raevyn Alexandria King, infant daughter of Amber Nicole Miller and Steven Anthony King, is set for 2 p.m. today at Forrest Hill Cemetery. The infant died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Germantown, Tenn. In addition to her parents, survivors are her grandparents, Sherri Batie, Robert Miller and Deanne Szuflita. The Rev. John Hall will officiate the service. Patterson Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

ROTC: Shackelford said he feels many students may not be aware of the opportunities ROTC offers CONTINUED FROM 1

the area for a day of fun and learning. The event is open to any student interested in learning more about the program including home-school and private school students as well as public school students. He said many schools throughout the area have already signed up to bring interested students to the program. ROTC, which stands for Reserve Officers Training Corps, offers students the chance to study in their chosen major while also participating in ROTC classes and activities. Once a student has 30 hours of college credit accumulated they can begin receiving scholarships to help pay for college through the ROTC. Students in NEMCCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program would participate for their two-years

at the community college, then transfer into an ROTC program at a four-year institution, explained Shackelford. After a student receives their bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree while meeting academic and other requirements, they will be inducted into either the Army or the Army National Guard at the rank of Second Lieutenant to continue their service. Shackelford said he feels many students may not be aware of the opportunities ROTC offers and the goal of the upcoming event is to help students understand the ways participating in the program can benefit them both now and in the future. For more information on the Tuition Extravaganza and the NEMCC ROTC program, call Shackelford at 662-6872450.

Special for Daily Corinthian

The Department of Environment and Conservation is inviting Tennesseans to submit nominations for the Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2012 Environmental Stewardship Awards. The awards recognize Tennesseans who go above and beyond to protect the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse environment. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Caring for Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s numerous natural resources positively impacts the health of our communities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the air we breathe to the recreational activities we enjoy every day,â&#x20AC;? Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are pleased to once again

be in a position to recognize environmental leaders and innovators across the state whose stewardship efforts lead the way in protecting Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air, land and water.â&#x20AC;? The Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Environmental Stewardship Awards cover 10 categories: Building Green; Clean Air; Energy and Renewable Resources; Environmental Education and Outreach (business category); Environmental Education and Outreach (school category); Land Use; Materials Management; Natural Heritage; Sustainable Performance and Lifetime Achievement. Any individual, business, organization, edu-

BY ANGELA STOREY astorey@dailycorinthian.com

For Kristin Chittom, working as the community representative for the Mid-South Division of the American Cancer Society is more than just a job. It is her passion. The Prentiss County resident has only been in the position since November 2011 but already feels working with the American Cancer Society is what she was meant to be doing at this time in her life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I lost my mother to colon cancer when I was two. I feel so blessed this is my job but this is also my way for fighting back for her so other people can keep their mamas and family members and have more birthdays.â&#x20AC;? Her mother, Veronica Henry, was only 39 when she lost her battle with cancer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I try to stress to everybody to get yearly examinations,â&#x20AC;? Chittom says. The area Chittom works in as a community representative for the American Cancer Society encompasses Alcorn, Prentiss County (Booneville and Baldwyn), Tishomingo and Tippah Counties where she is working with volunteers to coordinate

Relay for Life activities in each of those places. A typical work day for Chittom can include going to communities in her coverage area, meeting with volunteers, recruiting new teams, and motivating teams already established in those areas, plus a myriad of other responsibilities to ensure each areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society is the best it can be. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I love it,â&#x20AC;? Chittom says of her work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of it.â&#x20AC;? Although her office is in Tupelo, a look inside her packed Tahoe shows she stays on the road much of the time, taking promotional items and Relay for Life information and materials to the various places she visits throughout the week. After graduating from Jumpertown High School in 2006, Chittom attended NEMCC before graduating from Blue Mountain College in 2010. Prior to becoming ACS community representative, she worked for Ricoh, an office equipment company. As time went on she felt there was something more for her to be doing. She learned about the job with the American Cancer Society and applied. She would later

CONTINUED FROM 1

Jones said 100 percent of proceeds stay in the local area to provide opportunities for girls. Funds also help the council provide sum-

mer camp and other activities. Alcorn County has 184 active Girls Scouts, Tennyson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very thankful for the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support of these girls in

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ple, if a person wears a size 10 shoe, he would donate $10. Chittom is available to speak to civic clubs about Relay for Life. Schools, churches and businesses are also encouraged to participate. New teams can still be formed to take part in the area Relay for Life events planned. Chittom will participate in the half-marathon (13.2 miles) in New Orleans March 4, 2012, benefiting the American Cancer Society. Participants must raise $1,250 to take part in it. She is appreciative of Tony Smith of Booneville Community Pharmacy who gave a $1,000 donation and to Martin Hill Free Will Baptist Church in Booneville for a $250 donation. She is running in honor of Linda Nix, the aunt of her husband, Luke. Mrs. Nix is very special to her and is battling cancer now. Chittom is anticipating working with volunteers in all the upcoming Relay for Life events set to take place. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to wake up and love what you do.â&#x20AC;? For more information about Relay for Life or to schedule a speaking engagement, please contact Kristin Chittom at 662554-8652.

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learn she was one of 100 applicants for the job. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A month went by and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hear anything. My heart was broken. I needed that interview. I got a call and after what seemed like 100 million interviews, the Lord saw fit to give me the job and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been on fire ever since,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m just so thankful that he would choose me to be the one to represent the American Cancer Society. And I tell my story everywhere I go.â&#x20AC;? Chittom also hears wonderful stories from cancer survivors, caregivers, and friends. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love it,â&#x20AC;? she said. The dates for upcoming Relays for Life she is working with are: Tishomingo, May 18; Alcorn County and Baldwyn, June 1; Booneville, June 8; and Ripley, June 16. Relay for Life events typically take place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because cancer never sleeps. We experience the life of a cancer patient when we stay up all night,â&#x20AC;? she said. She hopes to see everyone involved in all the communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do a fundraiser, be a sponsor. Any amount would be welcome.â&#x20AC;? One of the new fundraising tools this year is inviting people to donate funds in the amount of their shoe size. For exam-

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the state and to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond to enhance our shared environment.â&#x20AC;? A panel of judges representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental and academic professionals will select award recipients based on criteria including on-theground achievement, innovation and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2012. Award recipients will be announced in late May 2012. For more information about each category, judging criteria and nomination forms, visit TDECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Web site at www.tn.gov/ environment/awards.

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cational institution or agency is eligible, provided they are located in Tennessee and projects were completed during the 2011 calendar year. All nominees must have a minimum three years of environmental compliance with the Department of Environment and Conservation. Self-nominations are encouraged. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The quality of our environment plays such an important role in the healthy lifestyle Tennesseans enjoy and expect,â&#x20AC;? said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These annual awards give us an opportunity to acknowledge outstanding efforts throughout

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Reece Terry, publisher

Mark Boehler, editor

4 • Saturday, January 28, 2012

Corinth, Miss.

Guest View

Progressives lead attack against rich Do you hate “rich” people? I’m not really sure who is rich, though President Obama and those who agree with his progressive political speeches define the rich as “millionaires and billionaires.” Daniel I have no reason to hate anyGardner body who’s rich, even if I knew anyone who were rich. I’ve Columnist never asked anyone how much money they had, and I doubt I’ve ever met a billionaire. The progressive left has repeatedly attacked rich people for not paying their fair share or getting way too rich compared with the rest of us as if their getting rich has somehow kept us from making money. I’m not competing with rich people to make money. And, I don’t know any rich people who are making money I could have made if they hadn’t made it. So, what’s the big deal about attacking rich people? President Obama says he is calling for “a return to American values of fairness for all and responsibility from all.” The only people I know who are not held accountable under the same laws as the rest of us are congressmen, presidents and bureaucrats. Oh sure, rich people get special treatment when they’re accused of breaking the law. That’s a time-honored tradition that goes way beyond the founding of America. When America won her independence, our Founding Fathers went to great lengths to make sure we would not become an aristocracy like European nations at the time. George Washington had to rebuke his followers who wanted to make him king of America. Washington was one of, if not our greatest, presidents, though elite progressives rarely include him in a top four list. President Obama pitches the current debate for president like this: “We can go in two directions: one is towards less opportunity and less fairness; or, we can fight for where I think we need to go — building an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few.” The economy isn’t working for anybody these days, and President Obama has been in charge for three years now. Unemployment has skyrocketed under his leadership, gas prices have doubled and are threatening to go as high as $5/gallon this summer, and we have virtually no more jobs today than we had in 2007 before the financial crisis. Mr. Obama’s efforts to fix the housing crisis have failed, and his stimulus resulted in us throwing nearly $1 trillion down a money pit of projects that were laughably not shovelready. I agree with the president that we need to build an economy that works for everyone, but frankly I don’t believe President Obama’s efforts have worked so far. President Obama characterizes GOP approaches as “less opportunity and less fairness.” Are Republicans really advocating less opportunity for Americans? Less fairness? Our Founders must have done something right when they wrote the Constitution and gave Americans more opportunities to succeed than any other people at any other time. How did we become such a prosperous and free nation? Did bigger government make us prosperous? Heavens no! Hard work and opportunities have made us the richest nation on earth. Yes, we have been blessed with millionaires and billionaires who live amongst us and that’s not a bad thing. We shouldn’t hate people because they’ve been successful, or envy them or attack them. Why would anyone want to create more division among us than we already have? Daniel L. Gardner is a former resident of Corinth who now lives in Starkville. He may be contacted at Daniel@DanLGardner.com.

Worth Quoting Beware the hobby that eats. — Benjamin Franklin

Prayer for today God of truth, help us to talk about you more often to those who do not believe in you. Amen.

A verse to share We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. — Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Reece Terry publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

Going for complicated but pragmatic choice 1964, Lyndon JohnA longtime conson used a quesservative friend sent tionable encounter me an email after between U.S. and reading something North Vietnamese positive I had written vessels in the Gulf about Newt Gingrich: of Tonkin to ram a “Whoever votes (for) Cal resolution through or supports Newt for Thomas Congress that sucked president is out of us deeper into the their mind.” Columnist Vietnam War, which It wouldn’t be the needlessly killed first time I’ve been more than 58,000 Americalled crazy. He continued: “You can cans. Johnson had one wife, believe in redemption, as I but allegedly had a roving do, but you are not think- eye. Richard Nixon by all indiing seriously if you support a person for president with cations was faithful to Pat, the baggage he is carrying. but unfaithful to the ConWhat an example for our stitution. Gerald Ford and children and future genera- Betty (who was divorced) tions when we dismiss char- were pro-choice on aboracter as the foundation for tion, which is anathema to social conservatives. leadership.” Jimmy Carter was a faithThere’s more, but I get his ful, church-going, Sunday point. bornThe evangelical Christian school-teaching, population of South Caroli- again man. He was a profile na apparently believes that of what social conservatives while character is a good say they want in a president, thing, the ability to defeat yet they now judge him a President Obama and dis- failure. Ronald Reagan was mantle the welfare state is divorced, but a good president. more important. Bill Clinton kept the tabHere, in part, is how I responded to my friend: What loids, talk radio and mainis the standard for selecting stream media busy with a president and who de- his marital transgressions. cides? Franklin Roosevelt His apologists said sex was cheated on Eleanor with a private matter between Lucy Mercer and perhaps him and his family and had others, yet he helped to win no bearing on his ability to World War II and led us out do his job. George W. Bush of the Great Depression. In spoke of being “redeemed,”

as Gingrich does, but from alcohol, not women. The judgment of history is yet to be rendered on his eight years in office. And now we have Barack Obama, who is the husband of one wife and seems to love her and their two daughters. But conservatives don’t like his policies. A New York Times editorial last week castigated Gingrich, not for his three marriages and acknowledged adultery, but for his “sermonizing.” The newspaper thinks that because of his past sins Gingrich has no right “to tell Americans how to run their lives.” To say that Gingrich has not always lived up to the ideals he professes does not diminish those ideals. When Thomas Jefferson wrote and delegates of the Continental Congress edited the Declaration of Independence, some of those assembled owned slaves. Did writing “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” ring less true because of slavery? No, it simply set an ideal in place that nearly 90 years later Abraham Lincoln (and 100 years after that, Martin Luther King Jr.) would reference in successful efforts to force government to rec-

ognize the rights of AfricanAmericans. As America grows more secular, less religious and less married, appeals to “morality” will increasingly fall on deaf ears. Charles Murray wrote about this “new American divide” in last Saturday’s Wall Street Journal. Voters on one side of the divide — the “traditionalists” — are conflicted. They remind me of the film “It’s Complicated” in which Meryl Streep has an affair with her remarried ex-husband (Alec Baldwin), while entertaining the amorous intentions of her architect (Steve Martin). Social conservatives seem similarly conflicted in the Romney vs. Gingrich vs. Santorum contest. Two of the candidates have had just one wife and they are religious. And then there’s Newt. Conservative voters are being forced to make a pragmatic choice between their “traditional values” and who can best defeat President Obama. If Gingrich’s convincing victory in the South Carolina primary is any indication, they appear to be making that choice. Readers may e-mail Cal Thomas at tmseditors@tribune.com.

Gingrich gains ground slaying the media dragon cious, negative naIf Newt Gingrich is ture of much of the elected president of news media makes it the United States this harder to govern this year, he will owe it all country, harder to to John King and to attract decent people his former wife, Marito run for public ofanne. Bill fice.” Gingrich was Let’s go back to the recent presidenO’Reilly rolling. “And I am appalled tial debate in South The O’Reilly that you would begin Carolina. There stood Factor a presidential debate Gingrich, gripping his on a topic like that.” podium, staring at King was thrown off his King, the CNN debate moderator. The former Speaker game. He backpedaled. of the House had to be de- Gingrich continued to lash lighted. King was doing just out. Finally, King sought a what Gingrich and his ad- mandatory eight count: “As visers thought he might do: you noted, Mr. Speaker, this He was trying to embarrass story did not come from our Newt by asking him about network (CNN).” Forget it. Gingrich hamsalacious stuff his bitter exmered him again: “John, it wife told “Nightline.” “She says you asked her, was repeated by your netsir, to enter into an open work. You chose to start the marriage,” King said, and debate with it. Don’t try to the crowd hushed. “Would blame somebody else.” It was all over. Mitt Romyou like to take some time ney, Rick Santorum and to respond to that?” Gingrich paused a beat. Ron Paul should have just Then, with a slight sneer, walked off the stage. Ginhe let loose: “No, but I will. grich had slayed the media I think the destructive, vi- dragon, and blood was on

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the ground. Nothing else would matter that night, and now Gingrich has a decent shot at securing the Republican nomination. Before King and Marianne, the speaker was dead in the water. One thing is certain: Gingrich knows about anger. He well understands that many conservative Americans have had enough of being loathed by Hollywood and by the media chieftains in New York and Washington. The condescension shown to the right is undeniable. Every media survey ever taken shows that the vast majority of press and entertainment people are committed liberals. And unlike Walter Cronkite, who largely hid his leftwing ideology, today’s media folks are out of the closet. Gingrich also understands that he cannot win the Republican nomination without a populist uprising.

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His targeting of the media is brilliant, and now the speaker says he will go after the anti-religion crowd. But there is one big problem: It is difficult to sustain outrage. It gets exhausting, and it can become circuslike if not used wisely. Gingrich had his moment, and he nailed it. It will be hard for him to duplicate what happened in South Carolina on a regular basis. But everybody now knows there is a deep-seated anger among many Americans who believe they have lost their country. They are looking for a champion. If a candidate can truly fit that profile, he just might become the next president of the United States. Veteran TV news anchor Bill O’Reilly is host of the Fox News show “The O’Reilly Factor” and author of the book “Pinheads and Patriots: Where You Stand in the Age of Obama.”

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Daily Corinthian • Saturday, January 28, 2012 • 5

Local McComb teen hopes to reunite with dad BY KAREN FREEMAN McComb Enterprise-Journal

MCCOMB — Anthony McCray Jr. has plenty of reasons to be angry. In 2001, when he was just 6 years old, his mother, Jennifer Bonds McCray, died from a gunshot fired by his father. With no mother to turn to, and his father sent to prison for life, Anthony grew up with his mother’s extended family, primarily in the care of his aunt, Nancy Bennett of McComb, and now with his uncle, Ronald Bonds. Instead of anger, Anthony is deeply thankful for the loving network of family members who stepped up and took in him and his sister Aspen, now 14. “Every single one of them made sure we got everything we needed. They always treated us like we were their kids,” he said. But no matter how much love they have to give, they will never replace his mother. “My cousins and my friends, they have ma-

mas,” said Anthony, an 18-year-old McComb High School senior and honor student. “They wake up on Christmas morning and see their moms and dads.” Forgiveness may be too much to expect from somebody in Anthony’s shoes, but the teenager said he has let go of his anger against his father, and he hopes he can find a way to have him in his life. Thanks to the pardon decisions made by former Gov. Haley Barbour as he was leaving office, Anthony may get that opportunity. Anthony McCray Sr., who was a trusty at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, was one of the many convicted criminals who received pardons from Barbour. McCray’s release opened old wounds. Along with the news that his father could be a free man came the painful memories of his mother’s death and father’s incarceration. McCray’s tenuous freedom has been a lot for his children to deal

with. Anthony Jr. knows the general public and his mother’s family are outraged by the pardons, particularly those of inmates like McCray Sr., who committed murder. They believe McCray should still be in prison. Harder still for Anthony Jr. is the knowledge that his father could be sent back to prison if Attorney General Jim Hood and others who are opposed to the pardons get their way. It would mean he would, in effect, lose his father twice. Anthony wants to try to find something good in the tragic circumstances of his life. He saw his father only once while he was in custody, and that was a brief visit at the Governor’s Mansion, a couple of years ago. “I was kind of happy to have another chance with a real father,” he said. In between school and work at Footlocker in Edgewood Mall, Anthony is taking baby steps to build a relationship with the man who has been

out of his life for nearly 12 years. “He’s trying to reach out,” Anthony said of his father. The teenager’s experiences are not things kids his age know about. Last semester, Anthony shared his feelings with classmates in teacher Vickie Malone’s sociology class at McComb High. “I told them how happy they should be to have both their parents. They should be thankful to wake up every morning to say, ‘I love you’ to them,” he said. “It’s hard with no parents.” His words touched his classmates and his teacher. “My kids write every day,” Malone said. “I give them a journal prompt. On a particular day, Anthony had written something about growing up without his parents. I wrote back that I’d like to know more about this. “Later in the week, he said, ‘Ms. Malone, my daddy’ ... and he just went into what happened. It was really powerful, and

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drives him to succeed in school and cope with his childhood tragedy has always been his sister’s well-being. He believes it’s his duty to look out for her best interests. “I’m going to be there for her. Always,” he said. That’s a big responsibility for a teenager, and there have been times when Anthony has been weighted down by his troubles. “There have been plenty of times I wanted to give up. But you can’t give up when hard times come. No matter what,” he said. He keeps that advice with him always — the words “Can’t Give Up” are tattooed on his right arm. Anthony has high hopes for the future. His favorite subjects are math and science, and he wants to attend the University of Mississippi or Mississippi State and earn a degree in computer engineering. When graduation arrives, seniors in caps and gowns will be surrounded by loving families.

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such a shock,” Malone said of Anthony’s impromptu address to his class. “It was really hard to be the grown-up in the room and keep things moving.” Anthony agreed it was a big moment. “It was so serious. Just about everybody in the classroom was crying.” He is frustrated by kids who take their family life for granted. “I don’t like seeing people disrespecting their parents. I wish I had mine every single day,” he said. In the years since his mother’s death, Anthony has been surrounded by people who have offered help. He’s had counselors, teachers, relatives and friends to prop him up and keep him straight. He’s especially fond of Malone, MHS girls basketball coach Angelia Johnson and science teacher Mary Jane McDonald. “They put me in a comfort zone,” he said of the instructors. “They make sure I’m always all right.” Anthony said what

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