Tuesday Feb. 7,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 32
Partly sunny Today
Tonight
57
36
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Man killed in motorcycle crash Mishap blocks traffic on 72 BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A 63-year-old Corinth man was killed when his motorcycle struck another vehicle on Monday. Martin Dwain Whitehurst, 924 Taylor St., was transported to Magnolia Regional Health Center where he was pronounced dead following the 2:30 p.m. accident on U.S. Highway 72. Whitehurst was riding westbound on Highway 72 on a 2003 Honda when Courtney Suzanne Wilbanks, 38, of Walnut, pulled out in front of the motorcycle while exiting New Hope Road to head east on Highway 72. “He made contact with the front of her vehicle and was ejected off the motorcycle,” said Corinth Police Department Captain Chuck Hinds. Whitehurst hit the center of the 2002 Honda Minivan according to Hinds. Traffic was blocked in the both eastbound lanes for over Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Please see CRASH | 2
A Corinth man was killed Monday afternoon when his motorcycle struck a minivan.
Sheriff wants civil service system Watershed BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn County sheriff is seeking county support for placing his department under the civil service system. In a preliminary discussion with the Board of Supervisors Monday morning, Sheriff Charles Rinehart presented a draft of proposed local and private legislation that would authorize the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors to create a civil service commission for the sheriff’s department. He asked supervisors to read it and bring questions to the next board meeting. Although it is not required, the sheriff said he will not pursue the change without the
board’s support. If approved by the legislature, it would authorize the board to form a threemember commission and set forth procedures for removal, suspension, demotion and discharge of employees. It would apply to all full-time employees except the sheriff and chief deputy. Rinehart said it would protect employees during leadership changes. “I think a man ought to be able to go to work for the Alcorn County sheriff’s office, keep your nose clean, do your job and retire,” said Rinehart. Several counties in south Mississippi have implemented the civil service system for their sheriff’s departments.
“Alabama has had it for years,” the sheriff said. “Tennessee is going to it. Hardin and McNairy have already gone to it.” In other items relating to law enforcement, the board received a proposed interlocal agreement with the city of Farmington for housing inmates at a cost of $25 per inmate per day at the Alcorn County Justice Center. State inmates housed in the regional jail portion of the facility during January numbered from 294 to 300, yielding a payment to the county of $273,013.20. The state paid another $25,000 for additional state inmates housed on the county side of the facility during the month.
Kimberly-Clark makes hefty contribution BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
A local industry has made another big investment in the community. Kimberly-Clark representatives presented a check for $166,602 to United Way of Corinth and Alcorn County on Monday. “This is their highest contribution ever,” said Betsy Whitehurst, United Way executive director. Kimberly-Clark’s donation came at the end of their annual fundraising drive in which the corporation matches funds raised by employees for donation to United Way of Corinth and Alcorn County. The Kimberly-Clark fundraising effort begins in the Fall, explained Logistic Leader Michael Lee, and includes a golf
Kimberly-Clark contributed to the community with a $166,602 donation to United Way of Corinth and Alcorn County on Monday.
Please see DONATION | 2
Corinth brothers are motocross Kings of the Hill BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Benjamin and Alex Rose have done it again. Both boys recently won series championships in the King of the Hill Motocross Series and picked up their 7-foot-tall trophies, championship number plates and bibs at an awards ceremony
in Jackson, Tenn. The Corinth brothers are no strangers to the sport. They have been racing motocross for four years, have won multiple championships and raced in national championships. For the recent racing accomplishment, their family traveled to 16 races in six states.
Their previous motocross wins include the 2011 Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee Series; 2011 South Central Regional Championship; Heart of Dixie Championship; and StadiumX Championship. Benjamin, a fifth-grader at Corinth Middle School, won the championship for 65cc
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Wisdom...... 10
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
bikes in his age bracket. He was riding a Lake Hill Motors Trackside Cobra 65. He also took home third place in the larger 85cc class aboard his Lake Hill Motors supported Yamaha YZ85. Alex, who attends second grade at Corinth ElemenPlease see ROSE | 2
projects cleared to move ahead BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Funding for six Emergency Watershed Protection projects in Alcorn County has been released by the federal government, clearing the way for the projects to move forward. “Congress has finally appropriated money to repair damage from the storms in May 2010,” said Tom Heard, area conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Half the Alcorn County projects are in district 2, with one each in districts 1, 4 and 5. NRCS covers 85 percent of the cost, and supervisors adopted a resolution asking the Tennessee River Valley Water Management District to assist with the 15 percent local match. Of the total cost of $148,420, the county must provide $22,263. The projects are: ■ County Road 192 on Seven Mile Creek Watershed — Erosion threatens culvert, roadway and utilities. ■ County Road 265 on Coke Creek — Erosion threatens culvert and roadway. ■ County Road 265 on Coke Creek — A second project on Coke Creek with erosion threatening a culvert and the roadway. ■ County Road 352 on Little Yellow Creek — Erosion threatening culvert, roadway and utilities ■ County Road 609 on Hatchie River Watershed — Bank stabilization and debris removal at culvert and along roadway. ■ County Road 617 on McElroy Creek — Erosion threatening culvert, roadway and utilities. The county districts can do the work themselves or bid it out. The projects generally include debris cleanup and placement of riprap. Replacement of the culverts, if needed, is a cost the county would have to cover, said Sandy Mitchell, district clerk with NRCS. Mississippi is receiving a total of $3.05 million for the emergency watershed program, which can be used for stream debris removal, eroded bank restoration, levee and drainage facility repairs.
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Grant makes plans to move his forces overland and attack Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, surrenders the day before after a heavy naval bombardment.