Prentiss County Supervisors OK bridge replacement bids
McNairy County Woman publishes her first book
Rienzi PSC hosts natural gas meeting
Page 3
Page 3
Page 3
Thursday Feb. 9,
2017
75 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 121, No. 34
BY L.A. STORY
0% chance of rain
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Charles Cole addresses members of the Rienzi Board of Aldermen during a regular meeting of the board Tuesday night.
Rienzi board weighs its options BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
RIENZI — Residents struck a resistant tone in a meeting of the Rienzi Board of Aldermen Tuesday night, encouraging the town leadership not to give in to pressure to keep a religious symbol out of the veterans memorial park. The meeting did not yield any action on the flag issue as the town continues to weigh its options. “We’re not going to walk away from it,” said Mayor Walter Williams. “We’re not giving in.” About 18 members of the public, including a few individuals from Corinth, crowded into the small meeting room of the Board of Alder-
men. “We’re going to show Satan that he can’t run us out of this town. We’ve got to stand,” said resident David Harris. Charles Cole told the mayor and board that they have his full support. “You’ve always got some stick in the mud somewhere that wants to cause trouble because y’all didn’t want to do what he wanted done,” he said. “Now, he’s going to try to hurt the town any way he can. He’s the little man. Y’all just took the high road and tried to do what’s right.” Kevin Nelms, a Corinth resident who organized Saturday’s gathering at Rienzi, also attended. “I’d really like to see that
flag back up on that pole one day,” he said. “I think all of our veterans deserve to have that flag put up there.” D.E. Wilson, a Prentiss County resident who works at the town’s library branch, was among those to speak out. “If it was me, I would be as defiant as I could within the constraints of the law,” he said. No one who was present spoke against the posting of a religious symbol. The town removed a Christian flag which had flown in the park adjacent to the town hall for about seven months after receiving a letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation threatening possible legal action.
Main Street Corinth has tapped Angela Avent to serve as its new director. She begins duties May 1 but will fulfill obligations to her current employer, Magnolia Regional Health Center, until July, when she will retire from the hospital. Mayor Tommy Irwin called her “a natural” for the downtown-boosting post. “She is just going to be great,” he said. “We are excited Avent to have her.” She follows Brent Johnson, who departed in June. “I am honored to have been selected as the Main Street director,” said Avent. “I have a passion for our community and want to see it grow and succeed. I am eager to become involved in making our downtown area a tourist attraction as well as Please see AVENT | 2
People of the Crossroads Joyce DuQuette, Corinth During about 17 years of involvement with the Alcorn County Genealogical Society, Joyce DuQuette has helped put people in touch with their roots. “I enjoy finding people’s ancestors and the joy they find in it,” she said. DuQuette volunteers to staff the society’s courthouse office one day a week. She is also a volunteer with the hospital auxiliary. Other interests of the Corinth native are gardening, traveling and watching Corinth basketball games. She is the mother of three — Allison Fett, Danny Burcham and Merry Overholt — and a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
26
26
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
Club hosts ‘Dancing Like the Stars’ event
St. Brendan’s Irish Cream $ 99 1.75 L
44
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Please see DONATION | 5
Local and area residents will step into the shoes of celebrity dancers as the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi presents “Dancing Like the Stars.” Based on the same concept as the wildly popular American dance competition television series “Dancing With the Stars”, the highly-anticipated dance-off will take place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 11, at the Crossroads Arena. “The ‘Movers’, ‘Shakers’, ‘Businesses’ and ‘Professionals’ will be our stars,” said Chairperson Mary Dilworth who looks forward to the event which will raise money for the Corinth, Iuka, Booneville and Baldwyn chapters of the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi. “We are pleased to be able to bring this exciting competition to our community as a fundraiser for our
Tonight
Main Street hires leader
lastory@dailycorinthian.com
A local middle school student demonstrated more than spelling skills when he donated his prize money to the local animal shelter. Guy Carpenter, 14, the son of Shane and Kim Carpenter of Corinth, won both the Corinth Middle School and Alcorn County Spelling Bees. A prize of $50 had been donated for the first place winner of the Alcorn County bee and the student chose to donate his winnings to the Corinth-Alcorn County Animal Shelter, according to his father. “He impresses me every day,” said Shane Carpenter, the spelling bee winner’s father. Corinth-Alcorn County Animal Shelter volunteer director Charlotte Doehner praised the student for his donation. “I think it shows the quality of the individual that he wanted to donate his winnings to help the homeless animals in Alcorn County. I met him and he is a wonderful young man,” said Doehner. Founded in August 2011, the Corinth-Alcorn Animal Shelter is a no-kill, non-profit organization that states their mission is “to save the abused, neglected,
Today
• Corinth, Mississippi • 14 pages • One section
People: ‘Don’t give in’
Spelling champion donates winnings
Cooler
children.” As the current president of the Corinth Boys & Girls Club Board and a member of the Corporate Board, Dilworth said she felt the competition would be a fun way to gain support for the club and the youth it serves. “Our children are our future and if we can help even one of them, then our efforts have not been in vain,” she said. “The money raised from this event will help us improve and give us the ability to do more for them.” Complete with a mesmer-
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Please see DANCING | 2
25 years ago
10 years ago
The Corinth Y shows off a major renovation. The $240,000 project adds a new wing with a gym, weight room, office space,restrooms and more.
The Corinth Junior High boys claim the annual five county championship at the end of the season with a 17-game winning streak.
Kinky Original, Blue, Gold
$
99 750 ml
17
Bacardi di Dragon D B Berry $ 99 750 ml
9
2015 Hwy 72 E. Corinth, MS. 38834 • 662-594-1877
Exotico Blanco or Repasado $ 99 750 ml
14
Hangar One Vodka $ 99 750 ml
22
Ezra Brooks $ 99
21
1.75 L
Mon. - Sat. 10 A.M.- 9 P.M. • www.JRwinespirit.com