021112 Corinth E-Edition by Daily Corinthian

Saturday Feb. 11,

2012

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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 36

Partly sunny Today

Tonight

• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section

Farmington’s 4-way stop begins Monday BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Farmington town officials are urging drivers to exercise caution on Monday — the first day of operation for a new four-way stop. The four-way stop will be at the junction of County Road 200 and the new Kimberly-

Clark Road by Dollar General and Farmington Town Hall. “This is something new for Farmington,” said Mayor Dale Fortenberry. “We just want to ask everybody to be extremely careful at this four-way. It’s going to be new Monday and we don’t want to have any accidents if we can help it.”

A Farmington Police Department patrol car will sit at the intersection with its lights on during the day to draw attention to the new stop signs, the mayor said. Fortenberry pointed out that the Kimberly-Clark Road to U.S. Highway 72 will not be open to traffic on Monday, but the four-

way stop will be in place. The road construction in Farmington has been ongoing for approximately 18 months, the mayor said, and its completion has been “a long way coming.” While the project is not entirely finished, construction crews and town officials can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Giveaway promotes forestry importance BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

When the weather permits, a team of contractors will finish the striping on the road project, Fortenberry said. He emphasized the need for drivers to be careful as the road work wraps up. “We want this to go smooth as possible,” he said, “and see if we can get through the next few months without any accidents.”

Wildlife Tasting Supper returns

The seed has been planted as agencies attempt to grow the importance of forestry in Alcorn County. Local forestry agencies handed out over 3,000 seedlings on court square Friday morning as part of Mississippi’s observance of Arbor Day. The Alcorn County Extension Service, Forestry Commission and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service teamed to giveaway the trees free to the public on a first-come, firstserved format. “We couldn’t get the sacks open quick enough,” said Sandy Mitchell, district clerk for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. “When we pulled up they were standing around ready to get some trees.” According to Mitchell the giveaway consisted of 2,000 pine and another 1,200 oak trees. “We were real fortunate to get the oak,” added the district clerk. “Most people want them for shade.” Mitchell Forestry provided the oak while Anthony Bull supplied the pine seedlings. “This is a tremendous opportunity for homeowners to get some quality trees,” said Extension Service County Director Patrick Poindexter. “All the agencies look forward to working with one another and pro-

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

How many chances do you get to pay for supper with a plate of squirrel and dumplings? At the upcoming 2012 Wildlife Tasting Supper, participants are encouraged to do just that. One wildlife dish will get one person in free. Otherwise, admission is $8 for adults and $5 for youth under 12. Organized annually by local agriculture and forestry agencies, the Wildlife Tasting Supper will be held Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Crossroads Arena. “We encourage all cooks and outdoor enthusiasts to participate in this event,” said Sandy Mitchell, the district clerk for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alcorn County. “This event is fun for the whole family.” At 5 p.m. the doors open and registration begins for the Dish Contest. The supper will begin at 6 p.m. Categories for the Wildlife Tasting Supper and Dish Contest are: Antlered (deer, elk, moose, etc.); Land Critter (rabbit, bear, opossum, raccoon,

Please see TREES | 2

Bob Stevens with the Mississippi Forestry Commission bags some seedlings during the tree giveaway on Friday.

Please see SUPPER | 3

BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Leadership Alcorn class shows some heart toward Head Start BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Jebb Johnston

Leadership Alcorn participant Kayla Marsh helps Head Start students Kenadee Eaton (left) and Sydnee Norman with crafts for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day arrived early Friday at Corinth Head Start as leadership program participants gave gifts of time and supplies to the center’s 60 children. Participants in The Alliance’s Leadership Alcorn program sat with the children to craft Valentine’s greetings and left behind a bounty of supplies such as scissors, construction paper, yarn, glue and tape for future projects.

“We’re just letting them know somebody else is here to help them in addition to the employees working here,” said Leadership Alcorn member Reid Bostick. The leadership group is lining up sponsors to help give the children some other activities this year. Bostick said the current Leadership Alcorn members chose to focus on children and seniors and are also planning a project with a local nursing home. The Head Start personnel were

happy to put the children in contact with professionals from the community. “Whenever we can have volunteers come into our center, it not only increases the children’s learning, but it also makes the community aware that we exist,” said Karen Cook, center administrator. “It has truly been a blessing for us to have this many volunteers in.” Please see HEAD START | 2

Council for Economic Education honors Alcorn Central’s Lambert Special to the Daily Corinthian

NEW YORK — The Council for Economic Education (CEE) recently awarded 10 educators from around the nation with top honors in the fields of economic and financial literacy education. “We are thrilled to honor these educators for their contributions,” said CEE President and CEO Nan J. Morrison. “Ed-

ucators are the people who pass on the importance of financial literacy and economic education to our nation’s future — our students.” The high school winner of the John Morton Excellence in the Teaching of Economics award was Connie H. Lambert of Alcorn Central High School. Lambert has served in various roles as an instructional

leader for 37 years. She received the Master Teacher of Economics through the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. She incorporates economic concepts across the curriculum and conducts workshops on economic education for teachers. Her award was based on her resume, administrative and student letters of recommendation and her origi-

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

Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8

nal lesson plan titled, “Recall Recoil: Ethics and Economics,” which focuses on the economic decision-making behind product recall and the consequences of that action. “The need to educate our students with a sound economic and financial understanding has never been greater. These Please see LAMBERT | 3

On this day in history 150 years ago Confederate forces abandon Bowling Green, Ky. Union activities around Forts Henry and Donelson makes occupation of the city untenable and only the huge fort at Columbus remains of the Kentucky defensive line.

Connie Lambert is the winner of the John Morton Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award.

Local

2 • Daily Corinthian

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Staff photos by Steve Beavers

Sandy Williams, district clerk for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, hands out trees, above. County Forester Glen Mynatt helps an individual collect some trees during the giveaway on court square, left.

TREES: ‘You don’t want to plant them right next to the house or near power lines because some will grow to be 40 feet tall,’ Poindexter tells homeowners house or near power lines because some will grow to be 40 feet tall,” he said. Poindexter also said the agencies will followup the giveaway by taking an educational opportunity with local fifth-graders on the importance of trees.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

moting forestry which is a significant player in the county agriculture field.” Poindexter advises homeowners to plant the trees in the appropriate place. “You don’t want to plant them right next to the

Tim Wilbanks was part of the steady flow that picked up some seedlings. Wilbanks will use the pine and oak trees on land in the Pine Mountain area. “Pines grow fast and help with rough washouts,” said Wilbanks. “The oaks make for good shade.” Extension Service County Director Patrick Poindexter gets trees together to be given away.

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The center has two teachers per classroom and encourages parental involvement. “We open our doors to the parent because we want our staff and the parent and children and family to interact and get to know each other so we can help one another,” said Sheila Dancy, regional generalist with Mississippi Action for Progress. Modern Woodmen granted $200 toward the project. Head Start centers are currently recruiting for the upcoming school year. Benefits of enrollment include meals; individualized teaching; screenings for hearing, speech and vision; and services for special needs. Openings are limited but still available at the Corinth and Kendrick centers. Call the Corinth center at 286-5802 or Kendrick at 287-2671 for more information.

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Local

3 • Daily Corinthian

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Things to do Today

Deaths

‘Just Plain Country’

Photo contest

Just Plain Country performs at the Tishomingo County Fairgrounds in Iuka every Saturday from 7-10 p.m. Good family entertainment.

Local photographers are invited to participate in Arts in McNairy’s sixth annual Amateur Photo Contest. The final day for submissions is Friday, April 13 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Photos should be dropped off at the UT Martin/Selmer facility in Tennessee just off U.S. 45 North. Photos mailed must be postmarked by Monday, April 9 to: Attention George Souders, c/o AiM Photo Contest, UT Martin/ Selmer, 1269 Tennessee Ave., Selmer, Tenn. 38375. Entry forms are available at the photo-center at WalMart in Selmer, Tenn. For more information and qualifications or to request an entry form by mail contact George Souders at 731-610-1365.

Fundraiser dinner Finger Volunteer Fire Department is having a Fish Fry & Barbecue Chicken Dinner today from 3-7 p.m. There will be all-you-can-eat catfish or chicken with all the trimmings and homemade desserts. Cost is $10, adults and $5, children. All proceeds will go towards the operating expenses of the Finger Fire Department.

Art exhibit Nineteen artists with the Mississippi Painters Society are exhibiting their artwork at the Northeast Mississippi Community College campus in Booneville through Feb. 20. The paintings are exhibited in the art gallery of Anderson Hall. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. Contact Terry Anderson at 720-7336 or tfanderson@ nemcc.edu for more info.

Music exhibit “Music, Sweet Music” is the subject of the featured exhibit at the Tishomingo County Archives & History Museum. The exhibit gives visitors an opportunity to view phonographs, records, 8-track tapes, etc., used by artists to record their abilities in perpetuity. The exhibit is available for viewing through April 13. The Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Battle of the Banks winners The United Blood Service’s 4th annual Battle of the Banks winners were Judy Atkins, blood donor and winner of a 22-inch TV; and Trustmark Bank employee and star recruiter Steve Dixon, accepting the plaque for this annual event.

LAMBERT: Alcorn

SUPPER: Raffle for adult, youth model

teacher one of 10 honored nationwide

guns to be held at event; county 4-H will sell tickets for custom-built utility trailer at door

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

educators have been honored because of their passion, expertise and unwavering belief in the importance of preparing our students for the future,” said Morrison. The CEE empowers people to make informed and responsible choices throughout their lives as consumers, investors, citizens and participants in the global economy. The CEE advocates for better and greater school-based economic and personal finance education at the K-12 level through well-prepared teachers and high quality programs that help young people achieve economic and financial literacy. Each year the CEE’s programs reach more than 55,000 K-12 teachers and over 15 million students.

taxidermists and outdoor specialty businesses will set up displays featuring their services and products for attendees to view. A raffle for two guns will be held. Youth under 17 can purchase tickets on a youth-model gun and those over 18 can purchase tickets for an adult gun. Tickets will be sold at the door. The Alcorn County 4-H will sell tickets on a custom-built utility trailer to be given away. The Rollin’ Rumps — a local barbecue team — will offer barbecue and hot-dogs for those who do not eat wildlife dishes but enjoy the fellowship and door prizes. Businesses and individuals are encouraged to help sponsor the Wildlife Tasting Supper with monetary donations or door prizes. To become a sponsor or for more information contact Sandy Mitchell at 662-287-7223 (extension 3) or Patrick Poindexter at 662-2867755.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

etc.); Water Critter (beaver, fish, turtle, alligator, etc.); Feathered (quail, duck, dove, goose, pheasant, etc.) and Desserts (muscadine cobbler, blackberry pie, etc.). In the Hunting Club category, all local hunting clubs are asked to compete against each other in preparing a large quantity dish. Because of shortages in previous years’ events, participants are encouraged to bring a dish. “So many are opting to pay now that wildlife dishes have gotten short in the past,” Mitchell explained. With over 100 sponsors for the event each year, the Wildlife Tasting Supper receives great support from the community, Mitchell said. In addition to the supper and Dish Contest, many door prizes will be given away throughout the evening. Agriculture agencies, local

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Funeral services for Mikie Murphy Johnston, 55, of Corinth, are set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Magnolia Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with burial at Henry Cemetery. Mr. Johnston died Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. He was a corrections officer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections and a Christian, born May 12, 1956. Survivors include his wife of 10 years, Bobbie Johnston of Corinth; a daughter, Paula Michelle Johnston (Nerissa) of Corinth; four sons, Michael Murphy Johnston of Savannah, Tenn., Matthew Morris Johnston (Shellie) of Corinth, Joseph Guy Johnston Crawford of Jackson and Kenneth Wayne Crawford of Corinth; and a grandson, Marcus Makai Johnston. He was preceded in death by his mother, Ann Johnston, and his maternal grandparents, Art and Vance Murphy. Bro. Seth Kirkland will officiate the service. Visitation is today from 5 until 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time.

Charles Shea RAMER, Tenn. — Funeral services for Charles M. Shea, 81, are set for 11 a.m. Monday at Shackelford Funeral Directors of Selmer with burial at Ramer Cemetery. Mr. Shea died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012, at Magnolia Regional Health Center. Born in McNairy County on May 6, 1930, he worked in sheet metal construction. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a member of Cypress Tank Church of Christ. Survivors include two daughters, Joye Shea of Memphis and Lisa Shea Jones (Ted) of Clinton, Ark.; two sons, Greg Shea (Cetta) of Memphis and Chuck Shea (Wanda) of Middleton, Tenn.; four sisters, Wilma Hurley of Stantonville, Tenn., Connie Kirk of Canton, Mich., Sandra Bahr of Selmer and Kay Caudill of Port Angeles, Wash.; a brother, Dennis Shea of Rickman, Tenn.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Sue (King) Shea; a son, Ronnie Shea; his parents, George M. Shea and Sadye Mae (Shetlon) Shea; a sister, Nan Roberson; and three brothers, George Melvin Shea, James O’Shea and Tim Shea. Dr. Brian Jackson and Dr. David Powell will officiate the service. Visitation is Sunday from 5 until 9 p.m.

Obituary Policy The Daily Corinthian include the following information in obituaries: The name, age, city of residence of the deceased; when, where and manner of death of the deceased; time and location of funeral service; name of officiant; time and location of visitation; time and location of memorial services; biographical information can include date of birth, education, place of employment/ occupation, military service and church membership; survivors can include spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings (step included), and grandchildren, great-grandchildren can be listed by number only; preceded in death can include spouse, children, parents, grandparents, siblings (step included), grandchildren; great-grandchildren can be listed by number only. No other information will be included in the obituary. All obituaries (complete and incomplete) will be due no later than 4 p.m. on the day prior to its publication. Obituaries will only be accepted from funeral homes. All obituaries must contain a signature of the family member making the funeral arrangements.

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Opinion

Reece Terry, publisher

www.dailycorinthian.com

Mark Boehler, editor

4 • Saturday, February 11, 2012

Corinth, Miss.

Treaties represent assault on America BY DICK MORRIS AND EILEEN MCGANN President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are entering negotiations over — or seeking ratification of — five treaties that could radically limit our national sovereignty and the reach of our democratic institutions. Particularly scary is that treaties, once signed and ratified, have the same status as constitutional law and cannot be altered or eclipsed by Congress or state legislatures. And their provisions must be enforced by U.S. courts. Those who want to preserve our sovereignty and democratic control over our future must rally to block these treaties either by pressing Obama and Clinton not to sign them or by blocking their ratification.

International Criminal Court

Hillary has reversed George W. Bush’s policy and entered into negotiations over U.S. participation in the court. Specifically, the leftists who are sponsoring the court want to create a new crime of “aggression,” which is essentially going to war without the approval of the U.N. If we submit to the court’s jurisdiction, our presidents and cabinet officials could be prosecuted criminally for going to war without U.N. approval. This would, of course, give Russia and China a veto over our military actions. Hillary says she’ll stop our military’s hands from being tied, but we all must realize that once we accept the International Criminal Court, we go down a slippery slope. The court could even prosecute Americans who have been cleared by our own judicial system.

Law of the Sea Treaty (LOST)

It has been signed, and the Obama administration will push for its ratification. LOST requires that the U.S. pay an international body half of its royalties from offshore drilling. The body would then distribute the funds as it sees fit to whichever nations it chooses. The U.S. would have only one vote out of 160 in where the money goes. LOST will also oblige us to hand over our offshore drilling technology to any nation that wants it… for free.

Small Arms Control

Hillary is about to negotiate on a global ban on the export of small arms. It would apply only to private citizens but, of course, most small arms deals come not from individuals or private firms but from governments, specifically those of the U.S., Russia, China and Israel. The treaty will require each nation to adopt measures to stop exportation of small arms. It’s easy to see how this could be a back-door way to require national registration of all guns and to assert federal regulation over firearms.

Outer Space Code of Conduct

Under the guise of stopping debris from accumulating in outer space, the European Union has enlisted Hillary in negotiations over a code of conduct. The code would prohibit activities that are likely to generate debris in outer space. The code may prohibit the U.S. from deploying anti-missile missiles on platforms in space, denying us the key weapon we need to counter Iranian, Chinese and North Korean missile threats. European leftists reacted angrily when Bush-43 opted out of the ABM treaty banning defensive weapons. Now, they seek to re-impose it.

Rights of the Child

Even more fanciful is a treaty Hillary plans to negotiate setting forth a code of rights for children to be administered by a 14-member court set up for the purpose. The draft treaty obliges rich nations to provide funds for shelter, food, clothing and education for children in poor nations. This provision could create grounds to litigate to challenge the level of foreign aid we give as inadequate to meet our treaty obligations. European liberalism is advancing, masked, by pushing these treaties. Defenders of liberty must say no! Dick Morris, former advisor to the Clinton administration, is a commentator and author of “Rewriting History.” He is also a columnist for the New York Post and The Hill. His wife, Eileen McGann, is an attorney and consultant.

Prayer for today God of forgiveness and understanding, help us be watchful for unaccepted people and show them kindness. Amen.

A verse to share Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. — Luke 6:38 (NRSV)

Reece Terry publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

Obama administration fudging numbers rate of increased The Obama adminspending amounts to istration is touting a cut and reducing the latest unemploythe percentage of unment numbers reemployed people by leased last week by two-tenths of 1 perthe U.S. Department of Labor as proof its Cal cent counts as more policies are working. Thomas people finding jobs, which then counts as But a closer look at Columnist progress. the actual number of Lott examined the able-bodied people who are willing to work, but Labor Department’s staare not, reveals a different tistics and found nearly 1.2 million Americans no lonpicture. As economist John R. Lott ger in the labor force. That has written, not only is the means most have given up drop in the unemployment looking for work and are rate from 8.5 percent to 8.3 no longer counted as unpercent still half a percent- employed. That fact skews age point higher than when the statistics to make the President Obama took of- employment picture appear fice three years ago, the better than it is. Real unemployment is number of unemployed is higher. Compared to Janu- mostly ignored by the maary 2009 when 11.6 million jor media, which was happy Americans were jobless, to- to tout the latest jobless rate day, writes Lott, “there are reduction as a boon to Pres12.8 million unemployed ident Obama and a problem and 43 percent have been for Republican frontrunner out of a job for more than Mitt Romney. Most reportsix months. The average ing has focused on the imlength of unemployment pression voters might have has increased dramatically of an economic recovery, or since the recovery started. at least trending in the right Back in June 2009, ‘only’ 29 direction. The opposite is percent of the unemployed true and it is up to Romney had been unemployed lon- to make that case. After an initial tepid reger than six months.” The way government action to the unemploycounts things, slowing the ment numbers, Romney re-

bounded, but it came a day late after the news cycle had moved on and the media cheerleading for President Obama had achieved the desired effect. Many in the major media can’t be counted on to tell the truth about the economy if doing so makes Obama and his policies look bad. Consider how some in the media collectively claimed the recession had not eased as the 1992 election neared. After the inauguration of President Clinton, it was reported that, in fact, the recession had ended more than a year earlier. Through the election, the media completely accepted the Democratic line the recession had not abated. This means the Republican nominee will have to go over or around the media to make his case. The best way to do this is not with statistics, but with real people. The Republican candidates for president should identify unemployed people who have lost their jobs, or who have given up looking for one. Have them tell their stories and let the candidates put the blame on the president and congressional

Democrats whose plans to raise taxes, drastically increase spending and impose Obamacare on the country has added to the economic uncertainty and the reluctance of businesses to hire new workers. Featuring real people who are out of a job and desperately want to work would help undermine the Democrats as the party of compassion, while simultaneously blunting the Republican stereotype as the party that doesn’t care about the poor. Democrats seem eager to get more people onto food stamps than to adopt policies that would free them from addiction to government and give them the dignity of a real job and the self-sufficiency that goes with it. Romney must be less reactive and more proactive, less responsive to Obama and the news of the day and more concerned with creating his own news every day. Going on the offensive about unemployment is a strategy that can work. Readers may e-mail Cal Thomas at tmseditors@tribune.com.

‘Moms’ group needs to shut up about spokesperson royally teeing off a Every Halloween, conservative group New York City resicalled “One Million dents are greeted by homosexual parade Moms.” On their website, they are marchers dressed to calling for JCPenney impress bystanders to “replace Ellen Dewith a message that Bill Generes as their new “gay is good.” O’Reilly spokesperson immeSome folks take the diately and remain parade in stride, some The O’Reilly are offended by more Factor neutral in the culture war.” than a few outrageous The Moms go on displays, and others simply could not care less. to say DeGeneres is not a That parade is a micro- “true representative” of the cosm of how Americans, in type of families that shop at general, feel about the gay JCPenney. While I sympathize with movement. And those who oppose the in-your-face tac- folks not wanting to deal tics of some homosexuals with homosexuality, I think do have a legitimate gripe. the Moms are wrong. DeThey simply want to be left Generes is an American alone. They don’t want to citizen. She has committed see explicit displays in pub- no crime. If she wants to lic that offend their moral or promote equality for gays or gay marriage, that is her religious point of view. Enter Ellen DeGeneres constitutional right. She and JCPenney. The Texas- should not be dismissed based department store from anything. But the Moms have has hired DeGeneres as a spokesperson, and that is rights, too. They don’t have

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to shop at JCPenney if they believe the company does not hold their values, and they are doing nothing wrong by making their disenchantment known. As long as they don’t try to hurt DeGeneres or any other individual, I have no problem with the Moms. In the 1950s, Sen. Joseph McCarthy got a whole bunch of Americans fired from jobs because he said they were communists. There was even a blacklist in Hollywood that banished perceived leftwing job seekers from employment in the entertainment industry. That was awful and flat-out un-American. In this country, you have a right to be a communist, and nobody should punish anyone for their political beliefs. In my opinion, Kim Kardashian is a far worse role model than Ellen, and the Million Moms might want

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to check that out. Kardashian is all over the media peddling an aggressively self-involved image that is anything but healthy for teenage girls. In fact, there are scores of media people who are celebrated for bad behavior. If the Moms want to be consistent in their outrage about dubious behavior, they are going to be very busy. So let’s leave Ellen alone and allow the marketplace to dictate exactly what Americans believe is worthy. That is the American way. Witch-hunting against certain people and groups is not. 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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Editorials represent the voice of the Daily Corinthian. Editorial columns, letters to the editor and other articles that appear on this page represent the opinions of the writers and the Daily Corinthian may or may not agree.

Daily Corinthian • Saturday, February 11, 2012 • 5

State State expecting $47 billion ‘Gulf of America’ bill was a joke in foreclosure settlement BY JEFF AMY

Associated Press

JACKSON — Mississippi’s share of the landmark settlement with the nation’s top mortgage lenders should be about $47.1 million, according to Attorney General Jim Hood. The national $25 billion settlement between the lenders and 49 states was announced Thursday. It involved the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses and fraud, and unacceptable nationwide mortgage

servicing practices. Hood said the settlement provides an estimated $47.1 million in direct relief to Mississippi homeowners and addresses future mortgage loan servicing practices. “This agreement ... also puts a stop to many of the bad behaviors that contributed to the mortgage mess in our state and across the country,” Hood said Friday in a statement.” Hood said Mississippi

borrowers will receive about $13.1 million in benefits from loan term modifications and other direct relief. He said borrowers who lost their home to foreclosure from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2011 and suffered servicing abuse would qualify for $8.4 million. He said the value of refinanced loans to Mississippi’s underwater borrowers would be an estimated $11.2 million.

JACKSON — All the people outraged about the Mississippi bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” have missed its satirical intent, the sponsor said this week. State Rep. Steve Holland, a populist Democrat known for over-thetop gestures, said he was tickled that his provocation had rocketed across the Internet. Holland says the measure is meant to mock other bills that would crack down on illegal

immigration. At least six such bills have already been assigned for committee consideration in the state’s current legislative session, and more could be on the way. “It seems the people of Mississippi have elected a majority group to govern that wants to slam all minorities and especially Hispanic,” Holland said, adding that he thought such legislation is unChristian. Newly elected Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican, is a longtime supporter of tougher restrictions on illegal immigration. Such

bills had died in a Democratic-controlled Mississippi House in previous years, but Republicans won control of the chamber last November. Holland’s current House Bill 150 manages to avoid even saying the word Mexico. It refers to “the body of water located directly south of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties,” saying it will be renamed as the Gulf of America for “official purposes within the state of Mississippi.” The longtime legislator is known for his sense of humor.

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Daily Corinthian • Saturday, February 11, 2012 • 6

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