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Daily Corinthian

Friday March 24,

Partly sunny

2017

75 cents

Vol. 121, No. 71

Today

Tonight

72

62

0% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections

Jury finds man guilty of child abuse BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

A three-day domestic violence trial ended late Thursday in Alcorn County Circuit Court. A jury found Michael Lynn Smith guilty on felony child abuse and domestic violence charges stemming from offenses that occurred more than two years ago.

In December 2015, a grand jury returned a two-count indictment accusing Smith of causing bodily harm to his 3-year-old stepdaughter and strangling or attempting to strangle the woman who was his wife at the time. The incident happened on October 6, 2015. During the second day of the trial on Wednesday, Corinth Police de-

tective Heather Russell took the stand and said, compared to other child abuse cases she had investigated, “This is the worst case that I’ve seen,” she said. Russell said the child appeared to be in pain when she met with her. Testifying for the prosecution, Smith’s former wife, Kelsey Moore of Booneville, described several in-

stances of violence against herself and the discovery of injuries on her daughter. After the injuries to the child, “I knew I had to get out for her sake,” said Moore. They divorced in February 2016 after about eight months of marPlease see GUILTY | 2A

Smith

Dancers raise over $12,000 PRCA rodeo rides for Boys and Girls Clubs into arena tonight BY L.A. STORY BY L.A. STORY

lastory@dailycorinthian.com

lastory@dailycorinthian.com

Those who are bucking for the excitement of a professional rodeo can ride on down to the Crossroads Arena as it all starts tonight. JC Kitaif Pro Rodeos and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo event comes to the Crossroads Arena beginning tonight and Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. nightly with a slew of impressive professional rodeo athletes scheduled to compete. “You can’t have any more talent that what’s going to be here. When you see that kind of lineup ... well, this is like a mini national finals you’re going to see,” said J.C. Kitaif, Event Promoter for the North MS PRCA Rodeo. Several big names are scheduled to appear. (Appearances are subject to conflicts or injuries, Kitaif pointed out.) Among those scheduled is Cody DeMoss who recently just won a share of a million dollar bonus for saddle bronc riding at RFD-TV’s The American event. DeMoss has been

Organizers of the inaugural fundraiser, “Dancing Like the Stars,” will want to do their own happy dance after the success of a sell-out crowd. Sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi and United Way, the dancing competition and dinner held at the Crossroads Arena was fashioned similarly to the American television dance competition “Dancing With the Stars” and the packed house raised over $12,000, according to event chairperson Mary Dilworth, president of the Corinth Boys & Girls Club Board and member of the Corporate Board. “This is great for a first time event. It was standing room only. We were expecting one number and it ran over,” said Dilworth. “Our emcees Eric Powell and Sandy Childs were wonderful.” Seventeen contestants hit the dance floor to pit their skills against each other for a good cause — to raise money for the Please see DANCING | 2A

Photo compliments of Bill Avery

Mary Dilworth, president of the Corinth Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors, presents Ruby D. Browning and Robert “D Cowboy” Keys as the winners of the fundraiser “Dancing Like the Stars” dance competition. The competition and dinner event raised more than $12,000 for the Northeast Mississippi Boys & Girls Club.

Community Yard Sale set for return in May BY ZACK STEEN zsteen@dailycorinthian.com

It’s time to clean out those closets. The Daily Corinthian Community Yard Sale will return in about two months at the Historic Corinth Depot and Crossroads Museum. Set for Saturday, May 13 and Sept. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., booth space rental fees from the annual event benefits the nonprofit museum’s efforts to build housing to display the 1924 American LaFrance pumper fire truck on loan to the museum from the City of Corinth. “The Save the Fire Truck Campaign has been a focus of

13 times to the National Finals Rodeo and is among of the top-ranked in the country. Another big name competing in the saddle bronc competition is Bradley Harter who has 11 times qualified for National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas, Nev. If one wants to know about the bull riders, then consider Jacob O’Mara who is also scheduled to compete this weekend. O’Mara has been a National Finals Rodeo qualifier in bull riding and it appears he intends to compete full time this year. Reid Barker is also a “name” in professional bull riding scheduled to compete. As if those names weren’t enough, Kitaif added Tyler Waltz (bareback riding) and Tanner Phipps (bareback riding), University of Tennessee at Martin men’s rodeo team champions. “You will want to see these elite athletes in the rodeo sport. These are the guys that rodeo for a living. They are not Please see RODEO | 2A

People of the Crossroads Ricky Gillentine, Corinth “It’s amazing how a person’s focus in life changes as they get older,” said retired educator Ricky Gillentine. “These days my primary focus is my children, grandchildren and my relationship with the Lord.” Some may remember the former PE teacher’s knack for music. He was a professional country music singer for years and even spent time in Nashville honing his skills. At 61, the family man enjoys traveling and antique shopping with his wife and working on old cars and houses. “I love to flip stuff ... it’s good looking back on the finished product,” he said. Married to Helen for 27 years, the couple has four children and eight grandchildren. A member of Oakland Baptist Church, Gillentine also teaches a Sunday school class.

the museum for about three years,” said Cathy Wood, the museum’s board president. “We need more than $50,000 to complete the project, but our first goal is to get to $25,000 and then hopefully secure a grant to help with the remaining amount.” All proceeds from each $25 10x10 booth space at the yard sale will go to the fire truck fund. The museum will also sell Coke products and pizza and host a gift shop sale during the event with those funds benefiting the cause. “We’re still a long way from

Staff photo by Zack Steen

Please see SALE | 2A

25 years ago

10 years ago

Corinth Mayor ES Bishop receives the Living Legacy Award from the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged Inc.

Jerry Mayhall is appointed as assistant police chief for the Town of Farmington.

BRAND NEW 2017 Altima 2.5S INCLUDES POWER DRIVER SEAT! A

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