Saturday May 19,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 121
Mostly sunny Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Four face meth-related charges BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn Narcotics Unit arrested four on methamphetamine charges this week. Arrested at a residence on County Road 329 were Shawn Johnson, 40, Monica Meeks, 20, and Benjamin Rudy, 40. All three lived at the address
and are charged with possession of two or more precursors. Johnson is also charged with manufacturing marijuana, and Rudy is also charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance (Suboxone). Officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Wednes-
day went to the County Road 329 residence, where they smelled a strong chemical odor consistent with the cooking of methamphetamine as they approached the home, according to Jason Willis, narcotics investigator. Officers got consent to search and found several items used
to manufacture methamphetamine and four marijuana plants growing behind the residence. Bond was set at $9,000 for Rudy; $6,000 for Johnson; and $3,000 for Meeks. In another case, a traffic stop in Corinth led to the discovery of a meth lab on Thursday.
The sheriff’s department arrested Jeremy Shane Null, 27, of 791 Old Highway 45, Guys, Tenn., and charged him with felony possession of methamphetamine and possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture methamPlease see METH | 2
Honoring Industry Annual event celebrates employers BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Business and civic leaders gathered at the Mississippi State Extension Center on Friday for the annual Corinth-Alcorn County Existing Industry Appreciation Luncheon. A cooperative project of the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors, the city of Corinth and The Alliance, the event is held yearly to recognize and honor the contributions made to Corinth and Alcorn County by existing industries. Mayor Tommy Irwin expressed the city’s gratitude to local industries and pointed to the pair of positive developments in the local economy that occurred over the course of the week — the opening of the new Magnolia Regional Health Center Women’s Center in Corinth and the announcement that came on Thursday of a Caterpillar expansion that will create 35 new jobs. Irwin said recent economic Please see INDUSTRY | 2
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Civic and business leaders showed up en masse at Friday’s Corinth-Alcorn County Existing Industry Appreciation Luncheon. Pictured (from left) is District 1 Supervisor and Board President Lowell Hinton; District 2 Rep. Nick Bain; keynote speaker William “Skip” Scaggs; and Mayor Tommy Irwin.
McMillin named president of Blue Mountain College Special to the Daily Corinthian
BLUE MOUNTAIN — North Mississippi native Dr. Barbara Childers McMillin will become the eighth president of Blue Mountain College. Dr. Carl White, president of the BMC Board of Trustees, made the announcement Thursday morning. McMillin will succeed Dr. Bettye Rogers Coward, who will retire June 30 after 11 years as BMC president. McMillin, who grew up 15 miles north of Blue Mountain in Falkner, is the current Asso-
ciate Provost and Dean of Instruction at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., where she has been a member of the faculty for the past 20 McMillin years. “This is a gift that is hard to imagine – being called back home to become part of the Blue Mountain
College family,” McMillin said. “This is all so very humbling. “Quite honestly, we never considered that such a blessing would be ours, but we are delighted and grateful for this opportunity.” White, senior pastor at Highland Baptist Church in Meridian, said McMillin made a very positive impression when the search for the new BMC president began several months ago. “Dr. McMillin brings a lifetime of devotion to Christian higher education,” he said.
“Her experience in the classroom and in administration has given her the background needed to be able to provide leadership for our school. “But more than that, she brings a love for Christ, and for the Kingdom of God that exudes a deep spiritual walk. She also has a vision for how Christian higher education should look and feel that is compelling.” McMillin, 52, is an alumna of Northeast Mississippi Community College, Union University
and the University of Mississippi. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Union, McMillin earned both her M.A. and D.A. in English at Ole Miss. As a graduate student, she was a teaching assistant at Ole Miss and an English Instructor at BMC in the summers of 1985 and 1987. McMillin was a member of the NEMCC English faculty for five years before joining the Please see MCMILLIN | 2
Donation will fund sidewalks at Corinth National cemetery BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A dissolving non-profit organization donated $125,000 to the city of Corinth this week for sidewalks at Corinth National Cemetery and some street work. Corinth Community Development Inc. presented a check to city officials. “We are in the process of phasing out this organization and we had some funds that we had to give to someone,” said Executive Director Alton Thompson. “I felt like the City of Corinth could use those funds on some projects.” He believes the community needs sidewalks at the national cemetery.
“I see people in the morning and the evening walking around there, and kids going to the Boys and Girls Club, they will be walking in the street,” said Thompson. “It would be for safety reasons and also for recreation.” The organization is also suggesting improvements to White Street between Tyson Street and Crater Street. “We’re so grateful,” said Mayor Tommy Irwin. “This is a very generous contribution to help us improve conditions in South Corinth, and we look forward to getting these sidewalks and some street paving done.” Please see DONATION | 2
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Corinth Community Development Inc. presented $125,000 to the City of Corinth on Wednesday. Present for the occasion were (from left) Alton Thompson, executive director of the organization; Vickie Roach, city clerk; Charles Dilworth, chairman of CCDI’s board of directors; Mayor Tommy Irwin; and David Huwe, director of community development and planning.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 13 Wisdom...... 12
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports...... 10
On this day in history 150 years ago Soldiers under Gen. William T. Sherman attack Confederates near the Russell House and occupy the site after both sides lose a dozen killed and several wounded. The Russell House was located south of the Tennessee on what is now North Polk Street.