100516 daily corinthian e edition

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Alcorn County Kossuth High School Homecoming parade

Home & Garden Plant Matrix pansies now for winter color

Tishomingo County J.A. offers free ‘Coats for Kids’

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Wednesday Oct. 5,

2016

75 cents

Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 240

Sunny Today

Tonight

88

57

0% chance of rain

• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • Two sections

Ex-Sen. Benjamin will plead guilty BY JEFF AMY Associated Press

JACKSON — Former state senator Irb Benjamin of Alcorn County is expected to become the sixth person to plead guilty in Mississippi’s prison contract bribery scandal, court records show. Benjamin’s lawyer, Joe Hol-

lomon, filed notice Friday that Benjamin plans to plead guilty on Oct. 18 before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate in Jackson. Indicted in August 2015, Benjamin is charged with paying bribes to former Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps. Benjamin faces one count

of honest services wire fraud and two counts of bribery. Friday’s filing doesn’t make clear to which charges Benjamin would plead guilty, but if he pleads guilty to all three, he could face up to 40 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines. He is free on $10,000 bail. The charges say Benjamin

gave Epps bribes and kickbacks in exchange for the state selecting his company, Mississippi Correctional Management, to provide drug and alcohol treatment services to inmates at state work centers in Alcorn and Simpson counties. The company collected about $774,000, according to court documents.

The indictment also claims that Benjamin paid Epps in exchange for Epps’ helping the company obtain consulting contracts worth $862,000 overall from three counties: Alcorn, Washington and Chickasaw. Please see BENJAMIN | 6A

Three teens caught taking decorations BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Three Corinth teens captured on camera as they stole Halloween pumpkins and other decor will be headed to youth court. Over the weekend, a number of city and county residents had Halloween decor taken from their property. A little past 12 a.m. Monday, one of the complainants went outside and dis-

covered yard decor was missing. Corinth Police Department Capt. Dell Green said the resident reviewed home surveillance and posted it on social media, leading to identification of three females ages 15, 16 and 17. The police department began to receive reports from Please see THEFT | 2A

Museum will bring back Cemetery Tour Fundraiser proves successful Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith

Caterers Jarrett Rinehart (right) and James Shelton tend the deep-fryers at Monday’s Catfish & Khakis luncheon.

BY JEBB JOHNSTON

jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

BY BOBBY J. SMITH bsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Caterers were out before the sun on Monday getting ready for Catfish & Khakis — the 11th annual fall fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club. Corinth-based caterer Brad Mattox has served up the food for the annual event for almost 10 years now. Mattox and his crew were out at 5 a.m. preparing slaw and hushpuppies.

“We try to do this pretty close to our cost so they can make some money on the food,” said caterer Mattox. “This year it looks like we’ll have about 400 or 450 to turn out.” Corinth Unit Director Trecee Hughey said the club staff and volunteers are very thankful that the community has once again supported the club. “We aim high to provide the children with positive pro-

grams leading them to productive, bright futures,” she said. State Representative and Boys & Girls Club board member Nick Bain showed up for the fundraising luncheon and left carrying a tall stack of plates to go. “This is a great event to get people out to support a good cause,” said Bain. “It’s always a Please see FUNDRAISER | 2A

Crossroads Museum is resurrecting the cemetery tour. Spotlighting notable figures from Corinth’s past, the Historic Corinth Cemetery Tour held at Corinth City Cemetery was a hit with the public when last held in 2007. “Ever since I’ve been here, I’ve heard people talk about the cemetery tour and wanting it to come back,” said Museum Director Brandy Steen. “It’s some-

thing I’ve always wanted to do.” It is set for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m., and Sunday, Please see TOUR | 2A

Hurst crowned homecoming queen BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian

SELMER, Tenn. — The joy of being homecoming queen at McNairy Central High School has probably never been more overwhelming than Friday with the crowning of Sara Jo Hurst. The petite senior has to be the most popular choice ever to wear the crown as McNairy Central’s football homecoming queen. There was applause, cheers and more than a few tears when her name was announced as the homecoming queen. Hurst, 17, has dealt with Costello syndrome since birth. She is the daughter of Clint and Mindy Hurst. Sara Jo has two sisters, Jessica Edwards and Rachel Hurst, and a brother, River Hurst. River is a sopho-

more at MCHS. Costello syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects many parts of the body. It is characterized by delayed development, distinctive facial features, unusually flexible joints and heart problems. Infants with Costello grow slowly and have problems feeding. “The football players will never know how much it means to my family that they nominated Sarah Jo to be in the homecoming court,” said her emotional mother. “Clint and I can never thank those boys enough for what they have done for her.” Football seniors chose Sara Jo as one of their two representatives in homecoming. Each class of football players gets to nominate their two members for homecoming. The football

team chooses “sweetheart” and the entire student body votes on “queen.” “She has been floating in the clouds since she found out about being nominated,” said Mindy. “I asked her if she was going to ever come back down to Earth.” While many young people today are thought to not be compassionate to their fellow students, this year’s senior Bobcats have shown they have a heart to honor their classmate. Sara Jo is around four foot tall and weighs around 55 pounds. A small body is part of any person with Costello. “We were all tickled to death when we found out that Sara Jo had been nominated to be Please see QUEEN | 6A

McNairy Central Homecoming Queen Sara Jo Hurst

25 years ago

10 years ago

The first ever Hog Wild Barbecue Festival kicks off. Jerry Lee Lewis’ sister, rockabilly performer Linda Gail Lewis, headlines the festival’s concert.

The CARE Honor Garden is officially dedicated as part of the grand opening of the Crossroads Museum in the Corinth Depot.

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