Prentiss County Pursuit pleas net 40 years in prison
Tippah County Ripley police officer faces charges
McNairy County Early voting now underway
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Wednesday Oct. 26,
2016
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 120, No. 258
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • One section
Tax collections top $500,000 BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Tax collections were close to even in the first deposits going on the books in the new fiscal year. Corinth’s sales tax diversion returned to the city on or about Oct. 15 totaled $506,876.63, rising about $7,100, or 1.4 percent, from a year ago. The city closed fiscal 2016 with sales tax proceeds for the year totaling $6,313 million, an increase of 1.7 percent from fiscal 2015. It is the first time the October
frame has topped $500,000. Funds returned to the city in October reflect sales activity in local establishments during the month of August. Collections statewide were slightly off compared to the same month a year ago, declining a tenth of a percentage point. Eight of a dozen municipalities in the northeast corner posted gains. The 2 percent tax on prepared food and lodging generPlease see COLLECTIONS | 2A
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
First District Circuit Judge Thomas Gardner III unveils the portrait of “Soggy” Sweat with artist Robbie Boyd in the Alcorn County Courthouse.
City board approves ‘Whiskey Speech’ writer honored adding four-way stop BY BOBBY J. SMITH bsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The community and members of the judiciary professions from across the state turned out for a tribute to the late “Soggy” Sweat at the Alcorn County Courthouse on Tuesday. “The recognition of Judge Sweat has been a long time coming,” said First District Circuit Judge Thomas Gardner III, who presided over the tribute. Noah S. “Soggy” Sweat Jr. was the author of the whiskey
speech, a famous example of political oratory from the Prohibition era. Gardner described Sweat as a great American and a muchneeded reformer. “When Judge Sweat took over as circuit judge there were needed changes made — real improvements and professionalism put into the lawyer business,” he said. The tribute also included an unveiling of artist Robbie Boyd’s portrait of the celebrated local judge which will become a permanent fixture of
the courtroom. “It’s always an honor to be asked to paint someone, and even more this time because he means so much to you,” Boyd said. “I hope I have given you a portrait that reveals a little bit of the man.” In addition to Gardner, the tribute brought together a who’s-who of Mississippi’s judiciary branch, including speakers Judge Neal B. Biggers, United States District judge for the Northern District of Mis-
Please see SWEAT | 2A
BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth is adding another four-way stop. The Board of Aldermen last week approved changing the intersection of Breckenridge Street and Second Street from a two-way stop to a four-way stop. Residents have asked for it, and the police department gave approval, said Public Works Director Clayton Mills. A date was not given for the change at the intersection located about a block from the old
Warrior Stadium. In other recent actions and discussion: • The proposal for a crosswalk at Douglas Street and East Shiloh Road is going back into development. It has been discussed for some time because of concern about the safety of children leaving Corinth Middle School crossing the street to First Presbyterian Church. Part of the plan will include changing Douglas Street to one Please see STOP | 5A
Music club will present organist performance pa Honor Society on campus. He has been chosen as HuWondrous sounds will manities Teacher of the Year echo through the beautifully at NEMCC, has been named renovated sanctuary of First as a TOPP teacher and has United Methodist Church of represented the college at the Corinth on Thursday as the state capital as a HEADWAE honoree. Corinth Music Club In addition to his presents the next in duties at the college, their series of MidMorning Concerts. Dr. Harris has served as organist for First The 11 a.m. concert Presbyterian Church will feature Dr. Ray of Tupelo for 22 years Harris of Booneville, and has even recorded who will perform a short program on the a CD of organ music on the Letourneau Pipe organ. Organ at the church. A 3 manual Schantz Harris Dr. Harris holds a pipe organ, the instrument Harris will be playing on Bachelor and Master of Music was built in 1974 and reno- Education Degree from Misvated in 2014 by the Milnar sissippi State University and Organ Company in Eagleville, the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State Tenn. A man of great musical University. A member of the talent, Dr. Harris currently American Guild of Organists serves as the Academic Divi- and the Mississippi Music sion Head for the Division of Teachers Association, he has Fine Arts at Northeast Missis- served as Vice President for sippi Community, and teaches Public Relations. In addition piano and Music Apprecia- to Dr. Harris’ renditions, Pastion. He also serves as faculty advisor for the Phi Theta KapPlease see ORGANIST | 2A BY KIMBERLY SHELTON kshelton@dailycorinthian.com
Members of the Corinth Police Department Special Response Team are raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Team members include (from left) Ken Edmonds, Erin Hill, Ramiro Mares, Bo Swindle, Shane Stegall and Josh Fortenberry.
Officers will run to benefit St. Jude BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Members of the Corinth Police Department Special Response Team are taking on a special mission. Six officers are working to raise $500 each for the 2016 St. Jude Memphis Marathon on Dec. 3 for a $3,000 donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The team is starting out in the event’s 5K with the goal of moving up to the longer races in future years.
Major Josh Fortenberry said the idea to participate was inspired by young cancer patient Addie Paige Pratt, who has acute myeloid leukemia. “Any opportunity to reach out and help the community, we are going to do it,” he said. With more than 22,000 participants, the marathon is the largest single-day fundraising event for St. Jude. The event includes a marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and kids marathon. St. Jude touts the race as
“the best tour of Memphis you can get on two feet.” While registration fees offset the cost of the race, the funds raised by St. Jude Heroes go directly to the hospital. The Corinth team members are participants in the Heroes program. The fundraising dollars help ensure no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. Contact Fortenberry at 2863377 or jfortenberry@cityofcorinthms.com to donate.
25 years ago
10 years ago
Alcorn Central High School student Brian Whisenant adapts the novel “Trick or Treat” into a play and directs the performance at the Corinth Coliseum-Civic Center.
The Biggersville Lions claim the Tri-County Junior High Championship with an 18-6 win over Iuka.
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