Thursday Nov. 17,
2011
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 115, No. 274
Plenty of sun Today
Tonight
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Deadly Collapse One killed during demolition of storage building BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A cleanup project turned tragic for a Corinth woman. Suzanne Marie Clark, 24, was killed when a storage building collapsed on her just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Clark’s mother, Betty Thomas, was also trapped under the building, located on Stanford Drive just off Highway 72. Thomas, 40,
was pulled from the structure by Corinth Firemen and EMS. She was transported by ambulance to Magnolia Regional Health Center. “They were taking tin off the old building when it collapsed,” said Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster. According to the report, someone at the scene had called another individual to push over the building after the roof started sagging.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Emergency personnel work to free a woman who was trapped underneath a storage building just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Suzanne Clark, 24, was killed when the building came down on her on Stanford Drive. “The individual told them to stay out of it after it started sagging,” said Lancaster. The two along with Clark’s boyfriend, Kevin Haygood, all of 802 Red-
which was some 10-12 feet inside the building — by raising the roof section with air bags, cribbing and a hydraulic ram according to fire chief Rob Price.
wood Drive, Corinth, were working on tearing the building down when it collapsed. Corinth Firemen were able to free the body,
Three trucks with the Corinth department responded to the call. “Our guys did a great job of getting her out quick,” said Price.
City to seek formation of entertainment district BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed Tuesday to seek the formation of an entertainment district in the city to encourage the development of entertainment venues. The city must prepare a legal description of the district and apply through the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Qualifying businesses that construct or renovate an entertainment facil-
ity in an approved entertainment district may use an accelerated state income tax depreciation deduction and most impose a $2 ticket or admission fee. Tourism Director Kristy White and Northern Mississippi Service Coordinator Jeremy Martin with the Secretary of State’s Office appeared before the board to discuss the proposal. “The tourism industry is changing,” said Martin. “People will come. If they will travel
hours out of their way on twolane back roads to get to Branson, Mo., then I can tell you if you find the right niche and market it correctly, they’ll come to Corinth. We’re giving you one tool that you can market and help make that a reality.” Two separate areas are proposed to become entertainment districts — generally the historic business district, but expanded to include some older buildings such as Corinth Machinery,
and some open property in the Crossroads Arena area. White said it will help the city be competitive when developers inquire with the Mississippi Development Authority. “It simply allows future developers to take advantage of it if they see fit,” said Martin. “As long as they are in the entertainment district they can petition the state Department of Revenue to take advantage of the five-year accelerated depreciation.”
The accelerated depreciation can be used in conjunction with any other available incentives, such as local property tax breaks for renovation. White said the arena and downtown areas would likely have two different types of marketing plans. “We have a lot of visitors who want to walk around downtown at night,” she said. “They actually Please see DISTRICT | 5
Concert brings holiday cheer to coliseum Smokeout BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Some of Corinth’s favorite vocalists and instrumentalists will team for the annual community Christmas concert benefiting the Corinth Coliseum Civic Center. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 29 at the coliseum on Taylor Street. The evening of festive music is marking its fifth year. “It has done really well every year, and we’re having a lot of people interested in participating in the concert,” said
Chad Dickerson, president of the Corinth Area Arts Council. “We’ve got a good lineup for this year and are still confirming a few people. The program will be a mix of festive secular carols and sacred music.” The handbell choirs from First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church will participate, as well as the adult choir from First Presbyterian, the chorus of Corinth Middle School, the Corinth Elementary second-grade challenge class and a dance troupe from the Creative Arts Center. Vio-
lin and piano duets are among the instrumental selections. The arts council, which manages the 1924 theater building, uses the concert funds to make improvements. “All of the money raised goes to upkeep, maintenance and refurbishment of the coliseum,” said Dickerson. “Over the last five years, we have probably raised close to $10,000 with these concerts, which has helped with painting, putting in new chairs and parts of the sound system. The latest project is new carpet which has just
been installed for the lobby area. Proceeds from this concert will likely go to help pay for that.” Architect B.F. Liddon designed and built the entertainment venue for $60,000 with a seating capacity of 999. It was deeded to Alcorn County in 1981 with an estimated value of $3 million. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Mississippi Landmark. Tickets for the Christmas cost $10 and are general admission with children 12 and under admitted free.
BY JEFF YORK The annual Holiday Fair, sponsored by the Alcorn County Mississippi Volunteer Homemakers, will be held Friday at Martha’s Menu. This event will be held from 9 a.m.2 p.m. in the dining room of the restaurant. This Corinth tradition brings together the best cooks in town that have prepared tasty homemade baked food to attract food lovers to the Holiday Fair. There will also be several handmade craft items that will be perfect for Christmas gifts and Thanksgiving treats.
“We have 65 volunteers in Alcorn County that have goals to educate the people of Alcorn County about the needs of stronger families,” said club member Ann Walker. “Our club wants to educate the senior citizens about healthier and safer living and to educate parents how to help in the prevention of child abuse.” An active group of volunteers in the Alcorn County Homemakers provide items needed at the state children’s hospital and to volunteer assistance in our county. “We want to help strengthen families through programs of
community leadership and to empower citizens to actively participate in public decision making on issues that concern children, families, and home life,” said Walker. The list of foods available at the Holiday Fair will make you hungry just reading them. There will be coconut cakes, pecan pies, pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, homemade bread, breakfast coffee cakes, pound cakes and cookies. If you are looking for craft items made by the talented MHV ladies, this will be the place to visit on Friday. They will have handmade Christmas
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Staff reports
ornaments, Christmas gifts and many more gift items. There are four MHV Clubs in Alcorn County. The following list is a sample of volunteer activities that these club members participate in: ■ Donate books to the NE Mississippi Library in Corinth. ■ Participate in the Cultural Arts Event in May. ■ Holiday Fair (Location Dining Room of Martha’s Menu). ■ Blue Ribbon Child Abuse Prevention Month. This activity involves all the Kindergartens in Alcorn County, Corinth
Smokers are being encouraged to take a step toward better health today by beginning the process of kicking the habit as part of the American Cancer Society’s national Great American Smokeout. The Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition of Alcorn/Tippah is using the day as an opportunity to get the word out about the dangers of tobacco use. Emily J. McGrath, director of the local chapter of the coalition, said tobacco use continues to claim a huge number of lives in Mississippi. It is the largest cause of preventable death and disease in the country. In the Magnolia State, 4,700 adults will die each year from smokingrelated illnesses, according to statistics provided by McGrath. “Through this Great American Smokeout event, we want Mississippians to know that you can quit and there is plenty of help available for those who want to stop smoking permanently,” she said. McGrath said there are numerous resources available to help people who want to kick the habit. The place to start is the Mississippi Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUITNOW or www.quitlinems.com.
Please see FAIR | 5
Please see SMOKEOUT | 5
Homemaker’s group hosts annual Holiday Fair For the Daily Corinthian
set for today
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports... 8-10
The U.S.S. Connecticut captures a heavily laden British schooner, the Adeline, of Cape Canaveral, Fla. The seizure of was proof the federal blockade was becoming more effective. By Tom Parson, NPS Ranger
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