Tuesday Sept. 6,
2011
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 115, No. 212
Today
Tonight
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Lee goes light on area BY MARK BOEHLER editor@dailycorinthian.com
It was a gray overcast, rainy Labor Day on Monday, but local officials were relieved the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee which caused major flooding in other parts of the state didn’t cause much damage on a local level. But fingers remained crossed Monday night with more rain expected through today in the Crossroads area with as much as six inches of rainfall predicted in some areas. “We are blessed,” said City of Corinth Street Commissioner Jim Bynum about 4 p.m. Monday. “So far.” Underpasses and streets were not flooded at all, noted Bynum. With the city working to keep drainage areas free of debris and no heavy downpours, “we’ve had no problems whatsoever,” he said. “It looks pretty good out there. No trees down and no flooding,” added Bynum. Alcorn County had heavy rainfall Monday
Thunderstorm
Corinth man drowns after being swept away in rising creek at Coleman park BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Mark Boehler
Alcorn County reported one closed road Monday due to flooding — CR 450 next to the Rienzi watershed lake. The heavy rainfall was a result of Tropical Storm Lee moving through the area. in some areas, “but the ground was so dry, much of it was absorbed,” said Alcorn County Emergency Management Director Ricky Gibens. Workers had to close CR 450 adjacent to the Rienzi watershed lake and a tree fell across CR 120 -- the only two problems
reported in the county, he said. “For the most part, we are in good shape,” said Gibens about 3:30 p.m. Monday. “So far, we have been really fortunate.” The emergency management director said even the high wind advisory didn’t happen on a
local level with isolated gusts of 20 m.p.h. reported with no damage. Gibens said MEMA did send out a caution as more rain was predicted Monday night and throughout Tuesday for the area. “We are keeping a close watch,” he said.
TISHOMINGO COUNTY — A Corinth man drowned after attempting to cross a flooded creek at the entrance to J.P. Coleman State Park, according to authorities. John Howard Anderson Jr., 57, drowned at approximately 11 p.m. Sunday, said Mack Wilemon, Tishomingo County coroner. Anderson, who was staying in a houseboat in the park’s marina, was riding back into the park with some friends in a van when the accident occurred. Short Creek, usually about two feet deep, marks the entrance to J.P. Coleman State Park. As the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee passed through the area, the waters rose to almost six feet, authorities said. The coroner said Anderson took the wheel when the van’s driver refused to continue driving through the creek. “Anderson took the wheel and got the front tires almost to the other side when the current caught the back end and spun it around,” Wilemon explained. “Everybody got out of the van and they were in the process of rescuing him with a rope when the current got him.” Anderson’s body was recovered around midnight, 300 yards away in a wooded area inside the park. It was the first reported death directly attributed to the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. McPeters Funeral Directors is in charge of Anderson’s funeral arrangements.
Trio of big events are boost to local economy BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
With a trio of big events coming next weekend, tourism officials are expecting a boost to the local economy. The upcoming events include the Battle of Farmington Reenactment (Sept. 15-18), the Alcorn County Fair (Sept. 13-18), and the 10th Annual Darryl Worley Tennessee River Run (Sept.
16-17) in nearby Pickwick and Savannah, Tenn. “The one that will impact us the most is the Farmington event,” said Tourism Director Kristy White. “A lot of the ladies whose husbands are participating in the reenactment will be staying in our hotels.” Farmington Mayor Dale Fortenberry said many of the reenactors will be “camping out” in the ho-
tels around Corinth. In addition to the increase in hotel reservations, the events will be a boon to the city’s restaurants and shopping outlets. The multi-day events will provide an extra boost to the tourism revenue generated during the weekend. “Historically, they’ve had a lower occupancy during the weekend than the week,” White explained.
BY BOBBY J. SMITH An up-and-coming musician with Corinth roots will open for the headlining acts at the 10th Annual Darryl Worley Tennessee River Run on Sept. 17 in what organizers say will be the biggest event in the 10-year history of the concert series. Ben Mathis, son of Phil and Cindy Mathis of Corinth, earned his place on the River Run stage by winning the Jackson (Tenn.) Battle of the Bands Competition. Mathis is a former member of the group Nash Street and a past Slug Idol champion. The guitarist and vocalist
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
parted ways with Nash Street to pursue a solo career. In the Jackson Battle of the Bands, Mathis performed with a group of friends under the unofficial name Ben Mathis and the Sidekicks. As the winner of the competition, Mathis has earned studio time at Jaxon Records and an opening-slot gig with Darryl Worley and Montgomery Gentry at the Pickwick concert. The 10th Annual event promises to be the biggest celebration yet for the festival. “For the 10th anniversary, we’re going to blow Please see RUN | 2
Montgomery Gentry
Index Classified......14 Comics...... 11 Kids Page...... 12
While this year’s Farmington event is expected to be bigger than ever, attention is already being directed at next year’s event, which will mark the 150th anniversary of the fighting around Farmington. “With the Sesquicentennial they’ve been getting more interest,” White said. “This will be a big weekend — and a foreshadowing of what we can expect next year.”
While plenty of rooms are still available for the week and weekend, travelers who wish to take advantage of Corinth’s lodging facilities should not wait until the last minute, said Barbara Wilbanks, operations manager at the Holiday Inn Express. “A lot of people think they can always find a hotel room in Corinth — but they can’t. We book out a lot!” Wilbanks said.
Fair caters to the kids
Organizers expect 10th River Run to be biggest ever bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
“Having something going on during the weekend is icing on the cake to having something in the week.” The Farmington Reenactment is expected to be particularly active this year, due to the Civil War Sesquicentennial — or 150th anniversary. In April 2011, Civil War sites around the country began commemorating the beginning of the war with events that will continue through 2015.
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With a wide variety of contests that highlight traditional crafts and talent, the 2011 Alcorn County Fair will offer family fun and entertainment for kids of all ages. “The Fair is offering opportunities for our friends and neighbors to show off their talents. Whether you can the best beans in your church or have a child with a voice like an angel — there is a contest for you at the Fair,” said Chris Porterfield, Alcorn County Fair committee chairman. “We are expecting racks of quilts to show off, a barn full of cows and horses to show, and crowds of pageant girls in their ruffled dresses to help us celebrate Alcorn County and all the talent we have in North Mississippi.”
The Alcorn County Fair’s organizers wish to remind the public that there is still time to register for the many competitions and contests that showcase traditional crafts and local talent. Contests include a Cheer Off (schools and gyms), Quilt Show (professional, amateur and vintage), Talent Show (pre-qualifier for the Mid-South Fair), Fairest of the Fair Pageant, 4-H Cow and Horse Show and Ranch Rodeo. There is also a call for participants for the Blue Ribbon Exhibitors, a canning competition for “Best Pickles” and more. The categories for the Blue Ribbon Exhibitors are: Fruits and Vegetables; Jams and Jellies; and Pickles and Relishes. Organizers are also seeking crafters, can-
On this day in history 150 years ago To counteract the Confederate move into Kentucky, General U.S. Grant occupies the highly strategic city of Paducah at the mouth of the Tennessee River, stifling Confederates plans to extend their line to the Ohio River.
Please see FAIR | 2