Daily Corithian E-Edition 030712 by Daily Corinthian

Wednesday March 7,

2012

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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 57

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• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections

City sends shelter request to planners BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Corinth Board of Aldermen is sending the Hope Dream Center Mission’s plea for an exception to a sprinkler requirement to the planning commission. The board cited liability and

procedural concerns Tuesday before unanimously agreeing to table the matter and send the variance request to the planning commission. Building Inspector Philip Verdung said the group had bypassed proper procedure by going straight to the Board of

Mayor and Aldermen without first presenting the request to the planning commission and board of adjustment, which makes recommendations to the city board on zoning variances. Addressing the board on behalf of the organization, Jennifer McCoy said the building

at 1223 Tate St. is to be used as a shelter for women facing tough circumstances. A former school, church and funeral home, the building was constructed to the specifications of a fallout shelter with brick walls and concrete flooring. “We don’t need a sprinkler

system in a building that has no combustible materials,” said McCoy. She requested an exception for the first floor of the building and 18 to 24 months to raise the funds needed to install sprinPlease see SHELTER | 2A

Absentee voting still available; officials expect low turnout BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Absentee voting for Tuesday’s presidential and Congressional primary election is available for just a few more days. All circuit clerks’ offices across the state will open Saturday from 8 a.m. until noon for the last opportunity to cast an absentee ballot in person. Bal-

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Mitchell Farms office manager Carolyn Gray pets one of the triplets with help from Mack Mitchell two days after they were born.

Rare calf triplet update: Heifers doing well; bull doesn’t make it BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

KOSSUTH — The rare calf triplets are down to a pair. Doug Mitchell of Mitchell Farms says the bull of the remarkable three survived 10 days before dying. “I feel like there wasn’t something right about him,” said Mitchell. “He was the smallest of the three and was having trouble digesting his food.” The good news is that the

Party leader in Corinth for speaking, book signing BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Wirt A. Yerger Jr. is the reason for the Mississippi Republican Party. The fifthgeneration Mississippian founded the GOP in 1956 and served as the party’s first state Yerger chairman until 1966. Please see YERGER | 2A

two heifers are doing just fine. “They are growing and look a lot better,” said Mitchell. “The mother has done a good job of taking care of both of them.” Mitchell will continue to keep the two calves in a barn and away from the rest of the cows until they are two months old. “The two will be eating food on their own by that time,” said the farmer. The triplets — an once in

every 106,000 accomplishment — were born on Feb. 15. The mother cow had the calves without any assistance and accepted all three. The registered Hereford delivered calves that weighed 60, 50 and 40 pounds. “It’s still unbelievable and I haven’t found anyone who has heard of it before,” said Mitchell. Four years ago, 14 sets of twins were born on Mitchell’s farm.

lots sent by mail must arrive at the clerk’s address by Monday. Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell said absentee votes are coming at a very slow pace, indicating a low turnout is likely on Tuesday. Here’s who’s on the ballot in the two party primaries: Please see ABSENTEE | 3A

Government groups seek purchase of Coon Creek Science Center BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian

SELMER, Tenn. — A possible deal is being discussed about the purchase of the Coon Creek Science Center by a partnership among McNairy County government, the City of Selmer and the City of Adamsville from Memphis Museum Systems. The UT-Martin/McNairy County-Selmer Center would be a management partner. Coon Creek has one of the most important fossil sites in North America. The 230-acre site is located in Leapwood in northeast McNairy County. The center is now owned by Memphis Museum Systems, the operator of the Pink Palace Mu-

seum. Officials from McNairy County, county government, the McNairy Regional Alliance and a representative of UTM met with representatives from Memphis Museums on Friday to talk about the purchase of the Coon Creek Science Center. There has been no price mentioned yet. “We told them to come back with a proposal for us at our next meeting,” said McNairy County Extension Agent Ricky Mathenia. “We want to make this deal happen, but we have to meet a June deadline to get the grant money.” Please see CENTER | 2A

Ross wants to work for bold changes BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Former Eupora mayor Henry Ross says he is ready to work for bold changes if elected to represent the First Congressional District. In a telephone interview with the Daily Corinthian, Ross said he believes the incumbent has not done enough to change government. Two years ago, Ross lost the Republican primary to Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo while making a solid second-place finish in Alcorn County. On Tuesday, he again faces Nunnelee, along with Robert Estes. Ross, a former circuit judge in the seven-county Fifth Circuit Court District, said the conservative successes in the 2010 mid-term election have not translated to results.

“They said they would reduce the size of government, cut spending and stop ‘Obamacare,’” said Ross. “But they have been in office almost 14 months and what has actually happened is nothing.” He is concerned that government spending continues to increase, and “all of the Obama big-government programs are still in place.” He said the debt ceiling increased “without getting any real spending cuts.” Ross said he would have voted differently than the incumbent on numerous items. He would have been in favor of a government shutdown in order to force some changes. After the government shutdown in the 1990s, he said Congress moved in the right direction. “We had four straight years

cial issues, he would support a constitutional amendment to exclude same-sex couples from marriage. He would have voted against the National Defense Authorization Act. “There is the possibility that because of ambiguities in the act’s language, American citizens on American soil who ‘have committed a belligerent act’ against the United States could be detained under the law,” he said. “Many are concerned that people who espouse right wing causes could potentially fall within purview of the act depending on the definition of belligerent acts used by the current and future administrations.” Ross said the country needs Please see ROSS | 2A

On this day in history 150 years ago

Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B

of federal surpluses,” he said. “They started to discipline themselves, and we had a booming economy for those years. The Republicans helped themselves and helped the country when they showed some determination.” He said he will not vote for compromises “that continue trillion-dollar-plus deficits.” By compromising with Democrats, he said moderate Republicans are keeping the status quo in place. He disputed Nunnelee’s contention that shutting down the government would have stopped military service members from getting paid. Ross favors repeal of the health care reform act and says it will be difficult to find doctors in the future. Also concerned about so-

March 7 — A Union force of 10,500 men confronts the 16,000 man Army of the West under Gen. Van Dorn at Pea Ridge, Ark. Van Dorn plans a flank march to attack the enemy from behind. The USS Monitor departs New York for Hampton Roads, Va.

Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A

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2A • Daily Corinthian

Local/Region

CENTER: Museums limit visits to groups of 10 or more CONTINUED FROM 1A

Memphis Museums will have a board meeting later this month when they are expected to decide a price for the land. The public-private partnership bought the property in 1988 from the state of Tennessee, who had acquired the land to preserve the fossils. “There are some good positives about us owning the land,” said McNairy County Mayor Wilburn Gene Ashe. “The center could be a tourist attraction and help improve education through our local schools and the UTM Center.” Gerald Parish, of the Tennessee Environment & Conservation, Recreation-Education Services, has told local officials about a possible state matching grant of $250,000 that could be used to buy the site. The

land could be used as part of the local match that could increase the outlay to $500,000. McNairy Regional Alliance director Ted Moore said he thought buying the property would work well for McNairy County in several ways. He mentioned that bringing together the McNairy County Government, the cities of Selmer and Adamsville, along with the UTMartin center would form a strong partnership. “If we owned the property, it could open up a lot of possibilities for our county,” Moore said. “I do not think our people locally understand how important this could be in the future for McNairy County.” Memphis Museums now limits visitations to the Coon Creek Center to groups of 10 or more. They previously had a director who lived on-site to

give tours, but eliminated the position several years agao due to budget cuts. The site at one time offered weekend fossil finds for groups and week long education summer camps for youth groups, who would stay in on site cabins. The property contains a treasure lode of superbly preserved Upper Cretaceous marine shells and vertebrate remains there from 70 million years ago when the water of the Gulf of Mexico receded. It is believed that all of West Tennessee was covered by water at the time. Mathenia said the discussions between the county and Memphis Museums have been ongoing for two years about the property. He said the officials from Memphis understand they need to present a sale price when the parties meet again in late-March or early-April.

YERGER: He chronicles leading GOP revolution at 26 CONTINUED FROM 1A

“We couldn’t do what we do today without what he did years ago,” said Northeast Mississippi Republicans event organizer Mike Stewart. “He is an icon.” Yerger will be in town for a meeting and book signing — sponsored by the Northeast Mississippi Republicans — at the Corinth Library on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. His book, “A Courageous Cause — A Personal Story of Modern Republicanism’s Birth from 1956 to 1966 in Mississippi,” details the founding of the party in the 1950s and 1960s. “The book really takes you where the party got

its start,” added Stewart. “He was there during the nasty days of Civil Rights and the threat of nuclear disaster.” In the book, Yerger chronicles how he led the Republican revolution at the age of 26. “He was the Daniel Boone of the party,” said Stewart. Yerger, the chairman of the Mississippi delegation to the Republican National Convention in 1956, 1960 and 1964, was elected to a four-year term as chairman of the Southern Association of Republican State Chairman in 1960. In 2009, the Central Committee of the Mississippi Republican Party named him chair-

man emeritus. “This is a really big deal for us and we expect a good crowd,” added Stewart. Everyone is invited to the free admission event. According to his web site, Yerger was viewed by Time magazine as the primary voice of a new, principled conservatism in the South. Unlike his back-room Democrat counterparts, Yerger organized his GOP party membership at the grassroots, county level, creating a state party built upon lasting principles of real conservatism such as small government, free enterprise, strong defense, and the rights of individuals to exercise political choice.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Court sides with EPA on Yazoo project Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — A federal appeals court panel sided Tuesday with the Environmental Protection Agency over its 2008 veto of a $220 million flood control project near the Yazoo River in the south Mis-

sissippi Delta. The Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners sued the EPA in 2009 after the agency vetoed the Yazoo Backwater Project, which has been in the works for decades. The board said the proposed pumping station would

protect wetlands, farms and forests north of Vicksburg from flooding. Damien M. Schiff, a Pacific Legal Foundation attorney representing the board, said he must talk to levee commissioners before deciding whether to appeal.

SHELTER: Concerns raised over liability issue CONTINUED FROM 1A

klers on the second floor. The organization has previously said it needs to raise $26,000 for a sprinkler system. Verdung said any deviation from the building code imposes liability on the city. “One of the things this code requires in an institutional occupancy is a sprinkler system,” he said. Many fire deaths result from smoke inhalation as a result of smoke from interior combustible materials such as bedding,

he said. Mike Stewart, also with the mission, encouraged the board to go ahead and make the exception. “We need this,” he said. “We have a shelter for animals but none for people … Just do it because it needs to be done.” City Attorney Wendell Trapp said the request presents “a huge liability situation.” “I could not possibly encourage the ignoring of the ordinance and the state law,” he said. Ward 4 Alderman J.C.

Hill acknowledged the need and encouraged the city to move the request forward as quickly as possible. “It would be a shame to let this opportunity fall by the wayside,” he said. Mayor Tommy Irwin told the group that the board cannot overlook the liability issue. “Does that make them not have a heart? No,” he said. A legal notice must be published, and the request will possibly go before the planning commission on March 26.

ROSS: In 2008, he received Bush appointment CONTINUED FROM 1A

to achieve energy independence, and he believes Congress should act to tap oil reservoirs on federal land. Ross was elected mayor of Eupora in 1997 and served one term. He said he worked for infrastructure and service improvements without increasing city taxes. Ross holds business and law degrees from Ole Miss and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1981. He served as a U.S. Navy JAG Corps

officer for several years a n d then joined t h e Naval R e serve, Ross retiri n g with the rank of commander in 2005. He also served as the only assistant district attorney in the Fifth Circuit Court District. Most recently, in

2008, he received a Bush administration appointment in the Department of Justice, serving as senior counsel to the assistant attorney general in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. He said this year’s election presents a chance to “get back to limited government.” “It has been politics as usual,” said Ross, “and it’s going to take some people that are different to actually stop this growth in federal government.”

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Local/Region

3A • Daily Corinthian

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Deaths Ronald Lynn Hopkins

MASSILLON, Ohio — Ronald Lynn Hopkins, 45, died Monday, March 5, 2012, at his residence. All other arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Magnolia Funeral Home.

Martha Lee

Martha Holley Nash Lee died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, in Memphis, Tn. All other arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McPeters Funeral Directors Inc.

Linda F. Hood

A memorial service for Linda F. Hood, 57, is set for 2 p.m. Thursday at Greater Life United Pentecostal Church. Ms. Hood died Monday, March 5, 2012, at her residence. Born Jan. 17, 1955, she was a retired Restorative and Social Worker for Mississippi Care Center and Alcorn Care Inn. She attended the Greater Life UPC. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Rushing and Lester Faye Watkins Carmack; a daughter Trina Sue Hood; two sisters, Donna Kay Hollins and Debra Gay Terry, her step-father, Thomas Eugene Carmack; and grandparents, Elmer and Oma Jean Watkins, Marvel Alton and Mattie B. Rushing. Survivors include a son, James Ray Hood of Corinth; a brother, Charles Rushing; a sister, Rebecca Morelock both of Corinth; and grandchildren, Elijah James Ray Hood, Skylar Hood, Destiny King, Jailynn Hood. Bro. Don Cleeney and Bro. Trent Spencer will officiate. Visitation will follow the service at the church. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Pinevale Children’s Home. McPeters Inc. Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Mattie Kyle

Funeral services for Mattie Mary Elizabeth Miller Kyle, 90, of Corinth, are set for 2 p.m. Thursday at Magnolia Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with burial in Lorraine Baptist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Kyle died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at her residence. Born April 5, 1921, she was a homemaker and member of the Church of God of the Union Assembly. She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Kyle, Sr.; a daughter, Reba Fay White; her parents, Jess and Alice Walker Miller; two brothers, Jack Miller and Homer Miller; three sisters, May Miller Barnett, Maudi Miller and Bet Miller; two grandchildren, Terry Fulks and Kathy Kyle Joe Earls; and one great grandson. Survivors include four sons, John H. Kyle and wife Kathy of Dresden, Tn., James W. Kyle, Jr. and wife Tosha of Corinth, Thomas W. Kyle of Corinth, and Joel E. Kyle and wife Reba of Tunnel Hill, Ga.; a sister, Gladys Miller Smith of Tupelo; 17 grandchildren, Marita Hood of Knoxville, Tn., Dale Fulks and wife Debbie of Corinth; Bobby White of Corinth; Timmy White and wife Shelia of Corinth; John Kyle, Penny Kyle, Mary Ann Vickers and husband Shawn, Sherika Duncan, Christy, Angela, Crystal, Jimmy, Mark, Kevin, Jennifer, Amanda and Daniel; and 12 step-grandchildren. Bro. David Bledsoe, Bro. Jessie Crider and Bobby White will officiate. Visitation is 5-9 p.m. tonight and from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home.

ABSENTEE: Candidates compete CONTINUED FROM 1A

Democratic primary ■ President: Barack Obama. ■ U.S. Senate: Albert N. Gore Jr., Will Oatis and Roger Weiner. ■ U.S. House of Representatives 1st Congressional District: Brad Morris. Republican primary ■ President: Michele

Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. ■ U.S. Senate: E. Allen Hathcock, Robert Maloney and Roger F. Wicker. ■ U.S. House of Representatives 1st Congressional District: Robert Estes, Alan Nunnelee and Henry Ross.

Youth advocacy training High school students in grades 9 – 12 gathered in Tupelo on Feb. 17 for a tobacco prevention training that prepared students for a leadership role in which they will help plan and implement an activity with other students in conjunction with their local Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition Director, Emily McGrath, in June 2012. This training also helped students develop advocacy skills to help better their community. The training was sponsored by a grant funded by the Mississippi State Department of Health and the American Lung Association. Local students taking part include (back row) Hunter Mitchell, Jarious “Jazz” Prather, Taylor Nash, Nathan Watson, Amber Judd, Shaianne White, (middle row) Whitney Shipman, Keri Crum, Lauren Coleman, Anna Palmer, Khalil Patterson, Erica Doran, Katelyn Miller, (front row) Shelbi Stewart, Avery McGrath, Jose Contreras, Blake Stacey and Zach Armstrong (not pictured).

McNairy panel approves probation contract BY JEFF YORK Special to the Daily Corinthian

SELMER, Tenn. — A new contract was approved for probation services and there was discussion about the county combining with Selmer to purchase two vacant buildings during February’s meeting of the McNairy County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners approved a two-year contract with West State Education & Probation to take care of most probation cases for the county. West State has been providing those services for the county for the past few years. This contract will run through 2014. McNairy County Mayor Wilburn Gene Ashe said the county would receive 15 percent back from West State for the money they collect for probation fees. Ashe said the

county received $21,000 from the company for 2011. This new contract was brought to the full commission as a recommendation from the law enforcement committee. The committee had met prior to the regular commission meeting. McNairy County General Sessions Judge Van McMahan can choose someone to any probation service, but normally assigns someone on probation to West State. The commissioners

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McNairy County. Commissioners approved the re-appointment of Robert Shackelford, Carol Ann Woods and Harry Smith to the Selmer/McNairy County Industrial Board. Billy Wagoner asked the commissioners to consider naming a portion of Hwy. 57 and Hwy. 22 near the Michie School in memory of Dale Fisher. Fisher was a basketball standout at Michie and retired as a teacher in the McNairy County School System.

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P.O. Box 1800 Corinth, MS 38835

were informed on details about a possible partnership with the City of Selmer in buying two vacant buildings in Selmer. If the buildings are bought, they would be used to house the E-911 offices and provide a place to store equipment for the fire departments of Selmer and McNairy County. Ashe said the buildings could be bought and remodeled for an estimated $106,000. That amount would be split between the City of Selmer and

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Opinion

Reece Terry, publisher

www.dailycorinthian.com

Mark Boehler, editor

4A • Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Corinth, Miss.

Sound Off

People in wheelchairs want expanded trail I have a concern, not just for myself, but for the many others who are homebound because of not being able to walk and having to rely on motorized wheelchairs. I noticed in the newspaper that Corinth is doing street and sidewalk work in the downtown area, spending thousands of dollars for better streets and sidewalks. I and others would love to go shopping at retail outlets in the city. However, we can’t run our wheelchairs on the streets in fear of getting hit by vehicles. There is a hiking and biking trail from Lonnie’s Sporting Goods to Highway 2 — so why can’t the city expand the trail? Those of us in wheelchairs also pay tax on everything. We have to trust others to shop for us. We have community transportation to take us places “if” we have the money, but we have to let C.T.S. know 72 hours in advance or we miss out. I don’t always know on Monday what I will need to buy on Wednesday. I live on less than $700 a month and at times have no money to pay for C.T.S. or to buy things I need. I thought I could trust some people, but they take my money and keep on going. This is what happens without a safe way to go shopping, so why doesn’t the city build the bike trail on down Harper Road to give those of us in wheelchairs access to more shopping places so we can shop on our own? There are a lot of nice motorists who stop sometimes to let me cross a street or highway in my motorized wheelchair. Come on, Corinth. Build us a safe trail to the malls and other places to shop. Think about us handicapped people who like to shop, too. There are many events that go on we can’t attend. We are barred from the city park and downtown. Help us, please. Tommy Smith Hamilton Circle, Corinth

Keeping in Touch State: Sen. Rita Potts Parks Alcorn, Tishomingo, Tippah Counties 662-287-6323 (H) 662-415-4793 (cell) rparks@senate.m.s.gov Rep. Nick Bain Alcorn County 662-287-1620 (H) 601-953-2994 (Capitol) nbain@house.ms.gov Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter Alcorn, Tishomingo Counties 601-359-3374 (Capitol) 662-427-8281 (H) lcarpenter@huse.ms.gov Rep. William Tracy Arnold Alcorn, Prentiss Counties 662-728-9951 (H) warnold@house.ms.gov All state legislators can be reached via mail: c/o Capitol P.O. Box 1018 Jackson, Miss. 39215

Federal: U.S. Rep. Alan Nunnelee 202-225-4306 (Washington D.C.) Fax: 202-225-3549 662-327-0748 (Columbus) Fax: 662-328-5982 U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran 202-224-5054 (Washington D.C.) Fax: 202-224-9450 601-965-4459 (Jackson) 662-236-1018 (Oxford) Sen. Roger Wicker 202- 224-6253 (Washington D.C.) Fax: 202-228-0378 601-965-4644 (Jackson) Fax: 601-965-4007

Worth Quoting Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. — Robert Louis Stevenson

Prayer for today Dear Father, thank you for the challenges that come our way. Teach us how to boldly face our fears and rely on you. Amen.

A verse to share If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV)

Reece Terry publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

Second look at state’s tax collection system repeatedly sounded STARKVILLE — At that political alarm. all levels of governAfter proving that ment, conservatives the state’s aging resist calls for tax inDepartment of Revcreases and in Missisenue computer syssippi the no-new-tax tem was poised for a battle cry was handily encapsulated in for- Sid Salter catastrophic “crash” mer Gov. Haley BarColumnist that would serious impede the state’s bour’s “I’m-againstraising-anybody’s-taxes” revenue stream, Morgan was able to get bipartisan mantra. Some carry it to the ex- support for $35 million to treme of painting them- replace the computer sysselves into the political tem. But lawmakers didn’t corner of signing “no-newtax” pledges. Others, par- address the concurrent reticularly in state govern- quest that Morgan made ment, complain loudly for additional Department about unfunded mandates of Revenue agents and anpassed down from the fed- alysts to convert the new eral government to state computer system into a tool governments – only to turn to close the “tax gap” bearound and pass similar un- tween the tax revenue owed funded mandates down to under the existing tax struccounty and municipal gov- ture and the actual amount collected. ernments. Both Barbour and current But as I wrote last month, one undeniable fact of any Gov. Phil Bryant have asked rational discussion of Mis- lawmakers for an additional sissippi taxation is that the $4.5 to $5 million for the state isn’t collecting all the Department of Revenue to taxes due under the present fund additional personnel taxes levied – which under- to beef up tax collection efstandably makes conserva- forts and close the “tax gap.” tives even more entrenched But in the current budget in their opposition to any crunch, lawmakers have not funded those requests. new tax levies. But a Joint Committee Department of Revenue Chairman Ed Morgan has on Performance Evaluation

and Expenditure Review (PEER) memo from Sept. 6, 2011 that shows the extent of the delinquent taxes in two key categories – personal state income taxes and sales taxes owed by businesses. PEER Committee investigators told lawmakers in the memo: “In Fiscal Year 2010, delinquent personal income taxes totaled $70.2 million or 4 percent of the $1.73 billion in personal income taxes owed to the state of Mississippi. In FY 2011, delinquent personal income taxes totaled $43.1 million or 2 percent of the $1.78 billion in personal income taxes owed to the state. “In FY 2010, delinquent sales taxes owed by businesses totaled $104.6 million, or 4 percent of the $2.58 billion in sales taxes owed by businesses to the state. In FY 2011, delinquent sales taxes owed by businesses totaled $120.9 million or 5 percent of the $2.64 billion in sales taxes owed by businesses to the state. “Due to a number of factors, including death of the taxpayer, termination of a business, limited collection resources, and bankruptcy

protections, the Department of Revenue reports approximately 60 percent of delinquent taxes to be uncollectable.” While those numbers are jarring to those who pay their taxes, consider the greater implication. Delinquent taxes were at least identified as due and payable. Those taxes are at least “on the books.” The real growth in the “tax gap” comes from taxes that went uncollected because of the lack of manpower and resources to identify, investigate and collect legitimate taxes due and payable under current tax levies. They aren’t “on the books.” Morgan claims his agency over an 18-month period could collect at least an additional $25 million and realistically as much as $52 million with no new taxes levied – just a stronger effort by the state with more trained personnel to collect the existing taxes due. That’s in addition to delinquent and “uncollectable” taxes. Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at 601-507-8004 or sidsalter@sidsalter.com.

A confederacy of talent abounds in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS, La. the name of the composer, giving credit — It is four o’clock in where it’s due. the afternoon on the Passersby stick street called Frenchtheir heads into men. In a club called the Spotted Cat, a pithe open doorway, drawn to the music. ano player attacks the Rheta Then they mostly keyboard, performGrimsley move along, huming mostly for himself Johnson ming or smiling. and a barmaid who looks weary though Even in New Orleans, Columnist it’s a little early in the her shift has just beday for such an engun. The pianist has an Ig- ergetic concert. The piano natius J. Reilly look about player has spread musical him, though I tend to see joy and never looked up or Ignatius everywhere when left the stool. In New Orleans good I’m roaming New Orleans. But there’s nothing slothful musicians are thick on the ground. A few become about his act. It doesn’t seem to mat- household names. Most reter to Brett Richardson that main local talent. Some play there’s not much of an audi- street corners for tips. The thing they all seem to ence. He plays Joplin, Chopin, a song made famous have in common is a pasby the Pretenders. He plays sion for the music. Making each song with equal fervor; music is an end unto itself. I’m reminded of Dr. Samthere’s not a pianissimo uel Johnson’s quote about bone in his body. He acknowledges the writing. He famously said sparse applause by acting none but a blockhead writes startled, then shouting out for anything but money.

Beth Cossitt

Mark Boehler

business manager bcossitt@dailycorinthian.com

editor editor@dailycorinthian.com

Willie Walker

L.W. Hodges

circulation manager circdirector@dailycorinthian.com

press foreman

Well, amongst musicians as well as writers, there are an awful lot of blockheads. They play because they have to, for tips or great reward, it matters not. They play as well as they can for an audience of one or thousands. They probably wouldn’t turn down money or fame, but the music, making it, matters more. And even those who do well at the game don’t stay in the white light of fame forever. My musically knowledgeable young friend Brad Langner was in Nashville, Tenn., when he and another fellow spotted Jeff Hanna, the washboard player for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Such a sighting is exciting for those of us who love music, like finding a gold nugget in a Colorado creek bed. Brad asked Jeff Hanna if he would pose for a picture, and then, to quote Brad, “an old man” offered to take the

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photograph and did. Later, that “old man” took the Ryman stage. He was country star Lee Roy Parnell. I love that story. For one thing, it’s good to hear that a 30-something person appreciates the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Musical styles and tastes ebb and flow, and the tide washes out talent and occasionally brings it back to shore. I hope the piano player is rewarded grandly for his virtuosity and gets center stage at Jazz Fest. But if his venues remain small, if there are tip jars and afternoon gigs and tired barmaids in his future, I hope he knows that what he does brings random joy. How many people can claim that? To find out more about Rheta Grimsley Johnson and her books, visit www. rhetagrimsleyjohnsonbooks.com.

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Editorials represent the voice of the Daily Corinthian. Editorial columns, letters to the editor and other articles that appear on this page represent the opinions of the writers and the Daily Corinthian may or may not agree.

Daily Corinthian • Wednesday, March 7, 2012 • 5A

State Briefs Bill would require schools to merge JACKSON — Some Mississippi senators want to cut the number of school districts in Bolivar County from the current six to either two or three. Senate Bill 2760 would require the state Board of Education to combine the districts by 2014. The bill is moving to the full Senate after the body’s Education Committee approved it Tuesday. The county’s six current districts are: Cleveland, Benoit, Mound Bayou, North Bolivar, Shaw and West Bolivar.

Senate Education Chairman Gray Tollison, an Oxford Republican, says mergers would cut administrative costs. Another bill that’s moving forward would allow the state Board of Education to consolidate or force new elections in failing districts that it takes into conservatorship for a second time. The Senate earlier passed legislation to force Sunflower County’s three districts to merge into one.

Appeals court sides with EPA over project JACKSON — A federal appeals court panel has

sided with the Environmental Protection Agency over its 2008 veto of a $220 million flood control project near the Yazoo River in the south Mississippi Delta. The Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners sued the EPA in 2009 after the agency vetoed the Yazoo Backwater Project. The board said the proposed pumping station would protect wetlands, farms and forests north of Vicksburg from flooding when the Mississippi River is high. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock in Aberdeen sided with the EPA

and dismissed the lawsuit last year. A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld that decision Tuesday. Damien M. Schiff, an attorney representing the board, said he must talk to the board before deciding whether to appeal.

lungs, broken arms and burns to both hands. Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest said Tuesday in a news release that Charles Dennis Harris was sentenced to 30 years, with eight years suspended. Guest said Rankin County deputies and Florence police were called to Crossgates River Oaks Hospital on March 24, 2009, to investigate a possible abuse case after the girl’s mother sought help. “Harris is one of the worst criminals that we have to prosecute — the ones that hurt our chil-

Man gets 30 years in child’s abuse BRANDON — A Rankin County man has been sentenced on charges of abusing a 9-month-old girl who was taken to a hospital in 2009 with collapsed

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6A • Wednesday, March 7, 2012 • Daily Corinthian

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