Wednesday Feb. 22,
2012
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 45
Partly sunny Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 22 pages • 2 sections
Supervisors decline sheriff’s civil service idea BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday declined to throw its support behind the sheriff’s proposal to form a civil service commission for his department. A motion by District 4 Supervisor Gary Ross to support the proposal died for lack of a second. Sheriff Charles Rinehart previously told the board that its
support is not required, but he would not proceed without it. In the previous meeting, he presented the text of a bill that would have to be introduced in the Mississippi Legislature to give supervisors the authority to form a civil service commission. District 3 Supervisor Tim Mitchell said he opposes the formation of a civil service commission, which he likened to unionization.
“What do you do when the hospital asks for it or when our employees ask for it,” he said. “If we offer it to them, we might as well offer it to the whole county.” He also expressed concern that it would be difficult to remove an employee. Rinehart said it would protect employees by preventing a new sheriff from firing them without a legitimate reason. As it stands now, he said employees serve at
the will of the sheriff, and a sheriff can fire an employee because of a personal disagreement. “That is not right,” he said. “Nobody needs that much authority.” District 2 Supervisor Dal Nelms said it should either be done for all county employees or for none. Noting the expense of getting officers trained and certified, Ross said he supports the idea because
it would help keep a trained staff at the sheriff’s department. The suggested bill text would allow for a three-member commission and set forth procedures for removal, suspension, demotion and discharge of employees. It would apply to all full-time employees except the sheriff and chief deputy. Rinehart said he kept 38 out of the 41 existing sheriff’s department staff when he took office.
Tourism awards $6,500 in grants
Boys & Girls Club honors volunteer
BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Jerry Finger was recently honored by the Boys & Girls Club for his many contributions to the community.
Finger praised for service to community BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Jerry Finger is enjoying retirement. The former account manager now has more time to contribute to the community. “He is constantly working,” said Boys & Girls Club Unit Director Christy Grice. “Retirement should be a time of easy living, but Jerry has chosen to work in the community he loves.” The Boys & Girls Club recently honored the community activist for his work with youngsters of the club as part of Black History Month. “Jerry is mindful that children are our most precious asset, so he mentors them and sponsors them when needed,” said Grice. Finger, one of seven children born to General and Mable Finger, is a 1965 graduate of Easom High School. After graduating from school he moved to Chicago, joined Neighborhood United Methodist Church, then went to work in the transportation industry. He was national account manager for PIE trucking and later purchased his own transportation company, Waukegan Cartage. Finger owned the company until moving back to
Please see TOURISM | 2A
County approves courthouse space for history group BY JEBB JOHNSTON Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Jerry Finger explains a math problem to Tyson Jackson. Corinth in 1999. “I never intended to become a fulltime volunteer,” said the activist. “But there is nothing better than being
focused on protecting the interests of a privileged few.” Morris served as chief of staff and senior adviser to former congressman Travis Childers during his time in office from May 2008 through 2010. He recently Morris started a small inhome care business and holds degrees in political science, accounting and law. In 2003, Morris made a bid for a Mississippi Senate seat, losing to J.P. Wilemon in the Democratic primary. With an uncontested primary for the
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......4B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
congressional seat, he will appear on the ballot in November against the winner of the Republican primary, which includes incumbent Alan Nunnelee, Robert Estes and Henry Ross. Morris said his experience growing up in Dorsey in rural Itawamba County, where he was reared by his grandparents, shaped his views. His grandfather was a preacher in the country churches and worked at a pallet factory in Fulton, while his grandmother worked as a seamstress in garment factories. They lived in an FHA home. “My grandmother, as the garment industry jobs in this area started going
The Alcorn Genealogical Society got approval Tuesday to relocate to available space in the Alcorn County Courthouse. The Board of Supervisors approved the organization’s request to move to the office recently vacated by the veterans service office. The board also approved Sheriff Charles Rinehart’s request for the old 911 office to remain equipped as a communications backup and Coroner Jay Jones’ request for a small office in the courthouse. The genealogical society is currently located in the business incubator building on Proper Street. Gale Judkins, representing the genealogical society, said more space is needed and moving into the courthouse will better serve out-of-town visitors by putting the organization in closer proximity to the chancery building, the museum and library. “We’re kind of out of the way,” she said. Judkins said the society’s research holdings attract people from a wide area who are studying their family lineage. “Alcorn County was a main migration spot coming from the East Coast,” she said. In the 1880s, large wagon trains left this area and went to Texas after the war, she said, and that brings many Texans to north-
Please see MORRIS | 2A
Please see SPACE | 2A
around young people ... they are a real inspiration and help keep you young.” Please see FINGER | 2A
Candidate has concerns for country’s middle class The lone Democratic candidate seeking the U.S. House seat for the 1st Congressional District is centering his campaign on concern for America’s middle class. “I’m in this election because I believe the middle class of this country is being left out — that there are a lot of us in north Mississippi that feel like we do not have a voice in this current Congress,” said Brad Morris, an Oxford attorney and small businessman. “I believe that really the fundamental issue in this election for Congress that we’re facing this year is whether we’re going to have a Congress that’s focused on protecting and growing our middle class or a Congress that’s
The Corinth Area Convention & Visitors Bureau approved $6,500 worth of funding requests from local organizations to help promote upcoming events which will bring visitors to Corinth. On Tuesday, the tourism board voted to contribute to promotional efforts for the Corinth Coca-Cola Classic 10k Run, the 150th Reenactment of the Battle of Farmington and the Black History Museum of Corinth’s observance of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. A $2,000 grant will help pay the advertising costs for the 31st Annual Corinth CocaCola Classic 10k Run. The Coke 10k is the state’s second largest foot-race and listed as “One of the 100 Great short races” in “Running Times” magazine. CACVB Director Kristy White said there is also an effort underway to make Corinth one of the Roadrunner Club of America’s runner-friendly communities. The designation would possibly bring more runners to Corinth year-round. In discussing the event’s impact on the local economy, White cited the level of par-
On this day in history 150 years ago Inauguration Day — In a pouring rain in Richmond, Va., Jefferson Davis takes the oath as the first elected President of the Confederate States of America. By the Constitution, he is restricted to a single term of six years.