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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 110
• Corinth, Mississippi •
P.M. t-storms Today
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26 pages • Three sections
Sales, tourism tax revenues grow BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A strong month for tax collections led to double-digit gains for sales and tourism tax revenue in Corinth. The latest diversions to cities reported by the Mississippi Department of Revenue included a 10 percent increase for sales tax — the fourth consecutive monthly increase for the city — and a 19 percent increase for the 2 percent tourism tax on prepared food and lodging compared to the same month a year earlier. The funds received in midApril reflect sales activity in local businesses during the month of February. The tourism tax result of $87,581.36 is its best April result to date and the first for
Staff photos by Mark Boehler
Brooks Bain, above left, gets a bird’s eye view of the 10K race Saturday atop daddy Nick Bain’s head on Fillmore Street. Johnworth Garrett, 5, above right, cools down as he runs under a water hose provided by the Corinth Fire Department near the finish line. He is the son of Brett and Jennifer Garrett. For more photos, see page 12A. For race results, see pages 8-9A. This year the Daily Corinthian will publish all the complete results in the Tuesday newspaper.
Warm 10K breaks registration record BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Coca-Cola Classic 10K run — Mississippi’s second largest footrace — set a new record for runners and was a “fantastic success,” according to organizers. “We are just really pleased. All the comments and remarks were positive, and we had a big crowd for the awards ceremony and the band,” said Mona Grady, who co-organized the event along with Amy Smith. Out of a record 1,366 runners who registered, 1,176 finished the 6.2 mile course within the allotted two hours and fifteen minutes. The previous registration record was
1,326 in 1991. Last year's 30th race now comes in at number three — 1,289. Over the last 31 years of Coca-Cola Classic 10K Run history, 24,568 runners have covered 152,329 miles altogether. Saturday’s race was one of the warmest in recent memory, with temperatures reaching the mid-80s. While no serious heat-related medical emergencies were reported, organizers say the heat was a definite issue — but one they were prepared for. “We had great support from the hospital and fire department,” Grady said. “And we had many great emergency personnel who attended to ev-
erybody very quickly.” The race’s competition was diverse, including runners originally from Kenya and Mexico, and 16 American states. The age range was equally varied, from a 4-yearold all the way up to two 81-year-old participants. The ladies turned out in force —a little over half of the runners were women. Two of the runners, William and Tara Grall, had a special history with the run. It was where William proposed to Tara during last year’s run. The couple returned from their home in Illinois as husband Please see 10K | 12A
the month to top $80,000. For the fiscal year to date, the tax has generated $561,784.52, a 4 percent increase from the same point a year earlier. The city’s sales tax diversion was $450,513.34, up 10 percent from a year earlier. The seventh deposit of the fiscal year takes the total to $3.12 million, a gain of 2.4 percent from the same point in the prior fiscal year. Cities across the state generally enjoyed a strong month. Sales tax diversions statewide totaled $32.6 million, up 4.6 percent from a year ago. Nine of 11 area municipalities posted gains. Other sales tax results from the region: BoonevPlease see TAXES | 3A
Republicans unite, elect new local leaders BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Northeast Mississippi Republicans and Alcorn County Republicans joined forces at the recent county caucus to form the new Alcorn County Republican Party. The new party formed at the Alcorn County Republican Caucus on Saturday, April 28, at the Alcorn County Courthouse. At the caucus, 16 delegates — chosen by Republicans in each of the county’s voting precincts — elected the leaders for the Alcorn County Republicans. The leaders of the new party are: Mike Stewart - chairman; Charles Seago - vice chair; and Lou Perry - secretary and treasurer. Stewart said the Republican Caucus was one of the biggest
in recent history, with over 300 people participating. In previous years only a handful of people were actively involved. One of the primary goals of the new party is uniting Republicans in Alcorn County, said the new chairman. Stewart also vowed to work with Joe Caldwell and the Alcorn County Democrats, as well as all city and county officials. Another goal of the new party is to conduct its business in a dignified manner without stooping to dirty politics or personal attacks — or getting mired in partisan squabbles. “I want a clean Republican Party,” said Stewart. “I want to reach across the aisle. We can disagree and still be friends.” The public is invited to atPlease see CAUCUS | 3A
Twin authors will speak Saturday at Boys & Girls Club banquet BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
A pair of Kings are slated to speak when a phenomenal woman is honored. The Boys & Girls Club will name its Phenomenal Woman of the Year from a list of 12 monthly honorees on May 12. A reception is set to kick off things at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 7. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased at the Boys & Girls Club or by calling 662-286-2808. Katherine and Margaret King — co-authors of “y’all twins?” — will be the special speakers for the black tie reception and dinner at the Crossroads Arena. “Both of them are big community supporters,” said Boys & Girls Club Unit Director Christy Grice. “I think they will inspire others to get excited
about serving.” In the 1950s, identical twin sisters got away with everything. Their stories begin in Oxford at age 6 when they hopped a ride on the back of a wagon driven by William Faulkner. The book follows the twins from the first through sixth grade, detailing the kind of antics only twins can share. “All you have to mention is a child is involved in a crisis and they are there with their sleeves rolled up ready to help,” added Grice. Katherine King graduated from The University of Mississippi in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in mathematics. In 1971 she received a Master’s of Education from The University of Mississippi with an emphasis in guidance and counseling and graduated with
a Master’s of Science in mathematics in 1986 from The University of Mississippi. During her teaching career, Katherine was twice named Star Teacher. In 2005, she received the Headwae Educator of the Year Award, recognizing her as the outstanding teacher at Northwest Community College. In 2008 Katherine was named the Lamplighter Educator of the Year from Northwest Community College. She is currently an Instructor of Mathematics at the Oxford Campus of NWCC. Margaret King graduated from The University of Mississippi in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education with an emphasis in secondary history. In 1973 she started her stint with the federal government as a courtroom clerk with U.S.
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics Inside Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
Please see TWINS | 3A
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Margaret and Katherine King will be the special speakers at the Boys & Girls Club Phenomenal Woman of the Year Black Tie Reception and Dinner.
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Braxton Bragg ascends to the command of the Army of the Mississippi with headquarters in Corinth. Bragg replaced Gen. Beauregard who had assumed Departmental command upon the death of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston at Shiloh.