Daily Corinthian E-Edition 01-05-12 by Daily Corinthian

Thursday Jan. 5,

2012

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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 4

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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section

Son to fill mother’s board post BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

Dale Bain is doing what his mother would want him to do. The Alcorn School District Board of Education couldn’t agree more. Bain, the 44 year-old son of late board member Peggy Bain, has been appointed to fill the

Bain says he started getting calls the day after his mother died from people wanting him to seek the board position. “It was something we talked about a lot,” said Bain of the school discussions with his mother. “I think she would have been proud for me to finish up for her.”

trict and we felt we couldn’t find a better fit than Dale.” Morton says Bain will be sworn in for the position at the next board meeting on Jan. 16. “Mother loved being a board member,” said Dale Bain. “I don’t know if I can come close to the job she did, but I will try my best.”

District 2 spot of his mother. Peggy Bain died last Wednesday following a successful heart procedure on Tuesday. “The board unanimously selected Dale to fill Peggy’s position,” said outgoing board president Carroll Morton. “He and his mother talked a lot about what was going on in the dis-

Bain, an industrial supply salesman with Riechman Crosby Hays Company, is intending on working on what his mother wanted to accomplish as a board member. “Her main concern was the kids and that’s always been Please see BAIN | 2

Security Butler takes reins at Biggersville added at city hall BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

Now that the Corinth Police Department has left the building, Corinth City Hall is hiring security. The Board of Aldermen voted 5-1 on Tuesday to hire a security guard for the municipal building. The city planned to offer the job to Buddy Kemp, who just wrapped up his service as a county constable. The “no” vote was cast by Ward 2 Alderman Ben Albarracin, who expressed reservations about whether security is necessary. Mayor Tommy Irwin said the board would have questions to answer if something happened at City Hall with no security in place. The police department recently moved from City Hall to the Alcorn County Justice Center. In other business: ■ Cleanup proceedings continue on several properties. The board moved to adjudicate at 2223 Liddon Lake Road, where the city will have the yard and property cleaned. Code Enforcement Officer Kim Ratliff said a plan for a family member to do the work fell through. Some progress is being made at 106 Ross St., which got a continuance to March 6. The board dismissed action against 1431 Cruise St., which Ratliff said should be in order when work on the structure is complete. ■ The board approved a couple of purchases for the sewer department for repairs related to the May 2010 flood. The purchases include two pumps for the Turtle Creek lift station at $2,850 each, plus $1,445 for the control panel, and a control panel at $14,550 for one of the larger pumping stations. The purchases are being made with funds from FEMA. ■ The board accepted donation of a 1993 school bus from the Corinth School District. It will be used to transport inmate labor for the street department.

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

New Biggersville Elementary Principal Chris Butler goes over report cards with school secretary Paula Fowler.

Principal to fill spot vacated by new superintendent BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

BIGGERSVILLE — A new job that feels like home. That’s how the first day went for Chris Butler. The former Kossuth Elementary assistant principal took over the reins as principal at Biggersville Elementary after former principal Gina Rogers Smith was elected district superintendent. “God has opened a door for me to work with new kids and

teachers,” said the Kossuth graduate. “I want to use every resource we have to turn out the best possible child we can.” “The children were extremely receptive to him the first time he came in the building,” said Smith. “I thought he would be the best fit for the kids and faculty ... after that first time I realized he was the right choice.” The married father of two — 3-year-old Christian and 9-month old Rilee Bea — spent

the last four years as assistant principal at KES. During his over 10 years in education, he spent six and a half years at the high school and middle school in Kossuth. “I was blessed to work under Mr. (Joe) Horton and Mr. (Van) Carpenter at Kossuth Elementary,” said the University of North Alabama grad. “They prepared me for this day. I am thankful to everyone at Kossuth ... it was a blessing to work there over 10 years.”

Tourney gets under way at Crossroads Arena BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

The basketball is set to bounce tonight at the Crossroads Arena. All four schools from Alcorn County are set to take part in the annual Alcorn County Tournament at the Arena for an eighth consecutive time. “This is a great community event,” said Arena staff member Cindy Davis. “We really enjoy having all the kids from the schools here.” Schools voted to move the tournament from the onsite rotation to the larger facility in 2004 with the initial event held there in 2005.

“We really enjoy the environment provided by the Arena,” said Corinth Principal Russ Elam. “They have done a great job every year we have been involved there and we are proud of what they do.” “I enjoy the tournament so much better because they have plenty of room and parking,” said Alcorn Central Principal Tim Littlejohn. “As far as we are concerned, we are more comfortable having it at the Arena.” The first year saw 3,804 attend over the three-day event. Last year’s total was 2,523 according to Davis. “It has been steady all seven

years with the exception of 2010,” said Davis. Snow forced the cancellation of the first two days of the tournament in 2010. Seven games were played Saturday with three championships decided Monday. “The snow forced attendance to be on the low side that year,” added Davis. After getting the ACT, the Crossroads Arena rented a floor and goals from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Bioloxi in 2005. The following year the court and goals were rented from the BancorpSouth Center. The Arena purchased a permanent floor from Horner

Index Stocks........7 Classified...... 13 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11

Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports... 8-10

Flooring of Michigan in August of 2006 at a cost of $52,500. Another $3,000 was spent to purchase goals. Games begin tonight at 5 p.m. with a junior varsity boys contest between Alcorn Central and Corinth getting things started. The top seeded Kossuth Lady Aggies will face Corinth at 6:15 with boys top seed Corinth taking on the Aggies at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 each night with new champions determined on Monday night. Programs are a $1. “We look forward to those who love basketball coming out all three nights,” said Davis.

The 35 year-old — married to Holly Huff Butler — knows he has a greater responsibility as principal. “The biggest thing is that everything that goes on here, I need to know about,” he said. Butler also inherits a school that is on academic watch. “Biggersville is so close to being a successful school,” said Butler. “I have seen a lot of good teaching here and I want Please see BUTLER | 2

Groups collect blankets during tournament BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The Alcorn County Basketball Tournament brings with it a chance to help keep neighbors warm this winter. Various organizations are working together to encourage donations of blankets, which will be given to people who need them. For all three days of the event at Crossroads Arena, a Salvation Army drop box will Please see BLANKETS | 2

On this day in history 150 years ago “Stonewall” Jackson pursued the Federals driven from Bath to the Potomac River. The Union forces get across the river to Hancock, Md. Jackson’s demand for surrender was refused and the Confederates begin to bombard the city with artillery.

Local

2 • Daily Corinthian

BLANKETS: ‘What we’re looking for are new or gently used blankets’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

be in front of the building for blanket donations. Blankets can also be left at the fire station at Corinth City Hall and the Salvation Army. “What we’re looking for are new or gently used blankets,” said Beth Whitehurst, executive director of United Way of Corinth and Alcorn County. “We felt now was a good time to do this before the really cold weather hits in late January and February.” The idea stemmed from an inquiry made by the fire department, which was trying to help a resident who was living in a house that was unsafe to heat. Other living accommodations couldn’t be provided, but the person

was referred to the Salvation Army for assistance in the form of blankets. “By providing blankets, people can turn down their heat at night, which will help them cut their bills and make their money go farther,” said Whitehurst. Organizers hope the blanket drive will see as much success as the summer’s fan drive, which had a big response. This is the first time for the blanket drive. Blankets can be any size as long as they are sufficiently clean. Screening for distribution of the blankets will be handled through the Corinth Welfare Association and Salvation Army. Recipients will also get information about how to reduce their utility bills.

BAIN: Peggy Bain passed away with 5 years remaining on her term CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

my number one concern,” said Bain. “I want to make sure we have the best teachers for our kids and that they get the best education possible.” The Alcorn Central graduate has not decided if he will be a candidate

in the November special election to fill the rest of the term. “I’m going to leave that open for now,” he said. “I will wait and see what the public wants.” Peggy Bain passed away with five years remaining on her term. She decided to run for the school board post after being encouraged by a number of people when it appeared that no one was going to qualify to run for the seat. She ran unopposed for the post.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Suspect in multi-county pursuit released on bond BY ANGELA STOREY astorey@dailycorinthian.com

A Booneville man is free on bond after being charged with felony fleeing by the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department. Bond was set at $10,000 for Terry Farrow, 44, of 24 CR 5061, Booneville, said Sheriff Randy Tolar. Farrow is accused of shooting at the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department chief deputy during a pursuit last week which Tolar said went from Booneville to Corinth and back to Booneville. Farrow could face charges in Alcorn County for assault on an officer, he said. “From what we can determine that incident took place in Alcorn County before the pursuit led officers back into Prentiss County.” The pursuit began Monday night of last week

“The driver abruptly started the vehicle and began to flee. The deputy pursued the vehicle that failed to stop. From that location he eventually doubled back to Booneville and hit Highway 45 and traveled north to Corinth.” Randy Tolar Prentiss County sheriff around 11 when deputies were called to an area northeast of Booneville to check out a suspicious vehicle in the area. When a deputy got to the area he spotted the vehicle, a Ford mini van. The deputy stopped the vehicle and began investigating the report and discovered contraband in the vehicle, Tolar said. “The driver abruptly started the vehicle and began to flee. The deputy pursued the vehicle that failed to stop. From that

location he eventually doubled back to Booneville and hit Highway 45 and traveled north to Corinth. “Apparently when the driver saw blue lights ahead he turned back south on Highway 45. There were several deputies involved in the pursuit of which some had been off duty, heard the radio traffic and came out to assist,” Tolar said. At some point, Prentiss County Chief Deputy Derrick Pruitt was di-

rectly behind the suspect’s vehicle and was fired upon, by what was later learned to be a 3030 rifle, he said. “When they got back to Booneville, officers deployed spike strips and deflated the tires on the suspect’s vehicle. The driver then veered off the roadway and came to a stop and was arrested. Tolar said last week it was fortunate no one was seriously injured and no property damage occurred during the lengthy pursuit. In other news, Tolar encourages citizens to call in and report suspicious vehicles and activities that might deter or help law enforcement officers solve potential thefts or burglaries that tend to increase during this time of the year. The sheriff’s department phone number is 728-6232.

BUTLER: ‘I want (parents) to come and see what is going on here’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

to be positive and preach a team philosophy.” Butler, who worked with Smith in December as part of the transition, has witnessed some pos-

itives in only a short time when it comes to testing. “I see some encouraging things to bring scores up,” he said. “We will do everything as a team and work together to get scores up.”

“He has a great faculty that will help him be successful,” added Smith who spent 10 years as principal at BES. The new principal also wants to get more parents involved at the school.

“I want them to come and see what is going on here because they play a vital part in the community,” said the principal. “A lot of good things have happened at Biggersville.”

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Local/State

3 • Daily Corinthian

Thursday, January 5, 2012

‘Za Boom Ba’ delights students Special to the Daily Corinthian

Nina Rodriguez, renowned percussionist, recently visited first graders in Corinth and Alcorn County Elementary Schools. The children were excited when each of them was provided with a drum to use and were eager to follow Nina in her rhythmic drumming exercises. Nina demonstrated the use of drumming to reinforce educational skills for the young students. The children enjoyed being encouraged to make lots of noise and also liked watching their teachers get involved in the fun drumming experience. “Za Boom Ba for Kids!”

is a rhythm-based program that integrates powerful affective skill development and academic learning, with the exhilaration of percussive music making. Why use rhythm in the classroom? Rhythm sessions provide simple, effective, kinesthetic activities that integrate focus on academic curricula and create neurological receptivity to learning. Toca Artist and Grammy recipient Nina Rodriguez mobilizes her percussion skills for live music, studio recording and extra-curricular activities that employ percussion to lift the spirit. She also facilitates Za Boom Ba events for The

Source Consulting Group and Drumming with Nina. Based in San Antonio, Texas, Nina Rodriguez is representative of the versatile contemporary percussionist. She knows the traditional Afro-Cuban and world rhythms, but she is versatile enough to fit into a Randy Travis country session. LINK (Lead, Inspire, Nourish Kids) — the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Initiative of Corinth-Alcorn County — is the organization responsible for bringing Rodriguez and her drums to Corinth for two days full of drumming. Za Boom Ba is part of LINK’s Arts Infu-

sion Program which serves students in Corinth and Alcorn County schools. Volunteers Barbara Barrett and Myra Strom were in charge of the program while Jim Gilham and Lafayette Jourdan packed, transported and set up the many drums at each of the six elementary schools. Steven Strom, a student at Northeast Mississippi Community College who served as drum line instructor for Corinth High School during the fall semester, also visited and joined in on the fun with Nina and the children on Oct. 4-5. LINK is funded by grants from the Pierce Foundation as well as C.A.R.E.

Photo by Kim Jobe/Corinth School District

A first-grader at Corinth Elementary has fun drumming during the “Za Boom Ba for Kids” program.

Voter ID, prescription control highlight new laws BY JEFF YORK Special to the Daily Corinthian

There are new Tennessee state laws that went into effect on Sunday, the start of the New Year. The new laws range from fighting meth to trying to stop voter fraud at the polls will all impact the state’s residents. A controversial new state law will probably bring a new lawsuit against Tennessee. The new Voter-ID requires everyone to have photo identification at the time they vote and will be tested for the first time during Tennessee’s

presidential primary in March. The people that back the new Voter-ID said this new law will cut down on voter fraud, while opponents feel it will make it harder for senior citizens and minorities to vote in Tennessee. The American Civil Liberties Union have considered legal action if Democrats do not succeed in repealing or changing the law when they head back to session in January. Another new law in the new year is the tracking of purchases of cold medicine. When you buy

most cold medicines in 2012 it will be tracked in a new database created to battle the war on Meth. A new law requires pharmacies, and stores to use N-Plex. It’s a statewide computerized system that will track who buys cold remedies with pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient used to make meth. Meth makers buy up these medicines, like Sudafed to make their product. In other new legislation will require Tennessee businesses to make sure the people they hire are in this country legally. Employers

must use e-verify,a free computer system that helps verify the employment eligibility of new hires. The beginning of 2012 will also bring help to parents of children with hearing problems. A new state law requires health insurance policies to pay up to a thousand dollars apiece for hearing aids every three years. The other new state law is geared to stop gang violence and drive-by shootings. This new legislation would strengthen the penalties for people who fire a weapon into a place like a neighborhood.

Corinth senior chosen as Rotary Student of the Month BY KIM JOBE Corinth School District

Knight and was chosen as Drama Club Sweetheart during Homecoming 2011. Knight was also named to the CHS Hall of Fame. Knight has been very active in the theatre productions at CHS. She had the lead role of “Ermengarde” in “Hello, Dolly” during her sophomore year of high school and the lead role of “Sylvia” in “All Shook Up” during

repayment amount.

Aldermen fail to justify receipts

Lauderdale closing detention center

SOUTHAVEN — The Southaven Board of Aldermen said the vast majority of the $44,000 worth of receipts that they have been reviewing from Mayor Greg Davis’ expenses were not cityrelated business. During Tuesday’s board meeting, aldermen said they personally took the results of their review of the receipts to Mississippi Auditor Stacey Pickering’s office last week in Jackson. Alderman Ronnie Hale said out of the 500 pages of documents they reviewed, he only accepted six receipts as city business. State auditors, who have demanded that Davis repay more than $170,000 in expenses, penalties and interest to the city, asked aldermen to review receipts the mayor submitted in an effort to reduce the

MERIDIAN — Lauderdale County officials are moving to shut down their youth detention facility. The Board of Supervisors approved the move Tuesday at the recommendation of Sheriff Billy Sollie, who took over the juvenile detention center in October at the request of Youth Court judges who had fielded complaints about conditions. The board created a committee to begin negotiations with Rankin County to house Lauderdale’s youthful offenders. The decision drew praise from Jody Owens, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Jackson, which had sued Lauderdale County over the facility. He said he’s pleased the county is pursuing alternatives and realizes it “can no longer violate the constitutional rights of children.”

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State Briefs

Award winner, Knight has also served as Youth Representative for the CT-A Board and has served as president and historian on the CT-A Youth Action Committee. Knight is a Girl Scout Bronze Award recipient and is also a Junior Leadership Alcorn graduate. She has also participated in the Grand Illumination and served as a representative for the Youth CREATE Foundation. She has served as a show model and ad model for a breast cancer fashion fundraiser at Ginger’s and volunteered for traffic control duty for the Corinth CocaCola 10K Run. A member of Tate Baptist Church, Knight has participated in the First Baptist Church Youth Program. She has participated in mission trips in Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Following graduation from CHS, Knight plans to attend the University of Mississippi Honor’s College in the fall of 2012 and major in journalism with an emphasis in public relations.

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Kaitlyn Elizabeth Knight, the daughter of Herby and Cindy Key and the late Scott Knight, was named Rotary Student of the Month for December for the Corinth School District. Knight is currently ranked third in her senior class at Corinth High School. She scored a 31 on the ACT and has been a member of the Principal’s Honor Roll throughout high school. Active at CHS, Knight has been a member of the Academic Team, National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Drama Club, International Thespian Society, Key Club, Pep Club, Interact Club, Environmental Club, Historical Society, Foreign Language Club and “C” Club. She has served as president of her class during their junior year of high school, vice president of Mu Alpha Theta, and president and vice president of the Drama Club. Knight has served as a coanchor for “C-Town Scoop,” the school Internet website show,

her junior year of high school. Active in North Half Fall Drama Festival Competition during three years of high school, Knight had a role in “Brothers’ Grimm Spectaculathon,” “It’s Not You, It’s Me” and “Suessification of Romeo & Juliet.” An athlete, Knight has been a member of the CHS Varsity Tennis Team for three years in high school. She lettered her junior year of high school where she also was a member of the No. 1 girls’ doubles squad and the team was named North State Champions. Knight has also been a member of the CHS Hi-Tech Media Production Team. The team records CHS events using video and digital cameras. For her Senior Honors Project, Knight co-organized and led a weeklong Summer Poetry Camp at Corinth Elementary School and co-organized and led a weeklong Theatre Camp at Project Attention. Active in her community, Knight has performed in over 10 productions at Corinth Theatre-Arts. A two-time Magnolia

Things to do today Culinary Food Month Alcorn County Welcome Center, 2028 South Tate Street, Corinth is observing Culinary Food Month for January. Visitors to the center can go by and pick up recipe cards, sweet potato recipe brochures, valuable restaurant coupons (while supplies last), menus, the new “eat.drink.Mississippi” magazine with lots of wonderful recipes and other information. The focus of this month’s display is to help promote the unique assets that Corinth and the entire state has to offer.

Country music night The Joe Rickman Band will be playing on Thursday nights from 6:309:30 p.m. at the Burnsville city park building. Admission is $3, single and $5, couple. There will be concessions. The event is familyfriendly with no smoking or alcohol. Proceeds go toward the community center. For more information, call 662-287-3437.

Senior Bingo Those ages 55 and up are invited to join Animal Rescue & Care for Senior Bingo every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at Arby’s, 706 U.S. Hwy. 72 East. There is no charge to participate.

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Opinion

Reece Terry, publisher

Mark Boehler, editor

4A • Thursday, January 5, 2012

Corinth, Miss.

Other Views

State’s biggest problem is illegitimacy Gov. Haley Barbour is pulling no punches in speeches and interviews near the end of his two terms as governor. Some of what he has been suggesting — such as merging certain smaller state universities — isn’t going to happen, and he probably knows it. We have questioned his proposals to require local school districts to spend down reserve funds to ease the state education budget. Those funds are there for a good reason, just as the state should have a reserve in its budget. But one place where the outgoing governor is totally correct is identifying the No. 1 problem in Mississippi: illegitimacy. “Nothing else is close,” Barbour told The Associated Press in an interview. “Fifty-five percent of children born in Mississippi last year were born out of wedlock, and they’re going to be raised without a father in the household. ... The data are that a child born out of wedlock without a father in the home is six times — six times — more likely to be raised in poverty than a child born to an intact family.” That means, the governor continued, that the child born out of wedlock is more likely to drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, go to prison and have an illegitimate baby. To Barbour’s credit, he acknowledged that his administration did not do enough to address the problem, noting, “I don’t think any administration has.” Barbour said he “found no appetite in the Legislature” to find acceptable ways to address the issue. Perhaps if he had spoken as forcefully on it for the past eight years as he has for the past few weeks, more progress toward solving it would have been made. Perhaps not. It’s a complex problem with many underlying causes. ... It’s not just a Mississippi problem, it’s a national one. But it’s worse in Mississippi than any other state, and as Barbour noted, what we have been doing isn’t working. Let’s hope the new “abstinence-plus” curriculum some schools are promoting will help, but we have our doubts. We also have our doubts that government initiatives in general are the sole — or even the main — answer. ... The government, religious institutions, the medical community and the media need to hone in on this problem, just as they have with smoking and obesity. If they don’t, they are resigning about half the residents in this state to being perpetually poor, undereducated and unstable. —Greenwood Commonwealth

Letter to the editor ‘Warm Heart, Warm Child’ remains a great experience To the editor, Within the past few months, our community has been very kind and giving for the “Warm Heart, Warm Child” project. Over 300 coats and jackets have been distributed through the Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Mississippi. It has been one of the most wonderful experiences in which I have been involved. Children are our future and a little kindness shown toward them can sometimes mean more than one can imagine. We appreciate Ann’s, First United Methodist Church and the Daily Corinthian for participating with the coat drive for 2011 as drop off points. It has been an immeasurable experience for all who have contributed in some way. Kim H. Roberts Corinth

Prayer for today “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Amen.

A verse to share Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (TEV)

Reece Terry publisher rterry@dailycorinthian.com

Reeves, Gunn choose savvy second-in-commands STARKVILLE — Both incoming Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and new House Speaker Philip Gunn have tapped savvy, capable second-incommands as the new Senate and House in new Senate President Pro Tempore Terry W. Brown of Columbus and House Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden of Meridian. In the Senate, Reeves tapped Brown, a former small businessman first elected in 1987, who served three terms in the House before being elected to the state Senate in 2003. Brown is now in his third term in the state Senate. Brown is a gregarious fellow who never meets a stranger and who learned much of his personal style as a lawmaker from the late Sen. Jack Gordon, a close friend and colleague. Along the way, Brown helped lead the successful legislative strategies to bring SteelCorr -- the high quality flat-rolled steel mill that make products for the “Detroit South” emerging auto industry -- to the Golden Triangle with a combination of $110

million in state loans, grants and construction assistance from the state. Sid Another Salter controversial prior Columnist legislative battle in which Brown showed courage was the 2004 effort by nine bipartisan senators to dismantle the Alcohol Beverage Control division of the Mississippi Department of Revenue and establish private liquor wholesaling entities statewide. The bill, which died in the Senate Finance Committee, would have taken the state out of the liquor distributing business from both a personnel and property standpoint. Known for a ready smile and the love of downhome humor, Brown is a bareknuckle adversary in a legislative fight one and who fights for his beliefs. But he is also skilled in counting votes and seizing on the narrow legislative windows

when agreements can be salvaged from standoffs. The experience in both Houses that Brown has accrued will be of immeasurable value to Reeves. Across the Capitol, Gunn chose Snowden, the easygoing but brilliant Meridian attorney. Snowden was first elected in 1999. Snowden earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and his law degree from Vanderbilt University. He earned his Phi Beta Kappa key while in college. Democrats in the House know Snowden as an intensely loyal Republican who remains at the same time honest about the issues and one who calls “balls and strikes” fairly. A member of the House Rules Committee, Snowden was able to maintain relationships with members of the House Black Caucus and rural white Democrats despite being seriously offended by what he called “the lack of a seat at the table” for Republicans during former House Speaker Billy McCoy’s tenure.

While Speaker Gunn is quiet and steadfastly avoids the spotlight, Snowden is comfortable in front of an open microphone and had kept his fences mended with the state’s press. The differences in Brown and Snowden are more in style than in substance. In football parlance, Brown is a guy that will go straight up the middle. Snowden is more of a finesse player seeking the edge. Brown is passionate where Snowden is calculating. But both Brown and Snowden compliment the leaders that they are serving. Republicans have the reins -- all of them -- in state government. The challenge to them now will be how effectively they can govern. Their success or the lack of it remains to be seen, but the leadership team in both houses is shaping up with talented lawmakers who know how to get things done. (Sid Salter is a syndicated columnist. Contact him at 601-507-8004 or sidsalter@sidsalter.com.)

Confusing bully pulpit with ‘bully suggestion box’ Ask anyone. I pride myself on being seldom surprised, shocked almost never. 2011, however, called my cool into question. I was nothing but shockingly surprised all year. Take Barack Obama, particularly since the 2010 Congressional election or, as I like to call it, The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I thought he’d be better. Not that I didn’t have certain reservations about him from the beginning -- his inexperience, for one thing. He’d never really run anything, let alone a government. But I thought he was smart as a whip and could figure it out. I was also given pause by the sheer number of Harvard and Yale graduates in his administration. Harvard and Yale alums tend to have an answer for everything. Sometimes it’s even the right answer. Still, I expected great things from him. He was obviously bright and eloquent and able to inspire people, all qualities that his immediate predecessor was innocent of. Yet his presidency has revealed too few of those qualities, instead erring on the side of cau-

Beth Cossitt

Mark Boehler

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editor editor@dailycorinthian.com

Willie Walker

L.W. Hodges

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tion. He has invested a great deal of energy in trying to make common cause Donald with his Kaul sworn enemy, a ReOther publican Words Party whose leader in the Senate has said his No. 1 goal is to make Obama a one-term president. Thus Obama has engaged in talk after talk, negotiation after negotiation with Republican leaders in an effort to find a bipartisan solution to the nation’s problems, only to be stonewalled. This has left him vulnerable to the criticism that his presidency is a failure, that he hasn’t done what he said he’d do. He can say, with some justice, “I tried to do those things, but the Republicans wouldn’t let me.” But what kind of answer is that for a president? Are those the words of a leader? Can you imagine Harry Truman saying that? Or Franklin D. Roosevelt? Surrounded by avowed political enemies, they welcomed the hatred they inspired and

wore it as a badge of honor. I was kind of hoping for more of that from him. You know, “malefactors of great wealth,” that sort of thing. Instead we get “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” He seems to have confused the “bully pulpit” with a “bully suggestion box.” He’s been channeling his inner Teddy Roosevelt lately, but he has a ways to go. Let’s hope he gets there before we wake up with Newt Gingrich as president. Talk about surprises. Gingrich’s rise from the dead during this election was nothing short of astonishing. I thought he was washed up 20 years ago when his colleagues in Congress turned on him. Even when he turned up this year running for the GOP nomination, I didn’t take him seriously. Nor did he, apparently. The first thing he did as a candidate was run off to the Greek Isles with his wife. Then he surprised everybody by coming back with the same wife. But lo and behold, suddenly when Herman Cain’s improbably strong candidacy imploded, there he was, right at the top. At least for

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a while. Not since the heyday of Richard Nixon had we seen such a comeback, unless you count Dracula. And I suppose if I were listing political surprises of the year I’d have to include Cain. Never in my most baroque dreams did I imagine that the first Republican pizza executive to run for president would be African American. Cain “suspended” his campaign a couple of weeks ago because women kept showing up on a more or less daily basis, accusing him of loving not wisely but too often. Historically, that has been a deal-breaker with the American public. You have to be Bill Clinton to get away with it. And I have no idea how he did it. Apparently Newt does, though. In December, he “solemnly” vowed to “uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and respect for the marital bonds of others.” And surprisingly, he was not immediately struck by lightning. (OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul lives in Ann Arbor, Mich. otherwords. org)

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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 • Thursday, January 5, 2012 • 5

State State Briefs Associated Press

Barbour speaks to lawmakers JACKSON — Gov. Haley Barbour is talking to Mississippi legislators about how to approach their jobs, particularly with taxes, spending and regulation. Barbour was speaking Wednesday to a joint session of the Mississippi Legislature. The 64-year-old Republican leaves office when his second term ends Jan. 10. He will be succeeded by Republican Phil Bryant. Barbour says the federal government should allow states to collect taxes on sales made over the Internet. He says this would not be a tax increase; it was simply being able to collect the money that is already owed. He says it is estimated Mississippi is losing $300 million a year in revenue. He says he thinks this number is inflated. Barbour says his wife, Marsha, wasn’t present because they are moving out of the Governor’s Mansion.

MEMA to rename building for Barbour PEARL — The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency’s operations center in Pearl will be renamed Thursday for Gov. Haley Barbour. The 2011 Legislature authorized the naming

of the State Emergency Operations Center in Barbour’s honor for his leadership through several natural disasters that have struck Mississippi, including Hurricane Katrina in 2005. U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is scheduled to speak. Barbour will leave office on Jan. 10 after two terms as governor.

Candidates file for US House primaries JACKSON — Two of Mississippi’s four congressmen have filed for re-election — Democrat Bennie Thompson of Bolton in the Delta’s 2nd District and Republican Gregg Harper of Pearl in the central 3rd District. Republican incumbents Alan Nunnelee of Tupelo in the northern 1st District and Steven Palazzo of Biloxi in the southern 4th District are expected to file soon. January 13 is the deadline to enter the March 13 primaries. Southaven resident Robert Estes has filed for the Republican primary in the 1st District. Republican Bill Marcy of Vicksburg, who ran in 2010, filed to run in the 2nd District. Former Greenville Mayor Heather McTeer plans to challenge Thompson in the Democratic primary. Cobby Mondale Williams of Canton plans to run in the 2nd District as an independent. Two Hattiesburg residents — Democrat

Michael Herrington and Republican Ron Vincent — have filed in the 4th District. Albert N. Gore Jr. of Starkville filed to run as a Democrat for U.S. Senate, and Republican incumbent Roger Wicker of Tupelo is expected to seek re-election.

Change in venue sought in slaying JACKSON — A lawyer for a man accused of killing a Catholic priest wants the case presented to grand jurors outside the area where the killing happened. Jeremy Wayne Manieri is charged with shooting the priest at a south Mississippi beach house, then setting out with his family for a Disney vacation in the cleric’s car. He’s charged with killing the Rev. Ed Everitt of Hammond, La., in July 2011 but hasn’t been indicted. Manieri’s attorney, Brian Alexander, filed a request Tuesday in Hancock County Circuit Court for a change of venue for the grand jury. Such a request involving a grand jury is unusual. The motion says extensive publicity, including a campaign commercial for Attorney General Jim Hood that called Manieri a killer, makes it impossible to find objective grand jurors.

Police: Victim was innocent bystander WEST POINT — A

Starkville High School football player was an innocent bystander when he was shot and killed Sunday at a West Point apartment complex, according to authorities. More details of the death of 16-year-old Devin Mitchell were released Tuesday. West Point Police Chief Tim Brinkley said a municipal judge Tuesday set bond at $2.2 million for 31-year-old Tavaris F. Collins. Collins is charged with murder and felony possession of a firearm. Mitchell, a junior, was a member of the Starkville High football team that reached the Class 5A state title game this season. Mitchell, a tight end and linebacker, led Starkville with 34 catches for 772 yards and 10 touchdowns. “We do know that this was a random act of violence,” Brinkley said. “The victim was not involved in any criminal activity. Our investigation revealed that he was really an innocent bystander.” Mitchell was visiting relatives at Ridgewood Apartments. Mitchell was shot in the head and died later at a Tupelo hospital.

Police: Nurse killed in DUI-related crash VICKSBURG — Bond has been set at $200,000 of a Vicksburg man charged with felony aggravated DUI in a traffic accident in which a nurse died.

Police Chief Walter Armstrong tells The Vicksburg Post that 34-year-old Andrea Michelle “Shelly” Guider was pronounced dead at the scene of Monday’s accident. Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey says Guider died of severe chest and abdominal injuries. Armstrong says 62-year-old Julius Hebron made an initial appearance in city court where bond was set at $200,000. Investigators say Hebron’s truck collided with Guider’s vehicle which then struck a car driven by Ann Elliot. Hebron and Elliot were transported to River Region Medical Center where they were treated and released. Guider was a nurse in the intensive care unit at River Region Medical Center.

Natchez borrows to make payroll NATCHEZ — The city of Natchez has borrowed $350,000 of its $400,000 tax-anticipa-

tion loan since December to help cover payroll expenses. City Clerk Donnie Holloway tells The Natchez Democrat the city originally budgeted for the $400,000 tax-anticipation loan, but he said the city will not need the additional $50,000. The Natchez Board of Aldermen approved taking out the loan for this fiscal year in early October. The city received the loan, which is distributed in chunks as needed, from Trustmark National Bank at a 1.84 percent interest rate. Holloway said the loan is needed to meet financial obligations until the city receives ad valorem taxes. He said the loan is used solely to cover the city’s payroll for employees. He said $255,000 is paid out for payroll twice a month.

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6 • Thursday, January 5, 2012 • Daily Corinthian

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