Thursday May 3,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 107
Thunderstorm Today
Tonight
85
67
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Police seek burglary clues in 2 break-ins BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
A truck ran into the side of Lloyd’s Harper Road Cafe Tuesday evening, injuring the driver and damaging the building, which had just been remodeled.
One injured when truck strikes local restaurant BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth man was injured Tuesday evening when the pickup he was driving left Harper Road and slammed into the side of the newly expanded and remodeled Lloyd’s Harper Road Cafe. The crash at 6:23 p.m. caused substantial damage to the building and also resulted in a power outage. According to the Corinth Police Department, the driver
was Daniel R. Johnson, 22, of 162 Henderson Road. He was taken to Magnolia Regional Health Center with injuries categorized as moderate. Police Chief David Lancaster said the driver was headed north on Harper Road approaching Third Street when the vehicle, a 1997 Ford F-250, left the roadway, crossed Third Street and drove head-on into the south wall of the cafe. The police report indicates that the driver may have fallen
asleep or fainted. ACE Power Engineer Jason Grisham said the power outage happened when the truck hit the guy wires of a power pole near the intersection. The outage affected about 500 customers for 40 minutes. The truck did not go inside the building but damaged the exterior and interior walls. The police department issued a misdemeanor citation to the driver for no proof of insurance.
A pair of burglars hit two South Harper Road businesses early Wednesday, and police are seeking leads. Corinth Police Detective Capt. Ralph Dance encourages the public to share any tips on the burglary of Miller Insurance Agency and Corinth Cigarette Store, which took place between 1 and 2 a.m. The crimes had similarities to five breakins that happened in March. About 1:04 a.m., the suspects entered the insurance business through the back door and cut the phone lines going into the building. Dance said the suspects ransacked the business, taking some cash and a Smith & Wesson 9-mm pistol. The suspects then went into the bathroom and kicked a hole in the wall to get into the ciga-
rette store, he said, where they took an estimated 150 cartons of cigarettes and other assorted items. They also cut the wires at another business — Speedee Cash on U.S. Highway 72 — but did not make entry. Dance said the burglars demonstrated savvy in their methods, even removing the hard drive from the computer for the video monitoring system in one of the businesses. They were captured on video, however, and it appeared that both suspects are white males. Both had their faces covered. One wore short khaki pants and gloves and stood about 5 feet 10 inches. The other is around the same height and wore long pants and a hoodie, said Dance. A video camera at another Please see BURGLARIES | 13
Traffic stop leads to drug charges BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Erratic driving resulted in drug charges for a man who is also wanted in McNairy County and Alabama. Chad Fitzpatrick, 24, of Dunlap Street, Corinth, was charged on Monday with felony possession of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Fitzpatrick remained in the county jail Tuesday morning. The arrest followed a traf-
fic stop made by Deputy Scott Dalton after Alcorn County Communications received a report of a reckless driver. Dalton observed the vehicle on South Harper Road and stopped the driver at the Alcorn County Justice Center. Narcotics Investigator Jason Willis said the deputy detected the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and Fitzpatrick denied a request to search the vehicle. The Corinth Police Depart-
ment K-9 responded and indicated possible drugs on the passenger side of the vehicle. Willis said officers searched and located a backpack in the passenger floorboard containing a large amount of marijuana, crack cocaine and a loaded firearm. Officers seized the narcotics, cash, weapon and vehicle. A records check showed that Fitzpatrick is wanted in Alabama for an escape charge and in McNairy County for a probation violation.
Submitted photo
Fish fry Kossuth High School Boosters Vice President Shane Killough and Alcorn County Circuit Clerk Joe Caldwell prepare the catfish for Saturday’s fundraiser. Catfish plates will be available at the American Legion in Corinth. Each $8 plate will include four fillets, hushpuppies, slaw, drink and dessert. Seating will be available or plates can be purchased to go. Workplaces that wish to place delivery orders should contact Caldwell by Thursday.
Retired teacher seeks community’s help with big bug hunt BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A retired science teacher from Massachusetts needs the community’s help in collecting some moths and “big bugs” — all for educational purposes. “Instead of boots on the ground, it’s eyes on the porchlights,” said Doug Fleury. Fleury is coming to Corinth for the week of May 14-21 on his yearly hunt for insect specimens. Fleury uses the specimens to help teach summer school science students more about the life cycles of insects. In the inner-city schools, Fleury explained, the only way students get to know insects is through pictures in textbooks. His Mississippi Big Bug Hunting expeditions allow him to
give his students a chance to study real live insects. On his trip to Northeast Mississippi Fleury has two objectives: 1) to obtain the eggs of Giant Silk Moths; and 2) to collect live examples of several species of “big bugs.” To help Fleury on his moth egg quest, the public is asked to capture female Giant Silk Moths, obtain their eggs and send the eggs to Fleury through the mail or deliver to him in person during his time in Corinth. Female moths are easily distinguished from males. Females have feelers with a length that is more than two times its width, with a body shaped like a peanut. The males have feelers with a length less than two times its width, and a body
shaped more like a carrot. To obtain the eggs, put the female moth in a paper lunch sack overnight with the top folded over. It will lay eggs inside the bag. If mailing the eggs to Fleury, fold the bag flat and write the egg-laying date on the bag. On a business-sized envelope write Fleury’s address and “HAND STAMP,” along with the sender’s name and return address so that Fleury can reimburse the sender’s postage. The moths most needed are: Luna (green with “tails”); Polyphemus (tan with “eye” spots on lower wings); and Royal Walnut Moth (striped reddish, rusty brown, yellow spots). Fleury will pick up species
Submitted photo
Please see BUGS | 13
Doug Fleury needs the public’s help collecting eggs of Giant Silk Moths like the female Luna moth.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
Union soldiers of Pope’s Army of the Mississippi attack a Confederate force at Farmington, forcing the Southerners to retreat into Corinth. The bodies of 30 Confederates are left on the field of battle.
EHQHÀ WWLQJ All donations are tax deductible in accordance with law.
COUNTRY MUSIC SONGWRITERS NIGHT Friday, May 25, 2012 beginning at 7:00 p.m. Entertainment by Nashville songwriters and Corinth’s own Ben Mathis
Register online at www.mrhc.org | For more information call (662) 293-7664.