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Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 13
• Corinth, Mississippi •
BY MARK BOEHLER A Corinth man who came up missing last week was found dead Saturday in his pickup truck in downtown Corinth. Detective Capt. Ralph Dance of the Corinth Police Department said 55-year-old Michael “Mike” Lamar Rogers of 1504 Hamilton Circle in the Happy Days Apartments apparently died of natural causes. Rogers’ body was discovered about 11 a.m. Saturday
slumped over the driver’s seat inside his truck parked in a space on Foote Street at the corner of Fillmore Street across from ChaRogers pell’s Car Wash, said Dance. No foul play is suspected as Rogers was diabetic and had
medical issues, according to Dance. The body was found by police Cpt. Randy Dickerson, who was responding to a call that a pickup truck fitting the description of Rogers’ vehicle was seen parked on Foote Street near Fillmore. “He was slumped to the side where he could not be seen from the truck’s windows,” said Dickerson. A missing person report was filed by Rogers’ family on
Thursday. Rogers, who lived alone, was reported missing by his mother. The family was concerned because the missing man had health problems. He was last seen alive by a friend about 2 p.m. Thursday at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Corinth. Funeral arrangements for Rogers by McPeters Funeral Directors were incomplete Saturday afternoon.
Dr. John W. Prather Longtime cardiologist loves career helping others BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
What makes a person tick? Dr. John W. Prather knows the matters of the heart. The veteran cardiologist has spent over 40 years studying the core of an individual. Thirty-two of those have been at one place — Magnolia Regional Health Center. “I love it,” said the physician of his chosen field. “It is second nature for me to take care of people.” The 68 year-old became the first cardiologist at the then Magnolia Hospital in November of 1979. He was the Director of Cardiovascular Research at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., when Magnolia Hospital Administrator Winston Whitfield came calling. “He found out that John wanted to relocate and he wanted him to consider coming to Corinth,” said the cardiologist’s wife, Barbara Prather. The only thing holding the deal up was Magnolia had no cath lab. “Winston told him if he would come they would get a cath lab,” said Mrs. Prather. The private practice of John W. Prather, Ph.D., M.D., F.A.C.C. came to end in December with the Magnolia Regional Health Center Division of Cardiology Chief becoming an employee of the hospital.
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Please see PRATHER | 3A
Dr. John Prather checks Stan Hughes during an office visit. Prather — Magnolia Hospital’s first cardiologist — is now an employee of the hospital after closing his private practice in December.
BY BRANT SAPPINGTON A Booneville native named to state’s highest military post has built a lifelong record as a dedicated and determined soldier and citizen. Gen. Augustus Leon Collins, a 1975 graduate of Booneville High School, was chosen last week by Gov. Phil Bryant to serve as adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard. He will lead the 12,500 members of the Mississippi Army National Guard and the Mississippi Air National Guard as their top commander in the state. Collins is perhaps best
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Ceremony to dedicate mission BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
A dedication, groundbreaking and fundraising ceremony for a local facility that seeks to help homeless women and their children will be held Tuesday. The ceremony — featuring special guest speakers U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin — will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Hope Dream Center Mission, formerly the Tate Street Baptist Church. It will kick off the fundraising efforts to renovate the building and prepare it for its new purpose: To help troubled and homeless women and their children. “This is for the community,” explained Mike Stewart, volunteer and member of the facility’s board of directors. “We are a nonprofit group putting a thing together to house women who are in distress.” The Hope Dream Center Mission’s purpose is to take in troubled women, feed them, house them and minister to them, and get them ready to become productive and responsible members of the community. It will be operated as a nondenominational Christian center. “We are not a church, not looking to take away congregations,” Stewart said. “Because we’re not taking federal funds, we are permitted to minister to Please see MISSION | 2A
Kiwanis plan special event for fathers, daughters BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Collins, state’s top military commander, has lifelong career of dedicated service bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Today
18 pages • Two sections
Missing man found dead editor@dailycorinthian.com
Sunny
Gen. Collins at a glance ■ 1975 graduate of Booneville High School. ■ Graduate of Northeast Mississippi Community College (member of college
ROTC). ■ Graduate of University of Mississippi. ■ MBA from Jackson State University. ■ Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. ■ Promoted to General in 2005, led the 155th Brigade Combat Team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. ■ Appointed director of mobilization forces for U.S. Army Forces Command. ■ Retired from service in 2007. ■ Appointed Adjutant General of Mississippi Army National Guard, January 2012.
known in Northeast Mississippi as the leader of the 155th Brigade Combat Team, which included National Guard units from throughout the region, during its service in Operation
Iraqi Freedom in 2005. That same year he became the first black man to hold the position of general in the Mississippi Please see COLLINS | 2A
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......4B Horoscopes ...3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
The Corinth chapter of an international service club is raising money for local children’s charities with a Valentine’s Day event for fathers and daughters. The first annual Corinth Kiwanis Father/Daughter Valentine Ball will be held from 6 until 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Shiloh Ridge Golf Club. “We feel the Valentine Father/Daughter Ball is another great way for Kiwanis to raise funds for charitable causes benefiting children locally,” said Ken Weeden, Kiwanis committee chair. “The Ball will provide a unique opportunity for dads, grandfathers and father figures to treat their Valentines.” Organizers of the Valentine Ball promise a night of food, dancing and more — with all proceeds going to benefit children’s charities that are supported by Kiwanis of Corinth. “The inaugural event is based on similar events held around the region,” said Kiwanis board member Andrea Rose. “Kiwanis hopes it will offer a great opportunity for fathers or other fatherfigures to treat their special ones to an evening of dress up fun.” Tickets must be pre-purchased and cost $35 for the first
Gen. Leon Collins
Please see VALENTINE | 3A
On this day in history 150 years ago The U.S. Senate confirms the nomination of Edwin McMasters Stanton of Ohio as the new Secretary of War. Sailors and Marines from the USS Hatteras destroy seven blockade runners on a raid to Cedar Key, Fla., on the Gulf Coast.