Tuesday Dec. 27,
2011
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 115, No. 311
Rainy Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One Section
Corinth continues property cleanup efforts BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Board of Aldermen recently acted on six nuisance properties, adjudicating several and giving some owners more time to clean up. ■ The board moved to ad-
judicate 1223 Wick St., an action that allows the city to have the lot cleaned if the property owner does not. Code Enforcement Officer Kim Ratliff told the board the grass has recently been cut but the property still has issues with debris and
building materials. ■ The board also adjudicated 815 Fourth St. and gave the option to proceed with demolition pending an evaluation of the burned-out structure by the building inspector. “It needs to be boarded up,
but probably of greater concern is the appearance of the property,” said Ratliff. The city has had no response from the property owner, he said. ■ Also adjudicated is the car wash property between Shiloh
Stores stay busy on Mega Monday BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Local retailers were bustling with customers returning gifts and taking advantage of sales on what has come to be known as Mega-Monday — the third busiest shopping day of the year behind Black Friday and Christmas Eve. The Southgate shopping center was humming with activity early, as customers arrived to take advantage of the “door busters” sales offered by a pair of large department stores. J.C. Penny Supervisor Peggy Castile reported a large number of returns as well as customers, many of which turned out at 6 a.m. to get an early start on the door buster sales scattered throughout the store. “It has been extra busy today,” reported customer service associate Shelby Stewart. A few stores down at Belk, the scene was equally busy. With Christmas sales going on Monday and Tuesday, the shopping season’s final rush was just getting started. Like its nearby competitor, Belk opened early Monday. “There’s really not a lot of returns,” said Loretta Crum, who works in human resources at
Please see CLEANUP | 2
Jobless rate declines in November BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Customers line up for the deals at Belk in the Southgate Shopping Center. Belk. “There are a lot of people in here, but not many returns — they’re mostly buying. It may come tomorrow, but it hasn’t been today.” The rush of Belk customers were taking advantage of the store-wide after-Christmas sale and a number of door busters. Belk returns to regular hours
today. Although the store manager at Gamestop in Corinth Commons declined to speak on record, it was obvious the store was doing a brisk business on Monday, with a line of customers stretching out the front door. Thirteen-year-old Jack Da-
vidson of Walnut was looking through the door at Gamestop. Not deterred by the long line, he said he was going to stick it out. “I got some money in a card from my grandmother,” he said. “She figures it’s better if I can buy myself what I want for Christmas — and that works just fine with me.”
Organization provides new flags for courtoom BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The local chapter of a nationwide fraternal organization recently gifted a trio of flags to the new Alcorn County Justice Center. A group of local leaders including Police Chief David Lancaster, Justice Court Judge Steve Little and Sheriff Charles Rinehart accepted a state, national and Christian flag from Corinth’s Woodmen of the World Lodge 64. The flags will be on display in the Alcorn Justice Center’s courtroom. “We provide these flags to businesses and non-profit organizations,” explained Gary Wren, representing the local lodge. Wren said the Woodmen offer life insurance, annuities and a range of different insurance options. The flag presentation was part of the Woodmen’s fraternal activities, which include providing meals, activities and summer camps for children. Woodmen of the World is one of the nation’s most active organization for flag donations, Wren explained. They also sponsor annual history awards for students of local schools.
Road and Sixth Street. Ratliff said the property needs to be cleaned along the fence line, and the stalls of the structure need to be cleared of leaves and debris.
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Members of Corinth’s Woodmen of the World Lodge 64 recently donated several flags to the Alcorn County Justice Center. Pictured here is (from left) Woodmen of the World member John Peebles; Corinth Police Chief David Lancaster; Justice Court Judge Steve Little; Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart; and Woodmen Representative Gary Wren. The Corinth Lodge 64 of Woodmen of the World will provide flags for several area schools shortly after the New Year rolls around, Wren said. The Woodmen of the World
organization was founded June 6, 1890, in Omaha, Neb., by Joseph Cullen Root, a member of several fraternal organizations. After listening to a sermon about pioneer woodsmen
carving civilization out of the wilderness to provide for their families, Root founded the Woodmen of the World to clear away problems of financial security for its members.
Local unemployment rates declined in November, following the state and national trend heading into the end of the year. Alcorn County’s seasonally unadjusted jobless rate registered at 10.8 percent, down from 12.1 percent in October, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. The rate was 10.7 percent a year earlier. Tishomingo County is at 12.5 percent for November, down from 13 percent in October; Prentiss County, 10.3 percent, down from 11.3 percent; and Tippah County, 12.9 percent, down from 14.1 percent. The state’s unadjusted rate was 9.7 percent, down from 10.4 percent. Alcorn County had 128 initial claims for unemployment insurance during the month, down from 212 a year earlier, and 970 continued claims, down from 1,253 a year earlier. The average weekly benefit paid in Mississippi was $181.30. The state saw 4,750 first payments, down from 6,073 a year earlier, and 2,570 final payments, down from 3,826 a year earlier. Initial claims across the state numbered 13,790, down from 15,064 in November 2010. Results from Mississippi’s non-farm employment survey, which is counted by the location of establishments, reported a not seasonally adjusted employment increase of 4,500 over the month and 10,400 from one year ago. The industry sector registering the largest monthly employment gain was trade, transportation & utilities. Rankin County had the state’s lowest rate at 6.1 percent. The highest rate was 18.6 percent in Clay County. Regional and state unemployment rates were generally lower in November. Fortythree states and the District of Columbia recorded unemployment rate decreases, three states posted rate increases, and four states had no rate change, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Fortyfive states registered unemployment rate decreases from a year earlier, while five states and the District of Columbia experienced increases. The national jobless rate fell by 0.4 percentage points between October and November to 8.6 percent, down from 9.8 percent in November 2010.
Board of Aldermen threaten to cut Booneville mayor’s pay BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
BOONEVILLE — Aldermen presented Booneville Mayor Joe Eaton with an ultimatum last week, threatening to cut his pay after the first of the year if communication between the board and his office does not improve.
Ward 3 Alderman Mark McCoy said Dec. 20 he and the other three aldermen present for the meeting were in agreement that there were serious problems with the way the mayor is communicating information to the board, and they plan to take action in response if the matter is not re-
solved. Ward 4 Alderman David Bolen was not present at Tuesday’s meeting due to a death in his family. McCoy said he has been approached several times by citizens with questions regarding new businesses or other activity in the city and been unable
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
to provide adequate answers because he has not been kept informed by the mayor. He and other aldermen noted they have also not been informed by the mayor about important events such as the arrival celebration this weekend for the Booneville High School state champion
cheer and dance teams. “If you would just keep us informed, we’d all do better,” said McCoy. The alderman said he and the other three present, Wilda Pounds, Harold Eaton and Jeff Please see MAYOR | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago Dec. 27 — The United States announces its intention to release the Confederate agents taken from the British ship Trent. Secretary of State Seward released a lengthy statement, but no apology, to the British ambassador.