Wednesday April 25,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 100
Election would require 20 percent of the city voters to present petition BY BOBBY J. SMITH Governor Phil Bryant has signed a bill that will allow some Mississippi cities in dry counties to vote on allowing alcohol sales. Senate Bill 2497 will allow two classes of municipalities located in dry counties to vote to come out from under dry laws — any city with a population of at least 5,000 and any county seat of a dry county, regardless of population. Elections would require 20 percent of a city’s voters to present a petition. Corinth’s Ward 1 Alderman Andrew “Bubba” Labas said he is very glad the state legislature and governor have given the citizens of Corinth and the city the opportunity to vote on the alcohol issue. “Obviously there’s a debate to be had between those that are
pro-alcohol and those that are non-alcohol, and without getting into that debate, I could argue all day long the pros and the cons of the issue,” Labas said. “I have seen statistics that show throughout the state of Mississippi that dry counties versus wet counties, in wet counties you have higher graduation rates for high schools, higher median income, lower divorce rates and DUI rates are lower.” The governor said the chief reason he signed the bill is that it will provide an increase in local autonomy. “As often as is prudent, all decisions that impact citizens at a local level should be made at the local level through selfdetermination of the people’s right to vote,” he said. “Though I take issue with certain points of this legislation, the right to self-government must be held in the highest regard, and local
governments, at the behest of their citizens, must be granted authority to make their own policy.” District 1 Rep. Lester “Bubba” Carpenter also supported the bill on the grounds of local autonomy. “It’s putting it back in the cities’ hands,” said Carpenter. “This provides for more home rule. If Corinth decides to have the election and it passes, then the board of aldermen would dictate what happens. It gives them more flexibility and it takes it out of Jackson.” The two other Corinth-area legislators in the House — District 2 Rep. Nick Bain and District 3 Rep. Tracy Arnold — voted against the bill. In the Senate, District 4 Rep. Rita Potts Parks opposed the bill as well. The governor said he hopes the legislation will also bring
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an end to the “patchwork approach” taken by many municipalities regarding the sale of alcohol and increase the efficiency in the state’s approach to governing alcohol regulations on the local level. “Now that citizens have the local right to vote on this issue, this should end the disingenuous practice of seeking resort area status for the sole purpose of alcohol sales,” Bryant said. The governor expressed “serious concerns” that the bill’s language including county seats with populations of any size may cause significant challenges to law enforcement and burdens on the administrations of small local governments. The Senate bill originally set the population requirement at 6,000 or more, but the number was decreased in the House
MBI investigates as police called to the scene
Please see VOTE | 2A
Please see SHOOTING | 2A
Airport project is in final stage BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Crews from APAC Mississippi are currently working on the final phase of construction at the Corinth-Alcorn County Airport. The project to renovate the airport’s taxiway began last year, but was put on hold when winter weather set in. “As with any project, the weather is always a big factor,” said Airport Operations Supervisor Donna Briggs. The temperature has to be above 50 degrees for crews to be able to lay asphalt, Briggs explained, or the asphalt won’t hold up. The funding for the $1.2 million project came primarily from an Airport Improvement Program grant (AIP) from the Federal Aviation Administration. With this setup, the FAA pays 95 percent of the project’s costs, with the remaining 5 percent coming from a mixture of state and local sources — 2.5 percent from the city and county and the other 2.5 percent from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. “When the local cost is only 2.5 percent, you can’t pass that up,” Briggs said. The operations supervisor pointed out that the ongoing construction is not having an adverse effect on airport operations. “We’ve had to close half of the taxi-way, and airplanes have to back up, but we really haven’t had any complaints or lost any business because of it,” she said. Briggs emphasized that the project is using money that the FAA sets aside each year for air-
Today
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections
Bill clears alcohol vote path bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Mostly sunny
BY ANGELA STOREY astorey@dailycorinthian.com
An investigation continues into the fatal shooting of a Booneville man outside his residence Monday night after police were called to a disturbance. Booneville Police Chief Michael Ramey said 911 received a call at approximately 9:38 p.m. Monday of a domestic violence disturbance at 201 Stanley Street Extended. “Upon officers arriving there was a suspect that was shot one time. He was transported by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-
County switches provider BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
grant money?” She pointed out that many local industries utilize the airport, including Caterpillar and Kim-
Facing a substantial cost increase, Alcorn County will switch providers for its property, equipment and general liability insurance. The Board of Supervisors held a special meeting Tuesday morning to finalize its insurance decision ahead of the May 1 cut-off date for the existing coverage. The board accepted a proposal from Zurich for just under $200,000 for one year. The expiring premium with Trident was $148,171. Excluding the increase associated with insuring the new jail facility, the county will see a cost increase of about 20 percent, said Ricky James, executive vice president with Renasant Insurance. The county’s property values increased from $16.56 million to $34.16 million. Trident’s quote to continue with the same coverage was $256,236. The Zurich quote accepted by the board will result in a few changes to the coverage — the deductible for property will increase from $2,500 to $5,000; for equipment, from $1,00 to $2,500;
Please see TAXIWAY | 2A
Please see LIABILITY | 2A
Staff photos by Bobby J. Smith
With milling operations wrapping up, the crews are expected to start laying asphalt next week.
Crews from APAC Mississippi are currently working on the final phase of taxiway construction at the Corinth-Alcorn County Airport. port improvement — and will not result in an increase of taxes or any other costs. “I’ve heard comments about ‘This is our tax dollars at work.’ Some people don’t see it as the
economic development of our community,” said Briggs. “But if we didn’t apply for our part of the AIP money, some other city would get it. So, why shouldn’t we get our share of that federal
Tickets already on sale for Leon Frazier Memorial Concert BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Kiwanis Club is ready to expand an annual concert so it can give back more. The 15th Annual Leon Frazier Memorial Concert is set for June 2 at the Crossroads Arena with an impressive list of entertainment scheduled to appear. Tickets went on sale Monday at the Crossroads Arena for the
6 p.m. concert in less than two months. “We are hoping to have 1,500 to 2,000 people,” said Kiwanis member Jimmy Rich. “That would be a good concert for us.” In the early years, the event had as many as 2,200 people attend and it annually packed the Corinth Coliseum. “We want to grow the concert and make it a quality event ...
something for the whole family,” added Rich. “The reason the Kiwanis Club began the concert was to remember Leon and help the area students.” Proceeds from the event fund the club’s annual scholarships. Last year, the Kiwanis Club awarded a $1,000 scholarship to 13 Alcorn County students. This year the club will have awarded $158,000 in scholar-
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
The Gospel Tabernacle Drama Team Presents:
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A
ships to 202 students. A pair of artists with ties to the Gaither Family are on the schedule. Michael English -lead singer for the Gaither Vocal Band -- and Gordon Mote -- a blind solo artist and pianist for the Gaither Homecoming Tour -- will headline the show. “Michael English was a very successful artist in the early years before becoming involved
in drugs,” said Rich. “He has made a comeback and talks a lot about second chances throughout the concert ... people that are in need of encouragement need to hear his story.” Mote will be making his second visit to Corinth and first since performing at a local church as a youngster. Please see CONCERT | 2A
On this day in history 150 years ago Naval forces under Adm. David G. Farragut capture the city of New Orleans. Maj. Gen. Charles F. Smith dies of a septic infection at the Cherry Mansion in Savannah, Tenn. This great American soldier died from a scraped shin injured while getting out of a rowboat.
“Miracle on Azusa Street” Friday, April 27 @ 7:30pm • Sunday, April 29 @ 6:00 “A Church Where Everybody Is Somebody” 1624 Glover Drive • Corinth MS 38834 662-872-9999 • 662-287-4254 • www.gospelt.com Pastor Josh Hodum • Sr. Pastor Gary Hodum
The great Azusa Street Revival of the early 1900s began in a humble, run-down mission. From this simple setting arose a powerful move of God that swept across the country and around the world. This drama is a reenactment of the Azusa Street outpouring that was a confirmation of the original Day of Pentecost.