Wednesday April 11,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 88
Partly cloudy Today
Tonight
64
35
• Corinth, Mississippi • 20 pages • 2 sections
District considering a sex education policy BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth School District leaders are preparing to adopt a policy and curriculum for sex education as required by a new state law. The policy and curriculum must be set by June 30, and the teaching of sex education will begin in the next school year. Passed during the 2011 legislative session, the law is intended to address the state’s teen pregnancy rate. School districts must select either an abstinence only or “ab-
stinence plus” approach, with the latter giving more leeway to discuss contraception. “Even with an abstinence only approach, you can discuss a variety of other things in terms of contraception, but you can only discuss it from the point of statistically as to how it can work or how it does not work,” Superintendent Lee Childress told the board of trustees Monday evening. He and the district’s attorney have reviewed some of the proposed policies. It is possible that the district
could choose a mix, with abstinence taught in the lower grades and abstinence plus taught in the higher grades. “We will also have to decide where and in what grades we want this taught,” said Childress. It could begin as low as the fifth- and sixth-grade level. The law calls for boys and girls to be separated during the classes. It also requires parents to opt in for their children to participate, which means forms will be sent out to parents.
The district has had sex education at times in the past in health and family dynamics classes. Childress said it has also been addressed in presentations by outside organizations in the past, but the law makes it a matter of formal classroom instruction. When the district had sex education in the past, parents could opt out for their children. The board will adopt the policy and curriculum in a later meeting. In other business: ■ The board adopted an exemption policy for the Cam-
Plane crashes
bridge examinations. The district will develop a brief video presentation to explain the policy to students. ■ The annual reorganization of the board brought no change, with Ann Walker continuing as president and Missy Woodhouse continuing as secretary. The regular board meeting date will continue to be the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the administrative office on Harper Road. ■ Trustees approved a request to reduce the number of dance team participants from 20 to 14.
Individual faces felony charges Staff reports
A Corinth man faces charges on marijuana possession. Richard W. Morrow, 48, of 215 County Road 301, Corinth, was arrested Friday and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). Bond was set at $5,000. Officers went to 215 County Road 301 in relation to an investigation of subjects purchasing marijuana from occupants at the residence, according to Narcotics Officer Darrell Hopkins. Morrow consented to a search of the residence during which officers found approximately one-quarter pound of marijuana along with packaging, weighing and distribution material.
Missing Wheeler man located in Tennessee BY BRANT SAPPINGTON Staff photos by Reece Terry
A snall single engine plane is stopped by a tree just a few feet from a home in the Midway community south of Luka Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — Authorities say a small personal plane made a crash landing in northeast Mississippi’s Tishomingo County, but both occu-
pants were able to walk to a nearby home. Mississippi Highway Patrol spokesman Casey Mayo says the plane went down Tuesday behind a house off
Mississippi Highway 25. He said the two people in the plane walked to the house for help. Paramedics were on the scene. Mayo did not have other details.
Residents encouraged to help with Rienzi cleanup BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
RIENZI — Rienzi town leaders are asking the community to put its best foot forward as they prepare to host a major Civil War reenactment next month. Mayor Walter Williams said they’re expecting reenactors and visitors from throughout the southeast and as far away as Texas as they commemo-
rate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Rienzi on May 11-13. This marks the second year for the reenactment in the town on the Alcorn-Prentiss county border and they’re anticipating a bigger and better event than ever due to the significance of the anniversary year. In preparation for the influx of visitors to the community, Williams said he and the board of aldermen are
asking residents to make an effort to clean up around all homes and other properties and make the community look its best so they can make a good impression on those coming into town. He said they want to encourage everyone to take pride in their community and give the visitors the best pos-
bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
An elderly Prentiss County man reported missing on Monday has been located in Tennessee. Prentiss County Sheriff Randy Tolar said Glen Roland Shelton was found by police in Dyer, Tenn., approximately 45 minutes north of Jackson, Tenn., late Monday and was expected to be reunited with his family later that day. Shelton, 79, of Wheeler, was reported missing after leaving his home early Monday to go to the Social Security Administration office in Corinth. He never arrived at that office. An alert was sent out by the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department to law enforcement agencies and area media seeking help in locating the missing man. Tolar said Shelton was disoriented but otherwise okay when he was found. “This is one of those cases where everyone pitched in to locate Mr. Shelton and it ended on a positive note. I’m pleased he was found safe,” said Tolar.
Please see CLEANUP | 2A
28 teams vie for top chili cook-off honors BY MARK BOEHLER editor@dailycorinthian.com
Dennis Farris has spent a lot of time in the courtroom over the years, serving as assistant district attorney for Johnny Young in Itawamba and Lee counties for 16 1/2 years until his recent retirement. But when the judges’ decision was announced at the Fifth Annual Crossroads Chili Cook-Off Saturday afternoon, there was no question this time Farris was stunned at the verdict by a taste bud jury. “I was blown away,” said Farris, holding his $750 check and First Place in Red Chili trophy.
“It’s the first time I’ve cooked by myself.” Farris’ Legal Heartburn Chili took top honors at the local cook-off, which featured 28 teams from eight states, including a dozen from Illinois. The Mantachie resident usually cooks with Bill Stegbauer of Memphis, Tenn. and the Sweet Fire Chili team. On Saturday, he began his own solo culinary adventure. As state champ, Farris said he would represent his home state of Mississippi at the International Chili Society (ICS) World Championship event to be held later this year in West Virginia.
Besides his Corinth connection to the former district attorney, the former assistant DA said the Crossroads cook-off will provide a new fond local connection. “It’s a really nice event,” he said, still smiling and tightly clutching his trophy, a homemade bowl from local Hinkle Creek Pottery. “And it’s always nice to win.” “This is a great contest. We look forward to it,” added Stegbauer, Farris’ good friend and fellow cooker. Spilled salsa means victory
Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics......3B Wisdom......2B
Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports...... 7A
Please see CHILI | 2A
Staff photos by Steve Beavers
Ashley Jernigan and the Chili Bandits collected the People’s Choice award.
On this day in history 150 years ago April 11 — Fort Pulaski at Savannah, Georgia, surrenders after a devastating bombardment by Union forces, which proved masonry fortifications are no match for rifled artillery. The port of Savannah is closed to blockade runners.
New Multifocal Lens Technology in CATARACT Surgery
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Eye Care Specialists 3302 W. Linden St. Corinth, MS 38834 (662) 286-6068