Crossroads Magazine 2013 Medical Guide
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Inside Today Saturday April 27,
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 101
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 18 pages • One section
Circuit court completes its spring term BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Alcorn County Circuit Court recently completed its MarchApril term. Following are the remaining sentences handed down in this session: ■ Charles B. Ayers, 71, fondling — Suspended 15-year
sentence, five years of probation and ordered to have no contact with the victim ■ Robidathar L. Simmons, 45, three counts of credit card fraud — Suspended three-year sentence; three years of probation; $1,000 fine; pay restitution of $548.25 ■ Shawn Anthony Johnson,
41, possession of two or more precursors — Suspended threeyear sentence and $1,000 fine; manufacturing marijuana — Suspended three-year sentence and $1,000 fine; removal of personal property subject to lien — Suspended 10-year sentence, one year of house arrest and $1,000 fine
■ Cole Prather, 21, two counts of burglary and larceny of a vehicle — Suspended seven-year sentence, five years probation and $1,000 fine on count one; suspended seven-year sentence and $1,000 fine on count two ■ Rachael Warren, 30, robbery — 15-year sentence with 10 suspended and five years to
serve; five years of post-release supervision; $1,000 fine; pay restitution of $585; grand larceny — suspended 10-year sentence and $1,000 fine ■ John Kwiatkowski, conspiracy to sell marijuana — Suspended five-year sentence Please see COURT | 2
Local sales tax dips in collections BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Staff photo by Jebb Johnston
Taking part in the Teacher of the Year recognition Thursday were (from left) Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith; ACES Assistant Principal John Anderson; ACES kindergarten teacher Kim Kirkland; KHS teacher, assistant band director and assistant basketball coach Chris Byrd; KHS Principal Matt Smith, and Corinth Rotary Club President Jason Marlar.
Rotary gives teachers an A+ BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
Corinth Rotary on Thursday honored a pair of Alcorn School District teachers who get an A+ for their efforts as educators and mentors. In the county schools, Kim Kirkland of Alcorn Central Elementary School is the Primary Teacher of the Year, and Chris Byrd of Kossuth High School is Secondary Teacher of the Year. The two received plaques and a monetary award. Kirkland is a kindergarten teacher. “Twenty-seven kindergartners is what she has in her class every day, and there’s not a day that she doesn’t come in with a smile,” said ACES Assistant Principal John Anderson. “They know they have a
teacher that cares about them, and that’s what education is about.” She is also the mother of three young children ages seven, four and 20 months, and teaches a Sunday school class of kindergarten-age children. “She is an excellent part of our team,” said Anderson. “I know she’s had an athletic background, and the team aspect is what she brings to our school.” At KHS, Byrd teaches U.S. History and Advanced Placement U.S. History. He is also assistant band director and assistant high school basketball coach. Superintendent Gina Rogers Smith described him as a reliable “go-to guy” for the district. “His U.S. History scores
are some of the highest in the state,” she said. Smith also praised his efforts as a mentor. “He does whatever is necessary,” said KHS Principal Matt Smith. “It shows in our band ratings, it shows in our athletic improvement and it also shows in our test scores.” The two school districts select teachers for recognition by Rotary each year. “We have the privilege of honoring very gifted students of the month from each of the four high schools,” said Rotary President Jason Marlar. “This is our time in the year when we get to recognize outstanding teachers.” Corinth teachers will be recognized in a later Rotary meeting.
Sales tax collections took a small step back in the latest reported month while the tourism tax continued a string of gains. At mid-April, the city banked $445,209.18 as its share of sales tax collections, a small decrease of about $5,000, or 1 percent, compared to one year ago. That ended a streak of six consecutive monthly gains. The latest deposit reflects sales activity made in local establishments during the month of February. It appeared to be a soft month statewide, with total collec-
tions down 1 percent, and only three of 11 area municipalities posting gains for the month. With the fiscal year now into its second half, Corinth’s trend for the year is slight growth compared to FY 2012. The fiscal year’s total to date is $3.169 million, up about $46,000, or 1.5 percent, from the prior year. It is the first month in which liquor sales was part of the city’s sales activity. The 2 percent tourism tax had its strongest result to date for funds received in April at $96,062.88, an increase Please see TAX | 3
City board orders property cleanup BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Board of Aldermen recently ordered three properties cleaned and gave extensions for a number of others where owners are making an effort. One of those adjudicated during public hearings on 11 addresses is the old cycle shop at the corner of South Fillmore
Street and South Tate Street — a vacant commercial property that has been before the board numerous times in past years. The ultimate goal for the property this time is demolition, said Kim Ratliff, code enforcement officer. The city has not had a response from the owner to its Please see BOARD | 2A
Former Major League Baseball all-star player coming to Corinth BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
Former Major League Baseball All-Star Darryl Strawberry will soon be in Corinth to speak at Living Free Ministries Annual Celebration Banquet. Strawberry will speak at Oakland Baptist Church on Thursday, May 9 and in a couple of schools in Alcorn County on May 10. The banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland and there will be no admission. A meal will be held at the Living Free building at 5 p.m. An offering will be taken at the banquet to help with expenses. Strawberry, who achieved fame playing for the New York Mets and New York Yankees, now travels the country to talk about how Jesus delivered him from addiction to drugs and alcohol.
He won four World Series rings, one with the Mets in 1986 and with the Yankees in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Tommy Wilson, founder of Living Free and an avid of the Yankees, is very excited about the chance to bring Strawberry to the Crossroads City to give his life story. “We are going to have a lot of people at the banquet to hear Strawberry’s speech,” said Wilson. “I’ve heard him talk and he has a powerful story.” Wilson and his wife Marea recently went to hear Strawberry speak at Home of Grace’s Homecoming. Home of Grace is a facility that helps in rehab of those with life-controlling issues and Wilson places several people there every year. If you would like to help with the expenses of bringing Strawberry to Corinth, you can send a
donation to Living Free Ministries P.O. Box 224, Corinth, Ms. 38835. For information about the banquet, call 662-603-9829 or 662-287-5394. Strawberry is an eight-time all-star, was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1983 playing for the Mets and hit over 30 home runs and knocked in over 100-runs three times each. “I was once very lost and tormented, but now I am found and free in Christ Jesus. I want everyone to experience the saving and transforming power of Jesus Christ,” said Strawberry. Darryl and his wife Tracy Strawberry have a true heart to be servants of God with the desire to minister to people who are suffering and in bondage to afflictions that are destroying their lives and relationships, noted Wilson.
Index Stocks........8 Classified......14 Comics........ 7 State........ 5
Weather........9 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 12
Former Major League Baseball All-Star Darryl Strawberry (right) meets with Tommy Wilson, founder of Living Free Ministries and an avid fan of the Yankees. Strawberry will speak in Corinth on Thursday, May 7 at Oakland Baptist Church.
On this day in history 150 years ago Grierson’s raiders cross Pearl River and capture a telegraph station. Grierson orders a telegram sent to Confederate Gen. Pemberton, “The Yankees have advanced to Pearl River, but finding the ferry destroyed they could not cross, and have left, taking a northeasterly direction.” Grierson is actually headed for Baton Rouge.