Thursday Dec. 6,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 294
2012 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
Partly cloudy Today
Tonight
67
54
20% chance rain
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Reward offered in stolen horse case BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
A Corinth family is offering reward money to help flush out tips in the case of a Tennessee Walking Horse stolen from their Kendrick Road property. Lisa Downs and her husband, Brian, are still hopeful that they will get the horse back, and they also hope to see an arrest in the case. “Even if we never get the pet back, it’s just the security of knowing they caught whoever did it,” said Lisa Downs.
The black horse was taken from their pasture around 1 a.m. on Nov. 15. The culprits also attempted but failed to take a quarter horse that was left wandering in the area. The family includes a couple of daughters, ages 9 and 11, who miss their pet. “They don’t understand it at all,” said Downs. “They just know the horse is missing and they can’t comprehend why somebody would take their horse.” The Corinth Police Department continues to look into the theft.
Detective Capt. Ralph Dance said there have been a few leads but information is still needed from anyone who may have seen activity in the area. The department received one tip of a vehicle that was in the area at the time. It was described as a silver Dodge truck pulling a small silver horse trailer. The residence is located near the railroad and railroad overpass. About 1:30 a.m., railroad workers alerted the family that one of their horses was loose. Brian Downs went to retrieve the horse and,
when walking it back, discovered a saddle blanket and bridle on top of the bridge. He then discovered that the young Tennessee Walker was missing. “There’s some reason when they dropped that bridle and that blanket that they didn’t go back to get it,” said Lisa Downs. “The only thing I can get in my mind is because there was a vehicle in the presence of them and it scared them enough that they didn’t want to go back and retrieve what
main cemetery wall. Other bidders were Prairie Construction, $49,835, and Pittman Construction, $55,000. A donation of $125,000 from Corinth Community Development, Inc., which is no longer active, made the sidewalks project possible. The city chose the project because the cemetery has not had sidewalks but people often walk in the area. In other business: ■ In closed session, the board accepted the resignation of one police officer and approved the hiring of four full-time officers. ■ The board gave approval for
a sign with lighting for the Chop House at Shiloh Ridge. The planning commission/board of adjustment recommended approval of the variance, although it was noted during the board’s workshop meeting that some in the residential area have expressed concern about the sign. Owner John Mabryl said the sign will be turned off at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. ■ The board approved the repair of a broken down fire truck at a cost of $7,051.65. ■ In property cleanup, aldermen gave the go-ahead for the
city to have the yard cleaned at the King property at 3008 Polk Street. Building Inspector Philip Verdung said the structure on the property is collapsing in the middle section and also needs to be addressed if the property owners continue to not respond. He said the failing section could be removed, but the city would face considerable expense to seal the remainder of the structure. The board gave a continuance to Feb. 5 for the ongoing cleanup of the Rhoades property on Highway 72. Verdung said the
Basket fund tops City accepts sidewalk construction bid $4,000 The spirit of giving is alive and well in the Crossroads area as donations continue to arrive daily for the 17th Annual Corinth Rotary Club/Daily Corinthian 2012 Christmas Basket Fund. The civic club and newspaper have set a $20,000 community fundraising goal this year so 1,000 food baskets can be given away to local families at 8 a.m.on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Crossroads Arena. The total now stands at $4,540 meaning $15,460 still needs to be raised from the community as there will be no corporate match this year. Recent donations include $200 from Bob and Janet Krohn; $100 anonymous gift in memory of Maggie Windom; $100 from Noel Gann in memory of his wife, Marcy Gann; $125 from the Starlings in memory of Coy and Marie Malone and L.Q. and KathPlease see BASKET | 2
Santa letter project going well BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Does anyone have letters addressed for the North Pole? The Corinth Theatre-Arts Theatre Guild are helping kids get in touch with Santa Claus this Christmas season with the Letters to Santa holiday fundraiser. Here’s how it works: First, parents fill out a form to accompany their children’s letters to Santa. Then they either mail the letters to the Crossroads Playhouse or stop by and place the letter in a special red mailbox in the theater’s lobby. Sometime before Christmas the kids will receive a personal letter from Old Saint Nick. “It’s gone really well so far,” said Theatre Guild member Barbara Rogers. “Most of the kids come by to drop them off. I think they like bringing their letters to the little red mailbox.” Kids can even stop by the Playhouse to write their letters and fill out the forms. Colored pencils and crayons are available in the lobby. Please see SANTA | 2
BY JEBB JOHNSTON
jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
The Corinth Board of Aldermen on Tuesday accepted a bid for further sidewalk construction at Corinth National Cemetery. 3D Construction Co. of Corinth was the low bidder at $49,123 for construction of sidewalks on the east and west side of the national cemetery. The same company recently completed construction of a new sidewalk along the exterior of the north wall of the cemetery beside Meigg Street. That segment cost $39,925 and is 5 feet wide and 1 foot from the
Please see REWARD | 2
Please see BOARD | 2
Santa’s visit boosts Lighthouse toy store BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
GLEN — Santa and Mrs. Claus made the long trip from the North Pole. The couple flew in to have their pictures taken with Alcorn Central elementary and high school students on Tuesday with proceeds going to benefit the Lighthouse Foundation Toy Store. “This is what Christmas is all about,” said Charlette Foster, a sponsor with the Alcorn Central Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “Seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids takes me back to Christmas when I was young.” FCA sponsors came up with the idea “Pictures with Santa” as its annual fundraiser to help the toy drive of the Lighthouse Foundation. Students could have their photo taken with the Clauses by local photographer Lisa Wilbanks. “We have always done something for the toy drive,” said FCA sponsor Twila Bridges. “This year we thought this would be fun for the students.” Photos were made for $2. Students received a 4 x 6 print for a couple of bucks. Wilbanks
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Mrs. Claus and Santa check the list of Alcorn Central students. Students could have their photo taken with the couple on Tuesday with the proceeds going to the Lighthouse Foundation Toy Store. and Santa's helpers, Marvin and Sheryl Ratliff from Morris Chapel, Tenn., all donated their services to help with the project.
Excited children waited their turn in line to sit between the Claus couple and then receive a candy cane. “We have taken 104 and
haven't even got out of the kindergarten classes,” said Foster with a smile. “It has been a lot Please see VISIT | 2
Upcoming weekend remains full of holiday spirit BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Christmas spirit will be strong in Alcorn County this weekend, with several holiday events lined up — including the inaugural Farmington Christmas Parade. “Everybody involved and everybody coming to see the parade are going to make history,” said Mayor Dale Fortenberry. “It’s the first one ever.”
Fortenberry said there have been many entries in the parade, especially for a first time event, and parade organizers are looking forward to good weather for the evening. He also commented on the wide range of participants in the parade. “We’ve got everything from a pair of mules pulling a wagon all the way to the mayor,” said Fortenberry.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
The parade will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday. Lineup is set for 5:30 p.m. The route begins on County Road 200 near the western boundary of the city limits. The parade will move east for approximately one mile on County Road 200 to Ridgecrest Baptist Church. Parade attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items. The food collected will be donated to needy
families in the community sometime after the parade. For more information, call Farmington Town Hall at 6659647. Rienzi’s annual parade is also scheduled for this weekend, beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Longtime Rienzi merchants Vernon and Jody Crowe have Please see WEEKEND | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago Gen. Van Dorn, still smarting from his defeat at Corinth, is ordered to lead three cavalry brigades against the massive Union supply depot at Holly Springs. The raid is a desperate attempt to slow Grant’s Army of the Tennessee, which is moving south toward Jackson and Vicksburg.
LEE PRESTAGE GENERAL SALES MANAGER Lee invites all his Corinth and Alcorn County friends to see him for a great deal on a new or pre-owned vehicle. Call his personal cell phone number: 662-284-6152. WWW.SAVANNAHCHRYSLERDODGEJEEP.COM
CALL 800-284-5811 The Mid-South’s Fastest Growing Dealership
SAVANNAH, TENNESSEE