Saturday Dec. 8,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 296
2012 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition”
Basket fund tops $6,000 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 $6,535, meaning $13,465 still needs to be raised from the community as there will be no corporate match this year. Recent donations include $1,000 from Eddie and Shelley McKinney; $100 from Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Honey; $100 anonymous gift in memory of Gerald Smith and Please see BASKET | 3
Toy Store helps over 600 families BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
The true spirit of Christmas was on display Thursday at the Lighthouse Foundation as hundreds of families received holiday help and a reminder of God’s love during the annual Toy Store. More than 600 families were provided with gifts for their children through the annual effort as an army of volunteers combined with the generosity of the community to help those in need. “It was just the best,” said Foundation Executive Director Gary Caveness. He said the annual distribution day went extremely well with a huge outpouring of support from volunteers who helped those receiving gifts shop and also shared with each of them about the love of God. Caveness said the program would not work without the support of the community and even during these tough economic times the area came through to help them pay for the project. “I just want this community to know how awesome a place this is,” he said. Meeting the physical needs during the holidays is just the tip of the iceberg for the Lighthouse Foundation. Caveness said the Toy Store gives them an opportunity to provide immediate help, but it also gives them the chance to build relationships and share the hope Please see TOYS | 3
Mostly cloudy Today
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Great alcohol debate: People vote many times on liquor, beer sales BY JEBB JOHNSTON jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com
“For” or “against” — Corinth and Alcorn County residents have pulled the lever on liquor and beer numerous times through the years. After liquor legally flowed into the county in the late 1960s, votes on either liquor or beer emerged in 1976, 1981, twice in 1989, 1993, 2005 and, now, 2012, as Corinth voters are allowed to decide on liquor sales without the county’s input for the first time. The three most recent elections, all county-wide votes on the sale of alcoholic beverages — distilled spirits or wine products that contain more than 5 percent alcohol by weight — all had similar voting patterns. Seven years ago,
55 percent voted against, with 1,000 more voting for prohibition than for legal sales. In 1989, prohibition took 56 percent of the vote; in 1993, it was 57 percent. County boxes generally voted against each time while city boxes went for legalization or had closer margins. In December 2005, among the predominantly city precincts, three voted in favor — South Corinth, North Corinth and East Corinth, while two voted against — West Corinth and East Third Street. The large College Hill precinct was nearly a tie, going 526 for and 521 against. That big box at the American Legion is a mix of city and county residents. Taking just those six precincts from the December 2005
vote flips the percentages. The “for” total is 2,328 (54.8 percent) and the “against” total is 1,920 (45.2 percent). The South Corinth and East Corinth boxes had the largest numbers voting in favor. The city beer votes have historically been close. In 1976, an effort to legalize beer sales in Corinth failed by only 138 votes. A few years later, in 1981, the margin increased a bit to 444. The tide turned in 1989, with 2,172 voting “for” and 1,865 voting “against” just five days before a county-wide vote would reinstate prohibition of liquor sales. Six package stores with 21 employees had to close shop soon afterward. At the time, the Daily Corinthian reported liquor sales in
Coming Sunday: What voters need to know about the Tuesday referendum. Corinth totaled $2 million annually. Some blamed the city beer vote for fanning the flames of a divisive issue and nudging the county back to dryness. The notorious beer/liquor swap of 1989 brought the media spotlight onto Corinth. In the pages of the Chicago Tribune a couple of weeks after the two June 1989 elections, writer Mary T. Schmich turned big Chicago’s attention to the former “Little Chicago.” Please see LIQUOR | 3
Living Free plans special Christmas BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
An inspiration to share Christmas Day with others in the Crossroads area will result in a special day at Living Free Ministries. Marea and Tommy Wilson will open the door at the Living Free building on Christmas morning to celebrate with anyone who would like to visit with them. They will open the building at 11 a.m. and will be there until 3 p.m.. A traditional buffet meal will be held with traditional Christmas food, including turkey and all types of desserts. Marea stressed people didn't have to arrive at 11 a.m., yet they would be there until 3 p.m. so people could come and go as they like. “This has been in my heart for a while to do something on Christmas Day,” said Marea. “I do not want anyone to be alone on Christmas Day. They may celebrate Christmas with their family on another day and this will give them a chance to spend time with us.” Please see CHRISTMAS | 2
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Living Free’s Marea Wilson, Larry Betts and Tommy Wilson get decorations ready for a Christmas Day event at the ministry. The Wilson’s have invited everyone to share time with them on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during a come and go as you like event, complete with a buffet lunch and movie.
Pickwick Landing offers ‘Christmas in the Park’ BY JEFF YORK For the Daily Corinthian
Pickwick Landing State Park will kick off the holidays with its 8th Annual Christmas in the Park festival next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-15. Enjoy Pickwick Landing’s Festival of Lights via trolley or a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park, viewing the beautiful luminaries and lighted displays.
In addition, more than 50 local retailers and crafters will be on hand, displaying and offering unique items at the park’s Holiday Mart. The Holiday Mart times are Friday from noon until 9 p.m. and Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Luminary displays and rides through the park will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. both nights. Little ones also will enjoy a
special visit from Santa and his elves – complete with a holiday train ride, bedtime stories by the fire each evening, and a special breakfast with Santa planned for Saturday morning. Santa Claus and his elves will arrive in the park’s inn each night at 6 p.m., and bedtime stories will begin at 8 p.m. Saturday’s breakfast with Santa will begin at 7 a.m. until 10 a.m.
“This is a great two-day holiday event and there’s something for everyone,” said Guy Garner, park manager for Pickwick Landing. “We encourage everyone to join us at Pickwick Landing for this wonderful holiday tradition and catch the spirit of the season.” Pickwick Landing State Park is located just south of PickPlease see PICKWICK | 2
Students excel at reading fair BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
The Alcorn School District held its District Reading Fair competition Thursday at the Crossroads Arena. “The time they spent on their projects and the creativity they showed was amazing this time,” said Superintendent Gina Smith. “They put in a lot of extra effort, and we’re extremely proud that our Reading Fair students are so engaged and successful.” Students competed in 14 divisions organized by age group, fiction or nonfiction and three types of projects — family, group and individu-
al. First place winners in each division will move on to the regional competition in Oxford in February. Guidelines for the Reading Fair are established on the state level. The Mississippi Reading Fair originated at the Mississippi Department of Education in 1998, with the purpose of providing students in grades K-12 the opportunity to share their favorite books through a storyboard display. The goal of the Reading Fair is to enhance and encourage reading at all grade levels and allow students to collaborate
Staff photo by Bobby J. Smith
Please see READING | 2
The elementary and middle school winners of the District Reading Fair on stage at the reading fair.
Index Stocks........7 Classified......14 Comics...... 13 Wisdom...... 12
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports...... 10
On this day in history 150 years ago President Jefferson Davis decides to visit his troops in Mississippi and Tennessee. He is worried about the military situation in the west and confides to Gen. Robert E. Lee, “The disparity between our armies and those of the enemy is so great as to fill me with apprehension.”