Daily Corinthian E-Edition 123012

Page 1

Inside today: More than $85 in coupon savings www.dailycorinthian.com

Sunday Dec. 30, 2012 $1.50

Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 315

• Corinth, Mississippi •

Not as cold Today

Tonight

44

29

0% chance rain

28 pages • Three sections

Pair face felony cocaine charges BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

The Alcorn Narcotics Unit has arrested a pair of individuals on felony possession of cocaine charges. On Friday, the unit served a

search warrant on 167 County Road 715 following complaints from neighbors about drug traffic. Officers said they found cocaine, synthetic marijuana, scales, packing material, stolen

items and a gun at the residence of Billy Stevens. Stevens, 26, was charged with felony possession of cocaine along with felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The felony charge of cocaine was enhanced

due to a firearm. Stevens, on probation, was placed on hold by the Mississippi Department of Corrections. His bond was set at $20,000 by Justice Court Judge Steve Little.

Christina Gurley, 19, of the same address, was also charged with felony possession of cocaine. Her bond was set at $5,000. As of Friday evening, both remained jailed at the Alcorn Justice Center.

Existing industry drives economic development in 2012 BY BRANT SAPPINGTON bsappington@dailycorinthian.com

Staff photo by Mark Boehler

Heavy equipment takes down the Corinth Machinery Building after it suffered two major collapses.

Legal liquor tops news in 2012 BY JEBB JOHNSTON

1) Liquor’s return

jjohnston@dailycorinthian.com

The dramatic return of legal liquor sales in Corinth tops the news headlines of 2012. The annual news staff vote of the year’s top stories yielded rare unanimous agreement on the top story of the year. Factors such as lasting impact and public response are considered when compiling the list. Opinions varied widely on placement of the remainder of the top 10.

City-only votes on beer in the past had a history of being quite close, but such was not the case for liquor on Dec. 11 when Corinth voters overwhelmingly approved legal sales in the city. The story began early in the year with the Corinth Board of Aldermen asking for legislative approval for a city-only vote. A new state law emerged giving cities such as Corinth the opportunity to pursue a city-only vote

through a petition effort, which moved quickly. Voter turnout was huge with 70 percent voting in favor. The city has begun work on an ordinance, and legal sales will likely begin 30 days after its publication.

2) Tourism budget dispute An 8-3 vote by a joint session of city aldermen and county supervisors to divert $250,000 of Please see HEADLINES | 2A

said Chandler. A major success story for existing industry growth in 2013 was the start of construction in May on Caterpillar’s new logistics and warehouse operations center on Harper Road. The facility was brought to the area through a joint effort by city, county and state officials and a major investment by area real estate development group Jumper Realty. When complete it is expected to create approximately 35 new jobs over the next three years while further cementing Caterpillar’s commitment to operations in the region. The county has also seen growth at a number of other local employers including new jobs at Timber Products and Ayreshire Electronics, noted Corinth Mayor Tommy Irwin. The commitment to existing industry was also seen earlier this year with the opening of the new Kimberly-Clark access road, connecting Kendrick Road near the Kimberly-Clark plant with U.S. Highway 72, noted Chandler.

Growth of existing industry and a focus on developing new sites and capabilities for potential new employers in the future have dominated economic development efforts in 2012. Alliance President Gary Chandler said the past year has produced both successes and challenges, and he believes the area is ripe for more success in 2013. Supporting existing industry has been a key part of the economic development picture for both city and county leaders in the past year. He said keeping these employers and encouraging and supporting their potential expansion is vital for the area economy. “Generally, about 80 percent of new job creation comes from existing industry. But think about this … 100 percent of job losses are from existing industry. That is why we spend the time we do with existing industry, specifically over the past four years considering the economic climate. Existing industry is important to us,” Please see DEVELOPMENT | 2A

Carpenter to seek gun Professor gathers stories of community's past legislation for schools BY STEVE BEAVERS

sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com

BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com

Local state representatives are working on legislation that will enable school and personnel to carry concealed firearms on the job. District 1 Rep. Bubba Carpenter said he began getting calls from concerned constituents in the days following the massacre at Connecticut’s Sandy Hook Elementary School. They all had a similar question: What are legislators going to do to prevent another school shooting? “I’m going to offer a bill that will allow three to four people at each school — teachers, principals — to get conceal carry permits,” said Carpenter. The lawmaker anticipates some opposition to the proposed legislation, but says he believes it will act as a preventative measure against potential school shooters.

“If you get on an airport in Chicago, there will be two people on that plane with guns, flight marshals, and you don’t know which ones they are,” he said. “I think that if we put it out in the media that some teachers have got firepower, I believe it would deter some of these things in the future.” Carpenter cited the example of Joel Myrick, the former assistant principal at Pearl River High School and principal of Corinth High School, who pulled a .45 caliber pistol on a school shooter and possibly prevented further bloodshed at one of the earliest school shootings. The program will be entirely voluntary for the teachers, Carpenter said. Volunteers will be trained by a certified law enforcement firearms instructor and will undergo psychological screening by Highway Patrol officials.

ACTON, Tenn. — A FreedHardeman University assistant professor wants the town she was raised in to have a voice. So do the elderly citizens of the community. Laquita Thomson has spent most of her life listening to the stories about the once thriving town just across the state line. The Acton native intends to take those stories and compile them into something for the next generation. “The older people in Acton asked me to write a book,” she said. “They wanted a collection of stories and over the last 12 years I have been putting context to those stories.” Thomson, an art professor at FHU, has over 10 boxes of researched material from stories heard about the town, “My best stories have come from my mother,” she said. Acton's Grady and Jeanette Coln have also supplied Thom-

Index Stocks...... 7A Classified......5B Comics Inside Wisdom......3B

Weather......5A Obituaries......3A Opinion......4A Sports......8A

Staff photo by Steve Beavers

Laquita Thomson has years of research on the town of Acton that will be compiled into a book. son with stories of the past. Thomson, who has been teaching at Freed-Hardeman since 2006, grew up on Berry Bot-

tom Road in Michie. Her family moved to Acton from the FarmPlease see HISTORY |3A

On this day in history 150 years ago Rosecrans’ 43,000 man strong Army of the Cumberland in Murfreesboro is menaced by Bragg’s 37,000 man strong Army of Tennessee. Both sides spend the day maneuvering their troops. The bloody Battle of Stone’s River will commence at first light.

Now Renting 2012 Nissans!

Call Donna or Brandi for complete details and rates!

286.6006

BROSE

HWY 72 E • Corinth MS www.broseautoplex.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.