Vol. 116, No. 293 • Corinth, Mississippi • 24 pages • Two sections Wednesday Dec. 5, 2012 50 cents Today 63 Mostly sunny Tonight 44 Index On this day in history 150 years ago Col. John S. Griffith, commander of the Texas Cavalry Brigade, and five of his senior officers petition Lt. Gen. Pemberton in Jackson to au- thorize a cavalry raid against Holly Springs. They insist the only offi- cer suitable for leading such an expedition is Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn. Stocks...... 7A Classified...... 6B Comics...... 5B Wisdom...... 3B Weather...... 5A Obituaries...... 3A Opinion...... 4A Sports...... 8A 20% chance p.m. rain 2012 Christmas Basket Fund “A Community Tradition” 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 news- paper have set a $20,000 community fundraising goal this year so 1,000 food bas- kets can be given away to local families on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the Crossroads Arena. The total now stands at $3,740 meaning $16,260 still needs to be raised from the community as there will be no corporate match this year. Recent donations include $100 from Bernice Sandy in memory of Mike Sandy Basket fund nears $4,000 Please see BASKET | 2A The best and brightest at the Alcorn Career and Technol- ogy Center have been inducted into a prestigious national or- ganization. The school held its fifteenth annual National Technical Honor Society Induction on Monday at the Hampton Inn conference room. NTHS membership is Amer- ica’s highest award in work- force education. Students in- ducted into membership must have their instructor’s recom- mendation and vocational administration approval, an A average in their vocational class and a 90 or above over- all average. They must also demonstrate qualities of lead- ership, responsibility, good at- tendance and good character, and be active members of their student organization. The Alcorn Career and Tech- nology Center maintains its NTHS organization for several key reasons, explained Jenni- fer Koon, counselor and NTHS co-sponsor. “We want to reward excel- lence in career and technical education as we strive to de- velop self-esteem and pride — and encourage all our stu- dents to reach for higher levels of achievement,” said Koon. “It is important we promote business and industry’s critical Vo-Tech inducts top students BY BOBBY J. SMITH [email protected]Please see VO-TECH | 2A Corinth aldermen on Tues- day declined to elaborate on their intentions regarding any possible restrictions on liquor sales in response to questions from the United Drys group. The meeting also included Fire Chief Rob Price’s an- nouncement of his retirement effective Dec. 26. Rodney Whittemore, speak- ing on behalf of the liquor opponents, said people have many questions about what may happen after the Dec. 11 city-only vote on the sale of al- coholic beverages in Corinth. “Number one that has been asked by a lot of people: What is your intentions if and when the liquor referendum is passed as far as how it’s go- ing to be sold? One other time when beer was voted on in Al- corn County, it was to be sold hot in stores only,” he said. “That lasted about a month. Are we going to have Old West style saloons? Are we going to have dance halls? The people don’t really know.” The law gives the Board of Mayor and Aldermen the au- thority to exclude package stores, limiting liquor sales to by-the-drink only in restau- rants, and Ward 1 Alderman Andrew Labas said an attor- ney for the Alcoholic Bever- age Commission has indicated that it is his opinion the city will also have the authority to restrict hours of sale at pack- age stores and restaurants. But several members of the board said now is not the time for those determinations. “I think it’s premature to United Drys seek answers BY JEBB JOHNSTON [email protected]Please see BOARD | 2A “A little child shall lead them.” The simple and humble verse is found in Isaiah 11:6. First Presbyterian Church is set to let over 90 children tell the rest of the story. Young- sters will guide the community along the path of what Christ- mas is all about. “Christmas ALIVE: A Living Christmas Experience” is back for a second year at the church on Shiloh Road. The all-live scenes — with children age kindergarten through sixth grade serving as narrators -- will take the public through the events leading up to the birth of Jesus on Dec. 14-15 from 5-8 p.m. “Our greatest blessing is what God can do through chil- dren,” said co-director Kim- berly Grantham. “The children are so excited and understood the impor- tance of helping the commu- nity understand the Christmas experience.” Grantham and husband/ co-director, Brett, came up the idea of telling the birth of Jesus through children after praying for God's guidance in coming up with a new way for Children will bring Christmas ‘Alive’ BY STEVE BEAVERS [email protected]Staff photo by Steve Beavers Christmas ALIVE co-director Kimberly Grantham gets a sign ready for the live nativity to be held Dec. 14-15 at First Presbyterian Church. Please see ALIVE | 2A The following are the remain- der of guilty pleas and sentenc- es handed down during the No- vember term of Alcorn County Circuit Court: ■ Steven Matthews, 46, pos- session of cocaine — Eight-year suspended sentence with five years of probation and $1,000 fine ■ Channing Westmoreland, 21, burglary and larceny of a building — Five years probation and $1,000 fine plus restitution of $140 ■ Jeremy Shane Null, 28, possession of two or more pre- cursors — Ten-year suspended sentence; five years probation; $1,000 fine ■ Theodore A. Watson, 43, grand larceny — Ten-year sus- pended sentence; five years probation; $1,000 fine ■ Linda Carol Stacy, 37, felo- ny shoplifting — Five-year sus- pended sentence and $1,000 fine ■ Rex Leroy Parker, 58, fon- dling — Sentencing deferred to a later date ■ Carlotta Murrell, 32, break- ing and entering of dwelling — Fifteen-year sentence with 10 years suspended, leaving five to serve; five years of probation; $1,000 fine ■ Nathan Lee Shelton, 26, possession of two or more pre- cursors — Ten-year suspended sentence; five years of proba- tion; $1,000 fine ■ Jeremy Keith Little, 37, possession of oxycodone, less than 10 dosage units, and sale, transport or distribution of bu- prenorphine — Ten-year sus- pended sentence with one year of house arrest and five years of probation; $1,000 fine; 10- year suspended sentence on buprenorphine charge ■ Anthony Allen Tippen, 37, simple assault on police offi- cer — Five-year sentence with two suspended, leaving three to Alcorn circuit court hands down sentences BY JEBB JOHNSTON [email protected]Please see PLEAS | 3A Young Maketa Kennedy got her chance. The three year-old has been infatuated with the Red Kettle Campaign of the Salvation Army. Since a bellringer let the youngster try the bell last year, Kennedy has wanted to help in the collection of funds for the needy. “She saved her money last year and we made a special trip to Walmart for her to put it in the kettle,” said her mother, Jennifer Kennedy. Maketa was stationed outside Walmart Saturday, this time ringing her own bell for two hours. The youngster collected over $112 during the two hours. “She decided she wanted to do it after seeing it on WREG- TV,” said her mother. “She told me she wanted to ring that 'red bucket bell'.” “She is the youngest ringer we have had,” said Salvation Army Director Michelle Miles, who was contacted by Jennifer Kennedy about the idea. “I was told she was really hamming it up Saturday.” The traditional red kettle is an integral part of the Christ- mas scene, with millions of dol- lars donated each year to aid needy families, seniors, and the homeless, in keeping with the Salvation Army welcomes 3-year-old bellringer BY STEVE BEAVERS [email protected]Staff photo by Steve Beavers Maketa Kennedy, 3, collected more than $112 in just two hours for the Salvation Army as a bellringer during the agency's Red Kettle Campaign on Saturday. Please see BELLRINGER | 3A Daily Corinthian Call Donna or Brandi for complete details and rates! 286.6006 BROSE HWY 72 E • Corinth MS www.broseautoplex.com Now Renting 2012 Nissans!
