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Click here to vote on the biggest stories of the year
Looking back on 2008: Recap of
notable Crossroads area events
Two-part series published Friday, Dec. 26 & Saturday, Dec. 27
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
Here's a look at some of the notable headlines in the Crossroads in 2008:
January
There's a new sheriff in town: Charles Rinehart takes the oath of office for the new term in county government as he replaces longtime sheriff Jimmy Taylor. Other new officials sworn in are Bobby Marolt, chancery clerk; Stacy Suggs, superintendent of education; Jeff Patterson, district 2 supervisor; Jeff Rencher, district 3 supervisor; and Jimmy Tate Waldon, district 5 supervisor.
Daniel Cassady of Athens, Ala., dies in a fiery collision of tractor trailers at the notoriously dangerous intersection of U.S. Highway 72 and Central School Road. His truck slammed into the rear of a Peterbilt pulling a tanker containing 5,000 gallons of a chlorine-based acid.
A tornado that touches down near the Tishomingo County landfill leaves F0 to F1 wind damage from 2 miles south-southwest of Midway to 5 miles south of Iuka.
The Tennessee Valley Authority approves the Corinth Public Utilities Commission's plan to tap the Tenn-Tom Waterway as a surface water supply.
Junior Morgan exits after 13 years as building inspector for Corinth. Aqua Glass, McNairy County's largest employer, lays off 110 workers. Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers announces that he will run for the open congressional seat vacated by Roger Wicker.
February
Prosecutors pursue an insanity defense for K.D. Sanders in the 22-year old murder case of his grandparents, who were attacked in their Goat Island cabin. The Lafayette County jury fails to reach a verdict in an 11-1 stalemate. "Super Tuesday" primary voting in many states is accompanied by a massive tornado outbreak. Locally, the worst damage occurs in the Union Center and Eastview, Tenn., areas, as an F-1 tornado moves through Tippah, Alcorn and McNairy counties.
Gary Chandler is named president of The Alliance. He follows longtime Alliance leader Charles Gulotta.
Local governments finalize significant legwork for the regional jail, completing a land transfer from the city to the county and reaching an agreement for the city to lease space and house inmates in the county's portion of the facility.
Corinth hires Philip Verdung as building inspector.
Robert Davis and Billy Don Hamm are elected to fill vacancies on the Burnsville Board of Aldermen.
Work begins in earnest on The Cancer Center at Magnolia.
March
A woman is attacked with a barbecue fork in an assault at a North Parkway apartment complex.
Helen L. Appleby, 29, of Burnsville, dies in a one-vehicle crash on Farmington Road when her vehicle goes off the road and strikes a fire hydrant.
Corinth gets its biggest snow in several years as an overnight winter storm dumps 3 to 4 inches across Alcorn County.
David Lutz is elected to a vacancy on the Farmington Board of Aldermen.
Hillary Clinton wins big in the Democratic presidential primary in Alcorn and neighboring counties, although Barack Obama carries the state. Facing a major financial crisis, the Alcorn School District announces district-wide staff reductions.
Dragster Troy Critchley is indicted on six counts of vehicular homicide due to recklessness stemming from the deadly Cars for Kids accident in Selmer, Tenn., in 2007.
Citing health, Wilson Busby resigns from the Alcorn School District Board of Education. He dies a few weeks later.
Robert Blankenship becomes editor for the Daily Corinthian, succeeding Mark Boehler, who departs after 13 years.
Some of Corinth's best examples of earthworks fortifications at the Burns historic site are opened to public tours.
The National Park Service assumes management duties of historic sites acquired by the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission ahead of the formal land transfer later in the year.
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April
Booneville's ACCO Brands Corporation celebrates a $55 million expansion which creates 330 jobs.
Tony Wesley Bowden, 27, of Rienzi, dies in a crash on Shiloh Road in Corinth after fleeing a Farmington police checkpoint.
Prentiss County officials raid a dog fighting operation at Hills Chapel and charge 23 people from Prentiss and surrounding areas.
A shotgun is fired into Farmington Town Hall; no one is injured.
Officials announce that the Northeast Mississippi Emergency Shelter for Children is closing after more than 25 years due to changes by the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
A massive fire breaks out in an enormous debris pile behind Colonial Design at Kossuth; smoke is visible from Corinth.
The former Corinth municipal judge of 29 years, James P. Dean, dies at age 74.
May
Shirley McClamroch is named Main Street Corinth director, succeeding Susan Joiner.
Corinth earns recognition as a 2008 Preserve America Presidential Award winner.
Hal Dilworth is appointed to the vacant district 3 post on the county school board until the special election winner takes office.
Travis Childers of Booneville wins the special election for U.S. representative district 1. He follows Roger Wicker, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Trent Lott.
Corinth bans skateboarding in the historic preservation district.
The Corinth School District's proposed $12.8 million bond issue for construction of a new elementary school and improvements to the high school and junior high campuses gets overwhelming voter approval. The school district plans to close the West Corinth and South Corinth campuses.
The county's plans for a landfill on Forest School Road draws opposition from residents of the area. A petition effort emerges in June.
In the murder retrial of K.D. Sanders, a Lee County jury, after deliberating five hours, finds the former fugitive not guilty by reason of insanity on one count and guilty on the other in the death of his grandparents. He is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Corinth Board of Aldermen enacts a moratorium on the building of apartment duplexes in the older residential district in response to concerns about the number of apartments being built.
June
Kossuth eighth-grader Derrick Sheldon Ray, 13, dies in an ATV crash. The Alcorn School District seeks to ease financial woes by raising taxes by the greatest amount possible.
Hezzie Whitlock, 91, father of Tishomingo County Sheriff Glenn Whitlock and Tax Collector Paul Whitlock, is shot to death at his Iuka home. Officials charge Josh Vandiver with murder but are unable to identify a motive.
Four people are shot outside the American Legion building on South Tate where a private music event is being held. Less than a week later, two others are shot in events that police believe are connected.
Wallace Daniel Spencer, jailed by the sheriff's department in March, claims to be a serial killer. Police connect him to a 1985 murder in Quincy, Ill.July
Michael Boston resigns as shelter director for the Corinth-Alcorn Humane Society; no reason is publicly stated by Boston or the shelter. The Mississippi Court of Appeals upholds the depraved heart murder conviction of Rodarious Stewart in the 2004 shooting death of Tyler Gant Hamlin outside a Corinth party. David Bradley, 51, dies in a house fire near Meeks and Fourth streets.
Selmer's Liberty Building Systems says it will phase out operations in Selmer by Jan. 30, leaving 80 people out of work.
The Webster Street bridge, which had been closed to traffic in recent years because of deterioration, is removed.
Locals get a rare look inside the B.F. Liddon home as its doors are thrown open for an estate sale.
Andrea Rose is hired by The Alliance to head both Keep Corinth Beautiful and the Community Development Council programs.
Citing fuel costs, Corinth hikes garbage rates by $2.
Ronald N. "Putt" Hamlin dies in a one-vehicle crash apparently caused by a tire blowout on U.S. Highway 45.
Facing a petition signed by more than 2,000 people that could force a public vote, the Alcorn School District Board of Education raises taxes by 4 percent rather than 7 percent.
Matthew Wayne Rickman is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Lorica Rickman, 47, who is shot at 189 County Road 213 just outside Corinth.
Selmer's Capro announces it will close Oct. 1, ending 100 jobs.
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August
Gloria and Jimmy Long are sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the death of granddaughter Leah Madelyn Woods from a dose of Elavil, an antidepressant.
Drag racer Troy Critchley pleads guilty to 28 counts of misdemeanor reckless simple assault for his role in the Cars for Kids tragedy. The sentence suspends jail time, leaving him to serve probation.
TVA hikes rates 20 percent, citing fuel costs and related expenses. Kelly Gilson succeeds Dan Inouye as artistic director for Corinth Theatre-Arts.
Zoning variances are approved for a major expansion of Waldron Street Christian Church, which plans a new sanctuary and multi-purpose facility adjacent to its existing 1912 sanctuary, as well as renovation of the old Daily Corinthian building and a connecting bridge over Webster Street.
Michael "Mike" Cummings, 41, dies in a one-vehicle crash on Waukomis Lake Road after a possible vehicle malfunction.
September
Alcorn County raises property taxes by 3.3 mills to 98.9 mills.
Corinth asks the tourism office to take over funding of the Crossroads Museum.
Corinth condemns 17 properties as it tweaks its strategies for dealing with dilapidated homes and lots.
With gasoline prices approaching $4 per gallon, the threat of Hurricane Ike prompts a "gas panic" much like that of Hurricane Katrina threeyears earlier.
Farmington raises property taxes by 4.3 mills to 24.3 mills.
Selmer's Monogram Refrigeration lays off 56 workers.
Ripley voters approve a 2 percent tourism tax.
Mary Winkler, wife of slain minister Matthew Winkler, receives full custody of her children.
Fire destroys The Bargain Barn in Biggersville.
October
Retired Rienzi educator Martha "Jackie" Murphy is named to the Mississippi Board of Education.
Booneville auto supplier Parker-Hannifin announces it will close by the end of the year, leaving 150 out of work.
Keith Rinehart is elected mayor of Guys, Tenn.
A Corinth woman gets $240,000 in unclaimed funds from the state treasurer's office.
Franklin Dillon, 44, of Ramer, Tenn., dies in a logging accident on County Road 209 off Central School Road.
A potential loss of more than 200 jobs is avoided as Ayrshire Electronics acquires Corinth's ACT Electronics.
A shooting at E.S. Bishop Park ends in the death of Tarris Antonio Damron, 30, of Lyon Street.
A head-on collision on Mississippi Highway 15 claims the lives of J.W. Wilbanks, 71, and his wife, Rachel Wilbanks, 64, of Walnut. The northbound driver of the other vehicle was attempting to negotiate a pass of another vehicle.
Two mainstays of the tourism board -- Donna Stockton and Harry Montgomery -- exit.
Booneville's Heartland Building Products announces it ceased all business and production Oct. 25, leaving 140 out of work.
Corinth businessman and airport supporter Leroy Hopkins dies in a plane crash just outside Selmer, Tenn.
November
Two people -- Tammy Johnson and James Meteer -- where shot at a home in Biggersville. Johnson was severely wounded while Meteer died at the scene.
The alleged shooter, Jackie Johnson, fled the scene and was later discovered at Little Brown Cemetery in Prentiss County where he died of an apparent drug overdose.
The general election, with the presidential and other races, draws record voter turnout of 15,354. Carroll Morton and Randy Wilbanks are elected to the county school board, and Booneville's Travis Childers is elected to the first district U.S. House seat for the coming two-year term.
Mark Keenum, a 1979 Corinth High School graduate, is named president of Mississippi State University.
A head-on collision on South Tate Street takes the lives of Christine Demopoulos Carpenter, 49, of Booneville, and Curtiss Ray Carpenter, 53, of Booneville.
Justin Armstrong, 18, and Dylan Rowland, 16, both Kossuth High School students, die in a one-vehicle crash on County Road 617 in the Kossuth area. Jacob Jones, 16, survives.
Jeremy Young, 21, of Memphis, and Johnathan Glover, 26, of Holly Springs, are airlifted from a wreck scene after the vehicle fled a county traffic stop and traveled in the wrong lanes of U.S. Highway 45.
The owner of The Jewelry Box at 706 South Tate shoots and kills an intruder. No charges are filed.
David "Bubba" Pounds, 24, is elected chancery clerk in Prentiss County, filling the vacancy left by Travis Childers' run for congress.
December
Justin Scott Hill, 28, of North Parkway, is charged with manslaughter in the fatal Thanksgiving Day crash at U.S. Highway 45 and Henson Road. William C. Marion, 41, of Byhalia, died in the crash. Hill had fled Tennessee law enforcement.
Corinth enters an agreement with MEMA that will bring four additional storm warning sirens to the city.
Josh Crump, 21, of County Road 513, is charged with manslaughter in the death of John Jones Jr., 53, who was struck on the head with an object.
Despite announcing a massive round of store closings, Office Depot says its Corinth location will open March 23.
Toyota indefinitely halts construction of its Blue Springs plant. Booneville attorney Joey Langston gets the maximum sentence recommended by prosecutors after pleading guilty to trying to intervene in a lawsuit against well-known plaintiffs' lawyer Richard "Dickie" Scruggs.
Shirley McClamroch retires, leaving the position of Main Street Corinth director vacant. Alliance leaders decide to leave the position unfilled for at least a couple of months.
