dailycorinthian.com - North Mississippi's Local News Source

Boating accident
leads to drowning
Published Saturday, May 10
By Kenny Goode
The Banner-Independent
A boating accident in southern Prentiss County Thursday afternoon has claimed the life of a Baldwyn area man.
Melvin Ragin, 74, was fishing alone in a small aluminum boat on Burns Lake, located at 166 Bethany Road, west of Baldwyn.
Witnesses said the boat overturned with Ragin falling into the water. He was not wearing a life preserver, according to Prentiss County Deputy Coroner Eddie Barnett, who investigated the accidental drowning.
Several persons fishing along the shore witnessed the accident and Ragin was retrieved from the lake by Bobby Stubbs before medical personnel arrived on the scene.
Efforts to resuscitate the Baldwyn man were unsuccessful and he was airlifted to a Tupelo hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The incident was called in around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. Ragin was the father of Roy Ragin who is a deputy at the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department.
Thursday's fatality was the second in Prentiss County this week with a one-vehicle automobile accident on Tuesday near Cairo claiming the life of a Snowdown community man, Bobby Ray Tucker, 48. exciting new features were all

Industry bringing
jobs to McNairy
Published Saturday, May 10
By By Jeff York
For the Daily Corinthian
SELMER, Tenn. -- A new industry will be moving to Selmer from California this summer and should bring at least 80 jobs to McNairy County. This announcement is the second piece of positive economic news for the county this week.
"We are always happy to have a new company decide to make a decision to move to McNairy County," said Ted Moore, McNairy County's Economic Development coordinator. "This news gives us a little momentum to build on."
American Meat Equipment hopes to have their business in Selmer operating at full-force by September. The company makes the Butcher Boy brand of meat cutting equipment.
This new industry will be looking for a lot of machinists, welders, fabricators and those that will work in the shipping and receiving area of the company.
The nearest location is in Savannah and their number is 731-925-5095.

Creator of StrummWear
bracelet visiting Corinth
Published Saturday, May 10
By L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer
A unique new Mississippi fashion jewelry designer will be visiting Corinth today -- she is a growing success story and she is only 16-years old. Nicole Ballard of Madison, started StrummWear this year with a line of guitar string bracelets that are causing quite a stir. She will be appearing at Lipchic Boutique, located at 116 Fillmore Street, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. today.
Lipchic owner, Brenda Barbour, said she decided to feature Ballard in her store after a phone call from the young entrepreneur¹s mother. Ballard¹s mother had seen a Lipchic ad that ran in Mississippi Magazine and she wanted to talk to Barbour about having a trunk show featuring Ballard¹s bracelets.
³I love anything made in Mississippi and I was impressed. Nicole is not very well known yet, so I decided to have a Œmeet the designer¹ day,² said Barbour.
Ballard, according to her biographical information, has always had strong entrepreneurial instincts, having done things like a childhood coffee stand for neighborhood commuters, artsy photography and handmade fashion accessories.
The bracelets, called StrummWear, that she is becoming known for began last fall when she borrowed a guitar string and pick from her boyfriend with the intent of making a personal keepsake.
The primitive guitar string bracelet was a hit with her friends at school -- many of them asked how much she would charge to make one for them, too. Ballard has embraced a new genre known as ³music fashion.² The bracelets are handmade with genuine guitar and bass guitar strings and real guitar picks.
Customers can create their own unique design and express their individuality. The bracelets can come in a variety of string thickness, seven guitar string colors, four bass string colors and over 40 unique guitar picks make for hundreds of possibilities.
Even more than a new grass roots fashion trend, Ballard¹s company StrummWear -- has a Christian message. It is also a ministry. Every package that reaches customers¹ hands carries the following message -- ³The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the Lord.² (Isaiah 38:20.)
The StrummWear logo and every guitar pick charm carries their Trinity icon that represents the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. A portion of all profits are donated to Christian ministries.
The fact that the young designer¹s business is also a ministry, was another reason Barbour is so enthusiastic about Ballard.
Barbour noted that 10 percent of Ballard¹s fashion line that is sold at Lipchic, will be left in Corinth and donated by Ballard to the Women¹s Resource Center.
Ballard will be at LipChic Boutique from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Contact Brenda Barbour at 662-287-2954 for more information..

Tennessee River Run kicks off
Published Friday, May 9
By L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer
PICKWICK DAM, Tenn. -- Big goals and exciting new features were all part of the program at Darryl Worley's Tennessee River Run Kickoff Party. Now in its seventh year, Darryl Worley's Tennessee River Run will span two weekends instead of one -- making it more likely to reach the new monetary goals of the massive, charity fundraising event.
The higher reaching fundraising goal is to double the net profit of the annual event from $100,000 to $200,000, according to an announcement by Rendy Lovelady. Lovelady is half of Worley's new management duo that includes Lovelady and Tracy McGlocklin. Together they comprise RLM Management.
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Peru student earns degree
with help from local donors
Published Friday, May 9
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
As Samuel Vargas walked across the stage to receive his diploma from Mississippi State University Saturday, he took the final steps of a journey that began more than six years and 3,000 miles away when a young man from Peru dared to dream of a better life for himself and his family. Vargas, who still walks with a pronounced limp caused by a violent reaction to the polio vaccine at the age of two, says receiving his degree is proof that with dedication and support people can overcome the obstacles life puts in their path.
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Program helps kids deal with grief
Published Friday, May 9
By L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer
Children, ages 6-18, who have suffered loss in the form of death, divorce or any other separation from an important relationship, can now get the support they need to grieve.
Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor, Jaylene Whitehurst, M.Ed., offers help for suffering kids with the Children's Grief Support Group to be held at her HeARTwork Center for Creative Living.
The support group is a service Whitehurst is providing free of charge -- she said the work was literally a "work of the heart."
"Children's grief support has been a particular interest of mine for a long
time," said Whitehurst. "If we, as adults, can help children normalize grief and support them, so that throughout their lives, when bad things happen -- losses and disappointments -- they can grieve, feel it, and get support somewhere or connect with someone rather than turning to behaviors that only compound the problem. I think it helps kids to be less likely to turn to addictions with drugs, alcohol or sex as they become adults."
One of the goals Whitehurst wants to accomplish is to provide grief support -- within an atmosphere of safety -- to those young people who are experiencing loss.
Children need the safety to express those feelings because a child might suppress their feelings, but the feelings will not merely disappear. Whitehurst's intention is to keep the grief support groups divided in two
age categories -- 6-12 year olds and 13-18 year olds. She wants to keep the groups manageable and intimate and does not intend to have more than six children per group.
The 6-12 year olds will meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month from 4-5 p.m., and the 13-18 year olds will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 4-5:30 p.m.
The counselor asks that the adult having guardianship of the child (that is a parent or guardian) can request service by calling Jaylene Whitehurst at 662-808-0902 for details.
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Selmer's United Stainless
expands workforce
Published Thursday, May 8
By Jeff York
Special for Daily Corinthian
SELMER, Tenn. -- An opportunity to talk about positive news in economic development is a welcome relief for government officials in McNairy County.
United Stainless has announced plans to more than double their workforce at their tube manufacturing facility in Selmer. The expansion will create 55 new jobs and will increase their employees to around 100 at the Selmer facility.
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New director named
Published Thursday, May 8
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
Shirley McClamroch is moving to Main Street.
An advertising account executive since 1997, McClamroch has been hired as Main Street Corinth director by The Alliance and is set to begin work June 16. For about a month, she will learn the ropes of the job from outgoing director Susan Joiner, who leaves the post on July 15.
"What stood out when we were talking to Shirley was her passion for Corinth, her passion for downtown," said Alliance President Gary Chandler.
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County makes assault arrest
Published Thursday, May 8
Staff reports
A Ripley man has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly firing into a vehicle on U.S. Highway 72 West.
The Alcorn County Sheriff's Department was notified by E-911 of a report of a man being shot at while traveling on the highway near the Tippah County line.
Sheriff Charles Rinehart said in a statement that Jeffery McGee told deputies responding to the call he was westbound on the highway when another vehicle pulled up beside the 2005 Ford Explorer he was in and the driver shot three times at his vehicle.
An investigation by Sheriff's Department Investigator Jerry Rogers led to the arrest of Bradley Shane Rather of Ripley. He has been released after posting a $10,000 bond.
The sheriff said the shooting remains under investigation. Deputy Tony Davis responded to the initial call.
In a separate, unrelated case, the sheriff announced three people face drug charges following a traffic stop on Friday.
In a statement released by the sheriff, he said Laura A. Bevens, Michael Wallace and Michie Wallace have been arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance for allegedly being in the possession of cocaine.
Bevens has also been charged with two counts of prescription fraud and Christy Gilmer has been charged with one count of prescription fraud. Bond for Bevens was set at $9,000 and for the other three suspects at $3,000 and all remained in custody as of Wednesday afternoon. Holds had also been placed on Bevens and Michie Wallace by the Corinth Police Department.
The sheriff said the false prescriptions were passed in late April at Smith Drug Store in Rienzi.
A 1996 Mercury Cougar and a laptop computer allegedly used to make the false prescriptions were also seized during the arrest.
Sheriff's Department Narcotics Investigator Reggie Anderson is in charge of the investigation and Deputies Thomas, Wooten, Sexton and Mayhall assisted with the arrest.

Wreck claims life
Published Wednesday, May 7
By Kenny Goode
For the Daily Corinthian
A one-vehicle accident early Tuesday morning in Prentiss County on Highway 356 has claimed the life of a Tishomingo County man.
Bobby Ray Tucker, 48, of 26 CR 206, Tishomingo, died after his late model Ford vehicle apparently ran off the edge of the pavement, hit a culvert and flipped multiple times. Cause of the accident is still undetermined and under investigation.
Deputy Coroner Eddie Barnett said Tucker died at the accident scene of trauma injuries. Barnett said Tucker appeared to have been wearing his seatbelt and added family members said he had gone to a nearby store to purchase a soft drink.
The accident, which is being investigated by the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department and the Mississippi Highway Patrol, was timed at 7:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McMillan Funeral Home of Booneville.

Officials get look at new jail
Published Wednesday, May 7
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
Local officials got their first chance to review plans for the county's new regional jail and justice center on Tuesday as the process of refining and finalizing the design of the complex got underway.
Irb Benjamin with MCM Jail Development, Management and Consulting, spent much of Tuesday morning going over the design for each segment of the complex with the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors and the heads of each department to be housed there.
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AC students bringing classic musical to playhouse
Published Wednesday, May 7
By L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer
In an interesting twist to a high school musical, the Alcorn Central High School Drama Club will be joined by their school principal, Tim Cannon, as they present "Fiddler on the Roof."
The musical is set to be performed at Corinth Theatre-Arts' Crossroads Playhouse on May 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.
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Aldermen set stage for demo
Published Wednesday, May 7
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
Corinth aldermen on Tuesday set the stage for more property demolition and heard a presentation on the school bond issue. Public hearings were on the agenda for six properties -- 1417 Allen Street, 1415 Ross Street, 215 Pierce Street, 110 Johns Street, 500 Jobe Street and 412 Violet Street.
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Officials discuss
preservation of landmark
Published Tuesday, May 6
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
State officials visited Corinth Monday to see the serious deterioration problems at the Verandah-Curlee House Museum and to discuss a possible path to preservation for the National Historic Landmark.
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Supervisors discuss
landfill needs
Published Tuesday, May 6
By Brant Sappington
Staff Writer
Alcorn County supervisors are poised to move forward with planning for a new county rubbish landfill in preparation for the eventual replacement of the county's existing landfill.
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Efforts underway to clean up city
Published Tuesday, May 6
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer
The eradication of unwanted houses in the city is currently moving at a brisk pace as Corinth makes a renewed push on property clean-up.
Last week saw the removal of a burned-out duplex at 114 Penn Street, located about one block off of Cass.
Longtime neighbor Ed Walker said he is glad to see it go.
"They have been doing dope up in here," said Walker.
Problems continued at the property even after it was struck by fire, he said.
With no response from the property owner on the city's urgings to clean up, the lot was adjudicated by the Board of Aldermen and ordered to be cleaned.
Only an empty lot will remain, and the bill for the work will be added to the owner¹s property tax bill.
The Penn Street demolition follows recent removal of houses at 1003 and 1007 Johns Street and 811 Scale Street.
Voluntary demolitions combined with those ordered by the city will result in the removal of more than a dozen dilapidated houses as the city works through its current list of targeted properties.
"Property owners have torn down about four or five in this area," said Maddox. "People are tearing them down to sell the lots and rebuild on them. We're looking at probably 15 or 16 houses after we get through with this list that have come down this year."
Others that were on the list for imminent demolition were 100 Montgomery Street and 1417 Allen Street.
Properties expected to go after this week's Board of Aldermen meeting include 1415 Ross, 215 Pierce, 110 Johns, 500 Jobe and 412 Violet.
"There's still a lot of work to be done," said Maddox. "With any city, you're always going to have dilapidated property and grown-up lots."
Aiding the effort is a $10,000 revolving fund established by Corinth Alcorn Reaching for Excellence to help defray the city¹s expense in cleaning up lots. Up to one-third of the cost of a house demolition may be paid from the fund. When funds are recovered from property owners, the money is to be returned to the fund.
It can be years before that money is recovered, depending on when the tax bill gets paid. Overgrown lots and "junk cars" may also be targeted this year.