|
2001-2004 ARCHIVES
2005 ARCHIVES
|
News Headlines
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
|
Family of Four Die in Gleason House Fire |
|
By Linda Bolton and Joel Washburn |
An extension cord lighting
the family Christmas tree may have been the culprit that
started a fire that killed a family of four in this home
Monday night.
A family of four died in a late night Monday house fire in
Gleason, which also resulted in injuries to rescue personnel
at the scene, according to Jerry Connell, Gleason Fire
Chief.
Joe Craig Stafford, his wife, Denise, and children Jerri Lynn
and Colton all perished in the blaze at 1205 East Grove
Road, which is just off Highway 22 between Gleason and
McKenzie.
Craig and Denise were reportedly in their late 30s or early
40s. Jerri Lynn, 16, was a freshman at Gleason High School.
Colton was nine years old, said Connell.
Alan Damesworth of Gleason was returning home from work at
Norandal in Huntingdon and traveling on Highway 22 when he
noticed a "wall of fire" and called 911 at approximately
11:30 p.m., said Connell.
Approximately 30 Gleason firefighters arrived on the scene
moments later and found the front portion of the house in
flames. Firefighters were able to quickly remove the victims
from the house. All four died from smoke inhalation, said
Connell.
Gleason received mutual aid from McKenzie Fire Department,
who responded with a tanker and Dresden Fire Department, who
arrived with an additional pumper. Gleason Police
Department, Weakley County Sheriff's Department, Weakley
County Rescue Squad, Weakley County Ambulance Service, and
McKenzie Regional EMS also responded to the scene. An Air
Evac Lifeteam responded and remained on standby at the
scene.
Among those injured battling the blaze in an attempt to
rescue the family was Gleason firefighter Keith Sumner, who
was overcome by thick smoke because his mask wasn't sealed
properly. Sumner was transported by ambulance to McKenzie
Regional Hospital where he was admitted overnight for
observation. Also injured was Gleason Police Officer Jeff
Hazelwood, who was treated at the scene for smoke
inhalation.
State Fire Marshal Investigator Ron Powers of the Tennessee
Bomb and Arson Agency was summoned to investigate the blaze
and determined it to be of electrical origin. The fire was
believed to have started because of an overloaded electrical
circuit in the area around a Christmas tree, which was
located near the home's front living room window. Connell
stated the extension cord to the tree apparently overheated
and caught fire. Damage was contained to the front of the
home.
The Staffords had another son, Matt Stafford, who is
stationed at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.
Craig was reportedly an employee of Gene Langley Ford in
Humboldt. He is survived by his mother Shirley Stafford, and
a brother Mark Stafford, both of Gleason.
|
|
Buena Vista Woman Killed in Head-On Collision |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON: A Buena Vista woman was killed and two Buena
Vista men were injured during a head-on collision Saturday
afternoon approximately five miles from Huntingdon on Buena
Vista Road, according to Trooper Michael Sullivan of the
Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Jo Ellen Kee, 43, was killed instantly in the county's
second fatal accident in two weeks. Carroll County Coroner
Steve Cantrell pronounced the victim dead at 5:10 p.m. as
the result of multiple internal injuries.
Kee, who would have been 44 Tuesday, was a former resident
of McKenzie.
The accident occurred at 4:30 p.m. when the 1986 Chevrolet
Kee was driving west was struck head-on by a 1989 Pontiac,
driven by Earlie H. Selph, Jr., 48, of 925 Ball Creek Road.
Selph's vehicle crossed the center line near 6180 Buena
Vista Road, according to Sullivan. The collision rotated
Kee's vehicle and it came to rest facing east in the
westbound lane. Selph came to rest facing east in the
eastbound lane.
Jo Ellen Kee of Buena Vista was killed instantly when her
1986 Chevrolet Nova was struck head-on near Huntingdon.
Earlie Selph Jr. and Elvis Hampton, both of Buena Vista, had
to be extricated from the 1989 Pontiac in which they were
riding.
Carroll County Rescue Squad and McKenzie Fire and Rescue
Team were called to the scene to extricate Selph and a
passenger in his vehicle, Elvis Hampton, 53. Both were
transported by ambulance to Huntingdon High School parking
lot and then airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in
Nashville, according to Sullivan.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team
was summoned to the scene to reconstruct and investigate the
accident
No one in either vehicle was wearing seat belts, which the
trooper believed would have made a difference.
Hampton was reportedly treated and released, while Selph
remained hospitalized Monday in stable condition, according
to Carol Bartoo, a spokesperson at Vanderbilt Medical
Center.
Cantrell ordered that Kee's body be taken to the Tennessee
Medical Examiner's Office in Nashville for autopsy.
Sullivan noted troopers found evidence of alcohol in Selph's
car and a blood alcohol test was ordered at the hospital.
That evidence has been sent to the T.B.I Crime Lab said
Sullivan. No charges have been filed pending review of
evidence by the Carroll County District Attorney General's
office, Sullivan said.
Mercer Funeral Home in Jackson will be in charge of Kee's
funeral arrangements.
|
|
McKenzie Council Approves Well Ordinance |
|
An ordinance prohibiting the drilling of private wells was
approved on first reading Thursday, December 8, in a regular
session of the McKenzie Board of Mayor and Council.
The issue had been continued from October 27 following the
protest of council member Jill Holland who had said
citizens' rights were being infringed upon by their
exclusion in the decision-making process.
The original ordinance was amended to read, "Upon
application to and approval from the McKenzie Water
Commission, wells may be dug in agricultural zones (UAG -
urband agriculture) for geothermal heating applications and
other irrigation uses. All approved new wells must also meet
state and local requirements (regulations).
Council members noted properties annexed following the
passage of the ordinance would not be subject to the
requirement to connect to city services unless their well
failed, and that repair of well pumps would not constitute
failure.
Water Department Superintendent Tim Waldrup said his
department inspects residences with wells periodically to
ensure there is no cross-connections between city water
sources and private wells.
In other business, bids for the provision and installation
of ball field lighting were opened and referred for
consideration to a committee composed of Winchester, Hale,
Parks and Recreation Director Ricky French, and Parks and
Recreation liaison Jill Holland. The committee is expected
to make recommendation at the next regular meeting on
December 22.
The lowest bid, submitted by Reynolds Electrical Contractors
of Dickson, was for $44,800. Winchester cautioned that only
$30,000 remains of grant money earmarked for the project.
Other bids were: City Sign Contractors of Jackson - $45,979;
Lawrence Electric Company of Jackson - $84,195.50; and
Knight Electric Company of Russellville, Ky. - $57,260.
The council approved a donation of $250, on the
recommendation of Vice-mayor Gene Hale, as a contribution
for the welcome home celebration planned by the family
readiness group, for soldiers of McKenzie's Co. A, 230th
Engineer Battalion, who are returning home from Iraq.
"When the guard left McKenzie everybody was trying to be
helpful, making donations for their departure. The city of
McKenzie never had to make a donation," said Winchester in
asking the council to consider the issue. Hale noted $250
was half of the funds remaining in the donation budget, none
of which was allotted to other causes.
In other business the council:
Approved a resolution memorializing the late Virginia Claire
Edwards (see separate article);
Planned a work session Tuesday, January 10 at 5:00 p.m. to
hear recommendations from the Park and Recreation Advisory
Board concerning possible grant applications;
Approved on first reading an ordinance amending a section of
the zoning map, encompassing the region adjacent to Lawrence
Street and U.S. Route 79, from planned business to B-2,
highway business;
Approved the reappointments of John Baumgardner, Bob
Rutledge, and Wallace Todd to the Industrial Board and
Kenneth Hopper to the water board;
Approved the new appointment of Ed Dillon to the planning
commission. Winchester said Dillon moved to the community
about five years ago and that he is retired from North
Arizona University and that he is an active member of the
Rotary Club;
Approved the appointments of Rick Fowler, Tracy Webb, and
Mike Holt to the Park and Recreation Advisory Board.
Heard Hale request prayers for the family of police officer
Jackie Sykes, whose daughter was severely burned recently
and remains hospitalized.
Heard council member Darra Adkins commend police officers
Andy Weaver and Chad Davis for assisting members of the fire
department in the recent, catastrophic fire at the residence
of Mack Curtis, who died from injuries incurred in the
blaze. Adkins said the officers arrived before the fire
trucks and helped move Curtis further away from the fire.
She also reported more than 240 fire and rescue calls
through December 8 as compared to 170 last year.
Members of the Board of Water Commissioners, meeting in
regular session just prior to the meeting of the city
council, noted no change in the number of residents
connecting to city water services following the extension of
city water along Highway 436 and Mary Grace Lane following
the discovery of contamination in private water wells.
Winchester said representatives of the Tennessee Department
of Environment and Conservation planned to visit two
residents with contaminated wells who had previously opted
to maintain use of the wells as their basic water source, in
order to encourage them to rethink their position.
Commissioner Joe Stewart commended members of the Water
Department for their work in repairing leaks downtown
recently and on McDonald Street. He noted that repairing
water lines on roadways is dangerous work. Waldrup accepted
the praise and gratitude, saying, "We thank you." |
|
Huntingdon Approves $1.5 Million High School Renovation |
|
HUNTINGDON - Huntingdon School Board approved a $1.5
million renovation project for the 25-year old high school.
During the 7:00 a.m. meeting Monday, the school board amended
the budget to proceed with the project three years in the
making.
Director of Schools Lynn Twyman said the project includes
new offices for the principal and assistant principal, eight
new classrooms, and new restrooms. The administrative offices
will be constructed on the front of the building and the old
offices will be converted to a suite for the guidance
department. Classrooms and restrooms will be constructed on
the rear of the building and columns will be added to the
front of the building.
Kaatz, Binkley and Morris architects have designed the
renovation. The school director will serve as the project
manager. Twyman estimates the project will take one year to
complete once drawings are approved by the fire marshal.
A major renovation three years ago was scrapped due to the
high cost of construction. That plan included a new cafeteria
and food preparation area in addition to classrooms and new
offices.
Twyman said the approved plan gives everyone a little
breathing room. Funding of the project will come from reserve
funds, not a tax increase, said the director. |
|
|
Banner Photos |
|
Click the Photo Reprints button to buy reprints
of almost any photo in The McKenzie Banner print edition.
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTS
70 year fade life
35 mm quality
Photos are mailed directly to you. Don't see what
you're looking for? Give us a call at 731-352-3323. |
|
