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2001-2004 ARCHIVES
2005 ARCHIVES
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News Headlines
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
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Love Lights a Tree Launches Third Annual McKenzie Hometown
Christmas |
The Rebel Singers deliver a high-energy, fun holiday
performance to open McKenzie's Hometown Christmas.
The flick of a switch lit the Christmas tree in Downtown
Veteran's Memorial Park Friday to commence the third annual
McKenzie's Hometown Christmas celebration. Will McBride, the
five-year-old son of County Mayor Kenny and Becky McBride,
was given the honor of lighting the tree in the "Love Lights
a Tree" ritual that was symbolic of lights honoring and
memorializing victims of cancer. Opening ceremonies were
marked by the comments of Relay for Life Chairman Kay Wood,
Mayor Walter Winchester, and Lions Club President Elizabeth
Check.
"This is a wonderful celebration and we're very pleased to
be able to present it," said Check, who mentioned the event
was conceived by Lion Club member Herb New.
Woods introduced 2006 honorary co-chair Gail Robb and, in
absentia, Eddie Lankford. She also presented a large,
crystal community trophy in honor of Carroll North's
contributions to the $300,000 county-wide fundraising total
that made the county number one in state and country among
similarly sized counties.
Relay for Life co-chair Kay Wood dedicates to the community
a trophy signifying Carroll North's contribution to the
county's designation as number one in state and the nation.
The main attraction of the evening was the enthusiastic and
talent-filled performance of McKenzie's young entertainers,
the McKenzie Elementary School Rebel Singers, directed by
Pat Forgy. Winchester presented a plaque to the group in
thanks and commemoration of their holiday performance, which
included three patriotic selections--a reminder that the
soldiers of the town's 230th engineer battalion, Company A,
are due home this month--plus several entertaining Christmas
tunes including a medley of Winter Fantasy and Jingle Bells,
Do You Hear What I Hear, and other selections.
"You were great again," Winchester told the children. "I
appreciate Ms. Forgy bringing you out."
Mayor Walter Winchester presents to music director Pat Forgy
and the Rebel Singers a plaque commemorating their
outstanding performance.
The 5:30 p.m. event marked the beginning of a weekend full
of activities including a carnival, concessions,
entertainment, home and historic Presbyterian USA church
tours, Shriner's train rides, horse drawn carriage rides,
science activities, parades and more, plus several Christmas
concert performances by Renaissance, Bethel's performance
experience.
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Families Readying for Guardsmen's Return
Community-wide Celebration Set for January 7 |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
The McKenzie Family Readiness Group (FRG) in support of
Tennessee National Guard Company A, 230th Engineers, who
have been serving in the war in Iraq since January, are
readying for their loved ones to return home.
On Tuesday morning, the local armory received word that the
majority of the battalion will be returning to Ft. Sill,
Oklahoma by the end of the week.
In an email letter to families and friends from commanding
officer Lee E. Tafanelli, he wrote, "We officially
transferred the authority of our mission here in Iraq during
a ceremony conducted on Sunday, December 4. It is a great
feeling to have successfully completed our mission in Iraq.
The soldiers of the 891st and A/230 had an outstanding year
and accomplished all assigned missions with pride and
distinction. It is now time to focus our attention to
returning back to Ft. Sill for redeployment and ultimately
back home to our families."
The soldiers that are returning to Ft. Sill by the end of
this week are currently scheduled to arrive on two aircrafts
within 24 hours of each other. Once the plane arrives,
soldiers will turn in weapons and sensitive items and complete
business that requires immediate attention. When this is
complete, soldiers will be transported to Rhinehart gym for
a "welcome back" party.
Family members who wish to do so may visit with the
returning soldiers in Oklahoma during a pass each soldier
will receive. Soldiers arriving on the first flight will be
placed on a pass beginning at 8:00 a.m. Friday, December 9
and return to duty Monday, December 12 at 2:00 p.m. Soldiers
arriving on the second flight will follow the same process
and will be placed on pass sometime Saturday morning,
December 10, and return to duty Tuesday, December 13, at 2:00
p.m.
While on pass, soldiers will be restricted to a 60-mile
radius of the Ft. Sill and the Lawton area.
"Once the pass is over, I would ask that families allow us
to focus on the many redeployment tasks that need to be
accomplished," wrote Tafanelli. "We need the soldiers
focused in order to get through this process as quickly as
possible and make our final journey back to our units and
homes in Kansas and Tennessee. These are still tentative
plans and the schedule could change."
Tonya Brown said FRG met Sunday at the local armory to
discuss plans for the soldiers' return.
The soldiers will depart Fort Sill via air travel on a date
to be announced. Upon arriving in Tennessee, the guardsmen
will travel by bus first to Milan, where guardsmen from that
unit will be reunited with family. The remainder will then
travel to the McKenzie High School parking lot where they will
be reunited with family members.
Only family members of military personnel will be allowed
into the parking lot to ensure ample parking for family
members. All family members desiring entry into the MHS
parking lot should contact Sgt. Stephanie Walker at National
Guard headquarters in McKenzie, 731-352-2431, to have their
names added to a roster, if they have not already done so.
Military identification cards have been issued and only
those names on the roster will be allowed to enter.
The community is invited to greet the soldiers along the
travel route, which is expected to be north on Highway 79
before turning onto Highway 22, according to Brown.
Once the date of return to McKenzie is announced, McKenzie
High School students are being asked to carpool when
possible to provide additional parking space.
Commander John Leonard has announced the date for a
community-wide celebration for the soldiers has been set for
Saturday, January 7. The time and location will be announced
at a later date.
Arriving in McKenzie, guardsmen will be dismissed from duty
until the following day, when they will report to the armory
for reverse SRP, a process of updating military records and
return of duty.
Unfortunately, due to deadlines, the print version of the
newspaper may not be able to offer timely information about
the troops' arrival, especially on short notice. The Family
Readiness Group is organizing a community-wide phone tree to
notify the community of the troops' arrival. To be added to
the phone tree, please contact Tonya Brown by emailing her
at browt10@k12tn.net
Persons wishing to donate funds to the community-wide
celebration is asked to support the upcoming barbecue
chicken fundraiser at McKenzie VFW Post 4939 on Friday,
December 9, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or send donations to
Family Readiness Group, c/o Tonya Brown, 1835 Herrondale
West, Henry, TN 38231. The meal includes barbecue chicken,
beans, slaw and dessert for $5.00. Patrons may eat in or
take out.
The FRG is also selling weatherproof yard signs reading
"Welcome Home 230th Engineers" for $10 each. All proceeds go
to the FRG to help fund a homecoming celebration.
Tickets and signs are available at McKenzie Banner, Stafford
Real Estate, or at the McKenzie VFW during the chicken
fundraiser. Tickets for the fundraiser are also available at
McKenzie National Guard Armory.
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Curtis Dies From Fire Injuries |
Firefighters battle the blaze at Mack
Curtis' home on David Street.
MCKENZIE - William Mack Curtis died Saturday, December 3 at
Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville after sustaining burns
in a fire Friday at his David Street home.
According to McKenzie Fire Department Assistant Chief Roger
Christian, the department responded to the frame residential
structure at 1:11 a.m. after being alerted by McKenzie
Policeman Chad Davis. According to Christian, Officer Davis
was patrolling in the hospital area when he noticed an
orange glow in the sky near David Street. Davis alerted MPD
dispatch of the situation. Davis reportedly found the
severely burned Curtis just outside the house and dragged
him away from the burning structure.
McKenzie Regional Emergency Medical Services responded to
the scene and requested an air ambulance. Curtis was flown
to Vanderbilt for treatment of his burns.
Christian said MFD responded with two pumpers, support
vehicles, and 22 firefighters to battle the fully engulfed
structure. Firefighters remained on the scene until 4:37
a.m. The origin of the fire is under investigation, said
Christian.
Funeral services for Mr. Curtis are scheduled for Wednesday
at McKenzie Funeral Home.
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County Targets School Safety Issues |
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The Carroll County Board of Education has implemented two
new services for students in Carroll County. One new service
will allow citizens to log onto any computer and receive news
on weather related school closings in Carroll County. The
other service will allow students to anonymously report any
activity which might affect school safety.
In winter, schools are often cancelled for inclement weather.
Families need to know about closures in time to make
arrangements for children who may need daycare or other
provisions. In addition to announcements on radio and
television stations, students may visit the Web site for
updated weather related school closings. Visit
www.carrollschools.com and click on weather related closings
for the latest.
Another service targets school safety. Studies show that
school violence is often prevented by giving students an
opportunity to anonymously report dangerous activities, plots,
or weapons. Students or other individuals may report anything
which may affect school safety anywhere in Carroll County by
visiting www.carrollschools.com and clicking on Safety Related
Comments. Visits to this link are completely anonymous and
cannot be traced. In order for the comment to reach the proper
hands, individuals should report the name of the school where
the safety issue may occur.
"We hope that we can make your days safer and more convenient
by the addition of these two services," said Charlotte Tucker,
Carroll County director of schools. |
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Special Agent McClure Receives
Recognition Award |
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Special Agent Steve McClure is
awarded an award by the National Society of Professional
Insurance Investigators for his assistance in prosecuting and
deterring the crime of arson. Nashville- Tennessee Bomb and Arson Special Agent Steven
McClure received an award from the National Society of
Professional Insurance Investigators in recognition of his
skill, dedication, honesty and integrity in prosecuting and
deterring the crime of arson on November 14.
McClure, a native of Huntington, has been with
the state's bomb and arson investigation section since
January 1999 and is a member of the Bomb and Arson Special
Operations Response Team (SORT). Prior to being with the
state, he was an Investigator with the Huntington Police
Department.
McClure is a special agent 3, and continues to be one of the
bomb and arson section's top agents. Last year alone, he
made 32 arrests in explosive and arson cases.
"We are extremely proud of Special Agent McClure. He is an
outstanding agent who never leaves any stone unturned during
investigations," said Jerry Rudden, director of the bomb and
arson section. "His investigative abilities and never stop
tenacity make him a very successful investigator for this
agency."
During McClure's time with the bomb and arson section, he
has been appointed to several different federal task forces
due to his highly respected investigative abilities and
professional demeanor. He has also been assigned across the
state to help on difficult case investigations.
"Special Agent McClure has a tireless work ethic and is well
deserving of this recognition. He is a credit to the
Department and an asset to the citizens of Tennessee," said
Paula A. Flowers, commissioner for the Department of
Commerce and Insurance and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal.
"He is representative of the work of all the special agents
in bomb and arson."
The bomb and arson section has the responsibility to enforce
the Tennessee laws that pertain to arson and/or the illegal
use of explosives and to investigate violations of law where
a bomb or arson is used in conjunction with other
violations. The section supports 91 rural counties from
three field offices located in Jackson, Nashville and
Knoxville. All bomb and arson special agents are trained in
fire and explosion investigation as well as certified in
hazmat operations and safe response to meth labs. |
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