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News Headlines
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
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Toddler Dies after Being Struck By Car in Driveway |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
 CEDAR
GROVE - A 16-month old child died Wednesday as the result of
injuries sustained when she was struck by a vehicle at the
home of her grandparents in Cedar Grove.
Reagan Nicole Pace was pronounced dead by a coroner in
Memphis after being airlifted to LeBonheur Children's
Medical Center, according to Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy
Richard Crossno.
According to Crossno, several people were at the home of the
child's maternal grandparents, Darlene and John Adams, and
the child's aunt, Kristi Murphy, was leaving the Adams' home
at 135 Moss Creek Lane. The child got behind Murphy's Jeep
unnoticed and was struck as Murphy was backing into the
driveway before heading in the opposite direction, Crossno
said.
Emergency Medical Services personnel were summoned to the
home and transported the child by ambulance to an area a
short distance away near Hickory Flat Methodist Church,
where a Life Flight helicopter was able to land. The child
was airlifted to LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in
Memphis, where she died as the result of head injuries.
The child's mother, Stacy Cochran of Cedar Grove, was
reportedly at work at Fantastic Sam's in Jackson when the
accident occurred. The child's father, Michael Pace of Cedar
Grove, was at work at Golden Circle Pest Control, also in
Jackson.
Murphy, who is Stacy's sister, was so distraught over the
tragic accident that she fainted at the scene of the
accident and an ambulance was summoned to transport her to
Baptist Memorial Hospital in Huntingdon for medical
assistance, according to Crossno. She was reportedly treated
for shock and released.
No charges will be filed in connection with the incident,
which was ruled an accident by Carroll County Sheriff
Bendell Bartholomew, who arrived at the home following the
mishap along with several deputies.
Reagan was the only child of her parents and the youngest of
the Adams' three grandchildren.
She is also survived by her paternal grandparents, Beverly
Scott of Louisiana and Gary Scott of Cedar Grove; maternal
great-grandparents, Sam and Shirley O'Bryan of Cedar Grove
and paternal great-grandparents, Jessie and Lester Scott of
Cedar Grove.
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Chase Leads to Wreck Involving Sheriff's Department Car;
Suspect Injured |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
TREZEVANT - A Camden man faces numerous charges after he
evaded arrest and was involved in a collision with a Carroll
County deputy's vehicle in Trezevant Tuesday evening, June
7.
Roy E. Hood Jr., 24, of 115 Cherry Street, Camden, is
charged by the Tennessee Highway Patrol with driving under
the influence, driving on revoked license, violation of the
seat belt law, violation of the registration law, driving
left of center, and insurance violation. He is additionally
charged by Carroll County Sheriff's Department with felony
evading arrest, reckless endangerment, and aggravated
assault on a police officer.
The incident began when CCSO Deputies Tommy Decanter and
Mike Taylor were northbound on Highway 79 near Enon Church
when a southbound 1981 Chevrolet El Camino reportedly almost
struck Decanter's patrol vehicle head-on. Decanter initiated
emergency equipment, however, the driver of the other
vehicle, who was later identified as Hood, failed to stop.
The deputy notified dispatch and began pursuit on Highway 79
South toward Trezevant. Because of the reckless manner in
which the Hood car was being driven, the deputy was
concerned for the safety of vehicles encountering the
subject, the report stated. Taylor caught up with the
pursuit at the Wingo community and all vehicles were
reportedly traveling at estimated speeds of 45 m.p.h. to 60
m.p.h., the report stated.
Trezevant Police Chief David Smith was notified of the chase
and positioned spike strips in the roadway at Big Buck Road
and Highway 79 South. When Hood encountered the spikes,
three tires on his vehicle were deflated. However, he still
failed to stop and traveled another one-half to one mile,
where CCSO Deputy Mike Taylor positioned his squad car in
front of the fleeing car at the four-way stop. The Hood car
struck the 2002 Ford patrol car in the rear, disabling the
Hood vehicle. The impact caused moderate damage to the
patrol car, according to troopers Christopher Johnstone and
Michael Sullivan, who were called to the scene at 9:32 p.m.
to investigate the accident.
Hood, who was alone in the vehicle, was transported by
ambulance to McKenzie Regional Hospital, after he reportedly
told deputies he thought he had overdosed on pills and
apparently suffered a seizure, according to Trooper
Sullivan. He was later transferred to Jackson-Madison County
General Hospital. Deputy Taylor was not injured.
Trezevant Fire Department responded to the scene to assist
with traffic and fire safety.
The vehicle Hood was driving was owned by his roommate, J.D.
Heck of the same address in Camden, according to Sullivan.
D & D Wrecker Service was called to retrieve the Hood
vehicle and Kee's Wrecker Service retrieved the county
patrol vehicle.
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McKenzie Budget Approved, Tax Rate Secure |
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No new taxes were imposed in setting the fiscal year
2005-2006 McKenzie budget, which was approved on second and
final reading Thursday, June 9. Last year a quarter raise
brought the rate to $1.05 per $100 assessed value.
In other business the council approved the audit contract for
year ending June 30, 2005 and approved the opening of street
paving bids for the new fiscal year. Tennessee Asphalt
continued in the position. The Knoxville-based company was
sole bidder in May 2004 at $36.95 per ton in place. In the
current run, they were low bidder at $37.95 per ton, beating
Martin Paving, bidding at $43.60, and Arrow Paving of
Lexington, which bid $46.75. Tennessee Asphalt has a local
facility in Paris.
Mayor Walter Winchester congratulated everyone who took part
in Relay for Life the previous weekend. "All the people did a
great job for Relay; there was a huge turnout and a record
amount of money was raised," he said of the $100,000 effort.
Council member Darra Adkins reports the Fire and Rescue
Department was averaging 23 calls per month and said she
anticipated the year would bring more than last year's 200
calls. Firefighters spent 41 hours in drill time, including a
session during which all the hoses were tested. Chief Brian
Tucker said all passed the 200 psi/10 minute standard except
for seven sections, which represent 350 feet of 10,100 feet of
hose.
"Walnut Street is coming along," said council member Jerry
Arthur, who further noted improvements at Mulberry Park were
complete including dugouts and repair of bathrooms damaged by
vandals.
In a project that began in mid-March, the surface of Walnut
Street was removed to its concrete base and curbs and gutters
replaced prior to the application of an initial coat of
asphalt. Driveway entrances are currently being reworked to
accommodate the reduced street level. Sidewalk repair is
expected to be completed prior to the final application of
asphalt, which Winchester said would complete the project
within the next two weeks. |
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Gymnasium Makes Way for new Banking Facility |
By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
A long-planned banking facility for Farmers and Merchants Bank
will soon be under construction at the old Trezevant High
School site.
The last remnant of the old school, the gymnasium, is
presently in the process of being torn down, as well as the
old central office and maintenance buildings on the school
site. Jennifer Marcus noted that the construction process on
the new banking facility will include not only the local
banking offices, but also a central office for all of branch
banks owned by George Atwood and his family. Farmers and
Merchants has branches in McKenzie, Rutherford, Three-Way and
Bolivar.
A color rendering of the new facility will be available within
the next month.
Razing of the buildings will be completed by Dale Nelson and
Ronnie Cooper, local contractors. It is believed that when the
gymnasium was constructed, a great deal of debris from other
buildings was used beneath the site and if found, will be
removed as well.
The building has been planned for several years, but has been
stalled for lack of a suitable site. Atwood wanted the school
site for the past year, but found the West Carroll Special
School District board somewhat hesitant after members received
numerous calls from concerned citizens. The old gymnasium has
been used for a number of local events, including donkey
basketball, youth basketball games and a number of reunions,
etc. as well as the site for local voters to cast their
ballots in local, state and federal elections. Some of these
citizens were quite vocal with elected board members about
disposal of this structure. However, after discovering roof
damage which led to leakage on the gymnasium floor and walls
during heavy rains, the board reconsidered the Atwood offer
and decided to sell the land and buildings for $150,000.
The new two-story structure will be completed and open for
business in December 2006. |
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