2001-2004 ARCHIVES
2005 ARCHIVES
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News Headlines
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
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A Wedding to Remember - Sergio and Lynn Thompson Cobos
Exchange Vows Amid Adopted Community |
Sergio Cobos and his bride,
Lynn. Click Here
for more photos.
Everyone agreed the bride and groom made
a beautiful couple--the trim, blonde beauty and her dark,
handsome suitor--though none had known the couple longer
than a month.
Nevertheless the Friday, September 30, wedding of Sergio and
Lynn Thompson Cobos was attended by some 75 well-wishers
who, after the ceremony, lavished the couple in heartfelt
hugs and best wishes, knowing their tenure in the community
could soon be coming to an end.
It was, after all, the last evening before several of the
some two dozen evacuees of Hurricane Katrina would return to
Louisiana, after making temporary homes in living quarters
hastily renovated by members of Long Heights Baptist Church
over Labor Day weekend.
Pastor Kenny Carr, who officiated the service, noted, "Very
unusual circumstances brought us together today; God has
been at work in your life in a mighty way."
Sergio and Lynn were the first couple to marry at Long
Heights' new worship facility. Serving as best man was
fellow evacuee Alberto Casanova, who, like Sergio, was
resplendent in his tuxedo. Local friend and volunteer Paula
Deatherage was matron of honor.
Lynn accepts a hug and best
wishes from Robye Lindsey of McKenzie and J.T. Lindsey and
Barbara Wood await their turn in the receiving line.
Ushers were Kelly Hardy, Chase Gunter, Dillon Drewry, and
Logan Drewry. Jessica Smothers attended the guest registry.
Kim Kelly was pianist and Melissa Miles was soloist.
Vincent and Misty Capo, whose children Marissa, Katelyn, and
Vincent III served as flower girls and ring bearer during
the ceremony, left Saturday, bound for of Louisiana, as did
former evacuees Daniel Alexander and Son Tran.
Lynn, who was a medical assistant in New Orleans, also
expressed a longing for home and family, though both she and
Sergio, who was previously in construction, had nothing but
gratitude for the community that had welcomed them with open
arms upon their arrival at the Lavinia shelter and in
McKenzie.
"I'm amazed; I'm overwhelmed," said Lynn, lovely in a long,
white, strapless bridal gown with pearled bodice. "The
people of Tennessee are incredible, the nicest people I have
ever met. Everyone welcomed us with open arms and open
hearts. Thank you to everybody: the wonderful state of
Tennessee, the beautiful city of McKenzie, Long Heights and
Brother Kenny especially, and Brother Lammie (Lammersfeld.)"
"We're thrilled, we never expected this to happen," said
Sergio, who said when Lynn walked down the aisle, "I
couldn't take my eyes off her."
Several of the some two dozen
residents of the Long Heights shelter at McKenzie gather for
a farewell photo: Daniel Alexander, second from right, was
one of several former evacuees who left Saturday to return
to Louisiana. Also pictured are, let to right, best man
Alberto Casanova, Freddie Martin, and Sergio and Lynn Cobos.
The couple had planned to marry in a New Orleans wedding
chapel on Sergio's 43rd birthday, September 30, and thought
their plans were dashed after the hurricane. But when
volunteers learned of the aborted plan, the wheels were set
in motion to make their dream come true.
Sergio praised Susie Pemberton for directing them to the
church from Lavinia. "Without her, we wouldn't have come to
this church," said Sergio, who Wednesday had made a
profession of faith in Christ.
A minister to youth and children at the First Methodist
Church in Milan, Susie was volunteering at the Lavinia
shelter on the day residents were being re-evacuated to
Franklin.
"I knew I was sending them to a good place," said Susie, who
was among some half dozen volunteers from Milan in
attendance at the wedding, having continued their support of
the evacuees after their relocation.
Residents of the Long Heights
shelter gather with some of their first friends in
Tennessee--volunteers from Milan who worked at the Lavinia
shelter upon their arrival.
She observed the difference in bearing and overall
appearance of the evacuees who had arrived in Lavinia
exhausted, dirty, and dejected. Each of those who made their
way to McKenzie showed incredible resilience upon being
assimilated into church and community.
Sergio said the wedding was more than they had ever hoped
for.
Commemorative programs noted candles in the entry hall were
lit in honor of loved ones unable to attend the ceremony,
including Lynn's children: Ashley, Devin, Alyssa, and Angel;
Sergio's children, Sergio Jr. and Christina; his mother,
Blanca Cobos of Texas; and in memory of Lynn's parents and
Sergio's father.
Rings, tuxedos, wedding cake and more were donated by
members of the community.
Crystal Drewry, a member of the Long Heights church,
organized the wedding right down to the honeymoon, a
two-night stay at the Old English inn in Jackson courtesy of
Englewood Baptist Church.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS
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Woman Dies after Fleeing Police, Driving Car into Pond |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
A 52-year-old Hollow Rock woman died Saturday after being
involved in a near-drowning incident at a private pond,
following a police chase at 11:30 p.m. Monday, September 26,
in Hollow Rock.
Funeral services for Robin Dianne Lowe were conducted at
11:00 a.m. Monday. (See separate obituary in this edition.)
Hollow Rock Police Chief Danny Emerson said Officer Joe
Townsend attempted to stop Lowe, who was reported to be
driving erratically. After failing to yield to blue lights,
the woman continued at approximately 30 miles per hour for
another one to one-and-one-half miles, Emerson said.
Townsend passed Lowe's car and, traveling in front of her,
decreased his speed in an attempt to stop her, the chief
said. She reportedly rammed the rear of the patrol car twice
before pulling alongside the vehicle and attempting to run
the patrol car off the road. Lowe reportedly managed to pull
back in front of the officer before turning into a private
driveway, where she circled the house and drove back into
the front yard, where a private pond was located.
"This was a residence where she had lived in the past and
was familiar with the terrain," said Emerson.
Lowe drove her vehicle into the pond, Emerson said. Moments
later, she emerged from the car and appeared to be standing
on the roof of the car for a brief moment, he said. She then
went back under water in the middle of the pond. Townsend
did not dive in after her because he could not swim. He did,
however, summon the Carroll County Rescue Squad and Carroll
County First Responders to the scene.
Emerson and Sgt. Tony Moon of the Bruceton Police Department
arrived on the scene simultaneously, however, neither could
swim and did not attempt rescue.
Emerson said his department participates in many kinds of
rescue training, but does not practice water rescue because
there are no large bodies of water in his city.
"I don't know of any department around here that
participates in that kind of training," he added.
First Responder Ronnie Wade, who is also a paramedic, and
First Responder Jason Moon arrived on the scene after
several minutes and began the rescue attempt. Jason tied a
safety line to a fence post and then he and Wade located the
victim and pulled her from the water. Jason reportedly
revived the woman, using cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. The
victim reportedly had a strong pulse and blood pressure
during transport to Baptist Hospital Emergency Room, Emerson
said. She was later airlifted to Jackson-Madison General
Hospital, where she died five days later, he noted.
No charges had been filed in the case at the time of Lowe's
death.
"We were monitoring her status," said Emerson.
"Our prayers are with the family," he added.
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Tractor Supply Company to Open in Huntingdon, Paris |
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The "coming soon" sign was posted last week announcing
Tractor Supply Company in Huntingdon.
Tractor Supply Company, the largest retail farm and ranch
store chain in the United States, announced the expansion to
two area cities - Huntingdon and Paris. The Brentwood,
Tennessee-based chain operates more than 550 retail stores
in 34 states.
Mark Gilmer, in the real estate division of Tractor Supply
said both stores will open in early January.
Construction began this week in Huntingdon in the former
37,600 square-foot Wal-Mart location on East Main Street.
The selling floor will occupy 19,000 to 20,000 square-foot
with additional merchandise outside the building, said
Gilmer. Approximately 15 employees will operate the new
store. Operating hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday.
In Paris, Tractor Supply is constructing a 22,700
square-foot facility on State Route 641, on the Camden
Highway.
Gilmer said Tractor Supply typically selects counties with a
population of 30,000 or more and "leans" toward the county
seat. Proprietary research tools guide their decisions,
greatly based on the number of farms, farmers, and tractors
in the county. Much of the information can be obtained from
publicly-available agricultural census.
In the 2000 census, Carroll County had a population of
29,475 and Huntingdon had 4,349. Henry County had an
estimated population of 31,115, and Paris had 9,763.
Tractor Supply is similar to Rural King, a farm supply
retailer in McKenzie, population 5,295.
Tractor Supply is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the
symbol "TSCO". The stores are primarily located in rural
areas and provide unique products to support their
customers' rural lifestyle, from welders and generators to
animal care products, and men's and women's workwear. The
company started in 1938 as a mail order catalog business.
Tractor Supply has area stores in Lexington, Savannah, and
Jackson.
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Mid-Way Wins Bid for Downtown Streetscape Project |
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HUNTINGDON - Mid-way Materials of Camden was awarded a
contract to provide concrete for Huntingdon's downtown
streetscape project during regular session of the Huntingdon
Town Council Tuesday, September 27. Mid-way's low bid of $74
per yard beat out the $82 per yard bid of B.T. Redi-Mix, Inc.
of Brownsville. Southern City Concrete of Jackson and Southern
Concrete Products of Paris declined to bid.
In other business the council:
* Approved on second and final reading an ordinance amending
the 2004-05 budget to provide for routine year-end review and
adjustments, following a public hearing at which no one
appeared to give comment;
* Heard Mayor Dale Kelley announce a $250,000 Rural
Development grant would be awarded Friday. The monies will be
used to offset costs of the Industrial Park South Building;
* Heard Kelley announce Brindley Construction Company's
intention to enter the spec building into competition among
other buildings in the Southeast. The winner of the regional
contest will progress to national competition. "Win, lose, or
draw, we have a wonderful spec building and a good site," said
Kelley.
* Heard Kelley report the success of the Huntingdon Heritage
Festival. "It seems to be getting bigger and bigger every
year," he said, noting organizers had already met in a
critique session to outline what could be improved next year.
He further reported the Sunday reception for performing arts
center director Lee Warren, featuring tours of the Dixie
Carter Center and Hal Holbrook Theater, was well attended;
* Heard various council members comment on Tim Tucker's
acceptance of the Volunteer Service Award during the annual
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce membership banquet and
Melissa Powell's participation in the organization. "I was
very pleased to have a part in it; I think our Chamber does
make a difference," said Powell. |
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USDA Awards $250,000 for Huntingdon "Spec" Building |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON - USDA Rural Development State Director Ruth Tackett
announced a $250,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant for
Huntingdon's "spec" building Friday. The ceremony was held at
the new "spec" building site, Highway 22 South, Huntingdon.
Huntingdon Mayor Dale Kelley called the day a "momentous
occasion" as members of the Huntingdon Industrial Board,
Huntingdon Town Council, city administrators, Carroll County
Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley, county Mayor Kenny
McBride, and liaisons from U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander and
U.S. Congressman John Tanner attended. Kelley praised Carroll
Bank and Trust and TVA for providing the loan for the
Huntingdon Industrial Board project while USDA provided a
$250,000 grant.
"Nine out of ten industrial prospects don't come to look at
grass and land, they want to see a building," said Hurley.
"Without the support of Rural Development, the 84,000 square
foot spec building would probably still be a drawing on paper.
We deeply appreciate the support of USDA Rural Development in
helping Carroll County move forward."
Two years earlier, Hurley invited the entire senior staff of
USDA to visit with mayors of Carroll County. Out of that
meeting, Tackett said the vision came for a new "spec"
building with USDA to help fund the project. "Here we are
fulfilling that vision," said Tackett. She said it's good to
see a county with vision and to see city and county leaders
working together.
Joe Hill, representing Congressman John Tanner, said the
leadership in Carroll County is some of the best of the entire
congressional district. He said the "spec" building would help
attract jobs and provide employment for future generations. He
said the grant is a perfect example how the federal government
can partner with local governments.
Rural Development's business program provides assistance to
public bodies or not-for-profit entities to finance and
facilitate development of private business enterprises and
improve community infrastructure such as roads, streets,
utilities, parking areas and elevated storage tanks. Grants
are made to serve rural areas with a population less than
50,000.
Participants in the check presentation ceremony included: Matt
Varino, field rep. for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander; Joe Hill,
district director for U.S. Rep. John Tanner; Carroll County
Mayor Kenny McBride; Mayor Dale Kelley, town of Huntingdon;
Ray Smith, chairman of Huntingdon Industrial Development
Board, and Brad Hurley, president of Carroll County Chamber of
Commerce.
USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural
communities by assisting with financial and technical
assistance through various housing, community and
business-cooperative programs. Further information on
Tennessee Rural Development programs can be obtained by
visiting www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn.
Twenty years ago, the city of McKenzie received a $704,500
federal grant to complete a 40,000 square foot "spec" building
in the north industrial park. At the time, Universal Plating
Company located in the building. Today, the facility is
occupied by Custom Metals, Inc. (CMI). The county of Carroll
constructed a "spec" building at the Carroll County Airport in
the 1980s. The McKenzie Industrial Board later purchased the
building. McKenzie Valve and Machining purchased the building
12 years after its construction.
According to West Tennessee Industrial Association, available
industrial buildings in Carroll County include: New
Generations, 103,000 square feet, at the airport; Murray
Outdoor Products, 334,600 square feet, at the airport; HIS
Distribution in Bruceton, 438,050 square feet; HIS Bruceton,
200,094 square feet; and HIS-Bruceton, 41,000 square feet, at
the railroad. |
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