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Tornado Strikes Again |
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An aerial view of the damage in Yuma along Yuma Church
Road. Photo courtesy of Steve Cantrell.
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
YUMA - For the second time within one week for Carroll
County, and the second time in three years for the
Carroll County town of Yuma, residents faced the wrath
of destructive tornadoes. Residents not directly
sustaining tornado damage were affected by severe
thunderstorms and hail throughout the day Friday.
Last week, the Christmasville and Hico communities in
Carroll County were damaged by tornadoes. The F-1 level
damage included grain silos destroyed and numerous trees
and power lines down. That storm also destroyed
Pilgrim's Rest Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a
pre-Civil War landmark in the Christmasville community.
Janice Newman, director of the Carroll County Emergency
Management Agency, said the National Weather Service
determined an F-2 tornado hit Yuma Friday causing $1
million in property damage. Five persons were injured,
with four receiving medical treatment. Eleven structures
were destroyed, while another 17 sustained minor to
moderate damage.
Volunteer firefighters performed a search of missing
persons. A red "X" was spray painted on the damaged or
destroyed house when all residents were accounted for,
said Newman.
Carroll County EMA Director Janice Newman dispatches
assistance as Michael Jarrett offers his assistance.
An emergency shelter was established at Clarksburg
school following the storm and remained open until 10
p.m.
A mobile command post for emergency personnel was set up
at Yuma Primitive Baptist Church.
A National Weather Service survey team from Memphis
determined that a tornado originated in Henderson County
and traveled northeast into Carroll County. Winds in
Yuma were estimated at 113 to 120 miles per hour. A
second tornado produced F-1 damage in the southern
portion of Henderson County near the town of Sardis,
according to the weather service.
Lindsey Breeden of 145 Yuma Church Road knows all too
well the frightening sound of an approaching tornado. In
May 2003, she was in bed when winds toppled a giant tree
that crashed through the family home when limbs came
through the ceiling of her bedroom. Friday, she had just
driven into the garage and closed the garage door when
the tornado ripped the top off the garage and spun the
car and its driver, breaking out windows in the process.
Lindsey sustained head lacerations that required several
sutures.
Lindsey Breeden, an employee of Bethel College, was
injured in this car when the winds spun it around and
broke out the windows.
At the intersection of School House Road and Yuma Church
Road, Larry McGuire sat outside his destroyed home and
recounted the events. Wearing a blood-stained t-shirt,
McGuire said he was telling neighbors to get in the
basement of the nearby Baptist Church, where he and
others sought refuge. From the basement, Jeremy Robbins
took time to snap photos of the approaching funnel
cloud.
Immediately after the storm, McGuire said he saw Lindsey
staggering down the road, picked her up, and put her in
a pickup truck to be transported to Baptist Memorial
Hospital-Huntingdon. She was treated and released and
was helping with cleanup efforts on Saturday. The blood
on McGuire's shirt was that of Lindsey's.
Lindsey's brother, James was working at Wal-Mart when
Friday's tornado destroyed his recently remodeled
doublewide mobile home. Donald and Joseph Stafford had
almost completed the remodeling for James to move in
later this year. New painting and water fixtures had
been installed. James' home was located immediately
behind his father's home, where James took refuge in a
closet during the 2003 storm.
A firefighter talks with Lynn Breeden about the damage
of his home.
James Breeden surveys the damage of his destroyed
doublewide mobile home.
As in 2003, Lynn Breeden's home was destroyed. The
tornado lifted it from its foundation, damaged its roof
and siding. Lynn has relocated his family to Roan Creek
Levee Road and does not plan to move back to that
location.
The Yuma Community Center, a former school building, was
totally destroyed. Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride
said the center was "the centerpiece of the community."
The mayor said the facility was insured, but not
adequately. He hopes to work with the community to get
grant money to rebuild it.
Yuma Church of Christ sustained significant roof damage,
just as it did three years ago.
McBride said he was impressed with the number of people
and agencies assisting with the cleanup. "It was
unbelievable the amount of support," said McBride. The
school board opened Clarksburg School as an emergency
shelter. However, it was not needed, said the mayor.
Governor Bredesen phoned McBride to offer the state's
assistance. McBride said he has requested Yuma be
included in the federal disaster declaration.
Immediately after the storm, emergency providers
converged on the area while law enforcement officers
shut down the highways and county roads allowing access
only to residents and necessary responders.
Carroll County Highway Department worked approximately
12 hours Saturday and Sunday. Crews utilized a track hoe
and dump trucks to clear roadways in the affected areas.
Newman said responders over the weekend included Carroll
County Fire Department, CC Rescue Squad, Tennessee
Highway Patrol, Red Cross, Tennessee Baptist
Association, Henderson County Fire Department, Emergency
medical services from Baptist-Huntingdon and McKenzie
Regional Hospital, fire departments from Bruceton,
Hollow Rock, and Atwood, Tennessee Emergency Management
Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National
Weather Service, Tennessee Department of Transportation,
Carroll County Electric Department, State Senator Don
McLeary, West Tennessee Public Utilities, and Carroll
County Mayor Kenny McBride.
Carroll County Electric crews had power restored to all
homes that could accept power by 8 p.m. Friday, said CCE
Manager Lynn Compton.
Electric crews performed cleanup work all day Saturday
and Monday at Yuma, he added. When the Friday storm
struck, one crew had been working in Dyer County cleanup
and was summoned back to Yuma. Compton said the storm
destroyed approximately 25 poles and seven transformers.
A National Guard Blackhawk helicopter provided a bird's
eye view of the damage Saturday. Newman, McBride,
McLeary, Benton County Mayor Jimmy Thornton, Benton EMA
Director John Smoot, Carroll County Fire Chief Terry
Bradshaw, and Steve Cantrell joined state officials for
the aerial survey.
The tornadoes that tore through Dyer and Gibson counties
Sunday night, April 2 and Middle Tennessee Friday, have
killed 36, and that pushed Tennessee into the number one
spot in terms of tornado deaths in this century.
Twelve people were killed Friday in the suburbs north of
Nashville and in Warren County about 65 miles southeast.
In all, 68 Tennesseans have lost their lives in
tornadoes since 2000.
The F-2 tornado descends on Yuma. Photo courtesy of
Jeremy Robbins.
A tornado emerges from a storm cloud near Bruceton. In
the foreground is the former roundhouse at Bruceton.
Photo courtesy of Randy Kelly, Bruceton police officer.
Larry McGuire (seated) and neighbor, Raymond Whitaker,
talk about the Friday tornado. Both sought shelter in
the basement of the Baptist church.
The two-story home of Gooch was destroyed by high winds.
Twisted steel girders testify to the
strength of the monster that destroyed the Yuma Community.
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Huntingdon School Board Approves $ 1.2 Million
Construction |
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Huntingdon (April 6)-In a short but productive special
called meeting, Huntingdon school board members
unanimously approved a $1, 186, 818 bid submitted by Cox
Construction of Jackson for addition and new
construction to the Huntingdon High School located on Mustang Drive.
The second lowest bid, submitted by McKinney
Construction, was $49,671 higher than the winning bid.
Huntingdon's Director of Schools Lynn Twyman informed
the board prior to the vote, "All the information I have
received regarding Cox Constructions work has been
positive." He continued, "I spoke with Mr. Freeman, the
Facility Director for the Madison County School System,
and he advised me that Cox Construction had always done
a good job on school projects they were involved with
there." Twyman noted that Freeman advised that Cox
Construction had implemented jobs in Memphis in the five
to six million-dollar ranges. Twyman added, "He believes
Cox will do a good job for us. I do too."
Twyman said that 10,000 feet of new construction was
scheduled. He said, "There will be two new classrooms
built at the front and eight classrooms erected at the
back of the building. In addition, a set of new
restrooms will also be constructed in the rear section
of the building." He added, "The existing guidance suite
will receive new carpet and be re-painted. New exterior
entrance doors will also be added."
Twyman stated that one of the eight new classrooms to be
built would be designated as an art room. "So far, none
of the rooms has been designated. They will become
whatever principal Henson assigns them to be in the
future," he said.
Twyman praised the board for its efforts in finding
solutions in order to decrease project costs. He said,
"You put in a lot of long hours studying the job
blueprints, removing and adding items as necessary.
Their planning and assessing is the reason the bid is
where it is now, below the 1.5 million dollar mark."
Twyman noted that the board's recommendation to utilize
two existing classrooms located near the front of the
school as space for construction of a principal and
assistant principal's office saved a considerable amount
of money.
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a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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Candidates Qualify For Carroll Elections |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON - The slate of candidates is complete for the
August 3 elections in Carroll County. The filing
deadline to seek election was Thursday, April 6.
Incumbents running unopposed in the August general
elections are: General Sessions Judge Larry Logan
(I-McKenzie), County Trustee Pat Rich (R-Huntingdon),
Assessor of Property Johnny Radford (D-Huntingdon),
County Clerk Carolyn Halter Lutz (I-Huntingdon),
Chancellor Ron Harmon (D-Savannah), 24th District
Circuit Judge (Part 1) Creed McGinley (D-Savannah), Road
Supervisor-District 2 Dennis Parker (D-McKenzie), Road
Supervisor-District 4 Ricky Scott (R-Huntingdon), and
Public Defender Guy T. Wilkinson (D-Camden). Newcomer
Donald Parish (D-Huntingdon), seeking Circuit Judge
(Part 2), is also running unopposed.
Other general election races include:
DISTRICT ATTORNEY GENERAL - Hansel McCadams (D-Paris)
and John Overton (I-Savannah. Robert "Gus" Radford is
not seeking re-election; CARROLL COUNTY MAYOR -
incumbent Kenny McBride (D-McKenzie) and Amos Williams
(I-Huntingdon); SHERIFF - incumbent Bendell Bartholomew
(D-Huntingdon), John "Diddle" Smith (R-Lavinia), and
Homer Hicks (I-Cedar Grove); CIRCUIT COURT CLERK -
Bertha Taylor (D-Trezevant), Jeff Barnett
(R-Huntingdon), and Charles A. Sullivan (I-Huntingdon).
Paul Newmon is not seeking re-election. REGISTER OF
DEEDS - Natalie McCullough (D-Huntingdon), and Joey
Darnall (R-Huntingdon). Judy Baker is not seeking
re-election. ROAD SUPERVISOR - DISTRICT 1 - incumbent
Nolan Robinson (R-Atwood) and Dennis E. Coleman (D-McKenzie).ROAD
SUPERVISOR - DISTRICT 3 - incumbent Scotty Bailey
(D-Huntingdon) and Tony Holladay (I-Huntingdon);
Other non-partisan offices in Carroll County include:
COUNTY COMMISSION - DISTRICT 1 (elect 2) Wayne Kirk
(incumbent), Paul "Ted" Lacy, John Mark Robinson, Billy
J. Smith (incumbent), and Randy Long; District 2 (elect
2) Bobby Argo (incumbent) and Ronnie Murphy (incumbent);
District 3 (elect 2) - Steve Parker (incumbent), Ricky
Rogers, and Larry Spencer (incumbent); District 4 (elect
2) T. Richard Goodwin (incumbent), John Mann
(incumbent), and Tim Reeves; District 5 (elect 3) Marsha
Bunn Barger (incumbent), Jimmy Kee, Jerry R. White
(incumbent), LaRenda Scarbrough (incumbent) and Russell
Holladay. District 6 (elect 2) - George F. Avery,
Charles Ballard, Johnny Blount (incumbent) Wesley
Collins, Jimmy McClure, and Thomas R. Akin; District 7
(elect 2) - Harold Baker (incumbent), Troy Oatsvall, and
Walter Butler (incumbent). District 8 (elect 2) Gaylon
Sydnor (incumbent), Harold Vinson (incumbent), and
Wayford O. Washburn, Sr.; District 9 (elect 3) Bill Kirk
(incumbent), Ben T. Surber (incumbent), and Joel
Washburn.
Carroll County Board of Education-all unopposed -
District 1 - Jimmy Simmons; District 2 - James Knolton
and Tonya Young (two-year unexpired term); District 3 -
Toni Stokes and Gina Atkins (two-year unexpired term).
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School Board of Education
-15th District -Joyce Noles; 16th District-at-large
James Randy Kelley (incumbent) and Donna M. Robison;
Bruceton Member Dan Young.
Huntingdon Special School District Board (elect 2) -
Incumbents Lee Carter and Mark Dillahunty have
qualified.
McKenzie Special School District Board of Education
(elect 4) - five candidates qualified: Mildred Sneed
(incumbent), Greg Barker, Monte C. Cunningham, Jon
Davis, and Karen N. McCaleb.
West Carroll Special School District Board - Old County
District -Lester Scott (incumbent); Old Atwood District
- Jimmy Halford (incumbent) and Nancy Johnson; and Jim
Pirtle (incumbent) for the Old Trezevant District.
South Carroll Special School District - Steve Roberts
(incumbent) and Andrew Stokes have picked up petitions
for the 6th, 7th, 12th District; Tony Hunley has picked
up a petition for the 13th District.
City of Clarksburg - Mayor Jeff Reed is uncontested in
his bid for re-election. Jerry McDaniel and Lee Woods
qualified for the two aldermen positions.
August Primaries - State Representative Mark Maddox
(D-Dresden, 76th District) is being challenged by David
Hawks (R-Martin). They will face each other in the
November general election. State Senator Don McLeary
(R-Humboldt) is being challenged by Lowe Finney
(D-Jackson). They will face each other in November.
Cheri Childress (D-Milan) will face State Representative
Chris Crider (R-Milan) in November. Don Farmer is
seeking the State Executive Committeeman and Patsy R.
Johnson is seeking the State Executive Committeewoman in
the Democratic election. Scott Golden is seeking the
Republican State Executive Committeeman and Nancy Strawn
is seeking the office of Republican State Executive
Committeewoman.
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a d v e r t i s e m e n t
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Commissioners Approve Jail Study for Female Inmates |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON (April 10, 2006)- Methamphetamine is the
major culprit in creating a shortage of beds for female
inmates at the Carroll County Jail. The jail is now in
danger of being decertified unless the overcrowded
conditions are alleviated.
The County Commission agreed to have County Technical
Assistance Service (CTAS) develop a plan to resolve the
overcrowding. Tennessee Correction Institute and the
Tennessee Fire Marshal's office must approve any
construction plans, said Mayor Kenny McBride. He
anticipates construction will begin in nine to 12
months.
If the 30-year-old facility is decertified, the county
will lose its liability insurance at the facility and
will no longer be reimbursed for housing
locally-convicted state inmates. Renovations totaling
$360,000 were recently completed on the facility to
bring it up to current building standards. The majority
of the upgrades were to the wiring, plumbing, and
electronic locks.
In other business, the county moved forward with the
development of the 1,000-acre watershed lake project.
County commissioners appointed members to the Carroll
County Regional Planning Commission. Appointments
include: Billy Smith, Larry Wade, Brad Hurley, Betty
Byars, and Billy Barksdale with a term ending April
2010. McBride said the Planning Commission would develop
the codes and restrictions for land use in the planned
growth area surrounding the lake.
In other business, county commissioners:
*confirmed the appointment of Jerry Drewry, Troy Warren,
Eli Ford, Jr., L.N. McCullough, and Richard Gooch to the
Carroll County Board of Equalization.
*confirmed a resolution for an interlocal agreement with
the E-911 board and the county of Carroll for providing
9-1-1 service. McBride said the agreement defines the
services already being provided by each entity.
*approved notaries public Casey Drewry, Kathy E. Kelley,
Clint Brewer, Jenna M. Pruitt, and Gaye Lynn Tippitt.
Commissioner Roger Hollowell from Yuma said the people
of the Yuma area appreciate the assistance in the
aftermath of the tornado. He added a special
appreciation for the county agencies involved in the
cleanup.
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Former Trezevant Mayor, Banker, Civic Leader Dies |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Janice Akins McClain
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TREZEVANT - Janice Akins McClain, former Trezevant
mayor, retired president of Farmers and Merchants Bank
in Trezevant and active civic leader, died Saturday
morning, April 8 at McKenzie Regional Hospital. She was
58.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 10 at 2 p.m. at
Trezevant Church of Christ with Bro. John Forgy
officiating. Burial was in Trezevant Cemetery. McKenzie
Funeral Home had charge of arrangements.
Janice was born November 18, 1947 in Trezevant to Joe
David and Clara Jennings Akins.
Janice was a life-long resident of Carroll County and
served the community in many capacities. A graduate of
Trezevant High School, she was employed at Farmers and
Merchants Bank in Trezevant from 1971 until she retired
in June 2000. At the time of her retirement, she was
serving as president of the Trezevant bank.
"She was a super loyal employee," said George Atwood,
Chairman of the Board for Farmers and Merchants Bank.
"She was always there and always had the bank's best
interest at heart. She loved people. She loved her
customers. Janice was respected and loved by just about
everybody.
"She was a very devoted family person. The community is
going to miss her, as well as her family.
"It was too early for her to go, but God had his plan."
McClain served on the Trezevant city board, served as
vice-mayor, and was elected the first woman mayor of
Trezevant in 1998.
"She was a great mayor and a good friend of mine," said
City Recorder Rhonda Cunningham, who noted McClain was
always excellent to her employees.
Mildred Moore, who served as vice-mayor under Mayor
McClain, said, "she was a great supporter of the Town of
Trezevant all of her life. She was a great neighbor and
a good person," said Moore, who was also Janice's fourth
grade teacher. "I enjoyed working with her. She will be
greatly missed by many people."
McClain served 10 years on the Carroll County Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors, completing two terms 1984
until 1989 and 1991 until 1996. She was chairman of the
Chamber board from 1987-1988.
In October, 2000, she was named Carroll County Business
Person of the Year during the Chamber's annual
membership banquet
Chamber President Brad Hurley commented, "Janice was
always ready to serve, to help make Trezevant and
Carroll County a better place. She was a kind and
compassionate person and yet was a strong and effective
leader.
"Her vision, her leadership skills, and most importantly
her friendship will be greatly missed by all who knew
her."
She served on the board of Red Cross, Habitat for
Humanity, Carroll County Watershed Authority, and many
other social, charitable and civic organizations.
She was an active member of Trezevant Church of Christ,
where Minister John Forgy, called her "a loving,
faithful, dedicated Christian lady."
"We are going to miss her tremendously," he added.
She is survived by her husband, Jimmy McClain of
Trezevant, three children, and 11 grandchildren. See
separate obituary in this edition.
Memorials may be made to Trezevant Church of Christ
building fund. |
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Carroll News
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