HUNTINGDON - A Trenton attorney died on the Huntingdon Court Square Monday as he was leaving his vehicle to enter the Carroll County Courthouse.

Lee Herrell, Jr., age 65, of Trenton collapsed and died as he was preparing to enter Carroll County Circuit Court Monday. Juvenile officers Chris Edlin and Brian McDowell administered CPR prior to Baptist Emergency Medical Services' arrival. He was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Huntingdon at 9:33 a.m.

Edlin said the incident occurred around 8:50 a.m. in a parking space on the west side of the Courthouse. He was in the parking area and had not reached the steps yet, said Edlin. From the window in the Juvenile Services Office, Randy Hatch saw Herrell lying in the parking area and alerted juvenile officers Edlin and McDowell, who rushed to Herrell's aid.

"Mr. Herrell was a good man. Everything I know about him is good," said Edlin.

Shelton Funeral Home in Trenton has charge of arrangements.

 

MHS Homecoming Royalty 1-7: (L to R) Rachel Chandler, Rachel Eddie, Jenna Smith, MiRanda West, Wendy Brown, and Paige Rasmussen.

Six young ladies were chosen last week for McKenzie High School's homecoming royalty. Selected were Wendy Brown, Rachel Chandler, Rachel Eddie, Paige Rasmussen, Jenna Smith, and MiRanda West.

Wendy Brown is 17 years old and a senior. She is the daughter of Michael A. Brown and Renee Brown. She is a member of BPA, Beta Club, DECA, FCA, Key Club, Leo Club, Library Club, M Club, and Technology Club. She serves as president of Tennessee Tomorrow and treasurer of the senior class. She is a four-year member of the cheerleading squad and tennis team. Wendy is a member of McKenzie Church of Christ. She plans on attending the University of Tennessee at Martin to pursue a career as a radiologist.

Rachel Chandler is a 17-year-old senior. She is the daughter of Ricky and Rhonda Chandler. She is a member of FCA, McKenzie Maniacs, M Club, and the MHS Relay for Life team. She serves as president of Beta Club, secretary of Leo Club, and vice president of Student Council. She is also a three-year member of the cheerleading squad and a four-year member of the trap team. She is actively involved with the youth at First Baptist Church in McKenzie. Rachel plans to attend the University of Tennessee at Martin and major in accounting.

Rachel Eddie is the 17-year-old daughter of Randy and Tina Eddie and is a senior. She is a member of the M Club, Beta Club, FCA, Key Club, Science Club, Spanish Club, and Tennessee Tomorrow. She is a three-year manager of the basketball team and is a three-year member of the track team. Rachel plans to attend college and major in accounting.

Paige Rasmussen is a 17-year-old senior. She is the daughter of David and Debbie Rasmussen. She is a member of the golf team, M Club, McKenzie Maniacs, FCA, BPA, and Key Club and is vice president of Renaissance Club and Beta Club. She is also an honor roll student and participates in school theater. She is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints youth group and is a volunteer at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Paige plans to attend college and pursue a career as an optometrist. She would also like to travel the world to help those in underprivileged countries learn to read and write and have better living conditions.

Jenna Smith is 17 years old and is the daughter of Rhonda and Doug Swafford. She is a senior at MHS. She is a member of FCA, DECA, FTA, BPA, M Club, McKenzie Maniacs, Library Club, and Spanish Club. She is a two-year member of the softball team and a four-year member of the cheerleading squad. Jenna plans to attend college and pursue a career in education.

MiRanda West is 17 years old and is a senior at MHS. She is the daughter of Steve and Gail West. She serves as president of the senior class and is a member of FCA, M Club, Spanish Club, Beta Club, and McKenzie Maniacs. MiRanda plans to attend college and major in communications.

MCKENZIE (September 5) - Four new members of the McKenzie Special School District Board of Education were sworn in to office during the board's regular meeting on Tuesday, September 5. Newly-elected board members include Greg Barker, Monte Cunningham, Jon Davis, and Karen McCaleb.

All four won seats during the August 3 election. Returning members include John Austin, Brad Davis, and Jill Holland. Former board members Ruth Carroll, Van Ramsey, and Joe Fortner retired from office following last month's meeting, and Mildred Sneed was unsuccessful in her bid for reelection. Superintendent Jim Ward noted that he would present Sneed with a plaque in recognition of her many years of service on the board.

Following the oath of office, the board elected new offices as follows: John Austin, chairman; Brad Davis, vice chairman; Karen McCaleb, treasurer; Monte Cunningham, Tennessee Legislation Network (TLN) member; and Greg Barker, TLN alternate.

In other business, the board approved the sale of approximately 2.25 acres of property on the MHS campus to Scott Spivey, who owns land adjacent to the property. Spivey's bid of $12,000 won over Jimmy Carroll's bid of $6,501.

The board agreed to accept bids on the property during its August meeting. Repeating what he told the board in August, Ward said there were two main reasons for the sale: the property, which is essentially a thicket, is "useless" to the high school, and the property would "better serve the district if it was developed and put on the county's tax roll."

There is no direct road access to the property. MHS Principal Terry Howell agreed with Ward, saying, "This land is of absolutely no use at all and will never serve us. I highly advise you to sell the property."

The land sold is about 220 by 450 square feet and is located on the southeast corner of the campus, near the softball practice field.

The board also:
* Approved four new policies on second reading-making them official-for the MSSD Board of Education Policy Manual.

The first policy, regarding registered sex offenders, is a more restrictive version of an earlier policy. The new policy states that a registered sex offender is ineligible for employment within the school district and outlines specific rules for allowing them on school property and at school events. Ward said the district does not currently have any registered sex offenders, and that they "keep tabs" on such information.

The second policy qualified regulations for bids and quotations, while the third policy offered guidelines for requesting waivers of state statutes, rules, and regulations.

The final policy approved revised the procedure for granting tenure, including a clause requiring teachers previously employed in the district who attained tenure, resigned, and returned to serve a one-year probationary period upon reemployment with the district. "I think all of these policies are well-written and reasonable," Ward said during the August meeting.

* Approved on first reading an amendment to Board Policy 5.302, Sick Leave. "Essentially what we're doing is taking the limit off," Ward said of the amendment, which now states that there will be no maximum accumulation of earned sick leave for full-time personnel.

Unused sick leave will count as years of experience in the employee's retirement program provided by Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS). "I think it's counterproductive to have a cap, and it penalizes them for their loyalty instead of rewarding them for coming to work every day," Ward added. "We're following in the direction of most school districts around us."

* Approved the annual Report of School System/School Compliance for 2006-2007. Ward told the board that the district is right now in complete compliance with the State Board Rules, Regulations, and Minimum Standards.

Ward noted that the regulations are standard, such as requiring fire drills and a certain number of hours of instruction per day. "It's basically just a checklist for us," he said.

* Heard a report from McKenzie High School SCOPE (Student Congress on Policies in Education) participants Samantha Doster, Heather Huffman, Carson Rider, and MiRanda West.

SCOPE brings together high school students from across the state to discuss major topics in education and allows them to explore such issues through mock school board meetings, discussions, and debates.

"This is a great opportunity for them to participate in government in a way they wouldn't be able to elsewhere," said Howell.

* Recognized two Bethel College students who have begun student teaching in Carroll County schools: Megan Reynolds at McKenzie Elementary School Kindergarten and Chris Wall at West Carroll Primary School first grade.

* Approved budget amendments to the General Purpose School Fund and Federal Project Fund as follows: Early Childhood Education (Pre-K Lottery Grant Funds) budget increase of $2,988.06 from the state for pre-K supplies and materials; budget transfer of $14,134 from General School Fund to Undesignated Fund Balance to help fund an eighth grade transition instructor to help increase high school graduation rates; Career Ladder Extended Contract Fund annual state budget increase of $52,892; and budget increase of $4,009.50 for additional Title IV HERA (Hurricane Relief Funds) received from the state for three Hurricane Katrina evacuee students served last year.