By Joel Washburn washburn@mckenziebanner.com

   

Trezevant-Ole Miss football star Willie Hickerson to be keynote speaker

A special to The McKenzie Banner

ATWOOD (June 5) A former Trezevant football star will be the featured speaker when the West Carroll Area Alumni Association holds its third annual reunion June 23 at West Carroll High School in Atwood.

Festivities begin at 4:00 p.m. at the high school with a catered meal from Pat's Restaurant of Trezevant at 6:00 p.m. and a program at 7:00 p.m.

Willie Hickerson, a star right guard for Trezevant who with his older brother Gene earned a football scholarship and played under coach Johnny Vaught at Ole Miss in the late 1950s, will speak at the reunion event.

Mr. Hickerson is a retired investment banker now residing in Memphis. He and his brother Gene grew up on a cotton farm in Carroll County before going on to play together "side by side" as linemen at Ole Miss in 1957. Gene Hickerson had a star career in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame this year.

Registration forms for the WCAAA reunion are available at banks and businesses in Trezevant, Atwood, McLemoresville, Lavinia, and Cedar Grove. Cost of the catered meal is $15 per person.

"It's not too late to sign up," said former president James Webb. "Late attendees can also sign up the day of the reunion. We encourage people to bring their old annuals and pictures."

The reunion is aimed toward graduates and former students, faculty and staff from three high schools - Atwood (1956-1982), Trezevant (1929-1982), and West Carroll (1983-present day). Students who attended other high schools and elementary schools such as Webb, Terry, McLemoresville, and Whitthorne - are also invited to participate in the WCAAA organization. The first WCAAA reunion in 2005 drew more than 800 people.

The alumni association recently presented its third alumni scholarship to Joel Alex Green, a West Carroll High School Class of 2007 graduate. The alumni scholarship is allotted in two $500 increments for a total of $1,000 for one year.
David Bryant, mayor of Trezevant, is the current president of the alumni association.

John Mark Robinson, a farmer and Carroll Co. commissioner, who resides in Atwood, will serve as the association's president in the coming year.

Former West Carroll principal and teacher Judy McGregor of Atwood will become vice-president during the changing of officers at the end of the meeting and will be in line for the West Carroll Alumni presidency the following year.

The WCAAA rotates the president position each year from former Atwood, McLemoresville, Trezevant, and West Carroll alumni members.

 
TREZEVANT (June 7) – A Trezevant man is charged with aggravated assault, cruelty to animals, and criminal trespassing after he reportedly stabbed his neighbor’s dog to death and threatened to harm the neighbor with the same knife.

According to Trezevant Police Chief David Smith, Tim Cook, age 41, originally from Gibson County, thought his neighbor had stolen his dog and went to confront her about it. Cook, a maintenance man and resident of Holmes Street Trailer Park, allegedly took a knife to Shannon Warmoth’s house and accused her of stealing his dog. In retaliation, he reportedly stabbed her chained chow puppy to death in Warmoth’s front yard. The small dog would seek refuge under the house and Cook reportedly would pull it out and continue stabbing it.

Chief Smith said young children witnessed the incident and adults eventually intervened. Cook reportedly fled the scene and was later apprehended at his sister’s house in Bradford by the Bradford Police Department. Cook is in Carroll County Jail. He will be arraigned Thursday in Carroll County General Sessions Court. Chief Smith said Cook is a convicted felon.

Smith said Cook’s dog later showed back up at the trailer park.

 
HUNTINGDON (June 11) Carroll County Commissioners approved a resolution to continue operating on the current 2006-2007 fiscal year budget appropriations and tax rate until a new fiscal year budget can be approved. July begins a new budget cycle, however, the new budget cannot be adopted until the Tennessee General Assembly approves its budget. The General Assembly is expected to adjourn today after approving its budget. A continuing resolution allows the county to continue operating until a new budget is adopted.

Commissioners approved budget amendments for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, ending June 30. The budgetary transfers reflect changes in revenues and expenditures throughout the fiscal year.

The first amendment reflected the $3,983.04 in additional revenues the Carroll County Library received through grants. The second amendment dealt with the $6,859 in expenditures in the Library in excess of the budgeted line items.

A total of $42,629 was transferred from the fund balance into the General Budget for various items. County Mayor Kenny McBride said $16,043 of that amount will be reimbursed by the state of Tennessee for health insurance for Health Department employees. Another part of that is the $11,100 in maintenance of rural fire department vehicles.

Budget transfers of $23,100 were approved for funds transferred to Debt Service.

A $100 transfer was approved to the Taylor Trust Fund that the county administers.

The General Purpose School fund budget was amended by $48,000.

The Solid Waste Department Budget was amended by $5,000.

The jail budget had a $1,000 budget transfer and the Juvenile Services budget for Carroll Academy had a $4,915.28 transfer.

Commissioners approved the re-appointment of Martha Pate and Tony Lancaster to the Carroll County Library Board with terms ending June 2010.

Notaries public elected were: Vivian C. Flores, Rhonda K. Falconer, Rita K. Jones, Brenda Walker, LaRenda B. Scarbrough, Glenda Taylor, and Lynn Paschall.

In filed reports, the Carroll County Health Department served 1,305 patients in May; Carroll County Solid Waste Department sold $16,188 in recyclable materials; Carroll County Airport sold $7,429.45 in aviation fuel; Carroll County Civic Center collected $2,242 from the Tuesday flea markets and collected $330 total revenue for rent of the Civic Center. The Sheriff’s Department report was not filed for May because the secretary was absent from work on June 11.

Commissioner Walter Butler was absent.

Commissioners convene each second Monday, 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Carroll County Office Complex, Huntingdon.

 
With summer fast approaching, outdoor grilling is a big part of warm weather activities. State Fire Marshal Leslie Newman wants to remind Tennesseans outdoor grilling increases the potential for a grilling ignited fire.

“A happy backyard cookout can quickly turn into a summertime tragedy. By adhering to a few common sense precautions, Tennesseans can prevent a senseless fire”, said State Fire Marshal Leslie Newman.

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), gas-fueled and charcoal grills cause an average of 900 home structure fires and 3,500 home outdoor fires each year. Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills. Leaks and breaks in the gas cylinder or hose are the leading cause, accounting for nearly half of gas grill fires. Placing combustibles too close to heat, and leaving cooking unattended, are the two leading causes for charcoal grill home structure fires. Half of all gas grill and charcoal grill home structure fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch, so it is important to grill not just outside your home but well away from your home.

The State Fire Marshal’s office offers the following additional information when firing up the grill.

Safety Tips for Outdoor Grilling:

• Gas and charcoal BBQ grills must only be used outdoors.
• Position the grill well away from siding, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Place the grill a safe distance from lawn games, play areas and foot traffic.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area: declare a three-foot "safe zone" around the grill.
• Put out several long-handled grilling tools to give the chef plenty of clearance from heat and flames when flipping burgers.
• Periodically remove grease or fat buildup in trays below grill so it cannot be ignited by a hot grill.

Tips for types of Grill:

Charcoal Grills

• Purchase the proper starter fluid and store the can out of reach of children, and away from heat sources.
• Never add charcoal starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited, and never use any flammable or combustible liquid other than charcoal starter fluid to get the fire going.

Gas Grills

• Check the gas cylinder hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year. A light soap and water solution applied to the hose will quickly reveal escaping propane by releasing bubbles. If you determine your grill has a gas leak, by smell or the soapy bubble test, and there is no flame:
  • Turn off the gas tank and grill.
  • If the leak stops, get the grill serviced by a professional before using it again.
  • If the leak does not stop, call the fire department.
  • If you smell gas while cooking, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not attempt to move the grill.
• All gas cylinders manufactured after April 2002 must have overfill protection devices (OPD). OPDs shut off the flow of gas before capacity is reached, limiting the potential for release of propane gas if the cylinder heats up. OPDs are easily identified by their triangular-shaped hand wheel.
• Use only equipment bearing the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions on how to set up the grill and maintain it.
• Never store propane gas cylinders in buildings or garages. If you store a gas grill inside during the winter, disconnect the cylinder and leave it outside.

For more information about the fire prevention, visit the Division’s website at www.state.tn.us/commerce/sfm/.

    

  

BRUCETON (June 12) A Bruceton couple faces numerous drug charges after a search warrant was executed for the home they shared at 120 North Carroll Street in Bruceton on Saturday, June 9, according to Police Chief Ronnie Stewart.

Shawn A. Uhrick, 27, and his live-in girlfriend, Shonda S. Kelley, 28, are each charged with three counts of possession of schedule II (crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone); three counts of schedule IV (Darvacet, Xanax, and Valium), possession of legend drugs (Soma), possession of drug paraphernalia (scales, rolling papers, hemostats, aluminum methamphetamine foil and tooters), and possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture.

Uhrick faces additional charges of simple possession of marijuana, after a bag of marijuana was found in his pocket, along with a bag of methamphetamine, said Stewart.

Officers reportedly found two marijuana plants measuring 12 inches tall in the house. Cocaine was found on a dresser, said Stewart.

Stewart said he receiving information from a confidential source concerning the drugs and obtained a search warrant. Bruceton Police Investigator Randy Kelley charged the pair following the search.

Warrants were also filed against a neighbor, Nicole Lynn Dill, 24, of 116 North Carroll Street, after her purse containing drugs was allegedly found in Shaun Uhrick’s vehicle. The pills were reportedly concealed in a cigarette pack.

Dill was arrested Monday on charges of possession of schedule IV (valium) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She posted a $750 bond Monday, Stewart said.

Uhrick and Kelley were transported to Carroll County Jail, where Uhrick’s bond was set at $4,750 and Kelley’s bond was set at $4,500.

Assisting Stewart and Kelley in the search were Officer Scotty Davis of Bruceton Police Department, Joe Townsend and Adam Meggs of Hollow Rock Police Department.