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City Approves Code of Ethics for City Sports |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester
presents State Representative Mark Maddox a copy of the
city-approved resolution asking the legislature to vote
against the Competitive Cable and Video Services Act.
MCKENZIE (March 8, 2007) – Coaches, parents, and players
involved in city-sponsored sports must agree to comply
with a
code of ethics before being allowed to
participate. In a 4-2 vote, McKenzie City Council
adopted the policy established by the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Committee.
The two-page document establishes how coaches, parents,
and players should conduct themselves and sets standards
for attending practices, games, and sets penalties for
not complying with the regulations.
Tracy Webb, speaking for the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Committee said the policy is designed to set a
uniform standard for penalties for inappropriate
actions. The policy establishes each league board as the
first line of defense. The first page is the National
Youth Sports Coaching Association’s Code of Ethics. The
second page outlines the penalties for noncompliance.
The league board and the McKenzie Park director have the
authority to immediately suspend anyone in violation of
the code of ethics for a one-day period. The Board will
immediately meet on the issue following the one-day
suspension and may decide to notify the individual of
additional days of suspension for up to one week. A
person may be suspended up to one year.
Debbie Broadbent, of the committee, said last year a
coach threatened a referee and the police were called.
The next day, the coach was back.
Councilman Brad Davis expressed concerns about the
subjective nature of the code of ethics. One of the
rules for the coaches is “I will do my best to organize
practices that are fun and challenging for all my
players.” Davis asked if the coach could be subject to
suspension if the practice is not fun. He indicated the
codes of ethics should be a mission statement and have a
list of prohibited actions.
Webb said the rules are a good approach for now.
Councilman Gene Hale said the goal is to prohibit or
eliminate incidents at the parks. Nothing says a person
is going to be suspended.
Broadbent said “We have confidence in our boards,”
concerning the use of the penalties.
City Attorney Kent Jones said use of the parks is a
“privilege, not a right.” He said some people say, “It’s
a free country.” Jones said if a person is suspended
from the park, then that person can be charged with
criminal trespassing if he returns within the time of
prohibition.
Mayor Walter Winchester said the document is a very good
beginning. He encouraged the council to see how it works
the first year.
Councilwoman Jill Holland said the document is flexible.
She expressed her confidence in the league boards in
fairly administering the provisions.
Voting in favor of the sports code of ethics were: Gene
Hale, Wade Allen, Jill Holland, and Darra Adkins. Voting
against were: Brad Davis and Charles Ramey.
City Supports Cable Competition, Votes Against
Competitive Cable and Video Services Act
In a unanimous vote, councilmen agreed to request AT&T
to negotiate with city fathers to provide cable and
other telecommunications services to the citizens of
McKenzie. Providers have the authority to negotiate
non-exclusive contracts in Tennessee. However, the city
of McKenzie does not support the state of Tennessee
giving AT&T a blanket franchise to serve communities.
The Competitive Cable and Video Services Act would
bypass franchising authority of local governments.
The resolution encouraging AT&T to negotiate with the
City indicates that the current provider, Charter, has
served the city of McKenzie well by ensuring the city
can protect its citizens, preserve its authority and
that cable companies cannot “cherry pick” its customers.
In a separate action, the council encouraged the
Tennessee General Assembly to vote against the proposed
“Competitive Cable and Video Service Act.” According to
the resolution, the act is premised on the erroneous and
unsubstantiated assertion that local governments and the
local cable franchising process impeded competition
among cable and video providers. However, more than 600
cable franchise agreements that cable and telephone
companies have entered into with the local governments
in Tennessee provide clear and convincing evidence that
such assertions are baseless.
The current local franchises ensure cable and video
operators respond to local needs and interests including
customer service standards, build out requirements that
ensure cable operators serve the entire community,
provisions of public, education and government access
channels. The act would effectively eliminate the
process by which local governments establish and enforce
requirements that protect its citizens and ensure that
all residents are assured access to cable or video
service; prohibit the state and local governments from
enacting any consumer quality and service protection
standards; greatly minimize local governments’
enforcement of customer service standards; significantly
reduce local access channel obligations, including local
control; and reduce franchise fees paid to local
governments. It would allow cable and video providers to
“cherry pick” the most profitable neighborhoods and
customers.
In other business, the council:
*approved the second and final reading to rezone a lone
parcel of property to M-1 (light manufacturing). Mars
Petcare purchased the former Hollis Hopper farm, located
at the intersection of Euclid and Bell Store Road, and
converted it to a parking lot for trucks. No one spoke
during the public hearing on the matter.
*heard Adkins report the Fire Department had responded
to 29 fires during 2007. She noted that all open fires
in the city of McKenzie require a burning permit. Due to
the dry conditions and low humidity, no burn permits are
being issued at this time. |
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Unusually Cold Temperatures Affects Recent Utility Bills |
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Unusually cold winter weather in late January and early
February are affecting utility bills locally, according
to Lynn Compton, manager of Carroll County Electric
Department.
Customers whose meters were read mid-January to
mid-February are experiencing higher than normal utility
bills, particularly when compared to the previous month
or the same time last year.
“Some customers have reported their most recent bills
doubled the previous month’s billing,” said Compton.
Compton noted customers who caught the last two weeks of
January and the first two weeks of February on their
billing cycle experienced the coldest 30 to 32 day
period in several years.
Some customers also experienced extended days on their
January to February billing cycles, such as 32-34 days.
That, coupled with the rate increase in 2006, is also
causing slightly higher bills, said Compton.
“We are going to try to stay as close to 30 days as
possible (on meter reading),” he added.
Temperature records indicate that January 1 to the 15th
was warmer than normal, but January 16th to the 31st was
much colder than normal. The reverse was true in
February with the 1st through the 17th temperatures
being considerably colder than normal.
This weather cycle meant that some customers experience
an entire month of extremely cold weather. Other meter
reading cycles had some warmer than normal temperatures
and some colder than normal.
On January 1st through the 15th, the average high was 49
degrees and the average low was 38 degrees. From January
16 through the 31st, the average high dropped to 42
degrees and the average low was 25 degrees.
On February 1st through the 17th, the average high was
40 degrees and the average low was 23 degrees. From
February 18th to the 28th, the average high jumped to 50
degrees and the average low to 36 degrees.
Hopefully, if warmer temperatures continue, March will
be better, said Compton.
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Couple Treated and Released After Airplane Crash |
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PARIS (March 12, 2007) A Cordova couple was treated and
released after they were involved in an airplane crash near
Henry County Airport on Monday, March 12.
Edward Lee Sandman, Jr., age 49, and wife, Angela were en
route to KenLake State Park from Memphis on Monday shortly
after noon when the plane engine developed problems and
stalled. Mr. Sandman attempted to make an emergency landing
at Henry County Airport, bringing it down short of the
runway in a soybean field across the street. The soft field
landing sheared the front tricycle fixed landing gear
causing the plane to flip on its top. Henry County Medical
Center EMS responded to the scene and transported the couple
to HCMC where they were treated and released. Henry County
Sheriff's Department and fire departments responded as well.
The couple rented a car and returned home, culminating the
planned celebration of Mrs. Sandman's 50th birthday.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the
crash. |
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Seasonal Decreases Push Unemployment Rates Up |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
Unemployment rates throughout the tri-counties increased
in January, as did all 95 counties statewide, according
to latest statistics released by the Tennessee
Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Carroll County’s January rate increased to 7.6 percent,
up from the December rate of 6.3 percent. Several
sectors showed decreases in county employment to begin
the new year, including natural resources and
construction, trade, transportation, and utilities,
education and health services, leisure and hospitality,
and government. Many of these decreases can be
attributed to seasonal factors, said Judith Bradberry,
Labor Market Analyst for the state.
From a labor force of 14,170 Carroll Countians, a total
of 13,100 were employed, leaving 1,070 unemployed.
Henry County’s January unemployment rate was 8.2 percent
which is an increase from the December rate of 6.4
percent. In that county, decreases were experienced in
natural resources/construction, manufacturing,
professional/business services, leisure/hospitality and
government.
From an available work force of 14,280 in that county, a
total of 13,110 were employed, leaving 1,170 jobless.
Weakley County’s January unemployment rate was 6.0
percent, up from the December rate of 5.3 percent.
Decreased were in trade, transportation and utilities,
professional/ business services.
From an available work force of 16,110 there, a total of
15,140 were employed, leaving 970 unemployed.
The decreases in both Henry and Weakley counties are
also considered seasonal.
Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for
January 2007 was released last week at 4.8 percent, 0.1
percent lower than the December rate of 4.9 percent. The
United States unemployment rate for the month of January
was 4.6 percent.
County unemployment rates cannot be seasonally adjusted
and therefore reflect seasonal expansions and layoffs
that occur during the year. The state and U.S.
unemployment rates are seasonally adjusted to eliminate
normal seasonal fluctuations and to indicate a more
accurate measurement of actual economic change. |
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Large Pharmacy Purchases Lead to Meth Arrests |
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HUNTINGDON (March 9, 2007) Six individuals face charges of
Promotion of Methamphetamine Manufacture after Huntingdon
Police Department conducted a survey of psuedoepherine
purchases from area pharmacies.
Huntingdon Public Safety Director Joe Parker said the HPD
began a roundup of the individuals after purchasing
psuedoepherine, which is now placed behind the pharmacy
counters and requires identification but not a prescription
to purchase.
Warrants were filed for: John David Mayo, 45, of Huntingdon;
Bobby Carroll, 41, of Huntingdon; Harlon B. Smith, 44, of
Paris; Johnathan Arnold, 41, of Eva; Billy Ray Hayes, 42, of
Cedar Grove; and Jeffrey Wayne Parham, 39, of McKenzie.
Parham, Mayo and Carroll had not been arrested Monday
morning. Each will be held in lieu of a $1000 bond with a
court appearance set for Wednesday.
Parker praised the efforts of the personnel of his
department, especially Kenneth Blado, Richard Bryant, Joey
Hedge, and Lt. Johnny Hill. Other warrants may be issued in
the case, said Parker.
The Metro Crime Unit – a special unit of the Paris Police
Department and Henry County Sheriff’s Department – recently
made a roundup of individuals, who made purchases of
psuedoepherine in Henry County. |
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Carroll County Soil Conservation to Hold Appreciation
Banquet |
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The Carroll County Soil Conservation District will be
holding its Annual Landowner Appreciation Banquet on
Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 6:30 p.m.
The speaker will be Dr. Jim Byford, dean of the College of
Agriculture and Applied Sciences at the University of
Tennessee at Martin. He serves on governing boards of the
West TN River Basin Authority, the UT Press, the West TN Y F
& R Leadership Development Corp., and Ethanol Grain
Processors.
He will also be our entertainment for the evening. He has
appeared in several commercial videos, recorded several
songs and has appeared on the TNN cable network in the
“Southern Outdoors” series.
If you plan to attend, please call Susan Bates at (731)
209-4153 ext. 3 by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, March 15, 2007 to
reserve your complimentary meal. |
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