|
|
| |
|
|
click for this week's ad
 |
|
| |
Kansas Tornado Victims Have Ties to Local Area |
|
|
 |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
An aerial view of Greensburg, Kansas shows the
devastation left by the Friday evening tornado.
Henry Family To Make Trips to Assist Family
Members
When news of the devastating F-5 tornado that
obliterated the small town of Greensburg, Kansas was
announced Friday evening, Suzanne Smith of Henry knew
the exact location of the small town of 1500. She was
born in Greensburg and till has many relatives living
there.
Suzanne's two aunts, two uncles and two brothers and
their families were among those who sustained tremendous
loss in the tornado.
"My parents still own a home and a farm there," said
Suzanne. "We always spent our summers there with our
grandmother and my sons spent many summers there as
well."
Her parents, Don and Beulah Banta, moved from
Greensburg, Kansas to Paris, Tennessee in 1955. They
resided in Paris for 20 years before moving to Indiana.
Suzanne, a former fourth grade teacher at McKenzie
Elementary School, said her aunts and uncles lost their
homes, but miraculously survived the storm. One aunt and
uncle lost their business and home, while her brothers
and sister-in-law, who live in a rural area near town,
sustained only minor structural damage but their homes
are still standing.
Suzanne and son, Jason, will be leaving this week to
help with cleanup and assist their family and friends in
any way they can. Jason is a 1993 McKenzie High School
graduate and resides in Henry.
Joining them in Kansas will be another son, Patrick, who
is a 1989 graduate of McKenzie High School and now
resides in Colorado. Joining Patrick in the clean-up
efforts will be his wife, Heather. Suzanne’s sister,
Candi Decker of Texas (formerly of Paris), will be
traveling to Kansas to assist as well.
Shown is the high school in Greensburg and behind that
structure is the parking lot. East of the parking lot
and across the street is the corner were Bethel Keller’s
(Suzanne Smith’s aunt) house was located.
Suzanne's husband, Jimmy, will be making the
trip later. Jimmy and Suzanne co-own Dinkins Model Home
Center in Paris.
The massive tornado, an F-5 with wind estimated at 205
mph, was part of a weekend of violent storms across the
Plains that killed at least 12 people in Kansas. On
Monday, the death toll in Greensburg was elevated to 10
and some residents had still not been accounted for,
said Suzanne.
When the tornado swept through at 9:35 p.m. Friday,
little remained standing, but the grain elevator. The
tornado demolished every business on the main street.
Churches lost their steeples, trees were stripped of
their branches and neighborhoods were flattened.
Officials estimate as much as 95 percent of the town was
destroyed.
Suzanne explained that almost everyone in that area has
a basement and the community had received a warning of
the impending tornado.
"Among those who lost their homes were Bethel Keller, my
mother's sister, and Evon Boyles, my father's sister,"
said Suzanne.
Shown are the remains of the water tower, park, and gift
shop at the World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well built in the
1800s. The well was a popular tourist attraction in
Greensburg.
"My Aunt Bethel is a widow and lives alone," she said.
"She was in her basement with an older neighbor lady,
named Virgie. Her home was destroyed. Neighbors helped
to dig them out and they walked a long way before
receiving instructions to go to a shelter."
"Virgie had to go to the hospital because something hit
her in the head," she added. "I believe she is still
hospitalized."
"Aunt Bethel's house is between the two schools that
were also destroyed," she said.
"The other aunt, Evon Boyles, was in her basement with
her son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law and
grandchildren," said Suzanne. "Her house also did not
survive. They had to dig their way out."
Evon's husband, Andy Boyles, is an Alzheimers' patient
and resides in the local hospital in which the roof
collapsed, fatally injuring several. Andy survived and
was evacuated to another location, Suzanne said she has
learned.
Suzanne's brothers and sister-in-law are Ron and Wendy
Banta and Randi Banta. They also grew up in Paris.
"Uncle Kenny and Aunt Peggy were out of town on
business. They own and operate a Best Western motel in
the town, named "Jay Hawk," and it was destroyed," said
Suzanne. The motel served as their home as well.
"My Uncle Clair and Aunt Wilda's home is still standing,
but the windows were blown out and they sustained
structural damage," she said. "A large storage building
where Clair rebuilds Model Ts was destroyed as well as
most of the cars. However, a large RV was in the
building and he was able to drive them out of the town
in the motorhome.
"There is no electricity in all of the county and the
cell phones often do not work in or near town," said
Suzanne.
She said she talked with family members Monday morning
and they were waiting in a long line to enter the town.
"They allow only one family and one vehicle in at a
time," said Suzanne, accounting for the long delay.
"They are being escorted to their homes. They were also
being allowed to go to the courthouse area to sign up
for FEMA while in town."
Suzanne said the family members she spoke with had been
in line for hours. Traffic was backed up to the next
town, she was told.
She explained that it was dark when they left their
homes and they could not see the devastation very well.
"My aunts had not yet seen their property when I talked
to them," said Suzanne. "I have not talked to them again
and I am very worried about them."
Family members told Suzanne the sound was terrible as
the storm passed.
"Randy (brother) said he had heard it always sounded
like a train. He said it was worse than a train - so
loud it hurt his ears," she said.
"The two in the basement said the pressure was so great
it hurt their ears," added Suzanne.
At this time, Suzanne said her aunts are staying with
her brothers and other family members are with
relatives.
Watching news coverage of the tornado, Suzanne said one
of the reporters was
conducting an interview with her good friend, Starla,
who owned a shop
downtown that was destroyed.
Suzanne said the Twilight Theater opened on Main Street
of Greensburg in 1915 for silent films.
"My grandmother played the piano score for the movie,"
said Suzanne, who noted the theater had pressed tin
ceilings.
Hunter Drug Store had been in operation in the town
since 1917 and featured a soda fountain in the 1950s.
"A gentleman, Dick Huckreide, has worked there my whole
life," said Suzanne. "He is one of the missing
citizens."
"The 'Big Well' in the town was built in 1887 by hand
using simple tools, shovel, picks, and mule ropes. It
was 109 feet deep and 32 feet wide and lined with native
limestone," she said. "It was a masterpiece of pioneer
engineering."
Suzanne said her family will be making several trips to
Kansas this year to help out. Anyone who would like to
donate money or Wal-Mart gift cards to the victims,
should call Pam at Dinkins Home in Paris,
1-800-642-4891, or go by the location at 2427 East Wood
Street in Paris. It is not known what other items are
needed at this time. They need everything but just don't
have anywhere to put things. Donations will be used for
immediate cleanup and essentials. FEMA homes are
supposed to be on the way.
Immediate needs of food and water is being provided by
the Red Cross and others.
“As we see what people need and have a place to reside,
we will pass that information along,” said Suzanne. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Purple Heart Ceremony Honors Dusty Carroll |
|
|
|
|
|
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
Barbara and Pat Carroll (left) accept the Purple Heart
plaque honoring their son, Dusty Carroll, from CW3
Sidney H. Shown, U.S. Army Retired.
Fellow soldiers and friends gathered Saturday morning at
the Tennessee National Guard Armory in Milan to honor
Sgt. James Dusty Carroll with the presentation of a
Purple Heart plaque.
Dusty was killed when the Humvee in which he was riding
was struck by an Improvised Explosive Device (I.E.D.)
while on patrol in Iraq on July 31, 2005. The explosion
injured two others as well. Dusty and his father, Pat,
were serving with A Company 230th Engineer Battalion
during Iraqi Freedom II.
CSM Tim Ingram of 230th Engineering Battalion in Trenton
opened the ceremony with the introduction of
dignitaries, which consisted of Dusty’s father and
step-mother, Sgt. Pat and Barbara Carroll; CSM Stephen
Tolley, State Command Sergeant Major; Brigadier General
Robert Harris, Commanders of the 194 Engineer Brigade;
CSM Charles Hudson, Command Sergeant Major for the 194th
Engineer Brigade; LTC. Craig Johnson, Commander of the
230th Engineer Battalion; LTC Jeffrey Gaylord, Commander
1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment; CSM James
Spencer, Command Sergeant Major, 1st Squadron, 278th ACR;
CPT Daniel Brown, Commander, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 278
ACR; 1SG Michael Burk, First Sergeant C Troop, 1st
Squadron, 278th ACR, and several members from guard
units in Milan, McKenzie, and Trenton.
Presentation of the Tennessee Military Order of the
Purple Heart was made by CW3 Sidney H. Shown, U.S. Army
Retired.
Shown served in France, Germany and two tours in
Vietnam, and is the current commander of the Tennessee
Military Order of the Purple Heart.
The plaque presented to Pat and Barbara was the first
plaque to be presented to a fallen Tennessee soldier.
The Purple Heart is an American decoration and the
oldest military decoration in the world in present use.
It is the first American award made available to the
common soldier. It was initially created as the Badge of
Military Merit by one of the world’s most famed and best
loved heroes, General George Washington.
An organization now known as the “Military Order of the
Purple Heart” was formed in 1932 for the protection and
mutual interest of all who have received the decoration.
It is composed exclusively of Purple Heart recipients,
it is the only veteran’s service organization comprised
strictly of combat veterans. Associate membership is
offered to parents or lineal descendants of either a
living or deceased Purple Heart recipient.
There is now a National Purple Heart Hall of Honor,
located at the new Windsor Cantonment in Vails Gate, New
York, which was General Washington’s final encampment of
his army. The Department of Defense does not maintain a
master roster of Purple Heart recipients, who the
National Purple Heart Hall of Honors must rely upon
recipients and their families to supply information,
photos, and stories for each individual enrolled there.
Enrollment forms may be obtained by contacting CW3
Sidney Shown at 615-696-2133 or E-mail at tnmoph@aol.com.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Former Carroll County Official Ordered to Repay Tenncare |
|
|
|
|
|
HUNTINGDON (May 3) - The former Register of Deeds in Carroll
County was ordered Thursday by Judge Creed McGinley to repay
the State of Tennessee for obtaining TennCare medical
services for a family member. A motion for pre-trial
diversion was entered in the case in Carroll County Circuit
Court in Huntingdon. She will be on probation for one year.
Judy Baker, 63, of Huntingdon will be required to repay the
state $11,004 in restitution, according to the Office of
Inspector General. She retired from her position August 31,
2006.
According to attorney Joe H. Byrd, Jr., of the Jackson law
firm, Byrd and Byrd, Mrs. Baker maintains her “not guilty”
plea and entered the pre-trial diversion to avoid the
greater expense and stress of a jury trial, which he
believes he can win. The option of a jury trial is still
available.
Byrd said, “We have not admitted any guilt or wrongdoing.”
He noted the restitution of $11,004 is far less than the
legal expenses of carrying the case to trial. He explained
the court order was based on a “pre-trial diversion” not a
“judicial diversion.” The order is based on a mutual
agreement and no admission of guilt.
In May 2006, Baker was indicted for theft of services and
TennCare fraud as a result of her actions in September 2000,
when she applied for TennCare benefits on behalf of her
mother, Ruth McKenzie.
According to a news release from the State of Tennessee,
during an initial eligibility interview, Baker reported that
her mother had recently transferred property to her. When
she was notified by the state a month later that the
property transfer would make her mother temporarily
ineligible to receive TennCare benefits, Baker presented a
deed purporting to show the property had been transferred
back to her mother, an act that made her mother immediately
eligible for TennCare benefits. The property was never
transferred back to McKenzie and because of Baker’s
presentation of the deed, her mother received TennCare
benefits that she was not entitled.
Along with paying restitution to TennCare, Baker must
complete 60 hours of community service. Pre-trial diversion
is a program reserved for those defendants who do not have a
criminal record, and who have demonstrated they are highly
amenable to rehabilitation and therefore deserve a chance to
continue to have a “clean” criminal record. If Ms. Baker
completes all terms of her diversion program, the indictment
will be dismissed at the end of her diversion period.
Byrd said Baker immediately paid the $11,004 restitution and
has completed several of the community service hours.
Following the hearing, Baker told the state’s attorney, “I
never cheated anyone in my life.”
The real estate, deeded in Ms McKenzie’s name, was in poor
condition and would have never equaled the equity that the
state claimed, according to Byrd. Baker, herself installed
the central heat and air and obtained loans to upgrade the
real estate to a livable condition. The real estate was
transferred to Baker, and was in the process of being
transferred back to McKenzie. The law firm of Maddox and
Maddox had already created the deed which had not been
recorded, said Byrd. The Maddox firm recommended Mr. Byrd
represent Baker in the event the Maddox firm was called to
testify in a jury trial.
An independent certified public accountant concurred that
Ms. Baker gained no equity from the deed transfer, said
Byrd. Any gain in equity was equally matched with bank loans
to improve the property.
In the 26 years of law practice, Byrd said he has never seen
such an outpouring of community support as Baker received.
She had letters of support from lawyers, a former
chancellor, bankers, and ordinary citizens.
“She’s (Baker) one of the finest people I’ve ever met,” said
Byrd. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
New Property Appraisals Hit Owners’ Mailboxes |
|
|
|
|
|
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON (May 7) Things were reasonably quiet Monday
for representatives from the Tennessee Division of
Property Assessment assigned to hear property owners
concerns about new property appraisals in Carroll
County. During an hour-long visit by The Banner,
two persons appeared in person and the phones were quiet
as the seven representatives waited to serve people at
the Huntingdon National Guard Armory.
The notice of new property appraisals arrived in the
mailbox last week for the 18,325 parcels in the county.
Persons wishing to discuss their real estate property
rates may schedule an appointment with the Division of
Property Assessment by phoning 731-209-0061.
Representatives will be conducting preliminary hearing
at the Armory now through May 9, between the hours of
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Carroll County Property Assessor
Johnny Radford encouraged property owners to just walk
in without an appointment.
Radford said the phones are totally operational after a
two-day period in which the phones at first sounded as
if no one was answering and then later incorrectly
rolled over to the Baptist Hospital. The representatives
are able to answer most questions and will conduct
another survey if needed. Revisits will start next week,
said Radford.
Real property values have increased an average of 15.2
percent countywide since the last reappraisal in 2003.
Radford said the state’s Division of Property Assessment
conducted field surveys of real property over a
three-year period. Thirty-three percent of the 18,368
parcels of property was assessed each year.
Assessments are based on real estate sales information
for similar property in the related market. Changes in
real estate, such as the addition of a room or garage or
the removal of a mobile home from the property will
affect the assessment, said Radford.
Overall, property values in McKenzie and Huntingdon
increased more than in other areas. Property sales
information indicates that real estates in the county’s
larger two cities have increased more than other areas
of the county, continuing the trend with the last
reappraisal in 2003.
Larry Blaylock owns four buildings in downtown McKenzie.
He said he and neighboring property owners are “very
unhappy with the appraisal.” His appraisals were for “a
lot more than the property is worth,” he said. He said
something is definitely wrong with the system when the
appraisal nearly doubles on buildings more than 100
years old.
Radford said the team will address downtown property
owners’ concerns.
The state will deliver a “certified tax rate” to each of
the taxing authorities – the eight municipalities, five
school districts, and the county. Each of the
authorities’ rates will change according to the total
evaluation of property in that jurisdiction. The
certified tax rate for the county is expected to be 92
cents per $100 appraised value, down from the current
rate of $1.06. The certified rate is calculated to
generate the same total tax revenue as the previous
assessment.
Preliminary certified tax rates are as follows:
Huntingdon Special School District $1.65 (2006), $1.46
(2007); Hollow Rock-Bruceton SSD - $1.99 (2006), $1.66
(2007); McKenzie SSD - $1.53 (2006), $1.36 (2007); South
Carroll SSD -$1.41 (2006), $1.19 (2007); and West
Carroll SSD - $1.81 (2006), $1.56 (2007).
Preliminary certified tax rates for municipalities are:
Bruceton - $1.89 (2006), $1.6033 (2007); Hollow Rock -
$0.84 (2006), $.07418 (2007); Huntingdon - $1.29 (2006),
$1.167 (2007); McKenzie $1.05 (2006), $0.91 (2007);
McLemoresville $.79 (2006), $0.6645 (2007); Trezevant -
$0.69 (2006), $0.657 (2007).
Some property owners’ taxes will increase and others
will decrease, according to Radford.
Business owners can expect to receive new appraisals on
personal property on the week of May 14, said Radford. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
West Carroll Wins Prestigious Award; School Board
Approves New Band Uniforms |
|
|
|
|
|
By Jimmy Gilliam
sports@mckenziebanner.com |
Principals Lex Suite and Travis Carter will travel to
Nashville on May 7 to receive the awards for both the
elementary and the junior high schools.
ATWOOD (May 3) West Carroll Director of Schools Eric
Williams proudly stated, "Lex Suite (principal of the
high school and junior high) and Travis Carter
(principal of the elementary school) will travel to
Nashville on Monday (May 7) to accept the Value Added
Awards based on the achievement of our students. The
principals are the recipients of the award based on the
hard work of the teachers have done and along with that,
it comes with a $1,000 to $3,000 cash prize. The
principals have to be principal for at least five years
(to be eligible). Both of our schools, the Elementary
and the Junior High, were high achievers."
Williams read an e-mail in which he received this news,
"If you will examine our 2006 Elementary and Middle
School charts, you will see that your system was the
highest performing in the region and one of the highest
in Tennessee."
Williams continued, "It's a great honor for the system
and it's a great honor for our principals and I know
when they travel to Nashville, they will represent us
will."
Suite and Carter were in agreement that the award would
not have been possible without the hard work of the
teaching staff and students throughout the West Carroll
school system.
Jim Pirtle (L) makes a motion for the board to purchase
new band equipment and new band uniforms for the total
of $37,381.50 as Mike Foster listens attentively.
Board member Jim Pirtle stated, "I have a financial
statement from the band boosters. The total deposits or
money taken in this school year was $20,477 The band has
incurred $18,852.05 in total expenses with $3,359.19 in
outstanding bills, not including trophies and plaques
for the band members at the end of the year banquet that
will cost approximately $500. We actually have more
going out than we have coming in, so the band boosters
will have to raise money just to close out the year in
the black. I've talked with Randy (Wilson) and I just
want to clear up a few things that the band is
requesting. The band boosters have been paying for a
large majority of any new instruments that the band has
gotten. Unfortunately, the size of the band has fallen
to the point where, the money coming in isn't there
anymore and we're no longer able at this time to
purchase any equipment. In the past, the band boosters
have bought a marimba that was almost $6,000, the band
boosters bought a tuba and other instruments for $1,300,
the band boosters bought a keyboard worth $500, and we
built the observation deck at approximately $1,000. The
band boosters have also spent just over $1,100 for
shelving in the band room. The band boosters have spent
everything they have made for the kids. Unfortunately,
right now the band boosters are not able to purchase
anything else. One of the problems that we've incurred
is, back in the bands hayday, we had a band program of
70-80 kids. Each year, each kid was responsible for $100
for band camp and $100 for band dues with our collection
rate on that was approximately 95 percent. There alone,
we were taking in from $14,000 to $16,000 just in dues,
whereas, this last year the band was twenty-seven people
that marched. Of those twenty-seven students, we were
able to collect less than half the dues at approximately
$1,200 to $1,300. Our income, because of the size of the
band and some of the demographics of the area now makes
it real difficult to take in the money that we used to
take in. When the band started, the band students
themselves purchased their uniforms. The only thing that
was purchased for the band in the beginning was a tuba,
a baritone, and a couple of bass drums. Approximately
eleven years ago, the school paid $13,000 for seventy
uniforms at the total cost of $26,000 with the band
boosters paying the other $13,000. The band has done
well, but it's fallen on some hard times and I would
like to see as a board if we can't do something about
that. We've had a lot of students that have gone through
the West Carroll band program that have gone on to
college on band scholarships. The band program has put
out some wonderful students who because of the band
program were able to get their college paid for. The
band program is a very good program that we need to
support. The instruments that he (Wilson) is asking for
are instruments that they need to do not just the
marching, but the symphony type thing. I make a motion
that we take care of the instruments and the uniforms."
Eric Williams commented that perhaps we could check into
competitive bidding between companies for a better price
and asked assistant band director Randy Wilson if we
could possibly purchase thirty to thirty-five uniforms
instead of fifty.
Wilson commented that it was possible, but the cost of
the uniforms would be more costly to do so.
Jimmy Halford, "I think that all of us want to see the
band do well, but we give them $10,000 at the beginning
of every year," as he expressed his concerns of
overspending. Halford asked, "How much money are you
talking about altogether?"
Pirtle responded, "The ones that we need as far as
instruments will cost $26,694 and the fifty new uniforms
will cost $10,687.50 for a total of $37,381.50."
"I know it's a lot of money," stated Pirtle, "I want to
make sure that we do the best we can, but the band has
never been outfitted like they should have been from the
beginning."
After much discussion, Pirtle amended his motion to only
include the new uniforms for the price of $10,687.50 and
for the board to look into prices for the band
equipment. The motion received a second by Mike Foster
and the board approved the new uniforms for the band.
In other business the school board approved the
following:
- The Federal Projects Budget for 2007-2008.
- The motion to advertise for bids for new band
equipment.
- The Tennessee Comprehensive Systemwide Planning
Process.
- Payment to Mike Greer and Scott Ashley in the amount
of $300 each for refinishing the gymnasium floor.
- Board policies regarding code of ethics and
emergency allergy response plan on the first reading.
- The high school repairs in the joints of the
building at the price of $7,500 bid by Tolley and Lowe
of Milan, which includes the concrete repair, caulking,
and repainting.
- The Pre-K quarter-mile riding/walking track for the
Primary school to be completed by Martin Paving at cost
of $14,000.
- The declaration of nine primary school cafeteria
tables and one 1993 Chevrolet Lumina as surplus
property.
- Two special courses, the ACT preparation and
Technical Based Intervention for the Gateway test.
- The consent agenda with the addition of the
resignation of Mark Rich.
The school board also presented notification of intent
to file federal grants. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
Sheriff Asks for 70 Percent Increase in Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
|
Carroll County Sheriff Bendell Bartholomew (right) asks
for a significant increase in his budget for the next
fiscal year. To his left are Matt Maddox and Jean
Newsome of the law offices of Maddox and Maddox.
HUNTINGDON (May 8) Carroll County Sheriff Bendell
Bartholomew requested a $1.3 million increase in the
2007-2008 fiscal year budget during county government
budget hearings Tuesday. Bartholomew, now in his fourth
term, requested 14 new patrol cars, nine of which to
replace the three-year old fleet of Crown Victorias, a
four-wheel drive Escalade for him to drive, and nine
additional deputies.
The sheriff attended the meeting with his attorney, Matt
Maddox of Maddox and Maddox Attorneys.
Bartholomew entered a request for pay raises for all
sheriff’s department associates to bring them up to the
pay grade of neighboring counties. He said the county
sheriff’s department is shorthanded and said some event,
like the upcoming Winkler child custody hearing in
Carroll County, will require lots of manpower. Brother
Dan and Diane Winkler are trying to get custody of their
three granddaughters from the children’s mother, Mary
Winkler who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in
the death of Matthew Winkler. The trial in Selmer drew
national attention and gavel to gavel TV coverage. The
sheriff said he will have to “beg, borrow and steal”
manpower for that upcoming case.
Sheriff personnel are leaving for pay increases at other
departments, said Bartholomew. He said deputy Josh Wade
gave his notice to leave the department. The Committee
questioned if Wade was leaving to join his dad in Henry
County? Bartholomew responded in the affirmative.
Pay increase requests range from 28.2 percent for the
chief deputy to 6.1 percent for jailers.
Electricity will also increase, said the sheriff. The
department’s administrative and dispatch services moved
from the ground floor of the jail to the former health
department building last year. The sheriff said it was
difficult to estimate the costs of utilities on the new
facility. As for the fuel budget, Bartholomew said he
was uncertain how to budget for fuel costs these days.
Maintenance contracts on the equipment is also
increasing in costs, said the sheriff.
Commissioner Ben T. Surber questioned about the plan to
put two deputies in a patrol car so officers would have
backup? Sheriff said that’s still the plan, however the
five additional cars are still needed.
Carroll County has the smallest (manpower) sheriff’s
department in Tennessee according to population, said
the sheriff.
Mayor Kenny McBride said the request would require a tax
increase of 43 cents per $100 assessed value on real
property. That’s approximately a tax rate increase of
46.7 percent. McBride said the current sheriff’s budget
is $1.826 million, or approximately 32 percent of the
General Fund, without the Carroll Academy’s budget
figured in. Carroll Academy is funded by state funds and
donations, said McBride.
The mayor said the county pays 75 percent of both worker
and dependent care major medical insurance. Very few
counties offer such a generous insurance package,
according to McBride.
McBride said the budget committee will review each
department’s budget requests, meet with department heads
as needed, make final budget projections, and send the
entire budget to the Carroll County Commission for
approval. A final budget must be approved by October 1
for the 2007-2008 fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2007.
In Tennessee, county office holders can file their
complaints in Chancery Court for a hearing. The
Chancellor can decide the fate of the office holder’s
budget requests.
McBride noted that in nearby Henry County, a chancellor
ruled last month in favor of the county of Henry when
that county’s clerk and master asked for a budget
increase of just one percent of what Bartholomew is
requesting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
McKenzie Man Injured in Train-Van Collision |
|
|
|
|
|
HUNTINGDON (May 8) An elderly McKenzie man was airlifted to
a Jackson hospital after he pulled his Chevrolet van into
the path of an oncoming eastbound KWT train Tuesday
afternoon.
James C. Petty, McKenzie was traveling north on the entrance
road to Carroll County Co-Op when the accident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said Petty pulled his van into the path of the
train, which broadsided the driver’s side door.
The van was pushed approximately 100 feet before being
shoved off the track and rolling onto its side. Observers
said it was a lucky event that the van was pushed off the
track. Occasionally, the struck vehicles remain on the track
and continue to be pushed by the train.
Huntingdon Fire Department, Baptist Emergency Medical
Services, Carroll County Rescue Squad, Huntingdon Police
Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, and the
McKenzie Fire-Rescue Team responded the accident.
Rescuers cut the top from the Chevrolet van to free Petty
from the wreckage. He was treated by Baptist EMS before
being airlifted from the scene. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
McKenzie Man Dies Following Train-Van Collision |
|
|
|
|
|
HUNTINGDON (May 8) An McKenzie man died following a
train-van collision in Huntingdon on Tuesday. James C.
Petty, age 74, was airlifted from the scene to a Jackson
hospital after he pulled his Chevrolet van into the path of
an oncoming eastbound Paris-based KWT train Tuesday
afternoon.
Petty was traveling north on the entrance road to Carroll
County Co-Op when the accident occurred. Eyewitnesses said
Petty pulled his van into the path of the train, which
broadsided the driver’s side door.
The van was pushed approximately 100 feet before being
shoved off the track and rolling onto its side. Observers
said it was a lucky event that the van was pushed off the
track. Occasionally, the struck vehicles remain on the track
and continue to be pushed by the train.
Huntingdon Fire Department, Baptist Emergency Medical
Services, Carroll County Rescue Squad, Huntingdon Police
Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, and the
McKenzie Fire-Rescue Team responded the accident.
Rescuers cut the top from the Chevrolet van to free Petty
from the wreckage. He was treated by Baptist EMS before
being airlifted from the scene.
Funeral services are at Gleason First Apostolic Church, 11
a.m., Friday. Gallimore Funeral Home, Gleason is in charge
of arrangements. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
