The Mckenzie Banner

Alivia Green of McKenzie and Jayne-Shaye Bailey of Gleason prepare for graduation.

Bethel Confers 307 Degrees in Spring Commencement

McKENZIE (May 7) — Bethel University conferred 307 degrees on Saturday, May in the Crisp Arena on the McKenzie campus. Graduates were conferred degrees on the levels of Associates, Bachelors and Masters for both in-person and online students. more

5/10/22

MHS Principal Kelly Spivey displays samples of proposed new seating for the MHS Gymnasium.

School Board Approves Issuance of Debt, Pursues New Seating at MHS Gymnasium

McKENZIE (May 3) — The construction of a new multi-purpose building is one step closer following the action of the Board of Education of the McKenzie Special School District. The Board approved the issuance of debt, which allows the bond agent to seek buyers for the debt. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 5/10/22

West Carroll FBLA students attend state convention. (L to R): Joe Vermillion, Will Robinson, Will Murray, Hannah Fowler, Dori Johnson and Susan Barrow (advisor).

West Carroll FBLA Competes at State

West Carroll Future Business Leaders of America compete at the state level with two members advancing to nationals. more

4/26/22

WEST CARROLL HIGH QUEEN AND COURT (L to R): Third Maid — Nyonna Parker, 15, daughter of Ryanne and Dennis Parker of Trezevant; First Maid — Sydney Bosley, 16, daughter of Rodney and Michelle Bosley; Queen — Brooklyn Polinski, 18, daughter of Jessica Estes and Tommy Polinski of Atwood; Princess — Hannah Fowler, 15, daughter of Jeremy and Brittany Fowler of Atwood; Second Maid — Kirsten Larsen, 17, daughter of Michelle and Troy Larsen, of Cedar Grove; and Fourth Maid — Autumn Houston, 16, daughter of Stephanie Vinson and Jeff Houston of McLemoresville.

West Carroll Junior, Senior Beauty Revues

4/26/22

McKenzie School Board to Hear of Retirements, Instructional Fees

McKenzie School Board meets Tuesday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. at McKenzie Middle School Library. more

4/26/22

Dr. Kimberly Martin, Vice President, College of Professional Studies; President Dr. Walter Butler; McKenzie Mayor Jill Holland; and Dr. Wayne Scott, Executive VP at Bethel signed a memorandum of understanding for discounted tuition at Bethel for city employees.

City Employees Eligible for Discounted Bethel Tuition

McKENZIE (April 22) — Officials at Bethel University announce the university and the City of McKenzie signed a memorandum of understanding to offer full-time city employees a 25% tuition discount in its College of Professional Studies. more

4/26/22

Mustang Mentors — Ben Livingston, Kaylan Belew, Campbell Cary and Aden Hutcherson spoke about serving as Mustang Mentors.

Huntingdon Schools Approve LED Lighting Project

HUNTINGDON (April 21) — All campuses of the Huntingdon Special School District will be converted to light-emitting diode (LED) lighting following the unanimous vote of the Huntingdon Board of Education. The $559,875 project is ‘self-funded’ through energy savings over the 12 year term. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 4/26/22

Phaedra Creed told her story about being hit by a drunk driver to McKenzie students.

Prom Promise: Students Learn About The Harmful Effects of Alcohol

Phaedra Creed spoke to approximately 900 students at all five Carroll County high schools about the harmful effects of drinking and driving. She was a victim of someone who chose to drive intoxicated and was paralyzed as a result of the driver’s actions. more

4/19/22

8th Grade (Alphabetical Order): Gracie Aird, Mason Batten, Ethan Batton, Brody Berryhill, Dylan Bomar, Tobey Brooks, Olivia Cantrell, Coleson Cook, Jayden Curtis, Katelynn Essary, Molly French, Matthew Gaylord, Bethaney Hatley, Morgan Little, Landyn McLearen, Landon Otis, Landon Pershell, Lukas Pride, Lily Sam, Keelan Sneed, Ryan Toombs, Caden Tucker and Charli Weatherford.

McKenzie Middle Honors Students

McKENZIE (April 12) — The McKenzie Middle School held its annual honors banquet Tuesday evening. The event was sponsored by the McKenzie Rotary Club. Dr. Brooke Spivey Burress, a McKenzie alumnus and local optometrist, was the featured speaker. more

4/19/22

Gleason Middle Football Award Winners — Sitting (L to R): Bulldog Award — Caleb Jones, Offensive Player of the Year/Most Improved — Gage Byington, and Team MVP — Drake Lehmkuhl. Standing (L to R): Most Improved — Blaine Harrison, Best Lineman/Co-Defensive Player of the Year — Trey Mayo and Co-Defensive Player of the Year — Aiden Legens.

Gleason Middle School Sports Banquet

4/12/22

2022 Miss Huntingdon — Greenlee Ellis Sharpe.

Huntingdon Hometown Royalty Crowned

4/12/22

Mrs. Janet Winchester accepting her award from School Director Preston Caldwell.

West Carroll School Board Honors Winchester

ATWOOD – The monthly session was started with the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda which included approval of the March meeting minutes and the resignation of LeAnn Edwards. Edwards taught Art and Journalism while being the yearbook sponsor. more

By Jim Potts
jpotts@mckenziebanner.com | 4/12/22

Lynn Watkins, director of schools, presented certificates to attendees of the annual SCOPE Conference in Nashville. Pictured (L to R) Lynn Watkins, Kristen Bradberry, Payton Ognibene and Lilly Sumrok. Not Pictured: Amya Gilbert.

Construction Ready to Proceed at McKenzie Schools

McKENZIE (April 5) — Construction at three McKenzie school sites will soon begin or is in the development phase. more

4/12/22

Jai-Chandler Mathis conceived of the mural depicting the work of Rescue Center Costa Rica for both residents and volunteers from around the world to see and enjoy. The Bethel University Global Studies group led by Dresden’s Stacie Freeman (not pictured because she was behind the camera) included students from Dresden High School. They and others from Gallatin, Tennessee spent spring break following Mathis’ guidance to paint the vivid scene. Artists of the moment included — Left Group, Front Row (L to R): Mark Maddox, Jacey McClure, LeeAnne Morefield, Austin Miller and Haley Brooks. Left Group, Back Row: Mark McClure and Dylan Nash. Right Group (L to R): Hallie Hall, Patti Vinson, Mathis and Kristen Childress.

Dresden Students Travel to Costa Rica with Bethel Global Students

When Stacie Freeman saw the destruction the December tornado caused in her hometown of Dresden, one of her first thoughts was to cancel the March trip to Costa Rica she’d planned for students at Dresden High. As the director of Bethel University Global Studies program and a sociology professor who provides dual enrollment classes for Weakley County Schools, she weighed the cost of the travel against the loss of the cultural experience and, initially determined the local needs were too great. more

4/5/22

Bethel Students Work at the Final Four Tournaments

McKENZIE (April 1) — Along with Blue Devils, Tarheels, Jayhawks and Wildcats from Pennsylvania, you could find Wildcats from West Tennessee at last weekend’s Final Four in New Orleans. more

4/5/22

McKenzie School Board of Education to Meet April 5

McKenzie Special School District Board of Education meets Tuesday, April 5, 5:30 p.m. at the board office, 114 Bell Avenue. more

3/29/22

Seniors — Listed in alphabetical order: Emma Barnett-Ruprich, Jaden Barton, Wynter Baucum, Carson Burke, Shannan Cheney, Andrew Cole, Trey Cook, Dani Dyer, Sydney Fornera, Jonah Hampton, Jonathan Haney, Hayden Hudson, Ethan Jones, Raina Jones, Zayden McCaslin, Collin McLearen, Brianna Newsome, Sadie O’Brien, Duane Patrick, Claire Price, Blair Putman, Mathew Reindl, Anna Grace Spivey, Ashlyn Swinea, Connor Viana, Juleyanne Weatherford, Landon Winchester and Isabelle Wright.

McKenzie High Hosts Annual Honors Program

McKENZIE (March 22) — McKenzie High School held its annual program to honor students who have an average of 95 and above. The 2022 event was held at the MHS Gymnasium with Carol Putman Parkins as the featured speaker. more

3/29/22

Tabitha Holbrook and Grace Seiber were two of 36 MHS students and others who donated blood to Lifeline Blood Services.

McKenzie High Donates 36 Pints of Blood

McKENZIE (March 23) — Thirty-six McKenzie High School students and others donated the ‘gift of life’ when they donated a pint of blood to Lifeline Blood Services of Jackson. The mobile bloodmobile parked in front of MHS on Wednesday, March 23 for students, aged 17 and older to participate. The 36 pints are estimated to serve 108 others who need blood or blood products. more

3/29/22

Isabelle Wright (seated left) with parents John and Josephine Wright and Raina Jones with parents, Randy and Kristie Jones.

Two McKenzie High Students Receive Full Scholarships

Two McKenzie High School seniors were honored with the Ray and Linda Morris Scholarship last week. This scholarship is awarded to students who have shown strong academic abilities and achieved a high ACT composite score and majoring in Nursing, Math or Biology. This scholarship covers full tuition for four years. Congratulations to Raina Jones and Isabelle Wright. The two students are pictured with their parents. more

3/29/22

Anna Claire Patel, 17, a junior at McKenzie High School, was selected as McKenzie High School 2022 during a beauty revue on Saturday, March 26. She is a member of the MHS Soccer and Track teams. She has brown hair and hazel eyes. She is the daughter of James and Mitzi Trevathan and Michael Patel.

Patel Crowned Miss McKenzie

Anna Claire Patel, 17, a junior at McKenzie High School, was selected as McKenzie High School 2022 during a beauty revue on Saturday, March 26. more

3/29/22