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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2001
Henry County Sheriff's
Department Officers responded to a domestic disturbance
call that resulted in a trailer being set afire by the
assailant while one child was still inside the home.
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Officer Kills Henry Man After Domestic Incident Turns
Violent |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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An officer of the Henry County Sheriff's
Department fatally shot a Henry man Thursday inside a
burning mobile home, after a domestic argument turned
violent at 5030 Macedonia Road southeast of Henry. The
deceased man was identified as Paul Kurgan, age 39,
according to Henry County Sheriff David L. Bumpus.
The shooting occurred after authorities responded to a
911 hang-up call that was received from the residence at
9:41 p.m. Officers from Henry County Sheriff's Office,
along with investigators of the 24th Judicial Task
Force, responded to the scene and encountered a domestic
dispute in progress between Mr. Kurgan, a male
originally from the Chicago Illinois area, and his
estranged wife, Lisa Kurgan. Mr. Kurgan did not reside
at the address and had come to the residence in
violation of an order of protection.
The intruder was threatening to harm his wife, two
children at the house, and himself, according to Sheriff
Bumpus.
"Officers on the scene were able to get Mrs. Kurgan and
her daughter out of the house and away from Mr. Kurgan",
said the sheriff.
Mr. Kurgan reportedly went to the door with his
11-year-old stepson at knifepoint and instructed
officers to leave or he would kill the child and
himself. Officers attempted to convince him to release
the boy and put down his weapon.
"Mr. Kurgan absolutely would not negotiate and could not
be reasoned with," added Sheriff Bumpus.
Sergeant Clyde Sulcer of the Henry County Sheriff's
Office arrived on the scene and was in continuous
contact with Sheriff Bumpus by both radio and telephone.
While Sheriff Bumpus was enroute to the location,
Sergeant Sulcer advised him that Mr. Kurgan had set the
house on fire and that the child was still inside. The
man allegedly picked up his stepson, using him as a
shield, while threatening those around him. Mr. Kurgan
then began to stab the youth with a long fixed-blade
knife in view of the officers and Sheriff Bumpus gave
the order for the team to enter the residence. Sergeant
Sulcer fired one shot while the man was reportedly
continuing to attempt to stab the youth.
Sergeant Sulcer knelt down under the thick smoke,
searched for and found the boy, and removed him from the
burning residence, the sheriff said.
Patrol Supervisor Lieutenant Eddie Crosser, along with
other units, attempted to extinguish the fire, however
the intense heat and smoke halted their efforts.
Sergeant Sulcer, who reentered and attempted to retrieve
Mr. Kurgan, was also driven back by the swiftly
spreading flames. The body, located in the mid-portion
of the mobile home, was removed from the scene about 10
a.m. Friday and was sent to Memphis for autopsy. The
weapon allegedly used by Kurgan, described in one report
as a butcher knife, is currently in the hands of TBI
investigators.
The 11-year-old youth was treated at Henry County
Medical Center for smoke inhalation and stab wounds to
the left elbow, two on his back, and a cut on his hands.
He also sustained abdominal bruising from where Kurgan
reportedly grabbed him, and scrapes and abrasions over
his body.
Sheriff Bumpus transported Sergeant Sulcer to the Henry
County Medical Center where he was treated for smoke
inhalation and minor injuries. Both victims were
released from the hospital Friday morning.
Several other people received smoke inhalation while
attempting to remove Kurgan's body from the trailer, but
none to the point where they needed hospitalization.
Henry Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene
with three engines and 10 firefighters. They were called
to the scene about 10:15 p.m., with the last engine
leaving the area about 3:20 a.m.
Sheriff Bumpus revealed that Kurgan had a lengthy
history with law enforcement and had spent time in the
Henry County jail. He stated that his officers had
responded to calls at the address before, and that
Kurgan would typically run from the scene through the
back door of the home when the officers arrived.
"While this is certainly a tragic and unwanted event,
the nature of our vocation causes us to know that we
have extreme circumstances that surround us and we must
be prepared to act upon them," said the sheriff. "I know
this officer exercised every option available to him and
went far above and beyond his duty to act. While I also
know his heart, and I understand that he tried
everything possible to avoid this level of force. I look
at this event for what it is, the saving of at least
three lives."
The investigation continues with the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation, the District Attorney General's office,
and the Tennessee Bomb and Arson Unit.
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Telemedicine Arrives in the Tri-Counties |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Medical specialists are virtually in your back door,
thanks to a technology that is being offered by the
University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Telemedicine was launched this week in McKenzie to serve
the tri-county area of Carroll, Henry, and a portion of
Weakley counties. The service provides a two-way
connection with medical specialists in Memphis based at
the U.T. Medical Group, the Med, U.T. Behavioral Health
Center, and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.
Through a high-speed audio/video connection, the patient
can be located in McKenzie with the medical specialist(s)
in Memphis or elsewhere providing the consultation.
Specialties currently available include allergy,
behavioral health, burn care, dermatology,
endocrinology, oral pathology, orthopedics,
ophthalmology, pediatrics, pulmonology, radiology, and
wound care. Patients must be referred by their primary
care physician to receive these treatments.
Medical practitioners from McKenzie, Huntingdon, and
Paris have been advised of the resources available to
them through telemedicine. They learned that many of
their patients would no longer have to travel to Memphis
or Jackson to receive the services of specialists.
Additionally, medical practitioners can receive
continuing educational training on-site.
Karen Fox, VP of Information Systems at U.T. said that
90 percent of the patients could be treated via
telemedicine. The program is especially beneficial to
persons who are physically unable to travel or who have
small children and unable to travel back and forth to
Memphis for treatments. The Methodist Hospital at
Brownsville has been using the services of telemedicine
for four months. One doctor at Brownsville has used
telemedicine at least once weekly, said Ms. Fox.
Telemedicine allows the primary care physician to better
stay in contact with the specialist and the patient. The
local physician often is the one who will administer the
care prescribed by the specialists.
Dayna Edwards, Director of Nursing at Methodist-McKenzie
will serve as the local contact person for telemedicine.
Hook-ups are located in Room 157 at Methodist, in the
Emergency Room, and in the training room, used by the
medical community, general public, and the Physician's
Assistant program offered as a collaborative effort by
Bethel College and Methodist Hospital of McKenzie.
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Rebels to Play Martin Westview in Semi-Final Action
Friday Night |
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The 2001 McKenzie High School Rebels have reached yet
another milestone in their quest for a state
championship in football. This Friday night, the Rebels
(13-0) will host the Martin Westview Chargers (12-1) for
the opportunity to travel to Murfreesboro on November
24. The Rebels began their quest on November 2 in a home
game against Fairview, winning 24-8. The following week,
they defeated Loretto 47-14 in round two. In the
quarterfinal round last Friday night, they traveled to
Howenwald to meet the top ranked team in the state,
Lewis County, and brought home a 42-14 victory (see game
coverage inside this edition). The game will begin at
7:00 p.m., but fans need to arrive early to support the
team.
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Route Selected for SR76 in Carroll and Gibson Counties |
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Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner
Bruce Saltsman announced the route for construction SR76
(US79) from U.S. 45E in Milan to the existing five lanes
in McKenzie near Lawrence Street.
The route selected is a combination of three
alternatives studied and presented in a series of public
hearings.
The alternative selected follows existing State Route 76
(US79) from the beginning point of the proposed project
at the intersection of SR76 and US45E in Milan to the UT
Agriculture Experiment Station. The alignment shifts to
the south side of the existing roadway just past the
Station to Cades-Atwood Rd. This alternative will
relocate the U.S. Military Railroad serving Milan
Arsenal. The railroad will cross over the highway.
The proposed alignment moves off the existing road at
Cades-Atwood Road near the Gibson-Carroll County line;
bypasses both towns of Atwood and Trezevant, and returns
to the existing roadway north of Trezevant. From there,
to the intersection of Sydnor/Winston Road, the
preferred alternative is generally along the south side
of the existing road. From just west of the intersection
of Sydnor/Winston, the preferred alternative rejoins the
existing roadway, and continues symmetrically to the
existing five-lane curb and gutter section near Lawrence
Street in McKenzie. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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