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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2001
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Police Officer Accuses Chief
of Wrongdoing, Council Announces Beer Board Hearing |
Mayor Patty Edwards reacted quickly when police
officer Dennis Taylor stood up during the October 25
meeting of the McKenzie City Council and announced
that he wanted to make a formal complaint regarding
Police Chief Gene Owen, advising Taylor to meet with
her and the police commissioner to set a hearing
date for the grievance. When Taylor persisted by
asking how to go about accessing officer's own
personnel records, City Attorney Kent Jones stopped
him in mid-sentence. "This is not a forum to start,"
he began, "I don't know what is going on here but
this is not a place or a forum - I think it's out of
order."
Following the meeting, Taylor produced a set of
documents that he said was his "press release." The
documents refuted Chief Owen's status as a decorated
Vietnam veteran, stating, "I feel Chief Owen used
the Vietnam veteren (sic) status to obtain his
current position as the Chief of Police in McKenzie,
If Owen cannot show proff(sic) off (sic) his service
in Vietnam, he should be removed from his position
as chief by the Mayor and City Couincle (sic).
Taylor says attempts to verify Owen's military
records through the archives in St. Louis, Missouri,
the Register of Deeds in Carroll and Weakley
counties, and the Veterans Administration in the
same counties show no records of service by Owen.
Taylor says that Owen has shown a purple heart to
two people.
Taylor also stated in his press release that Chief
Owen admitted to him and other officers that he had
received money from a known, convicted bootlegger in
McKenzie after he was appointed Chief of Police.
When contacted regarding statements made by Taylor,
Chief Owen declined to either affirm or deny the
allegations.
Attached to Taylor's statement was a copy of an
article from the McKenzie Banner that stated Owen
served with the 101st Airborne Rangers from 1965 to
1968.
Chief Owen has been on medical leave since October
22. He recently returned to work following heart
surgery.
BEER BOARD TO CONVENE FOLLOWING OCTOBER 18 STING
OPERATION
Darra Adkins announced to board members that she had
provided each of them with a copy of all the
ordinances of the beer board and asked all members
to read them from front to back prior to the hearing
scheduled November 6 at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of
reviewing the five infractions uncovered by the
McKenzie Police Department on Thursday, October 18.
"The permit holders will be there and we will be
taking action as a beer board," Ms. Adkins stated.
In attendance at the meeting was pastor of the Grace
Baptist Church, Fred Morris, as well as Kenny Carr,
pastor of Long Heights Baptist Church, both of
McKenzie. Pastor Carr delivered the opening prayer
of the council.
REZONING RECOMMENDATION MEETS OPPOSITION
After several sessions of the McKenzie Planning
Commission resulted in a recommendation to the City
Council for rezoning of the Terry Jones property at
1223 Stonewall Street, council members unanimously
approved the first reading.
The second reading was on the council's agenda
following a public hearing in which the rezoning of
the property was challenged by father and son, Rick
and Tommy Berryhill, who live at 61 and 81 Owen
Street, a dead-end street that runs behind and up to
the property in question.
The elder Berryhill announced his opposition to the
planned building of two single family dwellings on
the one acre lot that lies fallow behind the current
residence at 123 Stonewall, saying the houses would
be "right in my backyard."
He further asserted that he sees no reason for the
change when other properties in the area remain
unaffected. The opposing parties indicated that the
only multi-family dwellings in the area are owned by
Jones and city official Ray Berryman.
Mr. Jones had obtained a building permit and
commenced building the first dwelling when
controversy regarding sub-division rules halted
progress. City planner Richard O'Brien found several
measures that would allow Mr. Jones to proceed and
settled upon the rezoning measure as the simplest
way to settle the issue. A deciding factor in the
commission's logic in recommending the action is the
fact that current discussions regarding new zoning
laws are expected to bring a considerable portion of
property in the Bethel College region under R2
zoning regulations, a fact that was lost in the
council's discussion although council member Wade
Allen is also a member of the planning commission.
In a theatrical display, City Attorney Kent Jones
sprang to his feet to take the floor before the
council to deliver a strident recitation regarding
his opposition to the zoning measure. His remarks
centered upon the east side of Stonewall Street,
opposite the Jones property which lies on the west
side of the street.
"There is not a multiple dwelling on that side of
the street, from Jordan Street all the way down to
Como," Jones enunciated, "Now it may be R-2 but it
is not conforming, because there ain't no multiple
dwellings there, I've looked at every one of them."
Ray Berryman interjected briefly to refer to the
fact that Stonewall Street up to Bell Avenue was in
fact the area currently designated as R-2, an area
that he says would conform to the west side of
Stonewall. The east side of the street to which
Jones referred, specifically the stretch from Jordan
Street to Como Street past Bell Avenue, is
unaffected in the current rezoning effort.
Jones' determined remarks seemed to target mainly
the issue that houses located in a particular zoning
district were not in conformance with the
description of the zoning designation. For instance,
according to City Planner Richard O'Brien, homes
built in the R-1 district are typically
single-family units with larger lots sizes that
those found in the R-2 zone.
O'Brien has counseled planning commission members to
abstain from zoning based upon current standards and
patterns, but rather to look ahead toward future
needs and associated functions within the city. It
was to this end that the commission plans to
encourage more quality rental houses in the Bethel
College area.
Wade Allen reminded council members that the measure
was a recommendation from the planning commission,
saying, "They are the ones recommending this to the
city council to be passed."
After Mayor Edwards declared the public hearing
closed, council member James Knolton said, regarding
the recommendation, "Send it back; we have to live
with it and suffer with it, I'd like to see us get
together one time."
He suggested that the two bodies work closer
together in an effort at better communication,
however, both Mayor Edwards and Councilmember Wade
Allen are expected to be present at each planning
commission meeting, and this issue has been fully
covered in the McKenzie Banner over the past several
meetings of the planning commission.
Council member Huffman stated, "I'm opposed to this.
I just don't think it's a good idea for the
residents. Hamilton Heights had the same situation
and that turned out to be a mess."
The intent of the city council at the end of the
discussion was to send the recommendation back to
the planning commission, presumably for further
review and discussion between the city council and
planning commission.
COUNCIL CONTINUES ROAD BLOCK RHETORIC
Council members voted to allow the VFW and the
Shriners to conduct roadblocks pursuant to their
request at the previous council meeting, in
coordination with the McKenzie Police Department.
The council plans communication with police
department officials in setting guidelines for
roadblocks, an issue that has been brought up in the
past three city council meetings. The council plans
to begin the new year with a new set of rules and
guidelines in place.
In the current session, council member Darra Adkins
suggested that road blocks be limited to one set
date per month on a first come-first served basis
based on council approval, with no one under the age
of 18 allowed to participate for reasons of safety,
regardless of adult supervision. She further
suggested that contributors be provided with
something that indicates prior participation in the
event that the driver encounters successive
roadblocks for the same cause.
REPLACEMENT OF PARK LIGHTING/POLES POSTONED TWO TO
THREE YEARS
In a non-agenda item, Ricky French approached the
council with a recommendation to postpone letting
bids that would have replaced poles and light
fixtures at one ball field at the City Recreation
Park on Como Road. French stated that Shannon
Danner, grant writer for the city, suggested instead
a tune up of all lighting fixtures at every ballpark
in McKenzie, including the park on Mulberry Street.
In the meantime, Danner plans to seek a grant for
replacement lighting to be accomplished in the year
2003.
French advised that two rotting poles will have to
be replaced at this time and that frayed wires on
all lights would need to be replaced. He advised the
biggest expense incurred would be the labor of a
certified electrician, and plans to offset the cost
by providing a city park employee as runner to the
electrician. Other costs will be "a few" fixtures,
bulbs and fuses, plus the rental of a bucket truck.
In support of the recommendation, the motion made in
the prior meeting to let bids for replacement poles
and lighting was rescinded. Ms. Danner is on the
agenda for the next meeting of the council on
November 8.
In other business:
Council members resolved to support efforts of the
Tennessee Municipal League to encourage the
legislature to address state budget problems.
Approved the letting of bids by the Fire Department
for pagers and radio equipment to replace obsolete
equipment.
Street Department Supervisor Joe Curtis reported
that the last concrete would be poured on Friday for
the Como Road bridge construction and stated
"construction is coming along well."
Another event that will transpire before the next
city council meeting is Halloween. "Parents need to
consider how they let their children get out but I
don't feel there will be any problems," said the
mayor, who stressed that parents need to watch their
children and be concerned.
Bills presented and approved for payment were:
Department of Economic and Community Development -
$2,000.00, and Green Hill Landscaping - $1,450.00
for a total of $3,450.00 |
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County Bands Win in State Competition |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Three marching bands in Carroll
County took top honors during the Division I State
Competition at Riverdale High School in
Murfreesboro. The Saturday contest netted top
winners from Carroll County with McKenzie Marching
Band's percussion taking first place in preliminary
competition, West Carroll Marching Band taking first
in musical ability by earning the "High Music" award
and Daniel Howell being named the best soloist
during the competition. Huntingdon Marching Band's
Color Guard won first in preliminary and final
competition.
The McKenzie
Marching Band Percussion Line
The McKenzie Marching Band, after a
strong performance, was awarded excellent ratings in
band and field commander categories. The MHS guard
and percussion each were awarded superior ratings.
In addition, the percussion section was awarded the
coveted Pearl Drum for the highest score of the 17
total bands coming from throughout Tennessee.
Tremayne Johnson serves as the instructor for the
percussion section. The MHS Band is under the
direction of Keith Breeden. Field Commander is
Amanda Mansfield.
Members of the
West Carroll Band
West Carroll Band placed third
overall in competition. The Band received superior
ratings for color guard, percussion, field
commander, and band. West Carroll Band is under the
direction of Cory Bridges and Randy Wilson. Field
Commander is Lorien Pirtle.
Huntingdon Marching Band received fifth overall in
competition. They received superior ratings for
color guard, field commander, percussion, and band.
The band is directed by Lisa Bryant and Derek Cook.
Field Commander is Chelsea Autry.
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Henry County Man Charged After E-mail Threats To Kill
President |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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A Henry County man
was arrested Friday
after allegedly
admitting that he sent
e-mails threatening to
kill President George W.
Bush to a Texas radio
station. Making the
arrest at 134 Mason Lane
off Highway 54 west of
Paris was the United
States Secret Service
Agent Kevin Sandlin.
The arrest was made with
the assistance of Damon
Lowe, director of the
Criminal Investigation
Division of the Henry
County Sheriff's
Department.
Tim McDearmon, 31, of
Paris, could be
sentenced to five years
imprisonment and/or a
$250,000 fine for the
e-mails that officials
said was turned over to
the Secret Service. The
Secret Service traced
the e-mails back to
McDearmon.
According to officials,
two e-mails were sent,
both containing threats
to the President. A
sworn complaint filed in
the case alleges that
McDearmon sent the
e-mails to Austin, Texas
radio station talk show
host Alex Jones. The
first e-mail was sent on
October 20, while the
second was sent Friday
morning, October 26. The
suspect reportedly
listed his home address
in the e-mails.
Jones, who broadcasts a
two-hour talk show twice
daily on the Genesis
Communications Network,
is known for patriotic,
anti-government
rhetoric.
Jones makes frequent
claims about government
conspiracies to take
away civil liberties,
including a future
mass-arrest of U.S.
citizens by the federal
government.
The show reportedly
advised the Secret
Service of both threats
shortly after receiving
them.
When arrested, McDearmon
was wearing a T-shirt,
which depicted China's
Chairman Mao Tse-tung
and Soviet dictator
Joseph Stalin, and a
third individual who was
believed to be Ted
Bundy.
A logo on the front of
the shirt read, "Serial
killers prefer people
that are unarmed," while
the back stated
"Politicians prefer
unarmed peasants."
McDearmon had reportedly
requested to wear the
shirt in court.
McDearmon is being held
without bond, possibly
in Madison County. U.S.
District Judge James D.
Todd scheduled a
preliminary hearing in
the matter for Tuesday,
October 30 at 2:30 p.m.
before U.S. Magistrate
Judge J. Daniel Breen at
the U.S. Courthouse in
Jackson. Results of that
hearing were unavailable
at press time.
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Unemployment Down Slightly In Tri-counties |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Unemployment rates
dropped in Carroll,
Henry and Weakley
counties during the
September reporting
period, according to
latest statistics
released by the
Tennessee Department of
Labor and Workforce
Development.
Carroll County reported
a 0.6 percent decline,
from 8.0 percent in
August to 7.4 percent in
September. From a labor
force of 11,950, a total
of 11,070 were employed,
leaving 880 unemployed.
Henry County's jobless
rate fell slightly from
5.6 percent in August to
5.5 percent in
September. From an
available work force of
14,800, a total of
13,990 were employed,
leaving 810 without
jobs.
Weakley County's rate
dropped from 6.4 percent
in August to 6.0 percent
in September. From an
available labor force of
15,950 in that county, a
total of 950 were
unemployed.
Tennessee's September
unemployment rate is 4.0
percent, down one-tenth
of a percentage point
over the month. County
unemployment rates
showed that 77 county
rates were down, 16
county rates were up,
and two remained
unchanged over the
month.
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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