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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2002
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Jessica Andrews to Perform At Home |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
Carroll County Sweetheart Jessica
Andrews comes home this March to benefit Relay for
Life in memory of her grandfather, Charles
Blackburn. |
Renowed country music star Jessica Andrews will
perform at the Carroll County Civic Center on Friday,
March 15 to benefit Relay for Life, American Cancer
Society.
"She is doing the show in memory of her grandfather
(Charles Blackburn) who died of cancer in 1990," said
Vicki Andrews, Jessica's mother. The late Mr. Charles
Blackburn worked at Tennessee Metals in Huntingdon when
he was diagnosed with the disease. Mr. Blackburn and
wife, Patsy, operated Charlie's Restaurant at the Elk's
Club in Huntingdon, and a restaurant in McKenzie, where
the Subway is now located.
Jessica's uncle, Charles Blackburn arranged for the
special concert. Blackburn works at Associated Rubber
Company in Huntingdon. The event is being sponsored by
Associated Rubber.
"Jessica is volunteering her time," said Charles, who
noted that the accompanying musicians will probably be
compensated for their time.
The event is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. with three levels
of seating -$30 - (front, middle stage), $20 (the
remaining floor level seats) and $10 for balcony. All
seats are general admission within the designated areas.
Ushers will escort attendees to the appropriate seating
areas. Tickets are available at Cato's in the Wal-Mart
Shopping Center in Huntingdon. The show will be 1 to 1.5
hours in length.
"The show will be similar to a VH-1 storytelling. It
will be more personal." He said Jessica will probably
field questions from the audience. He called it a time
to "get reacquainted" for the 18-year-old star, who was
discovered by music producer Byron Gallimore and James
Stroud at the tender age of 12. This is her first show
in her home county.
In addition to the concert, Blackburn said Jessica has
offered some of her personal memorabilia to be available
for bid during a silent auction. Individual attendees
can purchase a $5 instant photograph of Jessica with
them. Jessica will then autograph the photograph. All of
the fund will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
Blackburn said the premium tickets at $30 are going
quickly with a limit of 220 seats.
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Area Unemployment Down In December |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
Unemployment decreased in the tri-counties during
December, according to latest statistics released from
the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce
Development. However, the state's unemployment rate rose
to 4.9 percent in December, its highest level in most
four years.
Carroll and Weakley counties reported no significant
changes during the December reporting period, according
to Judith Bradberry, Labor Market Analyst.
Carroll County's jobless rate fell slightly from 8.8
percent in November to 8.4 percent in December,
according to the report. From a labor force of 11,950, a
total of 10,950 were employed, leaving 1,000 without
jobs.
Weakley County's jobless rate dipped from 6.0 percent in
November to 5.6 percent in December, according to the
state report. From 16,110 available workers, 900 were
without jobs in that county.
Henry County fell from 9.0 percent in November to 6.6
percent in December. From a labor force of 14,960 in
that county, 13,970 were employed, leaving 990
unemployed.
Henry County's sharp decrease in unemployment claims was
attributed to a recall of workers, following a temporary
layoff in the metals and machinery industry.
The state's December jobless rate was 0.6 percent higher
than the 4.3 percent rate recorded in December 2000. The
rate however, continues to remain below the national
rate of 5.8 percent, according to Commissioner Michael
E. Magill.
"During the month of December, our state experienced
mostly seasonal trends," Magill stated. "Construction,
state education, and tourism-related industries
experienced declines, while retail trade increased with
the height of the holiday season."
"Tennessee continues to experience shifts and
adjustments in the economy, mirroring trends at the
national level," Magill said.
Over-the-month figures showed retail trade industry
adding 6,700 jobs, with 2,200 of those in
apparel/accessory stores and 1,800 of those in
miscellaneous retail. Both personal services and local
education grew by 700. State education decreased by
1,300, amusement/recreation lost 1,000 and construction
declined by 700.
>From December 2000 to 2001, the services industry
increased by 14,900, trade grew by 7,200 and
transportation added 2,000 jobs. Manufacturing continued
to experience decreases, losing 23,800 jobs over the
year.
County unemployment rates showed that 30 county rates
were up, 54 were down, and 11 remained the same over the
month.
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Clarksburg Graduate Killed During Dispute |
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A verbal argument between two men turned deadly Thursday
in Henderson County leaving one man dead and the other
facing a second-degree murder charge.
Allen Shane Flanagan, 30, of Lexington is accused of
stabbing Robert Waylon Segraves, 22, of Wildersville.
Segraves was a 1997 graduate of Clarksburg High School
in Carroll County. He was the son of Sammy and Robbie
Segraves of Wildersville and the grandson of Mr. and
Mrs. Bobby Peterson and Mrs. Mildred Segraves, all of
Yuma. He had one brother, Wade Segraves of Yuma.
Officials reportedly were called to a residence in the
400 block of Old Juno Road about 1:30 a.m. and found
Segraves' body.
Segraves reportedly died from multiple stab wounds and
was pronounced dead at Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital in
Lexington. According to officials, there were witnesses
at the residence during the stabbing.
Henderson County Sheriff's Department investigated the
case, which has since been turned over to the Tennessee
Bureau of Investigation. Authorities reportedly arrested
Flanagan shortly after they arrived on the scene.
Flanagan is being held in Henderson County Jail without
bond, according to Agent Mehr. He faces 15 to 25 years
in prison if he is found guilty of the second-degree
murder charge.
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McKenzie City Council Seeks Recreation Lighting Bids;
Considers Insurance Coverage |
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McKenzie Mayor Patty Edwards and members of the City
Council met in regular session on Thursday, January 24,
at which time they approved the solicitation of bids in
two unrelated projects.
Council member Gene Hale requested that bids be sought
for the purchase of two pole-mounted caution lights to
be installed at either end of the school safety zone on
Stonewall Street that encompasses the elementary and
middle schools. Hale projected the installation of one
light at the intersection at Cherry Street with the
other situated near the intersection at Como Road.
Permission to let bids was also requested for labor to
replace two light poles on the Junior Babe Ruth field
and refurbish light fixtures at all four ball fields at
McKenzie's two recreational parks: the City Park located
on Como Road and the Mulberry Street park. The process
will entail bringing down each of 75 light fixtures,
cleaning and inspecting them, replacing plugs and wiring
where needed, and reinstalling the fixtures atop the
poles.
Park and Recreation Superintendent Ricky French
indicated parts for the project may be solicited by
phone bids with total costs of parts expected to be no
greater than $2500.00.
A decision was previously reached by the council to
postpone replacement of poles and light fixtures at one
ballpark (as had been previously suggested) in order
that the alternative measure of tuning up existing
fixtures at all park facilities might be accomplished.
In other matters, Mayor Edwards created two committees
to address: (1) the possibility of offering health
insurance for families of city employees, and (2) the
review and correction of the city personnel policy which
was adopted in 1995.
Mayor Edwards appointed council members Gene Hale, Jerry
Arthur, James Knolton, and Wade Allen along with City
Clerk Dana Deem to review the feasibility of the city's
plan to try and pay one-half the cost of insurance for
dependents, Deem advised council members that at $200.00
per family, the cost of the insurance would amount to
approximately $24,000.00 to $25,000.00 for the balance
of the current year.
Deem also counseled the change may not be possible until
open season for changes and new enrollments during the
months of October and November. He further advised that
the state's Blue Cross and Blue Shield policy is
projected to narrow during the next 18 months from the
three plans currently offered to only one scheme for all
members. As city employees are currently enrolled in
each of the three plans, the city may review options in
changing insurance carriers or issuing new bids for
employee insurance coverage, according to Deem.
Appointed to review the city personnel policy were
council members Willie Huffman, Gene Hale, Darra Adkins,
and City Clerk Dana Deem. Deem explained the policy was
revised in 1995 using a template, with key variables
left undefined; for example, the section concerning
bereavement leave does not specify the amount of time an
employee is allowed to take off work.
City Attorney Kent Jones advised the council of work
accomplished in the contract with the Tennessee
Department of Transportation for the TEA-21 City of
McKenzie Pedestrian Access and Welcome Center. The
contract details expectations for the use of the grant
monies as well as the 20% match conditional to
acceptance of the funds.
Mr. Jones further advised the council of legal documents
drawn up to finalize a gift to the city of a parcel of
land currently owned by Ray Morris. The five-acre plot,
which lies adjacent to the Baptist Clinic along the 22
Bypass, is projected for use as the future site of a
satellite fire and rescue station and training facility.
Deem shared information he received informally from Mark
Maddox that sales tax in Tennessee may increase a cent
and a quarter to raise the current .0875 tax rate to a
full ten cents on a dollar. The increase is expected to
take place as early as April this year.
Bills approved for payment include: Phil's Auto Body:
$926.04; GT Distributors: $898.00; and Wal-Mart:
$702.27, for a total of $2,256.31. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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