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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2002
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Jessica Andrews to Perform Friday |
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Country music artist Jessica Andrews will return home
this Friday for a one-night-only show to benefit the
American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The event will
begin at 8:00 p.m. at the Carroll County Civic Center.
The doors open at 7:00 p.m. and only a few tickets
remain.
Eighteen-year-old Jessica signed with DreamWorks as a
country music vocalist at the age of 12. She made her
debut recording on the Prince of Egypt soundtrack and
has two CDs to her credit - "Heart Shaped
World" and "Who I Am."
"Jessica is looking forward to this. It should be a
good night," said her uncle, Chuck Blackburn of
Huntingdon. "Jessica is excited about it."
Mr. Blackburn said Jessica will have several items of
memorabilia to auction during the silent auction. She
will also bring a guitar autographed by country music
artists.
Blackburn described the concert as
"conversational" in nature and will be very
personal. Jessica will be accompanied by a special guest
country music artist.
The event is being sponsored by the Relay for Life Team
at Associated Rubber of Huntingdon. All proceeds will go
to the American Cancer Society.
Jessica grandmother, Patsy Blackburn resides in
Huntingdon and her parents, Jessie and Vicki Andrews
reside in the Three Way community near Jackson.
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Trezevant Voters Elect Four Aldermen |
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Frank Newsom is a new face on the Trezevant Town Council
following a swearing in ceremony Tuesday morning, March
12 at Trezevant City Hall. Newsom garnered 157 votes (23
percent), behind top vote getter James E. Moore Jr., who
received 199 (29 percent). Filling the third available
seat on the council is Incumbent Bobby J. Blaylock, who
received 131 votes (19 percent). All will serve
four-year terms on the board. James (Jim) Moore had been
appointed to the board following the resignation of Jana
Chrisman.
Newcomer Bobby McAlexander and Incumbent Tommy Long were
not elected. They received 107 (16 percent) and 88 (13
percent) votes respectively.
Joe F. Butler was elected with 148 votes (61 percent) to
fill the remaining two-year unexpired term of Kim
Cartney, who resigned. Butler defeated Eddie Granger,
who received 93 votes (39 percent).
A total of 846 residents cast their votes at West
Carroll Elementary School on March 5, while 77 cast
their votes early at the Carroll County Election
Commission in Huntingdon, prior to the February 28
deadline.
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McKenzie School Board Approves 2002-2003 Calendar |
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The 2002-2003 school calendar as approved by the
McKenzie Special School District Board of Education on
March 5, 2002 gives children 179 school days as opposed
to 178 days in the current year. Daily
"stockpiling" brings the number in line with
the 180 days required by state law. Stockpiling refers
to the school district's practice of adding 30 minutes
to the school day in order to accrue more time over the
school year. Time missed due to snow and other
unforeseen circumstances is frequently absorbed through
the stockpiled time without the necessity of adding days
to the schedule at some point during the year. The
action was approved during the March 5 meeting.
Of concern in setting the calendar were standardized
test dates that occur around the time spring break takes
place including the number of instruction days available
prior to Terra Nova testing by the state in the
elementary and middle schools.
Superintendent James Ward explained the schedule was
derived following consultation with advisory groups from
other campuses and in a meeting that took place on
February 28 with other local superintendents and County
Superintendent Charlotte Tucker. He assured board
members the schedule was the results of the best efforts
and compromise of the groups, quoting Ben Franklin as
saying, "When you join two boards you have to take
some from both sides to make a good fit." The
annual school schedule is a collaborative effort of all
six public school systems in the county since the county
system provides county-wide bus transportation.
The first day of school for students will be a half-day
on August 12. Christmas break will take place from
December 23 through January 6 for students, with
teachers returning January 3.
The schedule breaks spring break into two smaller
holidays, the first taking place from Friday, March 14,
through Monday, March 17, and the second taking place on
Easter weekend on April 17 and 18 with school again
commencing the following Monday.
School ends with a half-day session on May 21 for
students, continuing through May 23 for staff.
Considerable attention was focused on the low bid of L
& B Custom Works for grounds maintenance for the
2002-2003 school year. With bids of $10,500 for
"Bid Package No. 1; All School Property" and
$4,600 for "Bid package No. 2; High School
Property", the company's bid for the high school
property approached half of what the next lowest bid
was, and was $6,000 lower than the next lowest bid for
all school property.
The bid is based on 28 cuttings per year payable on a
monthly basis. The contractor reaps the benefits of
fewer cuttings in dry years while absorbing the cost of
frequent cuttings during wet years.
Misgivings regarding the extremely low bids were
assuaged by Superintendent Ward's disclosure of the
conversation he had with Calloway County, Kentucky
school officials, with whom L & M Custom Works is
currently contracted.
Said Ward, "The lady said, 'Why are you calling -
because his bid is so low" He does it for us and
does a great job.'"
The board voted unanimously to approve the low bids
offered by L & M Custom Works.
In other action, the board:
- Passed an amendment to the general purpose fund to
accept $2600 raised by the Elementary School PTO
through their annual Octoberfest celebration and to
appropriate the funds for the purchase of computer
equipment;
- Approved the advancement of Scott Jewell, Nanalee
Stapleton, and Jennifer Yates from third year
apprentice to professional license; and,
- Approved the purchase of property on Bell Avenue
at the assessed price of $7,000.
Superintendent Ward advised board members of the
following personnel actions: Betty Anderson, former
food service employee, submitted her resignation.
Three substitute teachers were employed: Lisa
Roberts, Jonathan Lankford, and Sabrina Chambers.
Dalea Perkins was granted maternity leave.
Superintendent Ward continues to express extreme
concern for the state budget crisis, stating,
"Down-sizing the budget would cost
$671,000.00."
He further projected if the student to teacher ratio
is reduced the district will lose 11.4 teaching
positions.
While acknowledging, "Tax reform does not fit
well with the popular vote," he encourages
board members and others to contact state
legislators to request "some type of tax
reform."
"I thought something would have been done prior
to now," he said.
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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