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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002
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Carroll County Lumber Purchases Shannon Lee Motel |
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 Looking
to future growth, Carroll County Lumber Company has
purchased the adjacent and former Shannon Lee Motel
property on Highland Drive in McKenzie. The company's
tentative plans call for razing the former motel to
allow for expansion of their current lumber facility.
"McKenzie has been an excellent move for us," said Tom
Wilson of Carroll County Lumber Company. "The people of
the town, county and area -Carroll, Henry, and Weakley,
have been super nice."
Tom and brother, Andy operate the Carroll County Lumber
Company while their parents and younger brother - Clay,
Harriett, and Mike - operate the Gleason Lumber Company.
Clay has been in the lumber business for 41 years in
Gleason.
The Wilson family began their tenure in McKenzie when
they purchased the former McKenzie Boat Company building
on Highland Drive (US 79) in 1990 from the McKenzie
Industrial Development Corporation. They moved their
offices into an adjacent metal building and tore down a
portion of the boat building to build a lumber
warehouse. That structure was damaged by a tornado in
1996, but the Wilsons immediate rebuilt. In the year
2001, a 4,500 square-foot metal front was added to the
warehouse. That construction was performed by
neighboring business Diversified/Tamco. Soon, Carroll
County Lumber's offices and a new showroom will be
relocated in the steel building.
According to Frances Parker, the immediate former owner,
the Shannon Lee Motel was believed to have been
constructed in 1954 and expanded in 1964. It was first
built by a Mr. Enoch, who worked at Ford Motor Company
in Michigan, saved his money, and built the motel, said
Mrs. Parker. Records in the Carroll County Property
Assessor's office indicate the motel could have been
built as early as 1940 with an original square footage
of 6,889.
"It was a pretty spot in McKenzie," said Frances Parker
of the former 18-unit motel. "It had knotty pine in
every room." The knotty pine walls she spoke of were
eventually covered with drywall.
Frances Parker said it was time for her to retire at the
age 75. She said her son, Richard Hayes was not
interested in continuing operation of the motel. The two
newer motels in McKenzie had taken away many of her
motel's guests, stated Mrs. Parker.
Mrs. Parker and husband, J.D. purchased the motel and
adjacent restaurant in 1973 from Parker Patterson, whose
ownership lasted only one year. Patterson had purchased
the facility from Enoch. Elvis Presley had reportedly
stopped and eaten at the restaurant in the 1950s.
"People wanted to sit where Elvis had sat," said Ms.
Parker of her restaurant patrons.
In the early 1990s, a fire swept through a portion of
the motel leaving one person dead. A separate fire
destroyed the Shannon Lee Restaurant. The Parkers
rebuilt in both cases. The restaurant building was
eventually sold to Tommy Harrington of Tommy's Carpet.
That building was again destroyed in 1996 by the same
tornado that damaged Carroll County Lumber. Harrington
rebuilt his carpet store.
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Carroll County Chamber Prayer Breakfast March 28 |
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Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual
Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 a.m. at
Carroll County Civic Center in Huntingdon. The cost is
$8.50 per person.
Chaplain (Col.) Lilton J. Marks, Sr., who serves as
Installation Staff Chaplain at Fort Campbell, Kentucky,
will be the guest speaker.
Chaplain Marks is a native of Jeanerette, Louisiana. He
is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ.
He was originally commissioned in 1967 in the Infantry,
after attending the Louisiana National Guards Officer
Candidate School and entered active duty November 1968.
Chaplain Marks' awards and decorations include the
Bronze Star with V device, the Purple Heart, the
Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the
Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the
Army Achievement Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, the
National Defense Service Medal with Star, the Vietnam
Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army
Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Vietnam
Campaign Medal.
He is married to the former Carolyn E. Charlton of
Roanoke, Virginia. They have five adult children and
five grandchildren.
For tickets information, contact Carroll County Chamber
of Commerce at 986-4664.
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Two Killed In Separate Accidents Last Weekend |
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A Cedar Grove woman and a McKenzie man were killed in
separate accidents over the weekend, according to the
Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Sheila S. Hart, 32, of 4515 Highway 70, Cedar Grove was
fatally injured while standing in front of her stranded
vehicle in the west lane of U.S. 70 in Cedar Grove at
7:20 p.m. Friday, March 15.
According to Investigating Trooper Sgt. Warren Rainey,
Ms. Hart was standing in front of her 1990 Chevrolet
Lumina with the hood raised when her vehicle was struck
in the rear by a 1997 Nissan Altima, driven by Joseph G.
Butler, 16, of Huntingdon. The Nissan was then
rear-ended by a 1999 Dodge pickup, driven by Nicholas R.
Neely, 21, of Spring Creek. Passengers in the Butler
vehicle were Walter Murray Butler, 19, and Thomas P.
Butler, 14, both of Huntingdon. A passenger in the Neely
vehicle was Shawn T. Oakley, 23, of Spring Creek.
Mr. Butler reportedly attempted to stop his vehicle and
skidded 98 feet before impacting with the Lumina.
Ms. Hart was found under the front of her vehicle,
following the accident, according to the trooper. Mr.
Neely reportedly moved his vehicle to a nearby driveway
prior to the trooper's arrival.
The report further noted that a 911 call was received
five minutes prior to the crash and the caller stated
that a vehicle was in the road with an apparent
intoxicated person nearby.
Emergency personnel from Baptist Hospital in Huntingdon
transported Ms. Hart to that facility, where she was
pronounced dead.
The Butlers reportedly had severe marks on their necks
and upper torsos caused by seat belt usage and were
later transported by private vehicle to Baptist, where
they were treated and released. Mr. Neely and Mr. Oakley
were reportedly uninjured. The Hart and Butler vehicles
were towed by Kee's Wrecker Service.
Early Saturday morning, troopers worked another wreck on
U.S. 79, which claimed the life of Jimmy Dale Youngblood
of 1320 Winston Road, McKenzie, according to Trooper
Monte Belew.
Mr. Youngblood, who recently moved from Henry to
McKenzie, died in a one-vehicle accident at 3 a.m.,
approximately seven miles south of Paris.
Youngblood was traveling south on Highway 79 when he
lost control of his vehicle on the left side of the
roadway. Mr. Youngblood was ejected as the vehicle
overturned 3-1/2 times, coming to final rest on top of
the victim, according to the trooper.
Assisting in the extrication of the victim was Henry
County Rescue Squad and Henry Fire Department. Henry
County Ambulance Service was also summoned to the scene.
Mr. Youngblood was not wearing a seatbelt and doing so
would have made a difference, according to the report.
Speed and alcohol were also contributing factors in the
accident, noted the trooper.
Mr. Youngblood was married to the former Teresa Harvey,
who survives.
Born June 1, 1959 in Paris, he was the son of Jean E.
Wade Youngblood of Paris and the late Jack N.
Youngblood.
He worked in maintenance for Ryder Truck Rental.
In an unrelated accident, another pedestrian was injured
at 7:01 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 on US 70, SR 76.
According to the report filed, Betty K. Fullington, 57,
of Atwood, was traveling south on US 79 in a 1977
Chevrolet pickup while Neil D. Williams, 39, address
unknown, was walking in the southbound lane. Ms.
Fullington reportedly did not see Mr. Williams and
struck him with the right front of her vehicle in front
of 625 US 79. After impact, Ms. Fullington traveled
approximately 400 feet to a gravel pull-off. Mr.
Williams was reportedly thrown into the driveway of the
625 Highway 79 residence. A witness, Kevin Phillips, 24,
of Atwood, reportedly told the officer that he was
driving in front of Ms. Fullington and had almost struck
Mr. Williams, who was transported to Milan Hospital by
ambulance. Mr. Williams' sister reportedly stated he had
taken medication prior to the accident.
Sgt. Rainey investigated a 5:50 p.m. accident on SR 190,
north of Shady Grove Road on Saturday, March 16.
According to the report filed, Debra L. Pierce, 45, of
Dresden, was traveling north on SR 190 when her vehicle
began to weave in the center of the road and slid 82
feet to the right side of the road, left the road and
struck a ditch with the driver's side of the vehicle.
Following impact, the vehicle reportedly rotated
clockwise and slid to the shoulder of the road.
Ms. Pierce reportedly stated that a deer had run in
front of her 1999 Plymouth Neon prior to the accident.
She was transported by ambulance to Methodist Hospital
in McKenzie and her vehicle towed by D & D Service
Center.
Trooper Mike Smothers reportedly investigated a 12:50
p.m. accident on Friday, March 15 on Buena Vista Road,
east of Moore Creek Road. According to the report filed,
Tammy D. Phillips, 36, of Scotts Hill lost control of
her 1985 Chevrolet Blazer in a sharp curve to the left,
ran off the right side of the road and went down an
embankment where the vehicle struck a tree. Ms.
Phillips' passenger, Scott Lee Arrand of Atwood was
reportedly uninjured while she was transported by
ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital. Kee's Amoco
reportedly towed the vehicle.
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Election Hopefuls Submit Petitions |
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With the May 16 deadline only eight weeks away, more
candidates have tossed their hats into the August 1
election ring while other petitions remain pending.
County commission candidates include: first district:
incumbents Wayne Kirk and Billy Smith; third district:
incumbent Steve Parker; fourth district: T. Richard
Goodwin; sixth district: incumbent Roger Hollowell;
eighth district: incumbents Gaylon Sydnor and
challengers William "Pee Wee" Newton and Wayford
Washburn, Sr.; and ninth district: incumbent Ben Surber.
Seeking election to the County School Board in the third
district is Toni Stokes.
Candidates for countywide offices including sheriff and
county trustee will likely follow May 10 and 11 caucus
nominations although Independent contenders may also
file petitions before the may 16 deadline.
In the State Senate arena, Madison County resident Don
McLeary hopes to gain nomination in the Democratic
Primary.
State Representative candidates hoping for success in
the Democratic primary include 79th District incumbent
Paul Phelan of Trenton as well as Ray Davis of Milan and
Mark Carlton of Trenton. In the 76th District, incumbent
Mark Maddox of Dresden has filed his petition while,
according to a Carroll County Election Commission
official, Thomas "Redneck" Gardner of Huntingdon picked
up his application but has not yet filed the petition.
Also contending in the Democratic Primary is Don Farmer
of Milan, who seeks a position on the State Executive
Committee. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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