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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2002
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County To Decide $2.2 Million Courthouse, Jail Renovation |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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The Carroll County Courthouse needs renovation and the
local jail is crowded. County commissioners will decide
next Monday to borrow up to $2.2 million to remedy both
problems.
County Executive Kenny McBride said construction plans
have been reviewed for six to eight months for both
projects. At the courthouse, the two courtrooms on the
second floor will be remodeled with each having new jury
boxes, jury rooms, and witness rooms. More security
measures are part of the renovation plan. McBride said the
north end of the courthouse will be secured for judicial
and law enforcement officers while the other end will be
for the courtroom audience, who must pass through a metal
detector before entering the courtroom. The third floor
will be renovated for new judges' chambers.
Local and state prisoners are creating overcrowding
conditions at Carroll County Jail. An average of 118
prisoners are housed on a daily basis at the jail. McBride
said the fastest growing population of prisoners is
female. Construction plans at the jail include renovating
a portion of the old jail, adding a new 32-bed dormitory
for female prisoners, and adding a General Sessions
courtroom at the facility. The new courtroom would
eliminate the round-trip transportation to the downtown
courthouse, reduce the liability for such transportation,
and reduce the number of deputies needed to guard the
prisoners while prisoners are outside the walls of the
jail.
County officials believe it's time to act now with low
interest rates and before the state mandates the expansion
of the jail. If the state "decertifies" the jail because
of overcrowding, the cost could escalate to meet state
mandated improvements. McBride said the construction can
be completed without a tax hike.
In an unrelated item, commissioners will accept a LPRF
grant of $50,000 for the renovation of the Carroll County
Civic Center, exhibit building, and fairgrounds - all on
Mustang Drive, Huntingdon. The project cost is $100,000
with the county paying $50,000 matched with the LPRF
grant. McBride said the grant and local funding match will
install a new roof and floor on the Civic Center, install
an acoustic ceiling in the exhibit building, pave a
portion of the fairgrounds, and partially reimburse the
county for installing air conditioning in the exhibit
building. For the remainder of this story, read the print
edition of the newspaper. |
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Accident Claims Life of Henry County Man |
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A 69-year-old Henry County man was killed Friday when his
1989 GMC Safari van was struck by a gravel truck on
Highway 79, just outside McKenzie.
According to Trooper Monte Belew of the Tennessee Highway
Patrol, George Pierce of Paris was attempting to pull out
of a construction area and headed north into the path of a
southbound 1999 GMC 6500 dump truck driven by Dal Henry,
53, of Greenfield. Pierce's vehicle was struck on the
driver's side which resulted in his death.
A passenger in the front seat of the van was Mr. Pierce's
wife, Susie Pierce, 59. She was reportedly airlifted to
The Med in Memphis, where she was listed in critical
condition Monday morning.
Mr. Henry was transported to Henry County Medical Center,
where he was treated.
The gravel truck, owned by Tennessee Asphalt, was loaded
with 60,800 lbs of gravel at the time of the accident,
noted Trooper Belew.
Also assisting at the scene were Trooper Adam Killion,
James Sexton and Sgt. Robert "Rookie Edwards. Also
responding were two ambulances from HCMC, units from
McKenzie Fire and Police departments, and Paris-Henry
County Rescue Squad. |
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Countians Honored During Annual Chamber Banquet |
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In its 21st year, the Chamber of Commerce was host to
its 20th Annual Membership Banquet on Monday, November
4, which was deliciously catered by The Butcher's Block
of Camden. The Carroll County Civic Center was filled
with what member Buddy McClain, in his comments about
the upcoming Business Expo, aptly termed "friends,
neighbors and fellow business people."
The amicable group howled with laughter over the antics
of guest speaker Mr. Kyle Hauth, who had John
Baumgardner (somewhat reluctantly) trudging a
make-belief wheelbarrow across the floor; coaxed
Kentucky fan Chuck Sisson into wearing a bright-orange
Tennessee Vols hat for a skit; blew a "spurble" of the
back of Carroll News Leader editor Shirley Nanney; and
had McLemoresville Mayor and Williams Furniture owner
Phil Williams putting his whole body into shouting
"hallelujah!"
Using uproarious and sometimes shocking illustrations to
get his point across, Mr. Hauth inspired guests to
remember six important elements in working as a team to
make the Chamber of Commerce the best it can be: (1) the
group's real "mission", whether negative or positive, is
whatever the members profess on a daily basis; (2) the
importance of looking outside one's own area to
understand "the big picture"; (3) maintaining focus by
listening only to "fellow players and the coach" rather
than the dissenting voice of those not willing to invest
themselves in the work at hand; (4) "pulling-up" rather
than "putting down" others so as not to influence others
to feel "backward"; (5) remembering that those who talk
about others will be talked about, reaping the dubious
fruits of their actions (such as eating rubber bands...
ask a Chamber member who attended); and (6) the
importance of enthusiasm in pursuing goals.
Working together doesn't have to be work, it can be fun,
Mr. Hauth insisted, asserting also that groups who are
"living right to start with", who "work together", and
who "see the big picture" are happy and productive
teams.
Mr. Hauth is CEO of a private rehabilitation program in
Kingston, Tennessee that serves 500 developmentally
disabled adults and children. He earned a BS degree in
psychology at Union University and his Master of Science
degree in counseling and personnel services from the
University of Memphis.
Awards presented at the banquet included: Carroll County
Business Person of the Year - Mr. Tom Putman; Carroll
Countian of the Year - Mr. William Earl O'Neill; and
Jessica Andrews Award recipient Raquel Clark.
Mr. Tom Putman's brother, Bob, accepted the Carroll
County Business Person of the Year award on his
brother's behalf with tangible joy, hope and love after
receiving good news about his brother's health earlier
in the evening. Stating Tom was very humbled when he
found he had been chosen to receive the award, he
thanked Chamber of Commerce officers and directors;
Tom's wife Martha and their children Lynn and Paula and
new grandson; his parents for his work ethic, love,
support and devotion; his "little brother" Leslie who
has been his business partner for 25 years; his business
associates; his "office everything" Ms. Alice Cassidy;
and each of his friends and their many prayers. "There
is power in prayers and he believes it and has always
believed it," Bob said, adding his brother would have
said to his business associates, friends, family, 'Each
one of you deserves a little piece of this award.'"
Tom Putman is a graduate of McKenzie High School and
Mississippi State University. He is a former president
of the McKenzie Rotary Club; a deacon at First Baptist
Church in McKenzie and an active Gideon member in the
Carroll County Camp. He is the majority stockholder of
West Tennessee Dairy Products in McKenzie, a company
started by his father, John Putman, Kermit Holland and
Paul Holland in the early 1950's. Described as a "quiet,
sincere, earnest and dedicated man in achieving the
objectives he sets", he was said by announcer Dan
Bradfield to exemplify the Rotary Club motto, "Service
Above Self."
Mr. William Earl O'Neill of McLemoresville was simply
eloquent in his thanks for the Carroll Countian of the
Year award. In 1943, Mr. O'Neill joined the U.S. Army,
spending two and a half years with the 172 Combat
Engineers. He was awarded the Purple Heart and four
separate awards of the Bronze Star. As a carpenter, Mr.
O'Neill is estimated to have built over 800 homes in
West Tennessee. He has served 53 years as a member of
the McLemoresville Town Council, the last 25 years
acting as Vice-Mayor. He has been a director on the
Carroll Bank and Trust Board since the bank was founded
in 1969. Mr. O'Neill and his wife, Elva, have two
daughters and are members of the United Methodist Church
in McLemoresville.
Mrs. Annie Clark, the grandmother of Jessica Andrews
Award recipient Raquel Clark, accepted the award on her
granddaughter's behalf, as Raquel fulfilled her
cheerleading obligations at a Huntingdon Mustangs
ballgame. Mrs. Clark read Raquel's prepared note, which
thanked Mayor Kelley, the President of the Chamber of
Commerce and honored guests for the award, stating that
her recent representation of West Tennessee at the
national spelling bee held in Washington D.C. was "an
experience of a lifetime."
Also recognized were retiring Chamber of Commerce Board
members Ms. Judy Noles, who has served on the board for
seven years, and Mr. Billy Crum, who served six years on
the board. Honored for meritorious service were senior
board members Mr. James Paul Baxter and Dr. Howard
Johns.
Mrs. Ruby Allen was awarded a plaque in recognition of
her "tireless, dedicated service" as she passed the
chairmanship of the board to Mrs. Melissa Powell. "I'm
speechless," said Ruby, who had not expected the
recognition.
In a special announcement, guests were informed that a
recent pledge drive had raised enough money to retire
the debt on the 3,000 square foot Carroll County Chamber
of Commerce headquarters building in Huntingdon. "This
is an accomplishment that as a county and as a Chamber
we should be extremely proud," said incoming Chairman
Powell.
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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