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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2002
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Kidnapping Foiled When Woman Escapes To Safety |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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A Carroll County woman, who was kidnapped at gunpoint
from her home on Blooming Grove Road near McKenzie Monday
afternoon, escaped unharmed when she was able to get away
from her captors.
The kidnappers, who were known to the victim, were later
taken into custody by officers of the Weakley County
Sheriff's Department and an officer with Gleason Police
Department. All four were returned to Carroll County to
face charges in connection with the incident.
According to a spokesperson at Carroll County Sheriff's
Department, Anthony Maupin and Stacie Leeann Spence have
been charged with aggravated kidnapping and remain in
custody at Carroll County Jail. Two other unidentified
females were reportedly charged in the incident, however
their names were unavailable at presstime Tuesday.
At approximately 3:30 p.m. Monday the four suspects
arrived at the victim's home and forced her at gunpoint to
accompany two of the kidnappers in their vehicle. The
other two followed in her car.
A short time later, her vehicle became disabled and both
cars stopped while the occupants decided what to do. As
they were sitting on the side of the road, a third vehicle
came by and the victim called to the driver for help. The
passerby continued on, however this move apparently scared
the kidnappers, according to Investigator Randall McGowan
of Weakley County Sheriff's Department.
All five got into the captors' vehicle and continued to a
residence on Copeland Road, near the intersection of
Highway 124 and Blooming Grove Road. The location is near
the former Twigg's Grocery. Apparently unknown to the
suspects, the house next door is the home of the victim's
boyfriend's brother. It was at this location, she was able
to get away from her captors and run to that house.
After losing possession of the young woman, the four
kidnappers fled the scene.
Weakley County Investigator Randall McGowan was acquainted
with two of the alleged kidnappers and dispatched Weakley
County Chief Deputy Mark Black, Lieutenant Rickie Duncan,
and Investigator Brett Davis and to check out a location
in Gleason, where he believed one of the suspects might
have gone. The three officers were also accompanied by
Sherman Perry of Gleason Police Department.
The four suspects were taken into custody without incident
at the Gleason location.
Investigator McGowan stated the suspects apparently
believed that the victim had been an informant in
connection to a drug case and they were out to get her.
The four were originally transported to Weakley County
Sheriff's Department for questioning and later released to
the custody of Carroll County authorities. |
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Carroll County Re-Certified as Three-Star Community |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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A delegation representing Carroll County traveled to
Nashville last Thursday for the awarding of the 17th
annual Three-Star Award presented by the Tennessee
Department of Economic and Community Development.
Communities from across Tennessee were at the Renaissance
Nashville Hotel and Convention Center to accept their
respective award. This is the 20th annual awarding of the
Three-Star award in Tennessee. Carroll County has received
the award 17 consecutive years.
"Tennessee's Three-Star communities have gone the extra
mile to prepare and compete for economic development
opportunities. The awards ceremony offers us an
opportunity to recognize their dedication and highlight
their accomplishment," said Tony Grande, commissioner of
the state Department of Economic and Community Development
(ECD).
Communities and counties earning the Three-Star Award
undergo recertifcation by ECD yearly to assure that
standards of preparedness for economic growth have been
sustained locally.
The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce heads the program
for the eight municipalities and county for Carroll.
Annually, inspectors visit the Chamber for an all-day
session to learn about the various programs the Chamber,
governments, and schools offer existing and prospective
industries. The Three-Star program calls for maintenance
of adequate infrastructure capable of supporting economic
development, as well as availability of developed
industrial acreage.
The goals of Three-Star are to preserve existing
employment, create new employment opportunities, improve
family income and create a strong leadership base for
economic development.
Neighboring counties and communities receiving the
Three-Star Award were: Paris-Henry County (18 years),
Milan (19 years), and Weakley County (five years). |
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Huntingdon Council Honors the Late Billy M. Cary |
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By Deborah Turner
dturner@mckenziebanner.com |
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Mayor Dale Kelley and the Huntingdon Town Council on
Tuesday, September 10, passed a resolution honoring the
late Billy M. Cary for his dedication and service to the
Town of Huntingdon. The resolution, a framed copy of which
was presented to Mr. Cary's widow, Sylvia C. Cary, and
family members, stated Mr. Cary was an outstanding citizen
and a leader in the business community as well as a
dedicated member of his church and family.
The resolution also provided that the parking park across
from Carroll Bank and Trust be named the Billy M. Cary
Memorial Park in memory of Mr. Cary's endeavors and
accomplishments throughout his lifetime. Mr. Cary served
as President And Chief Executive Officer of the bank from
1972 through July, 2002.
Mrs. Cary, in accepting the honor, stated her husband
would have said, "There's somebody much more deserving"
than he to receive the award. "On behalf of the entire
banking firm and our family I would like to say thank you.
We'll always remember it and we'll keep this in a special
place."
In other matters the council:
* Considered the report of the Layne Christensen Company's
regarding Well No. 1, which was previously reported to be
pumping sand. A preliminary report indicated a rusted out
suction pipe was the cause of the problem, with repair
costs estimated from $26,000 to $28,000, versus the cost
of a new well at 200,000.00. The report further advised
upgrade of the pumps in both wells at an approximate cost
of $15,000 each; however, further testing has revealed
additional problems which will be considered at the next
regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, September 24.* Approved Ordinance No. 457 amending the General Fund,
Drug Fund, Solid Waste Collection Fund, Utility Fund, and
Public Improvement Fund budgets for fiscal year 2001-2002
to provide for routine fiscal year-end review and
amendments, on second and final reading, following a
public hearing which was not attended by the public;
* Approved Resolution No. 002-11 to commemorate and honor
the individuals killed or wounded in the September 11,
2001 terrorist attacks against the United States;
* Authorized Mayor Kelley to enter into a contract with
the State Department of Environment and Conservation for
the $120,0000 Local park and Recreation Fund Grant, with
the required matching fund of $120,000 to be provided by
the use of town equipment and labor over a two year
period;
* Approved the request of the Huntingdon High School Beta
Club for the use of Veterans park for a tennis tournament
to be held October 3 through 6;
* Approved the adjustment of Phil White's water bill to
$175.00. The bill in question was originally $823.17 due
to a leak at Mr. White's barn. Normal adjustment
procedures lowered the bill to $256.27; however, with the
leak repaired, Mr. White had requested further relief from
the bill that Mayor Kelley stated normally runs around
$10.00;
* Approved a request from the Huntingdon Middle School
Relay for Life team that they be allowed to construct a
"Memorial Fountain" at the entranceway to the back section
of Veterans Park. The memorial will consist of three
fountains symbolizing those lost to cancer, those battling
cancer, and the prevention of future cases. The
inscription on the memorial will read as follows: "To our
loved ones who lost the battle of cancer, we dedicate this
memorial. To those currently fighting cancer, we pledge
our support. To all, we are driven to find a cure."
Memorial stones for the fountain wall will be sold
annually by the team. |
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Council Faces Opposition on Annexation/Rezoning |
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By Deborah Turner
dturner@mckenziebanner.com |
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The McKenzie City Council convened on Tuesday, September
12 at 7:00 p.m. before a packed audience in response to
the Planning Commission's proposal to annex the Holland
farm and other properties in order to avoid spot zoning
the current church property on Highway 22 where Dr. David
Lott hopes to relocate his veterinary practice. Under the
proposal, property located along Highway 22 would be zoned
for commercial business while the farm would be placed in
R-1 (low density residential) as a holding zone pending
future development.
Vice-mayor Gene Hale advised the audience, "I know a lot
of people are concerned about this. There will not be a
vote on annexation tonight. Tonight we will decide to
consider or not to consider their proposal. If we do, it
will go back to the Planning Commission to prepare a plan
of services, then it will come back to the Council for a
public hearing with 15 days required before the hearing,
which will give every concerned citizen the opportunity to
speak on this."
He advised he would allow three minutes at the end of the
meeting for comments since Mayor Patty Edwards had
promised concerned citizens they could address the
meeting.
Councilmember Darra Adkins voiced concern that she did not
have sufficient knowledge of the action proposed by the
Planning Commission to make a decision, upon which Mr.
Hale reiterated that the only action taking place in the
current session of the Council was whether to consider the
proposal, which was approved on September 9 by the
Planning Commission, in order to give the Council time to
study the issues involved.
Councilmember James Knolton objected to the action,
stating a petition containing the signatures of 40
citizens against the proposal was not considered by the
Planning Commission.
City Attorney Kent Jones advised, "A petition doesn't have
to be considered at all... I'm not sure the Planning
Commission should be guided by a petition anyway, that's
your job, that's what the public hearing will be about."
The Council approved a motion to consider the proposal
with Councilmember Knolton casting the sole dissenting
vote.
Mr. Larry Kee, whose home lies near the church property
that is being considered for rezoning for business,
stated, "Our concern is rezoning to commercial in a
residential area. It's spot zoning and it's illegal...We
just don't want a commercial building across from our
house." Mr. Kee further stated he wished to go on record
as being adamantly opposed to the rezoning measure.
Mrs. Nancy Holland spoke regarding the annexation issue,
stating she wondered about the legality of taking a
working farm into the city limits without notifying its
owners. She asserted "not one" city official advised her
of the action, rather, she read about the proposal in the
McKenzie Banner. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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