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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2002
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LAWSUIT SEEKS $100 MILLION AGAINST POWER PLANT |
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A lawsuit was filed last week in Weakley County Circuit
Court by a host of plaintiffs in the Gleason area against
Allegheny Energy Supply-Gleason Generating Facility Co.,
LLC, the Industrial Development Board of Weakley County
and James Twyman, individually, and as the manager of the
electricity generating plant. The lawsuit seeks damages in
the amount of $100 million plus a restraining order
preventing the plant from further operations while
emitting a low frequency sound and vibrations, which the
plaintiffs claim constitute a private and public nuisance
plus common law trespass.
A spokesman in the Weakley County Circuit Clerk's office
said last week that County Attorney Bill Neese of Dresden
accepted service of the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of the
defendants named in the lawsuit. The defendants have
thirty days to file an answer to the lawsuit unless an
extension of time is granted for filing the answer.
Representatives for the defendants listed in the lawsuit
could not be reached for comment late Tuesday afternoon
when the Enterprise obtained a copy of the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs listed in the complaint include: Danny Joe
Melton and Justin Melton; David Andrews and Lisa Andrews;
Norman Dotson and Linda Dotson; Brent Griffin and Denise
Griffin; Kevin Johnson and Doug Johnson; Kevin Johnson and
Cynthia Johnson; Danny Joe Melton and Linda McMackin;
Justin Melton and Wendy Melton; Leora Robison and Bobbye
Robison; Coy and Martha Segraves; John M.Trevathan and
Dixie A. Trevathan; David Vaughn and Pegg Vaughn; Terry
Wainscott and Cathy Wainscott; Floyd Lee Bell and Beverly
C. Bell; Donald Lawrence and Patsy Lawrence; John
Burroughs and Carolyn Burroughs and John Burroughs III (a
minor); Cory Burroughs (minor); Northwest Tennessee
Motorsports Park, LLC; Justin Melton and Danny Joe Melton,
d.b.a. M & M Race Cars.
According to the lawsuit, the complaint is predicated upon
the legal theories of common law trespass, strict
liability, negligence, and nuisance. The plaintiffs are
seeking to have the court "to cure and/or prevent any
further harm to the Plaintiffs and (issue) an injunction
requiring Defendant Allegheny and it's plant manager to
cure the temporary nuisance and a writ of mandamus
requiring the Defendant Industrial Development Board of
Weakley County, Tennessee to give Defendant Allegheny 5
days notice to cure their breaches of contract and other
legal violations per the language of their contract or
require Defendant Industrial Board of Weakley County to
cure the problem or convey the property to Defendant
Industrial Board of Weakley County so that the Allegheny
will become the owner and pay taxes like an ordinary
citizen or corporate entity and cease the violation
hereinafter described and pay damages to the Plaintiffs."
The Plaintiffs allege in the lawsuit that the power
generating plant built initially by Enron Corporation and
then sold to Allegheny Energy emits vibrations, is causing
water pollution and a water problem in the area. They
further contend that the plant is hazardous because of the
storage and use of hydrogen on the premises of the plant,
and due to the potential that the vibrations emitted from
the operation of the generating turbines will cause a
crack or rupture in the natural gas pipeline that serves
the plant, potentially resulting in an explosion. The
lawsuit alleges that the company never obtained a state
permit to operate the plant although a permit was obtained
to construct the plant.
"In operation of the Enron Power Plant, a vibration is
emitted, and then the vibration is sent for a great
distance beyond the Enron Power Plant property lines and
fences, causing materials of the plaintiffs and others to
have fatigue and breakage causing damage to the Plaintiffs
property such as cracked windows, cracked foundations,
brick crumbling, interior walls cracking, etc." the
complaint states. "Likewise, it causes personal injuries
to the Plaintiffs, such as headaches, loss of hearing and
nose bleeds and subjects them to risks of cancer and other
medical impairments. It also causes noise pollution to the
point where residents cannot hear their televisions, etc.,
over the vibration drone."
The Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are suing for "personal
injuries; loss of hearing, headaches, risk of cancer,
other diseases, medical problems and complications;
damages to the real property, personal property, and mixes
properties; emotional distress; mental anguish due to fear
of explosion and fear of natural gas fires, fear of the
hydrogen being used and kept on the power plant premises
and its effects, long and short term, on the Plaintiff's
health and the hydrogen's propensity for explosion, in the
amount of 100,000,000 collectively." The lawsuit further
states that the Plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages in
the amount of $100,000,000. |
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Dixie Carter Show Produces a Sell-Out
Performance to Benefit Planned Performing Arts Center |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Who says you can never go home again? Not Dixie Carter.
During a sell-out cabaret performance at The Ned
performing arts center in Jackson, Dixie mixed her acting,
singing, and comedic skills to provide an entertaining
show that people will remember. A native of McLemoresville
and a graduate of Huntingdon High School, Dixie is an
accomplished actress who has been a perennial mainstay on
the television in such serials as Designing Women and
Family Law. Today, she shares her time between her home in
Los Angeles and her childhood home of McLemoresville.
"I had an idyllic childhood," said Dixie of her rearing in
McLemoresville. While she is performing she often tells
stories of her days in McLemoresville, to which she adds
the town of Huntingdon - at the prompting of fellow
classmate, Dale Kelley, Mayor of Huntingdon. She said
people are really interested in her rural upbringing. She
recalled the happy times of family and friends when the
distractions of the world seemed so far away and the
influence of television had not invaded the rural homes of
the south. "We were our own entertainment," said Dixie.
"My mother and daddy were my movie stars."
John Wallowitch provided the musical accompaniment on the
Steinway piano as Dixie stood front and center stage and
at times sat on top of the musical instrument. Her hand,
body and facial gestures lend dramatic emphasis to the
words she sang. The lyrics were often whimsical, poking
fun at herself or those in the entertainment business.
Subjects included medical procedures such as face lifts,
tummy tucks, or lying about one's age. John Wallowitch,
providing a dry wit, not unlike the late Jack Benny, was a
willing accompanist who often parlayed the lyrics or jokes
to an elevated status. Dixie and John are obvious seasoned
entertainers who know how to reach their audience.
While the McLemoresville native provided lots of laughs,
she knew the local audience knew her best. The familiarity
didn't go unnoticed when Dixie reminisced about her
childhood - her triumphs, her sorrows. "We know and
understand things we don't have to discuss," said Dixie to
her audience. Of the sorrows in her life, she said, "The
scars don't show, but they are there." She told of her
father, Halbert Carter, going off to World War II as a
soldier when she was just four years old. He returned 2.5
years later to surprise the family. Dixie and her sister,
were standing in the kitchen when they looked up and saw
their father standing in the doorway. He later sneaked
upstairs to surprise Mrs. Carter.
As for the new Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic
Enrichment Center to be built in Huntingdon, Ms. Carter
said she is thrilled with the idea of such a center being
built and bearing her name. As for the evening, Ms. Carter
said, "Thanks for including me in it. I have enjoyed your
company this evening."
A reception followed at The Carnegie in downtown Jackson.
Dixie, her husband Hal Holbrook, and John Wallowitch met
with friends and neighbors at The Carnegie. |
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County-Paid Insurance for Commission Might Cease |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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It has been a political football for much of the last
year. County-paid insurance for Carroll County
commissioners may soon be coming to an end, thanks to
action taken by the county's insurance committee on
Monday. The committee voted three to one to end the
county's co-pay for major medical and life insurance,
leaving the commissioner with the option to drop the
coverage or pay the full premium effective January 1,
2003. The committee's action will be presented to the
Resolutions Committee for action on October 7 and then on
to the full commission on October 14.
The Insurance Committee consisting of Ben Surber, Frank
Burns, Jerry White, and Roger Hollowell met on Monday in
the county executive's office to discuss the matter.
Chairman Larry Spencer was absent. The plan allows
commissioners to continue under the insurance plan,
however, the county will no longer pay 75 percent of the
premium for the commissioner and his/her dependents. That
move is expected to save the county $51,693.84 annually.
Only six of the 21 commissioners are covered under the
plan - that's down from the 17 commissioners who were on
the plan last year. Some of the previously covered
commissioners were not re-elected or did not seek
re-election in August. Commissioners presently on the plan
include Mike Creasy, Ronnie Murphy, Larry Spencer, Gaylon
Sydnor, Frank Burns, and Roger Hollowell. It was Burns who
made the motion to eliminate the county's co-pay for
commissioners. In January 2003, the total premium will be
$957.30 for a family plan and $383.44 for the employee
only.
The dissenting committee vote came from commissioner Roger
Hollowell, age 64, who asserted that fellow commissioners
needed time to find insurance. He proposed the county-paid
plan cease at the end of December 2003, a full year's
extension from the proposal moving out of the committee.
The commissioner said he was aware that enough
commissioners will vote to end the insurance, but begged
for an extension. Hollowell said he can obtain Medicare in
December 2003 and a continuance of the county-paid plan to
December will allow the five other commissioners to find
other insurance while he will personally move to the
Federal program of Medicare.
White openly questioned, "What if someone will be (age) 65
in 2004?", in reference to Hollowell's obvious attempt to
extend the coverage one year for his personal gain.
"The public is outraged," said Surber of the county-paid
insurance for commissioners. He said many of the newly
elected commissioners ran for office on the premise to
eliminate county-paid insurance for the commissioners.
"It's been good and good for me," said Surber, who
discontinued his county coverage recently after receiving
Medicare.
Hollowell's amendment for a one-year extension was
defeated, receiving only his vote.
The County budgeted $690,391 to cover its share of
insurance premiums for approximately 150 county employees
for FY 2002-2003. County Executive Kenny McBride said the
premium increase will add another $172,000 to the costs.
Health insurance for employees is approximately 8 percent
of the county's total budget.
Hollowell retorted that if the County eliminates the
co-pay for the commissioners' insurance, the property tax
rate should be adjusted downward to reflect the savings.
McBride said the savings will be more than offset by
premium hikes for the remaining employees' insurance. He
pledged to present his amendment for a one-year extension
to the full commission on October 14. |
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Four Arraigned Wednesday on Kidnapping Charges |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Four suspects were arraigned in Carroll County General
Sessions Court Wednesday, September 18 in connection with
the kidnapping of a 26-year-old McKenzie woman from the
Blooming Grove community.
Charged were Anthony Maupin, 31, East Union Street,
Gleason; Stacie Leeann Spence, 26, North Street, Hollow
Rock; Emily Blackard, 25, East Grove Road, Gleason; and
Kim Dawn Bills, 32, Lester Lane, Martin. All four are
being held in Carroll County Jail, under $50,000 bond
each. Each of the suspects are charged with aggravated
kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
According to Carroll County Sheriff's Department
Investigator David Bunn, the four suspects reportedly
believed that the woman had served as an informant,
implicating Maupin and Spence on a charge of manufacturing
methamphetamine in Weakley County. However, Investigator
Bunn stated the woman, who he declined to identify, had
not served as a narcotics informant as far as he knew. The
drug charge was later defeated in the Weakley County court
system.
The suspects apprehended the victim mid-afternoon at
gunpoint from her home on Monday, September 16.
Investigator Bunn stated the suspects used a pellet
pistol, however the weapon has the appearance of a more
dangerous weapon. She and two of the suspects left the
home in a pickup truck the suspects had driven to the
victim's home, while the other two suspects followed in
her black Chevrolet Baretta.
A short time later the victim's car became disabled and
both cars stopped along the roadway while the suspects
decided what to do.
Investigator Bunn stated several cars passed by the
stalled car and pickup. During this time an altercation
erupted between the four suspects and the victim called
out for help to passing motorists. None of the drivers
stopped, however an occupant from one of those vehicles
called authorities to inform them of the situation.
The four suspects and the kidnap victim then entered 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. Unknowingly, the suspects arrived at a home next
door to the victim's boyfriend's brother. While at the
location, she was able to get away from her captors and
fled to the next door neighbor's home.
The four kidnappers fled the scene and were apprehended
later at a residence in Gleason by officers of the Weakley
County Sheriff's Department and Gleason Police Department.
The four were originally transported to Weakley County
Sheriff's Department for questioning and later transferred
to the custody of Carroll County authorities. |
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Internet Exclusive - Community Health Systems Enters
Into Exclusive Negotiations to Purchase Seven West
Tennessee Hospitals From Methodist Healthcare |
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BRENTWOOD, Tenn., Sep 26, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) announced
today the execution of a letter of agreement to
negotiate exclusively for the purchase of seven West
Tennessee hospitals from Methodist Healthcare of
Memphis, Tenn., subject to the completion of a
definitive agreement. The acquisition includes Methodist
hospitals in Brownsville, Dyersburg, Jackson, Lexington,
Martin, McKenzie and Selmer, as well as Methodist's
outpatient care and ancillary services located in these
areas. The hospitals have a total of 676 licensed beds.
"These are excellent facilities with an important
community presence," said Wayne T. Smith, chairman,
president and chief executive officer of Community
Health Systems, Inc. "Our company has spent the last 15
years developing our expertise in operating and
enhancing community hospitals. We look forward to
bringing that commitment and experience to these
hospitals and working with their employees, medical
staffs and leadership as they continue to provide
quality healthcare to the communities they serve."
Gary S. Shorb, president and chief executive officer of
Methodist Healthcare, said the transaction allows both
companies to pursue their individual missions. "We
believe that Community Health Systems' financial
stability and proven track record in operating non-urban
hospitals uniquely positions them to enhance these
facilities. This transaction allows Methodist Healthcare
to focus our energy and resources to further developing
a major academic research hub. Our board has given this
decision great consideration and is confident we have
identified the best future for our facilities throughout
West Tennessee."
The transaction is subject to board approvals of a
definitive agreement as well as governmental agency
approvals.
Located in the Nashville, Tennessee suburb of Brentwood,
Community Health Systems is a leading operator of
general acute care hospitals in non-urban communities
throughout the country. Through its subsidiaries, the
company currently owns, leases or operates 61 hospitals
in 21 states. CHS hospitals offer a broad range of
inpatient and outpatient medical and surgical services.
Shares in Community Health Systems, Inc. are traded on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYH."
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or
Fax (731) 352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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