|
Weather |
|
|
|
Local
News |
|
|
|
___________
|
|
___________
AD RATES
___________
|
|
|
|
National
News |
|
|
|
TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2003
 |
Final Highway 79 Design Revealed |
|
| |
| |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
Residents along a U.S. 79 South
viewed the final plans for construction of a five-lane
highway between Lawrence Street (at Carroll Bank and
Trust) south to Sydnor/Winston Road near the residence of
Harold Riddick, where it will taper back down to the
existing two-lane highway. Tennessee Department of
Transportation personnel held a public hearing at McKenzie
High School to provide affected landowners and residents
with information about the proposed three-mile
construction.
Essentially, the construction will provide two 12-foot
lanes of travel in each direction, a 12-foot center turn
lane, and 10-foot shoulders on either side. New
construction will follow the alignment of the existing
roadway, except it will deviate slightly away from Enon
Baptist Church to lessen the impact on that property.
Erwin White with D.O.T. said three commercial buildings,
two single family dwellings, and four mobile homes will
have to be relocated to accommodate the construction.
Affected are two frame homes on the old Wrinkle farm, one
mobile home owned by Sheila Adams, one by Virginia Nanney
and two mobile homes owned by Wendell Nanney. Commercial
buildings to be razed include a storage building located
to the side of McKenzie Lumber Company, the former skating
rink at the intersection of U.S. 79 and Enon Church Road,
and Alabi tavern, located adjacent to the residence of
Harold Riddick.
White said funding has been provided for design. Budgeting
should be provided for right-of-way purchase and
construction later, assuming that present highway funding
remains intact. Right-of-way appraisal and purchasing
should begin in October 2003 and contract letting should
be in October 2004. Construction will require another 1.5
to 2 years, said White.
A similar project starting at Milan and extending to the
Carroll County line is approximately one year ahead of the
McKenzie project, said White. The Gibson County project
will require constructing a new railroad overpass,
replacing the one at Milan High School. White said that
recent rains have exceeded the level of the 100-year flood
plane, indicating that the highway in the Gibson County
portion needs to be elevated significantly.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Annexation Final - Holland Attorney Remains Unsatisfied |
|
| |
In a process that has spanned seven months, the
annexation and zoning of the Holland farm and adjoining
properties along College Drive and Highway 22 became
final following a public hearing and second reading
during the March 27 regular meeting of the McKenzie City
Council. Council members were unanimous in their
approval of the measure.
Holland attorney Charles Cagle stated, during the time
set aside for the hearing, he would "be remiss" if he
did not state the Holland family remains opposed to
annexation and that the resulting city taxes will be
"inconsequential" to the city's tax roles. He further
indicated he intends to ensure the "sunshine law" was
properly followed "all the way through the process" and
insisted that city officials produce a sewer easement
pursuant to lines run through the back of the Holland
farm in the mid 1980's.
"No easement has been produced although several requests
have been made for it," said Mr. Cagle who stated he was
now making a formal request for the document. "If an
easement does not exist," he stated, "Remedy will be
sought for the Hollands."
In a March 28 phone call, Mrs. Nancy Holland stated that
while her husband, Kermit, gave the city the go-ahead on
the project, he was not now nor had he ever been sole
owner of the property. She indicated use of the property
by the city could be cause to offset taxes imposed by
the annexation.
City Clerk Dana Deem on April 1 stated a copy of the
easement was provided to the Holland family months ago.
It remains unclear whether the document was registered
when executed.
In a related matter, Council members unanimously
approved the creation of an urban agricultural zone and
applied that zoning to the Holland farm portion of the
aforementioned annexed properties. Annexed properties on
either side of Highway 22 were zoned for commercial use
while a small section on the northeast corner was zoned
R-1 (residential) in order to create a buffer zone
between future commercial developments and existing
residential properties.
FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM FIREWORKS DISPLAY ENDANGERED
Only one organization responded to a communiqué sent out
to businesses and civic organizations by Mayor Walter
Winchester requesting financial assistance in offsetting
the $6,000 cost of providing McKenzie's annual Fourth of
July fireworks display.
Mayor Winchester indicated he had on the date on the
meeting received a $6,000 bid and that, using the
specifications contained in the current bid, he intended
to seek bids from two other sources.
On the motion of Council member Gene Hale the issue was
continued to the next regular meeting scheduled for
April 10, pending receipt of additional bids and
possible financial assistance from other sources.
In other matters the Council:
- Agreed to allow Little League, Girl's Softball
League and Babe Ruth teams to operate concession
stands as a fundraiser for the teams on a one-year
trial basis, with the city funding umpires and
security for the current year's games. Mr. Billy
Collins, co-manager of the McKenzie Girl's Softball
League, indicated the teams' intentions to invest
money after expenses into improving the fields. He
further announced his intentions to build at supply
cost only covers for the dugouts on the Little League
and softball fields. Costs of supplies through Carroll
County Lumber were quoted at $150 per dugout for a
total cost of $600.00;
- Proclaimed the month of May as "Fix Up, Clean Up
Month" in McKenzie. During the month of May the city
will pick up and dispose of any refuse placed on the
curb at no charge;
- Heard Councilmember Darra Adkins voice her
opposition to the pruning of the Bradford Pear trees
in front of City Hall. Mayor Winchester responded,
"Before the first limbs hit the ground we got two
telephone calls (complaining)." He stated the trees
had become a safety issue for big trucks using the
road in front of City Hall;
- Approved the payment of bills in the total amount
of $5,009.11 as follows: B & E Electronics, $730.95;
Vulcan Materials, $866.88; Farm Plan, $611.08;
Replogle Enterprises, $837.33; Comptroller of the
Treasury, $751; and Stringfellow Inc., $1,211.87.
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Alice in Wonderland to be Presented April 5 |
|
| |
Once upon a time Alice stepped through a
looking-glass and entered Wonderland, but that was long
ago. Alice hasn't been heard from recently, but now her
story comes to light once again as we hear of ALICE IN
AMERICA-LAND. Alice steps into her television set and
enters America-Land where she encounters some very
strange creatures. This is the premise of McKenzie High School's spring
production "Alice in America-Land," or "Through the
Picture Tube and What Alice Found There" which is
nearing production. In this fresh and lively update of
Lewis Carroll's classic, Alice (Ryan Lacey) takes a
journey through the picture tube of her family's
television and meets some of the same creatures she met
in Wonderland, but their interests and activities have
changed. The White Rabbit (Virginia Hames) lives in fear
of someone's dropping " The big one." A Mock Turtle
(Nicole Clark) is a champion of consumer rights, a Dodo
(Brandon Thatcher) is a rock guitarist, and a Mouse
(Emily Kee) is seeking political office. Then there is
the old Eagle (Joseph Winchester) who lives in the past.
The Duke (Brandon Cook) and the Duchess (Rebekah Cooper)
have switched life roles - she's a working duchess while
he's a house-duke. Alice herself becomes the unwitting
subject for a showbiz roast with two comedians - the Mad
Hatter (Jeff Bunn) and the March Hare (Aaron Greenberg).
Through it all, Alice just wants to return home to her
beloved cat.
Others in the cast include the Caterpillar (Ty Winkler),
the Cheshire Cat (Heidi Thomas), the King (Johnathan
Watson), the Queen (Kate Hames), the P.R. Man (Justin
Taylor), the Stenographer (Brittany Washburn), the Arab
(Matt Jones), the Red Queen (Ashley Brooks), Lady
Dressed in White Paper (Whitney Wilson), Tweedledum
(Daniel Walker), Tweedledee (Jason Arnold), the White
Queen (Crystal Mattox), Humpty Dumpty (Sonia Gonzalez),
the White Knight (Andrew Wilson), Pitchwoman (Monica
Mayberry), Pitchman (Justin Permenter), Three Women
(Carrie Stambaugh, Rachael Clark, Brigitte Eubank), and
the Poetry Chorus (Brigitte Eubank, Rachael Clark, Amber
Ferrell and Mindi Chadwell).
The script for this year's production was written by
Dennis Snee who is a noted comedy writer who has written
for such notables as Johnny Carson, Bob Hope and Rodney
Dangerfield. The comedy-fantasy should delight audiences
of all ages. Children will enjoy the interesting
creatures in themselves while adults will appreciate the
political and social humor presented in such an
entertaining fashion.
"Alice in America-Land" will be presented at the
McKenzie High School Theater on Saturday, April 5, at
7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, April 6, at 2:30 p.m.
Advance tickets are now on sale at a cost of $5 in the
school office or from cast members. Tickets at the door
will be $7. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Wendy’s Employee Robbed Making Deposit |
|
| |
A Wendy’s employee in Huntingdon was reportedly robbed
early Tuesday morning, April 1 as she went to make a
night deposit of between $1,000 - $1,200 for the
business.
Huntingdon Police Department Investigator Lt. Johnny
Hill stated Wendy’s employee Bonnie Emerson came to the
police department at 12:23 a.m., shortly after the
robbery, to report the incident. She told police she had
driven to First Bank east branch on Main Street, exited
her vehicle, and had walked up to the night deposit box
when she was jumped from behind and knocked to the
ground. A male suspect grabbed the bank bag and fled
toward the back side of Hillcourt Apartments.
The drug dog was brought to the scene to track the
suspect.
Ms. Emerson sustained a large contusion on the head and
was treated at Baptist Hospital emergency room and later
released.
Lt. Hill said investigation is continuing in the case. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
