|
Weather |
|
|
|
Local
News |
|
|
|
___________
|
|
___________
AD RATES
___________
|
|
|
|
National
News |
|
|
|
TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2003
| |
Seven Left Homeless after Monday Fire |
|
| |
| |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
A McKenzie family is homeless after a Monday, December
29 fire gutted their two-story frame home on Garland
Street.
Dorothy Robinson and six children ages 17, 15, 13, 7, 7,
and 4 will stay with family and friends after the 1:30
p.m. fire destroyed their home.
"Everything I got is in there," said Ms. Robinson as she
watched firefighters battle the blaze.
McKenzie Fire Department fought the blaze with its two
newest pumpers. Dense smoke filled the neighborhood as
firefighters arrived on the scene. Firefighters
initiated their battle through the front door and roof
but soon moved to the exterior. Blazes broke through the
roof and west wall as firefighters showered multiple
streams on the blaze to contain the fire and to save
adjacent property.
After two hours of battling the blaze, mutual aid
manpower was requested from Macedonia and Trezevant fire
departments. Firefighters left the scene around 6:00
p.m. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Unemployment Reflects Little Change in Tri-Counties |
|
| |
| |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
Unemployment rates in Carroll, Henry and Weakley
counties had no significant changes during the November
reporting period, according to Judith Bradberry, Labor
Market Analyst with the Tennessee Department of Labor
and Workforce Development. Carroll and Henry counties
remained high because of previously reported economic
conditions that included losses in manufacturing,[PC1]
she said. Hopefully, recent announcement of expansions
at industries in Carroll County will improve employment
statistics here during the coming months.
From a total labor force of 12,220 in Carroll County, a
total of 10,760 were employed, leaving 1,460 unemployed.
The jobless rate rose slightly from 11.2 percent in
October to 11.9 percent in November.
Henry County’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at
11 percent. From a labor force of 14,860, a total of
13,370 were employed, leaving 1,490 unemployed.
Weakley County’s jobless rate dipped slightly from 8.5
percent in October to 8.2 percent in November. From an
available work force of 17,780, a total of 16,330 were
employed, leaving 1,450 unemployed.
Tennessee’s unemployment rate for the month of November
is 5.7 percent, up slightly from the seasonally adjusted
October rate of 5.6 percent, said James Neeley,
Commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development.
“The state rate remains below the November national rate
of 5.9 percent. The slight rise in the Tennessee rate is
typical this time of year and mostly due to decreases in
leisure and hospitality jobs, manufacturing and
construction,” said Commissioner Neeley.”
The October-to-November figures show increases in retail
trade, up by 8,900. Increases also occurred in local
government educational service jobs, up by 2,300.
Month-to-month seasonal decreases took place in leisure
and hospitality jobs down by 2,400. Durable goods
manufacturing decreased 900 and construction lost 500
jobs.
From November 2002 to November 2003, educational and
health services increased by 8,900. Administrative,
support and waste management increased by 4,600. Jobs in
food service and drinking places rose by 3,200.
Decreases took place in manufacturing, down 6,900.
Construction jobs decreased 4,700. Transportation and
warehousing dropped 4,000 jobs.
County unemployment rates showed that 84 county rates
increased, nine counties decreased, and two county rates
remained the same. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
New Ford Dealership to Open in Huntingdon |
|
| |
Carroll County Ford-Mercury will open in late January
in the former Star Ford building at 21380 East Main
Street, Huntingdon. Jeff Robinson and partners, Bill
Grizzle and Lee Marsh, all of Nashville have purchased
the business. Marsh is the father of the late Steve
Marsh of Milan, who once owned part of Star Ford in
Huntingdon.
Speaking from the new dealership on Monday, Jeff
Robinson said, "We are looking forward to getting open
for business. Everyone has been so helpful." He said
crews are at the dealership this week cleaning and
painting the facility, which closed earlier in 2003.
Robinson and wife, Dawn, who will serve as the
comptroller of the business, have moved to Huntingdon
and will operate the business. They plan to offer a full
service dealership with new and pre-owned automobiles,
and service and parts departments. Robinson has worked
24 years in the automobile business, 11 of which were
with Bill Grizzle at a Dickson dealership.
"I am looking forward to getting involved in the
community," said Robinson. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
New Courtroom, Health Department Planned for 2004 |
|
| |
| |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
The year 2004 will go down in history as a year of
construction for the County of Carroll. The county
government has some $3 million in projects already
planned with other projects in the works.
County Mayor Kenny McBride said renovations to the
courthouse, construction of new courtroom at the
county’s law enforcement complex (jail), and a new 7,000
square-foot health clinic will begin in the spring or
summer of 2004.
Construction will begin first on a new General Sessions
courtroom at the law enforcement complex. McBride said
the new courtroom would eliminate the transfer of
prisoners from the jail to the downtown courthouse.
Sheriff Bartholomew estimates the current cost of
transporting prisoners – including additional deputy
man-hours - at $35,000 annually, according to McBride.
Security will also be improved or enhanced since the
prisoners will move directly from the jail into the
courtroom through a sally port. McBride said the new
General Sessions courtroom is first on the construction
list because the two courtrooms on the second floor of
the courthouse, where General Sessions is now held, will
undergo extensive remodeling. A new 32-bed dormitory for
prisoners will be “shelled in” but not completed
initially, said McBride. Additionally, many of the cells
will be renovated to comply with current jail safety
standards.
The larger of the two courtrooms at the courthouse will
be redesigned with the judge’s bench being placed in the
front corner, a new 14-seat jury box placed on the
opposite wall, and a lectern installed for the
attorneys. The smaller courtroom will have similar
provisions for the judge, jury, and attorneys, however
the audience size will be limited to 46 as compared to
94 in the larger courtroom.
Second floor amenities will include an attorney-client
conference room and public restrooms, and two jury
rooms. Entrances on the north side of the courthouse
will be restricted to law enforcement and court
officials only. Judges will be able to move from their
new third floor offices to the second floor courtrooms
in a secured environment.
New entrance doors will be installed on the courthouse’s
main floor. The new single door will replace the heavy
metal double doors and basement floor restrooms will be
renovated, said McBride.
Plans for the construction must first meet the approval
of the state’s fire marshal before the project is let
for bids, said McBride. Construction at the law
enforcement complex and courthouse is estimated at
$2,185,500.
Carroll County was recently awarded a state grant of
$375,000 and a $300,000 CDBG grant to construct a new
7,000 square-foot health department. The new facility
will be constructed on High Street in Huntingdon
adjacent to the County Office Complex. The health
department will require “no debt and no county general
funds to build”, said McBride. The current health
clinic, located on Paris Street, will be vacated. The
County hopes to sell that facility to the Town of
Huntingdon for a police department. Once that building
is sold, the County hopes to construct a new highway
department building and sell the existing highway
department property to the Carroll County Electrical
Department. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
These
stories and more exclusively in the
print edition: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
- New Ford Dealership to Open in Huntingdon
- Bredesen Awards Community Block Grant to Trezevant
- McKenzie Mayor Recounts Progress, Looks to the
Future
- Wayne Ladner Fulfills Dream and Physicians Assistant
- Huntingdon Featured in Tennessee Town and City
Newspaper
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
