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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2003
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Separate Accidents Claim Lives |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Separate traffic accidents have claims the lives of
Heather H. Ellis, 25, of Buena Vista and Jeremy Shawne
Ellis, 24, of Cordova, formerly of Huntingdon.
Heather Nicole (Hayes) Ellis died Tuesday, January 21 at
Regional Medical Center in Memphis as the result of
injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident on Veterans
Drive in Huntingdon January 8. Ms. Ellis reportedly veered
off the left and then right shoulders of the roadway,
before the vehicle overturned and she was ejected.
Jeremy Ellis died Sunday, January 26 at Jackson-Madison
County General Hospital following a one-vehicle accident
on Interstate 40 that also left his Fiancee, Marsha D.
Briggs, seriously injured. Ms. Briggs was a front seat
passenger in the vehicle.
According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol report, Mr. Ellis
was westbound at the 77 mile maker, when he lost control
and left the north side of the roadway. The 1993 Lexus
struck a tree, causing the vehicle to roll over, ejecting
the passenger and trapping the driver, according to
Trooper Roger Cathey.
Ms. Briggs address was also listed as Cordova.
Heather Ellis was a coordinator for the Department of
Human Services and graduated from Bruceton High School in
1995.
She leaves her husband, Clint Ellis, one daughter, Emilee
Ellis, a son, Caleb Ellis, her father and mother, Roger
and Brenda (Kirby) Hayes of Buena Vista, one sister, Tracy
Barrett, and one brother, Chris Hayes, both of Huntingdon.
Mr. Ellis is a 1996 graduate of Huntingdon High School,
where he was a member of the football team. He had served
four years in the United States Marine Corp. He was
employed as a car salesman for World Rental Car Sales.
He is survived by his father, Jimmy Ellis of Huntingdon;
his mother and step-father, Jennifer and Eddie Oakley of
Lake Cormorant, Mississippi; a daughter, Alli Ellis of
Bruceton; paternal grandmother, Fay Ellis of Huntingdon,
and maternal grandmother, Joan Bolen of Clarksburg, and
two brothers, Chris Lewis and Marcus Lewis, both of
Huntingdon.
(See separate obituaries in this edition.)
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Cedar Street to be Site of New McKenzie Funeral Home |
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By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
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Groundwork began this week on the site of the new
McKenzie Funeral Home to be located at 1740 Cedar Avenue
in McKenzie, across from Bob Rutledge and Associates.
Ken and Lisa Weatherford of Trezevant purchased the
18-acre home place of the late Brooks and Ina Bell
Bannister to construct a new funeral home.
Mr. Weatherford said the frame home situated on the site
will be relocated and construction of the 12,100
square-foot funeral home will begin in approximately one
month. A total of six months is estimated for the
construction of the facility, which will include two
viewing rooms, a 265-seat chapel, canopy-covered
drive-up entrances, and 120 parking places. The facility
will be located 250 feet from the roadway to allow for
adequate parking in front of the building.
The funeral home's mission statement will be "To provide
the highest level of compassionate and professional
services for the deceased, their families, loved ones
and friends. To be loyal to the community and humble our
hearts to all."
The McKenzie Funeral Home will be the second in
McKenzie. Brummitt Funeral Home, located on Magnolia
Street, also has facilities in Trezevant. |
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School's Stockpiled "Snow Days" All Gone |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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As of Thursday, January 23, all of McKenzie School
System's stockpiled days reserved for inclement weather
had been used. The school system had scheduled five days
for such occurrences. The first day was used September
27, after Tropical Storm Isodore dumped more than seven
inches of rain in the tri-county area, which caused
flooded roadways. Schools closed a second day December
5, after sleet left some roadways treacherous. Snowfalls
resulted in additional closings on January 16-17 and
January 23-24, making six total days this school year.
As per a contract with McKenzie Education Association,
Friday and any additional dates that result in closings
will be added to the end of the school year. However,
McKenzie Superintendent James Ward said he planned to
submit a letter to MEA recommending the day or days be
made up before state testing, which includes Terra Nova
and Gateway exams, is completed.
If only one day has to be made up, Mr. Ward said he
prefers that March 17, the last day of Spring Break I,
is chosen. If additional makeup days are required, he
would prefer April 25 (Fish Fry) and May 9 (Strawberry
Festival) be considered rather than the dates of Spring
Break II, April 17 and April 18 (Good Friday).
Mr. Ward noted however that because of the school's
affiliation with Carroll County Vocational School,
McKenzie and other school systems in the county will
have to follow similar schedules. McKenzie School System
currently has approximately 70 students participating in
the vocational and co-op programs combined. The co-op
program allows students to spend part of the day working
in area businesses outside the school system.
WEST CARROLL
West Carroll Superintendent Eric Williams stated that
system had scheduled three days per semester as "snow
days." Since all Carroll County schools have been closed
four days during the second semester because of snow,
that leaves one day to be made up.
Mr. Williams said Carroll County superintendents will
meet together as a group to reach a recommendation as to
whether to add the day to the end of the school year or
make up the day by deleting days such as President's Day
or Spring Break. That recommendation will then be taken
back to each school board for approval.
He noted all schools would need to follow a similar
schedule, because they operate with the same bus system
and all utilize Carroll County Vocational School.
HUNTINGDON
Huntingdon Superintendent Danny Truett said
superintendents may have to call a special meeting to
discuss any change in the calendar, which they will then
take back to each individual board. The group of
superintendents meets once a month on a regular basis,
however the next scheduled meeting is not until February
19.
"In my opinion, we have probably missed enough days and
possibly should look at making them (snow days) up,"
said Mr. Truett. However he noted, "We have to be
careful about using scheduled days because of events
during those days that have already been scheduled."
For instance, he noted that in March, a group at his
school has a trip planned to New York and a deposit may
have already been paid toward that effort.
Another option could be that the boards would decide the
day or days didn't need to need to be made up, he said.
SOUTH CARROLL
South Carroll Superintendent David Huss noted the board
had also previously approved three snow days per
semester. In addressing the need to makeup the fourth
day missed during the second semester, he stated, "I am
not for adding to the end of the school year. It doesn't
do a lot of good if you don't get it in before state
testing."
However, he added, "we will get with other school
systems and try to reach an agreeable makeup date for
all."
HOLLOW ROCK-BRUCETON
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Superintendent Cliff Sturdivant
said instructional time must be considered in making the
decision of whether or not to makeup snow days. If
schools boards determine that adequate instructional
time has been met, then no makeup would be required. If
they determine that instructional time has not been
adequately met, then schools would collectively decide
when to make up the missed day or days. |
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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