|
Weather |
|
|
|
Local
News |
|
|
|
___________
|
|
___________
AD RATES
___________
|
|
|
|
National
News |
|
|
|
TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2003
 |
McKenzie Fire Contract Fee Raised, Available Beyond
Five-Mile Service Area -
Indigent Care Program Remains in Limbo |
|
| |
Fire Contracts for residences outside the city limits of
McKenzie were increased from $40.00 to $65.00 per year
during the Thursday, October 23 meeting of the McKenzie
Board of Mayor and City Council. Also approved was an
increase in the fire call fee for residences covered by
the insurance to $750 from $500. Residences without the
coverage will be charged $1500 per call, up from $1000.
The increased rates are effective July 1, 2004 with the
beginning of the new fiscal year. Current policyholders
whose contracts expire due to formerly staggered due dates
will be covered until the new sum becomes due on July 1,
said Councilmember and Fire Department Liaison Darra
Adkins.
She reported $820 currently exits in unpaid fire fees from
two fires. In one case the responsible party is
incarcerated and in the other instance the contracting
party has reduced the sum owed from $500 to $320 and
continues to make payments on the debt.
Asked by Councilmember James Knolton if the Fire and
Rescue Department would respond to fires of residences who
lived six miles from City Hall rather than the five-mile
service area, Ms. Adkins stated, "They would go to that,
yes." She further advised the five-mile guideline is not a
written rule.
In order to legitimize fire department response to
residences outside the city limits, the Council voted to
strike a clause of the city ordinance that McKenzie
Attorney Kent Jones stated was originally passed because
the fire department's "horses couldn't run quickly enough"
to reach outlying homes "fast enough." Deleted from the
ordinance was Section 7-401 which prohibited the use of
fire department equipment outside corporate limits unless
the fire was on city owned property or endangered city
property.
Ms. Adkins stated the action to delete the clause was
particularly important due to the mutual-aid agreement
between city and county fire departments, citing that
during the tornado of March 1, 1997 McKenzie was assisted
by units from Henry, Huntingdon, Gleason, Bruceton,
Dresden, Trezevant, Macedonia, Christmasville,
McLemoresville, Mixie, Hollow Rock, Greenfield, Milan and
the Carroll County Rescue Squad.
Battalion Fire Chief Brian Tucker distributed the fire
department's standard response guidelines which indicated
all personnel respond to any fire or rescue call within
the city limits. Personnel responding pursuant to out of
town calls are limited to the number of firefighters
dispatched units will carry.
INDIGENCY CARE FUND IN COMMITTEE
Mayor Winchester asked council members to once again table
the issue of the $1 million indigency care fund in order
to allow time for consultation with City Attorney Kent
Jones after discussion produced additional questions
regarding the application of funds currently being
considered for payment.
Currently, application for payment in the amount of
$68,000 has been received by the city on behalf of
patients unable to pay hospital bills. Mayor Winchester
stated the bill is dated January 2, 2003 through September
30.
"Suddenly this is looking strange," stated Attorney Jones,
suggesting the Mayor investigate whether the former
non-profit Methodist Healthcare system or the new,
for-profit owners of McKenzie Regional Hospital would
benefit from the payments.
Vice-Mayor Hale stated the bill should be separated
between charges accrued prior to January 1 2003, when the
change in ownership took place, and that only former
charges should be paid.
Councilmember Adkins stated an uninsured friend who
recently died of cancer incurred a bill of approximately
$24,000 while hospitalized for three weeks during her
final struggle with the disease.
"That bill is tied up in probate right now; that's part of
that 60-something thousand I'm sure," she stated.
Mayor Winchester stated Dyersburg and Lexington had
deleted their indigency care funds for "lack of need."
Carroll County retains a fund applicable to the needs of
the Baptist Hospital of Huntingdon patients.
Ms. Adkins voiced concern as to whether the payment of the
current bill would set a precedent for the payment of
future bills. Asked by Councilmember Willie Huffman what
liability the city has for payment of the bills, Attorney
Jones replied, "We don't have any liability at all."
It remains unclear what would happen to the million-dollar
fund in the event it no longer provides for indigent
patients of the McKenzie hospital or what recourse would
be available to patients or the hospital regarding unpaid
bills in the absence of the fund. Also in question is the
survivability of small-town hospitals in light of
complicated and controversial issues surrounding insured,
non-insured and TennCare-insured patients.
McKENZIE GROUP HOME PURCHASE PROGRESS
The Council passed a resolution to purchase the McKenzie
Group Home (formerly HOPE House) for $30,000 after the
first offer of $20,000 failed to elicit a positive
response from state officials, contingent upon obtaining
financing from the State of Tennessee for the purchase and
repairs of the facility.
A second resolution authorized the mayor to pursue a loan
for the purchase and repairs. While repairs were estimated
at $19,000, Mayor Walter Winchester asked the Council to
approve a loan of $25,000 to cover unforeseen expenses.
50-YEAR CONTRACT NETS INITIAL $4,000 PER YEAR INCOME /
Fifteen percent increases every five years promise future
gains
The Council approved the request of Clear Talk Mobile
Phone Company to locate a 196 ft. self-supporting
telephone service tower beside the defunct water tower
located behind City Hall.
According to the terms outlined, the company would pay the
City $4,000 per year to be increased 15% every five years
for the duration of the 50-year contract.
Councilmember Gene Hale advised in the event the water
tower is torn down the tower could be used as a conduit to
support police and other city communication antennas with
an amendment to the original price agreement that would be
negotiated at that time.
Because Clear Talk personnel had apparently discussed the
issue with Vice-mayor Gene Hale and perhaps other council
member(s), WHDM radio reporter John Kent stated his desire
to "go on record" that the meeting with Clear Talk
personnel was "another violation of the Sunshine Law."
Mr. Kent had previously charged the Council with violation
of the law following an informal meeting that took place
the week prior to a formal meeting. Mayor Winchester
acknowledged the meeting, which he stated was a workshop
geared to facilitate communication among council members
beyond the formal constraints of regular meetings.
Attorney Jones advised meetings in which information is
given or received which will lead to a decision must be
open to the public with proper notice given.
He also advised the Council of the dangers inherent in
establishing the landfill for brush and limbs, stating no
trespassing and no dumping signs must be erected and that
infractions of those directives "must be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law" with no exceptions.
He stated the City would be subject to "severe penalties"
including having to clean up the site as well as
substantial fines.
"If we get caught with anything in there other than...
what you said then we have a big problem," he said.
In other matters the Council:
* Approved the appointment of Wilson Davis, an employee of
Profile Metals, to replace resigning Board of Zoning
Appeals member Kenny Beasley.
* Approved the re-appointment of Industrial Board members
Jerry Drewry, Wallace Todd, and Jim Ward, whose current
terms will expire in December.
* Appointed a committee consisting of council members
Darra Adkins, Wade Allen, Jerry Arthur and City Clerk
Charlie Beal to study options for health insurance in
2004.
* Approved a donation of $100 to the Carroll County Arts
Council.
* Approved the use of the training room for a Home
Interior display on November 14 to raise funds for Relay
for Life.
* Approved bills in the amount of $2303.91 including
Diversified Contractors - $573.91 and Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation - $1730.00. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Huntingdon, West Carroll, McKenzie Bands Take High Awards
in State / Huntingdon - 1st Place; West Carroll - 3rd
Place; McKenzie - 5th Place |
|
| |
| |
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
Carroll County is home to three of the top five
Division I high school bands in Tennessee. Huntingdon,
West Carroll, and McKenzie won first, third, and fifth
places respectively at the Stones River Classic at
Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro on Saturday,
October 25.
Some people think of Carroll County for producing
powerhouse sports teams. Other people recognize the
county for consistently producing top finishers in
Division I band competition. Local bands begin during
summer camps to prepare for the Friday night halftime
shows and Saturday competitions that take place in
September and October, practicing daily in the fall to
hone their music and marching skills and tweaking their
field shows in an effort toward continuous improvement
throughout the season.
Nineteen Tennessee bands from west, middle, and east
Tennessee competed Saturday for bragging rights in the
small bands state championship contest. Huntingdon can
brag the most for winning the Governor's Cup for its
first place overall win and for capturing the awards for
"high score-music" and "high score-marching."
The Mustangs' win seemed highly unlikely in September
when they received no awards during the Milan
Invitational Marching Contest, but the Band improved
each week - realizing their dream Saturday when
Ezell-Harding, state winner in 2002, relinquished to
Huntingdon the "traveling" trophy. Unfortunately, the
defending champ failed to make the finals on Saturday.
West Carroll opened the preliminary contest with an 11
a.m. performance, followed by Collinwood, Hollow
Rock-Bruceton, East Robertson, McKenzie (noon),
Eagleville, Richland, South Pittsburg, Goodpasture,
Forrest, Huntingdon (2:00 p.m.), Rockwood, Westmoreland,
Trousdale County, Adamsville, Halls, Mt. Pleasant,
Donelson Christian, and Ezell-Harding. Judges selected
eight bands to continue in the evening competition.
Finalists included (in order of performance and final
ratings) Huntingdon (1st place, score 89.475), McKenzie
(5th place, score 86.2), Adamsville (4th place, score
86.575), East Robertson (8th place, score 84.1), Halls
(2nd place, score 88.45), Goodpasture (6th place, score
85.365), West Carroll (3rd place, score 86.75), and
Forrest (7th place, score 85.042). The top five places
went to bands in west Tennessee.
The atmosphere throughout the final round was charged
with electricity as fans cheered home bands with
euphoric fervor and great optimism. While spectators
came and went during daytime preliminaries, the stands
were filled almost to capacity with spectators who
watched intently as all eight finalists presented their
best shows under the lights.
West Carroll presented a show in tribute to the
Righteous Brothers entitled "Soul and Inspiration." The
61-member strong Marching War Eagles performed under the
direction of Corey Bridges and Randy Wilson. Field
Commander was Pam Gibson. West Carroll senior Daniel
Howell earned "Best Soloist" in preliminary competition.
The Band also received superior scores in field
commander, guard and band, and an excellent rating for
percussion in preliminary competition.
The McKenzie Marching Rebels' show entitled "The Sound
of Music" was directed by Keith Breeden with Field
Commander Kayla Bomar. Their entrance onto the field was
far from traditional as 51 band members "skipped" in
happy abandon to their assigned locations on the field.
Spectators often giggled about the entrance in earlier
performances of the marching season, but fans and judges
alike took the show seriously during competition on
Saturday. McKenzie received superior ratings in field
commander, guard, percussion, and band in preliminary
competition.
Saturday's awards ceremony capped a long weekend for the
Marching Rebels, who traveled to Martin for the
Rebel-Charger ballgame on Friday, arriving home at 11:15
p.m. then departing the MHS campus bound for
Murfreesboro the following morning at 5:45. Following
the daylong competition, the band arrived home around
2:30 a.m. Sunday.
Prior to leaving the football game Friday, MHS
Cheerleaders provided a warm sendoff and wishes of luck.
Cheerleaders also designed a banner which was
prominently displayed during the Marching Rebels
performances on Saturday.
The Huntingdon Marching Mustangs presented a "Tribute to
Frank Sinatra." The Mustangs are under the direction of
Lisa Bryant and Derek Cook and the field command of
Raveen Grimes. Huntingdon received superior ratings in
field commander, guard, percussion, and band in
preliminary competition. Huntingdon earned first place
in the years 1978, 1979, 1991, and 1992.
The Hollow Rock-Bruceton Marching Tigers received
superior ratings in field commander and guard, and
excellent ratings in percussion and band during
preliminary competition. Hollow Rock-Bruceton is under
the direction of Van Wadley and the field direction of
Samantha Stepp. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Carroll, Henry Jobless Rate Up, Weakley Down |
|
| |
| |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
| |
Unemployment in Carroll and Henry Counties reflected
increases during the September reporting period, while
Weakley County experienced a slight decrease in its
jobless rate, according to latest statistics released by
the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce
Development.
Carroll County experienced no significant changes in its
employment picture as the jobless rate increased
slightly from 10.5 percent in August to 10.7 percent in
September, according to Judith Bradberry, Labor Market
Analyst. From a labor force of 12,100, a total of 10,810
were employed, leaving 1,290 unemployed.
Henry County's September unemployment increased to 10.3
percent, up from 8.6 percent the previous month. Henry
County showed some decreases in the manufacturing sector
employment, said Mrs. Bradberry. From an available labor
force of 14,770, a total of 13,250 were employed,
leaving 1,520 unemployed.
Weakley County's jobless rate for September decreased to
7.6 percent, down from 8.1 percent in August. The
decrease in unemployment claims in that county was
attributed to seasonal increases in manufacturing, noted
Mrs. Bradberry. From an available work force of 17,730,
a total of 1,350 were unemployed in that county during
the September count.
Tennessee's September unemployment rate at 5.4 percent,
is up slightly from the August seasonally adjusted rate
of 5.1 percent. County unemployment rates showed that 65
county rates decreased, 21 counties increased, and nine
county rates remained the same. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
These
stories and more exclusively in the
print edition: |
|
| |
|
|
| |
- Plans of Services Adopted for Proposed Areas of
Annexation
- Hollow Rock Board to meet with Bruceton, MTAS
Officials
- Two Honored for Lifesaving Efforts
- Maddox Addresses Democratic Women
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
|
|
Advertisements |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
