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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2004
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Sturdivant Selected as School Director |
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By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
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Rod Sturdivant is the new Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special
School District Director of Schools after unanimous
approval of the school board Monday evening. Sturdivant,
brother of former director Cliff Sturdivant, will begin
his duties on March 15, replacing Acting Director Nancy
Rush. Rod Sturdivant presently serves as middle school
principal and head football coach at the school.
Sturdivant was named one of two finalists in a special
meeting on February 23. John Gunn of Dickson was the
other finalist.
During Monday's meeting, board member Randy Kelley had
questioned even considering Mr. Gunn since he had
clearly stated during his interview he would be
unwilling to make a change in his career without a
significant increase in pay. Board members agreed they
could pay no more than Cliff Sturdivant had received
which was a base salary of $56,000 plus incentives which
increased the overall package to $62,623. The additional
monies were for Mr. Cliff Sturdivant's insurance. Cliff
Sturdivant, the elder brother of Rod, resigned his
position with the school to assume a position with the
Tennessee Department of Education.
Board member Derreld Robison began the proceedings by
noting that he and fellow members of his committee,
conducting a background check on Mr. Gunn, had realized
Mr. Gunn had requested a base salary of $75,000 to
$78,000 and was unwilling to come for less money. Gunn
thanked board members for considering him and allowing
him the opportunity to interview for the position. He
also wished the system well in making their final
decision.
Board members Brett Mebane, Joe Robinson and Tim Runions,
who were to check out references for Mr. Sturdivant,
stated they had spoken with persons throughout the area
including teachers and citizens. Mr. Robinson stated he
had also spoken with persons in Benton County. All gave
Mr. Sturdivant high marks, noting no one had given a
negative comment. |
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Bryant Wins Trezevant Election |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Three new persons were elected to the Trezevant Board of
Mayor and Aldermen during Tuesday, March 2 election.
Former Mayor Wayne David Bryant, Jr. was elected to that
post again. Bryant narrowly beat current vice-mayor
Michael Cunningham by a final vote of 137 to 117. A
total of 261 persons of the 618 registered voters cast
ballots in the election.
Lloyd H. Bateman and Bobby McAlexander were elected to
the two four-year aldermen seats. Bateman received 182
votes, McAlexander received 112 besting challengers
Eddie W. Granger with 83 votes and Larry Searatt with 67
votes. Bateman and McAlexander will be new to the board.
Joe F. Butler was elected to fill the two-year unexpired
term of the late alderman Frank Newsom. Butler, whose
presently serves on the board, defeated political
newcomer Phyllis Curtis by three votes. The total was
123 to 120.
The newly elected mayor and aldermen will assume office
on Tuesday, March 9.
Current Mayor James Gilliam did not seek re-election. |
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Loss Control Survey Prompts Suggestions for Improvements |
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Street sports will soon be prohibited in McKenzie
following the approval of the McKenzie City Council for
an ordinance banning basketball goals and other sports
activities alongside or within public rights-of-ways.
A sample ordinance provided to the council set a fine of
$50 for violation of the proposed law.
The proposal came following February 10 correspondence
from the Tennessee Municipal League Risk Management Pool
through which the city is insured.
The letter reflects the findings of a survey designed to
identify areas of risk which could cause a financial
loss to the TML Pool membership, and further outlines 11
recommendations to alleviate the concerns, one of which
was the use of portable basketball goals alongside city
streets.
Other recommendations included: the repair of cracked
and broken sidewalks, primarily on Main Street;
alternatives regarding the use of speed breakers as
traffic control devices at the McKenzie Park; replacing
heavy, 55 gallon barrel trash containers at the park
with smaller receptacles; the review of procedures
related to police escort of funeral processions; the
need for specific job descriptions for city employees
describing the physical requirements and essential
functions of each job; the need for a written policy
requiring police officers wear body armor vests while on
duty; the need for a three-year review of driving
records for all employees driving vehicles owned or
leased by the city; the need for workplace
discrimination training; and the removal of an
electrical power line hanging from a utility pole behind
the pavilion at the City Park.
TML also advised the city establish a "panel of
physicians" pursuant to T.C.A § 50-6-204, which
authorizes employers to designate a panel of three or
more physicians to treat work related injuries, stating,
"This is an effective means of cost containment for the
treatment of on the job injuries."
The graveled and lighted parking lot owned by the First
Cumberland Presbyterian Church and located beside City
Hall will become city property following the council's
unanimous approval of the $25,000 purchase price. The
church originally priced the lot at $50,000.
Funds for the purchase will come from the reserve fund,
stated Mayor Winchester, who advised parking at City
Hall is sometimes a problem.
"It's something we'll have for expansion forever,"
stated Vice-mayor Gene Hale, who made the motion to
purchase the lot and suggested it be made into an
employee parking lot. Mayor Winchester indicated his
first thought was that excess police vehicles be moved
to the area.
Approved on first reading were changes to the Beer
Ordinance, penalty section 8-233 amending the civil
penalty to $1500 for each offense. Upon the third
offense, the permit will be revoked unless the permit
holder can demonstrate extenuating circumstances.
Previously, the ordinance imposed $1,500 for the first
offense penalty, $2,500 for the second offense and
$5,000 for the third offense based upon a draft
ordinance submitted the MTAS (Municipal Technical
Advisory Service), however, subsequent changes to the
law upon which the draft was based restricted the amount
of all penalties to $1,500.
The council unanimously approved the establishment of an
Information System Policy Guide (Internet policy)
regulating the use of city-owned computer equipment and
Internet access.
"All employees with access to the Internet will have to
sign the policy and it will be kept in their personnel
files," said Mayor Winchester.
Councilmember Darra Adkins requested affirmation from
the mayor that the penalty for deviation from the policy
could be dismissal, to which Mayor Winchester replied,
"It could be, yes."
The draft policy states any infraction of the rules
outlined within "could result in disciplinary action
(ranging from) verbal warnings to termination."
(more in our print edition) |
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IRS Receives No Bids on Former HOPE Center |
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The Internal Revenue Service held an auction and
nobody came. The former HOPE Center, located on Paris
Street, Huntingdon, was subject to sale at auction on
Thursday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m.
The IRS had requested a minimum bid of $154,548.44 on
the brick and steel structure, which is currently being
rented by Community Development Services, an agency
serving mentally-challenged adults.
HOPE Center, Inc. lost its contract with the State of
Tennessee to provide services for the
mentally-challenged clients because of that agency's
continued financial problems. CDS assumed the contract
but did not assume any of HOPE's debts or purchase any
of its real estate holdings.
County Mayor Kenny McBride said the IRS will again
attempt to auction the facility in 90 days with possibly
a lower minimum bid. |
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Trezevant Police Chase Ends in Wreck at Jackson |
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A high-speed police chase that began in Trezevant Monday
night ended with a serious accident in Jackson.
The chase originated in Trezevant when police tried to
stop a 1998 GMC Jimmy on a traffic violation. The
suspect fled and was pursued by Trezevant Police
Department and Carroll County Sheriff's Department to
the intersection of the U.S. 45 Bypass and Oil Well Road
in Jackson, where officers suspended the chase about
10:30 p.m. because the light was red.
According to Lt. Sammy Britt of Jackson Police
Department, Jackson Patrolman Mark Headen just happened
to be at the intersection, waiting for the light to
change, when he spotted the suspect approaching at a
high rate of speed and witnessed the accident.
The driver, Robert J. Martin, 33, of Ozark, Alabama
continued south on the bypass through the red light and
reportedly hit a westbound 1996 Ford Mustang, driven by
Brittany Blow, 18, of Jackson, in the passenger side.
The impact spun both vehicles around, said Lt. Britt.
The Trezevant Police Department vehicle and CCSO vehicle
arrived on the scene at that point, stated Lt. Britt.
The suspect driver was taken from the vehicle and
arrested. He was reportedly not injured and has been
charged with three counts of aggravated assault; DUI,
second offense; and driving on revoked, second offense.
Lt. Britt noted that other charges may be added.
Three people in the Mustang were seriously injured and
emergency crews were called to extricate them from the
vehicle. Two of the victims were airlifted and the third
was taken by ambulance to Jackson-Madison County
Hospital.
Front seat passenger, Benjamin Hyman, 19, of Jackson was
seriously injured and listed in stable condition Tuesday
at the hospital's Neuro Intensive Care Unit. Rear seat
passenger, Rachel Firestone, 19, of Jackson was admitted
to a private room and listed in stable condition. Ms.
Blow was treated at the hospital and released, said Lt.
Britt.
The southbound lanes of the bypass and a section of Oil
Well Road from the bypass to the Exxon Station near
Walker Road were closed because of the accident. |
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Clarksburg Obtains TDEC Loan for Sewer System
- Firearm Safety Kits to be Distributed March 6
- Record Sales Tax Share in Huntingdon
- Leadership Classes hold Graduation Ceremonies
- Memorial Fountain for Cancer Victims Reopened
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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