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TOP STORIES FOR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2004
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Guardsmen Get Great Send-Off |
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 Citizens of McKenzie turned out in force Thursday
to greet the convoy of three buses carrying the
Iraq-bound soldiers of Company A, 230th Engineer
Battalion. The convoy toured McKenzie past hoards of
sign-bearing, flag-waving well wishers before heading
to the airport by way of Milan, where they were again
hailed by neighbors, friends and family anxious to
show their support. The convoy bore soldiers from the
McKenzie and Milan National Guard units as well as
volunteers from other West Tennessee guard units. They
arrived Thursday at the mobilization station in Fort
Sill, Oklahoma and are expected to depart for Iraq in
early January. See feature for more details.
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Huntingdon Teenager Arrested
in Petty Slaying |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
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Carroll County investigators arrested 18-year-old
Wesley Simmons Thursday in the November 12 shooting
death of Bobby Petty of Huntingdon. Simmons, who
resides at 455 Hawkins Creek Road, Huntingdon, has
been charged with first degree murder and is being
held without bond in the Carroll County Jail.
A statement released from Huntingdon Police Department
Thursday stated in part "in the days following the
incident, authorities uncovered information which led
to the questioning of Simmons. During questioning,
Simmons confessed to the murder of Bobby Petty."
The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by
Huntingdon Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff's
Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
HPD Lt. Johnny Hill declined to release a motive in
the slaying at this time. He stated that Simmons is an
acquaintance of the Petty family.
Simmons was arraigned Thursday morning in Carroll
County Circuit Court and a preliminary hearing date
has been set for Friday, December 17.
The shooting occurred early November 12 at the Petty
home at 299 McCall Street in Huntingdon. According to
Steve Cantrell, Carroll County Medical Examiner
Designate, the victim was standing at the front door
when Baptist EMS arrived on the scene shortly after
the 7:13 a.m. call. He remained conscious enroute to
the hospital, but began going into cardiac arrest as
he entered the hospital parking lot, Cantrell said.
Medical personnel performed CPR for some 28 minutes,
however Petty was pronounced dead at the hospital
emergency room at 7:59 a.m., he said.
According to Cantrell, Petty sustained a single
gunshot to the chest with a small caliber weapon. The
bullet pierced the heart and right lung, he said.
No weapon was found at the Petty home. The victim was
alone in the home when officers arrived on the scene.
Simmons celebrated his 18th birthday on November 5. He
is being represented by Public Defender Billy Roe.
Petty is the county's seventh homicide since May 15.
The first involved Petty's 15-year-old son, who was
charged with vehicular homicide in the death of Audrey
Phillips of Huntingdon on May 15. Murder cases since
September 24 include Jessica Dawn Julius of Huntingdon
and her unborn baby on September 24; Denise Tegethoff
of Huntingdon and her one-year-old son Jayden
Tegethoff on October 1; and Betty Crocker of McKenzie
on October 4.
Charges have been made in all the cases except Jessica
Julius and unborn child. TBI Special Agent John Mehr
said that case remains under investigation by his
department and local authorities. Both Mehr and
Sheriff Bendell Bartholomew declined to comment on
whether Simmons is connected to the Julius murder.
Authorities are also still seeking information
concerning Janie Sue Lindsey of Atwood, who has been
missing since October 10.
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More Flu Shots Will be
Available |
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The Carroll County Health Department has received 540
additional doses of flu vaccine to be given to those
considered at high-risk.
The vaccine will be administered by appointment only,
Tuesday, November 30 and Thursday and Friday, December
2-3, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. To schedule an
appointment, call 986-1990.
In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention guidelines, the vaccine will be given only
to the following groups this year:
* Adults age 65 and older.
* Children between the ages of 6-24 months.
* Children ages 2-18 who must take aspirin regularly.
* People age 2-64 with chronic health conditions
including heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney
disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, anemia or
other blood disorders and weakened immune systems
caused by HIV/AIDS, long-term treatment with drugs
such as steroids, plus cancer treatment with X-rays or
drugs.
* Pregnant women.
* Residents of nursing homes and long-term care
facilities.
* Caregivers and those who live with an infant younger
than 6 months old.
* Health care workers who provide hands-on patient
care.
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Home Tours, Bluegrass Music Highlight McKenzie's
Hometown Christmas |
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McKenzie's Tour of Homes begins in less than two weeks
as a part of the second annual McKenzie's Hometown
Christmas on December 3 and 4. The popular event takes
place both Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. 'til 8 p.m.
The cost is $2.00 per home, payable at each door.
Homes in this year's tour include those of Larry Wheat
at 676 Stonewall, Gary and Penny Knott at 679
Stonewall, and Jean Garrett at 711 Stonewall.
The Montgomery House (Larry Wheat)
The tan brick house at 676 N. Stonewall was built by
R.B. Montgomery (Tootsie) and his wife, Pete, in the
late 1930s or early 40s. It was copied from a house in
Memphis, which they had admired during their frequent
trips to the city.
Locally, it was recognized as the house with the
largest picture window in town, at the time, and for
the breezeway leading to the garage. Many bridge
parties were held in the large living room.
Larry Wheat moved into the home not long after Mr.
Montgomery died in 1982, providing care and
companionship for Mrs. Montgomery, who died April 18,
1994. She had two sisters: Imogene Montgomery and
Doris Pinkston; one nephew: Jimmy Montgomery; and four
nieces: Jean McCadams and Judy, Jane and Betty
Pinkston.
Mrs. Montgomery's heirs gave the home to Larry in
appreciation of his years of care.
The Gallimore House (Penny and Gary Knott)
The Gallimore House is the home of Gary and Penny
Knott. It was purchased from Hays Brummitt in March,
1996. A yearlong renovation included a new kitchen,
master bath, and sunroom addition.
The original home was built in 1904 by a doctor who
lived there only a short time before it is believed it
was sold a couple of more times in quick succession
before being purchased by the dentist, Dr. Gallimore.
He was deceased by the time the property was sold to
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church on July 25, 1969 by
Clara Gallimore. The Franklin Poole family bought the
home on July 28, 1972 and sold it to Robert and
Dorothy Scott on May 23, 1983.
Mary Poole recalls she was told that all the
fireplaces were made from wood on the doctor's
property, and that each of them was different. At the
time the Pooles bought the house, she says, there was
a fireplace in every room except the den, which
Gallimore had used for his office. The fireplace in
that room was eventually also uncovered. Underneath
carpeting, beautiful hardwood floors were discovered.
Mary says when Frank began working the flowerbeds,
especially in front, he found quite a few teeth, which
had apparently been extracted and discarded by
patients on the way out. The door off the front porch,
she said many McKenzians would recall, was the blacks'
waiting room. The room was built after Gallimore
purchased the home.
The entryway with its elaborate front door is the
prized part of the house. It is a prism door with side
windows and a window above the door for maximum light.
The Phillips House (Jean Garrett)
This house was the property of Thomas Alexander and
Verda Cox Phillips, who are believed to have been the
original owners. Upon their death, the home was passed
to Benjamin Alexander and Inez Wiley Phillips until
the house was sold. In 1953, Paul Phillips and wife,
Alice, moved into the side vacated by "Skimp" and Ruth
Arnold. Skimp was a barber whose shop was located next
to Abernathy's Hardware in downtown McKenzie. The
Phillips (Paul and Alice) lived in the duplex house
with their son, Mike, while Paul's grandparents lived
on the other side.
Paul's grandfather, Thomas Phillips, was an
accomplished gardener and, until the age of 96, raised
vegetables and a few chickens in the back yard each
year. He used a hand plow to break up the ground for
planting. He was the railroad station agent in Hollow
Rock and was, ironically, retired at the age of 52 due
to poor health.
Each day, Paul says, Thomas and Verda would do their
chores, take a ten-minute nap on the floor, get
cleaned up and sit on the front porch so passers by
could receive a friendly wave or stop to visit.
Other Hometown Christmas Features
The authentic bluegrass band "Southern Grass" performs
at Bethel's Dickey Fine Arts Building Saturday night
at 7 p.m. Southern Grass has performed at the World's
Fair, Bill Monroe fundraiser and at bluegrass
festivals throughout the southeast. The band features
five band members playing the guitar, mandolin,
fiddle, bass fiddle, and dobro.
Tickets for the event are $8 for adults and $3 ages 12
and under. Admission at the door is $10 and $5.
Tickets are available from any Lions Club member and
at City Florist and The Vineyard.
Other events include, on Friday, opening ceremonies at
5:30 p.m. including Relay for Life's "Love Lights a
Tree" ceremony at the downtown Veterans Memorial Park.
Carriage and train rides take place throughout the
event as do games on the square, featuring bungee
jumping and rides on the mechanical bull, while
carnival rides and concessions will take place on
College Drive, next door to City Hall, with games
geared toward children ten and under.
Other Friday night events include storytelling at the
McKenzie Memorial Library and SUW wrestling (featuring
local stars Brimstone, Mike Sledge, Bull and Bad News
Bennett) across the street from City Hall.
Friday and Saturday "The Predator" monster truck is
back as well as Santa's Walk, featuring a "winter
wonderland" of trees decorated by local groups and
organizations. The walk leads to the caboose where
children may visit Santa on Saturday afternoon between
the Junior Parade at 1:00 and the Lions Club Christmas
Parade at 4:00. Smitty Carter will be grand marshal of
the parade. Bethel's Festival of Lights on campus is
always a delight and may be viewed throughout the
event.
On Saturday, the day kicks off with Breakfast with
Santa Claus from 9 to 11 a.m. while the carnival and
Arts And Crafts in the Park coincide with live
entertainment on Banner Row. Taste of Christmas
Country Store, Bake Sale and Bazaar takes place at the
First Methodist Church Saturday from 10 a.m. 'til 1
p.m. Tickets can be purchased at a cost of $3.00 from
Debbie Broadbent (352-5418), Diane Stafford
(352-3426), of the church office at 352-2456.
The McKenzie Lions Club presents McKenzie's Hometown
Christmas with the assistance of other local sponsors
including the city of McKenzie, Tennessee Quality
Homecare and Hospice, Lakeside Retirement Community,
Gary Simmons Lease and Sales, Inc., McKenzie Health
Care and Rehabilitation Center, Carroll Bank and
Trust, Pepsi, Sonic, and McKenzie Regional Hospital.
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These stories and more exclusively
in the print edition: |
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- Montgomery Sentenced in Dog Poisoning Case
- TEA President Visits McKenzie Schools
- US Poet Laureate Visits Bethel College
- Oakley Has Winning Entry
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Phone (731) 352-3323 or Fax (731)
352-3322
washburn@mckenziebanner.com
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