Tri-City Reporter August 24 2011

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THE

VOL. 119, NO. 34

TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2011

DYER, TENNESSEE

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Trenton National Guardsmen left Wednesday for Kuwait Gibson County Fair opens Monday ‘Southern Nights Under Midway Lights’ is theme

BY DANNY JONES - THE GAZETTE During the wee hours of the morning Wednesday, family members of Trenton National Guardsmen said good-byes to loved ones at the National Guard Armory. It was naturally an emotional time. Hugs, kisses and tears abounded for spouses and children left behind as soldiers boarded chartered buses for a trek to Memphis International Airport, given an escort all the way by Gibson County Sheriff’s Department. One hundred seventy-five soldiers of the 230th Engineer Battalion’s first leg of the trip took them to Fort Bliss, TX, then

SINGLES WINNERS – The winners of the Int’l Washer Pitchin’ contest singles competition are (from left to right) Kelly Young (4th place) of St. Louis, Missouri, Steve Melton (3rd place) of Lexington, Tennessee, David McKay (2nd place) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Randy Vinyard (1st place) of Alton, Illinois. (photo by Gina Hudgins)

Yorkville Fire Department hosts annual washer pitchin’ contest BY CINDY EAST The 18th Annual International Washer Pitchin’ Contest was held Saturday, August 20th at Yorkville City Park. The event was well attended and a successful fundraiser for the Yorkville Fire Department. Fire Chief Jon Murray welcomed the crowd at the community center. Steve Murray gave the opening prayer. Lisa Roberts sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ accompanied by her husband Bradley on the guitar. City councilman Mack Zarecor, at the request of members of the Yorkville Fire Department, named Gibson County Sheriff Chuck Arnold and EMS Director Starr Arnold as honorary fire department members. Zarecor thanked them for everything they do for their town and presented each with a t-shirt and a letter of thanks. Arnold also sent inmates to help with the park clean up. “This county is my life,� said Arnold. “Yorkville is a special bright spot in the county. Its citizens are Christian and patriotic volunteers who work

together. Be sure and stop by the Veteran’s Memorial in the cemetery that was dedicated this past spring. It will renew your strength and faith in being Americans. I went to the Armory as 175 county residents left last week. There were people weeping but as the guardsmen left, they all stood by the road with flags and sparklers and cheered as they left. I hope our merciful Father will bring them home safely. It’s time we worry about fixing our own country and not somebody else’s.� Yorkville Mayor John ‘Bubba’ Higdon also welcomed everyone. “Have a good time and be good sports,� he said. He thanked the fire department for all they do for the city. He also thanked Arnold and Cody Childress who does the policing for Yorkville. State Senator Lowe Finney and State Representative Curtis Halford threw out the first washers for the event. Finney said, “You all make it so easy to service this area. We get to know a lot of the sheriffs and see page 14

Free movies on the silver screen BY MICHAEL ENOCHS Many years ago Dyer had a movie theater downtown that was a popular spot to go to watch the latest releases from the magical land of Hollywood, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and munch buttery popcorn. That old, brick building, along with a few others in that section are gone now, replaced by lawn grass with one section belonging to Les Poppenheimer along with another building, and the larger portion belonging to the Methodist Church. The north wall of the Poppenheimer building was previously shared as a support wall with the old Dyer Theater and some of the plaster that has been removed had the names of many of the young moviegoers written on it. This may have had a part in inspiring Tom Lannom to come up with the idea to put up a large screen on that wall and show free movies. Lannom said he had the idea and expressed it to several people. Some of those people said they had thoughts similar to his about showing

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movies on that spot again like in the good old days. Lannom didn’t just let it go as a passing wish; he acted on the idea. He talked to even more people and soon see page 2

The West Tennessee Drug Task Force, whose agents include officers from Milan, Trenton, Humboldt Police and the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, have made 11 drug arrests in nine days. The case investigations involved the promotion and manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine. Charged in the Trenton General Sessions Court with promotion of meth manufacturing and initiation of the process to manufacture meth are: James Frankie Campbell , 40, of 138 A l a m o H i g h w a y , Campbell Tr e n t o n and Kisha L a n c a s t e r, 32, of 641 Gibson Road, Trenton. They are held in the Lancaster Complex under $75,000 bond with a September 20th court date. Charged in the Trenton General Sessions Court see page 3

Mother, daughter charged in theft, burglary

MOVIE NIGHT - Chris Younger, Tom Lannom and Donnie Cox work on the movie screen in preparation for Saturday night movies in downtown Dyer.

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WTN Drug Task Force arrests 11 in nine days

GCSD board okays iPod purchases at MES

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TEARFUL PRAYERS - Spc. Tyler Laster of the 230th Engineer Battalion is surrounded by family and friends as Jeff Payne of Kenton prays with Tyler before leaving early Wednesday morning before being deployed to Kuwait.

Pitchin’ Time

BY DANNY JONES THE GAZETTe Opening ceremonies for the 156th annual Gibson County Fair will be at 6 p.m. Monday, August 29, and will continue through Saturday, September 3. Organized through a Legislative Act in 1855 which encouraged counties in Tennessee to hold annual county agricultural fairs, the fair is the oldest continuous running fair in the South. This year’s theme is ‘Southern Nights Under Midway Lights’ and will feature such events as Myers International Midways Carnival, Pope’s Concessions, a petting zoo, shows and sales, live demonstrations, beauty revues, mud bog races and a truck and tractor show to name a few. The fair has been held annually since its beginning with the exception of the Civil War years and the first years of reconstruction. In 1869 it started up again and has been held every year since. The fairgrounds have been at the present location since 1966. The fair is a non-profit organization operating under a charter from the State of Tennessee. It operates under the direction of the officers and directors of the association, headed by William Lowery, president, interested in seeing it continue to see page 7

BY CRYSTAL BURNS Medina Elementary School got the green light for a local initiative that will purchase 102 iPod Touches for student use. The Gibson County School District (GCSD) board approved the project at its August 11th meeting, and board members sent commendations to the Medina Elementary PTO through principal Calvin Bailey. “The PTO has had money set aside for two years, and they’ve asked me to start using it,� Bailey said. “We’re not asking for any money from the board, but we just need your okay to proceed with it.� Courtnee Wilkes, an assistant principal at MES, see page 3

initially to Kuwait in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. There they will be stationed for a short period of specialized training before deploying overseas. During formation, CSM Tim Madison said, “Family members, thank you for allowing me to take your soldiers overseas. I will bring them back!� he emphasized. He went on to say, “It has been a long nine months preparation time and now it is time to go do our job and then come home.� LTC Stephen Jaco stated, “The Guardsmen’s stress isn’t the mission, but see page 3

Gibson County Sheriff’s investigators have been looking into the theft of 15 metal bins, truck parts, lights and a 10hp engine taken from a business at see page 3

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