March 15, 2012

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Gang awareness forum set Recent murders spur community gang awareness forum By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com Several recent murders in Tipton County of young people and committed by young people have raised the question whether there is a gang problem in the county. In response, a community gang awareness forum, Gangs: What parents, community and schools should know, will be held on Monday, March 19 in the Covington High School gymnasium. Octavia Crawford, liaison officer be-

tween Tipton County Schools and the courts, said the school district is aware there is a gang problem in Tipton County. “For the past couple of weeks there has either been a shooting or murder here in Tipton County,” said Crawford. “We just want to bring gang awareness in so parents and teachers know what to look for and to stop all this violence in the community.” Jimmy Chambers, a criminal investigator with the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office Gang and Narcotics Prosecution Unit, will be the forum’s presenter. Crawford said all law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney’s office in Tipton County have been invited to participate in the open forum. The first session, from 4 to 5 p.m., will

be for students only. “[Chambers] will talk to the students by themselves,” said Crawford. “He’ll stress the risks of being in a gang and ways of getting out of a gang if they are in one.” The second session of the evening, from 5:30 to 6:30, is reserved for adults and no children will be allowed. “This one is for adults only,” said Crawford. “We want to get the information out and have an intervention in place.” The forum is sponsored by the Tipton County Board of Education in partnership with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department and the Covington Police Department. For more information, contact Crawford at (901) 848-2225.

Chris Somerville, who was stabbed to death March 4, is pictured representing one of Tipton County’s most notorious gangs in this photo found on his Facebook page after his death. Though his murder has not been attributed to gang violence, local law enforcement agencies and the school board have banded together to host a gang awareness forum Monday.

GOVERNMENT

Jail, levy to see improvements with $4M fund By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com The Tipton County Commission voted unanimously at the group’s monthly meeting on Monday to transfer $4 million from one fund to another to repair flood damage and expand the county jail. County Executive Jeff Huffman presented the idea to the commissioners. He said transferring the money from the debt service fund to the capital improvement fund “allows the county to have the funds available without borrowing it.” Huffman said the county’s funds that are used to repair levee breaches on the Mississippi River during a May 2011 flood will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Association. When FEMA reimburses the county, Huffman said, that money will be used for jail expansion. In other matters: ▪ During the finance report, Commissioner Dale Smith reported that Sheriff Pancho Chumley asked for an additional $100,000 to be added to his budget to pay overtime to deputies. “It’s been an extreme year,” Smith said. “Hopefully this is a one-time thing.” The board appropriated $50,000. ▪ The commissioners voted unanimously to allow Huffman to offer $25,000 to settle a $67,677 bill from The Med. Huffman said the bill was presented to the county nearly two years after an inmate sustained injuries and was treated at the Memphis hospital. Because the bill was submitted so late, the county’s insurance will not cover it. ▪ The commissioners voted unanimously to appropriate $2,500 for a hotel/motel tax audit. ▪ Huffman was authorized to apply for a $250,000 matching grant from the

Rep. Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington) announced last week he will not seek re-election to the state House of Representatives this year. He has been in office since 1974.

Naifeh announces retirement By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com

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ep. Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington) announced last week he will not seek re-election to the Tennessee House of Representatives. Naifeh, 72, has represented District 81, which currently encompasses Haywood and parts of Tipton County, since 1974. Rumors about his retirement have been swirling for months, especially after he lost Haywood County and gained Republican-leaning South Tipton when maps were redrawn in January. The former speaker said Thursday morning he knows it is time to retire. “Like every endeavor in life, that which has a beginning must also have an end. For me, my service in the legislature, that end comes now,” he said. “I’m announcing today to

you, and to the people of my district, that I will not be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives this fall. The time has come for me to step aside for the next generation of leaders.” Naifeh, the son of Lebanese immigrants, was born in Covington on June 16, 1939 and graduated from Byars Hall High School. Following his graduation from the University of Tennessee, he joined the U.S. Army where he served as an infantry officer. He first ran for office in 1972, but lost by 13 votes. “It was the best lesson I ever had,” he said, noting that he has never taken a vote for granted since. He said the same values he learned while in the military also carried over into his political career. “In the Army they say everybody

who has the ability to lead has the responsibility to do so. I knew I had to do something or I was going to go home.” Naifeh climbed through the ranks of the House to become Tennessee’s longest-serving Speaker of the House, a position he held for 18 years. His term as speaker ended in 2009 when Republicans regained control of the House, but Naifeh’s political influence didn’t end there. In a surprise move, Democrats banded together to elect Rep. Kent Williams speaker, a move that allowed Democrats to maintain some control for two more years. As part of the deal, Naifeh was given the title speaker emeritus. During the 2010 election, Naifeh was nearly unseated by Republican challenger Jim Hardin. Hardin won Tipton County, but Naifeh won enough SEE NAIFEH, A3

SEE COUNTY, A3

Reader’s Guide

SCHOOLS

TODAY’S WEATHER

Board considers moving fifth grade back to CES

Overcast, thunderstorms. High, 82. Low, 63.

INSIDE Opinion Faith Obituaries Education Business

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Sports Classifieds Puzzles Legals Correspondents

BRIGHTON FEST THIS WEEKEND The third annual Brighton Fest and Car Show will take place this Saturday, March 17, at Brighton High School. HOW TO REACH US Call 901.476.7116 Fax 901.476.0373 Email news@covingtonleader.com Visit us at 2001 Hwy. 51 South, Covington, TN 38019 or online at covingtonleader.com

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By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com During last Thursday’s Tipton County School Board meeting, discussions addressed policy changes, construction updates and the possibility of moving the fifth grade back to Crestview Elementary School. The board voted to approve the second and final

reading of three proposed policy changes for the 20122013 school year. Each of the proposed changes for policies 4.408, 4.100 and 4.6., updated language within the policies. Policy 4.408 deals with multimedia use in the classroom and changed the words “VCR Films” to “Multimedia” and added the statement, “No illegal

copies may be made or used.” Policy 4.100 addresses instructional goals and objectives and updated the mission statement and beliefs of the Tipton County school system. The new mission statement reads, “The mission of the Tipton County School System, the leading catalyst for educational experience, is to guide and

inspire students to become model citizens who pursue postsecondary education and thrive in the global job market by engaging each student in challenging experiences led by quality educators in a safe and nurturing environment.” Policy 4.600 applied changes to the current grading system. Language was added which holds SEE FIFTH, A3

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March 15, 2012 by The Leader - Issuu