April 26, 2012

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THE LEADER THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012 ▪ VO L . 1 2 8 , N O. 2 7 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪

MASON

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MORTGAGE CRISIS

Leavy added to Tennessee's most wanted

‘I went ahead and signed for her’

By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced Monday that is looking for a Memphis man in connection with a shooting last month at Shirley's Bar on Front Street in Mason. Cedric Montez Leavy, 25, whose last known address is 903 Creston St. in Memphis, has been added to the state's Top Ten Most Wanted List for one count of first degree murder, two counts of attempted first degree murder and felony possession of a firearm. On March 25, police were called to a fight at the Mason bar that began in the parking lot and escalated into Cedric Leavy, 25, several individuals has been named a shooting. person of interest in When police arrived the shooting death there were between 250 of Shuron Lee on March 24. and 300 people outside the bar. Shuron Lee, 32, of Mason, was shot and killed. Thomas Whitley, 35, of Covington, was struck in the foot and back and is permanently paralyzed from the waist down. Marico Middlebrooks, 34, of Covington, was also shot in the back. Through the course of TBI's investigation, Leavy was identified by witnesses as shooting all three men. Leavy is a convicted felon has an arrest history that dates back to 2005 and includes drug chargers, domestic assault, aggravated assault, burglary, identity theft, theft, vandalism, probation violation and failure to appear. Leavy is a black male with black hair and brown eyes and is 6-3, 175 pounds. He has tattoos on both arms and is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact the TBI at 1-800-TBIFIND. There is a $1,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Cortney Sellers meets with her attorney, Jeff Ward, Monday to discuss her home's foreclosure and the postal clerk who forged her name on certified mail pertaining to it. Photo by Echo Day

Mail carrier admits to forging certified mail Disabled Burlison woman loses home, workplace to foreclosure

Man shoots at boss over tractor By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com A farm laborer is behind bars this week, charged with shooting at his employer over the weekend. According to reports from the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, on Saturday, April 21, 57-year-old Nathaniel Page shot at his boss and co-worker when they attempted to retrieve a tractor from his Sanders Road home. Neither Scott McIntyre nor John Woolridge was injured in the incident, but they SEE SHOT, PAGE A3

Reader’s Guide

By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Cortney Sellers doesn't get out much. Battling rheumatoid arthritis and in a wheelchair since the age of 12, she needs help getting dressed and works from her Munford-Gilt Edge Road home because she is unable to work elsewhere. But soon Sellers will not have a home from which to work. "It's gone, officially," she said. "I knew it was close to foreclosure. I was awaiting the inevitable certified mail." The pieces of certified mail arrived at her home in February. The next time she checked her mail was on March 19. Her home sold on March 20. Certified mail by its very nature requires signatures of addressees, however Sellers never signed for the mail. She soon realized that her postal carrier forged her signature. "I was home," she said. "So I don't know why she didn't come to the door. I have no idea." And the mail carrier admitted to signing the mail. In a handwritten letter dated April 2, Sellers' carrier admitted she'd signed Sellers' name for the mail, stating that she knew Sellers didn't check her mail very often. In the letter, she said it was something she'd been told to do by

a former employee at Burlison post office. "I just went ahead and signed for her," the letter stated. "It was a miscommunication." Because she has not been charged with a crime, The Leader has chosen not to release the carrier's name. Sellers does not blame the carrier for the foreclosure, but she does question the Burlison post office's procedures. "This is one of the strangest things I've heard of," said Sellers' attorney Jeff Ward. "She didn't do it once, she did it twice and according to her own letter, she said 'I was trained that way.' Who is training these people?" Ward asked. Ward states that in communicating with the post office, the Burlison postmaster stated the carrier had been "talked to" about the incident. A spokesperson for the United States Postal Services said the matter is currently under review. "Although the carrier may have been trying to assist the customer, it appears she did not comply with our regulations." While Ward tries to keep his client in her home, especially considering it's been modified to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards for Sellers, he says his client has not been treated fairly. "It's one thing to be mistreated, it's another to be mistreated and stuck in a wheelchair."

EVENTS

TODAY’S WEATHER

‘Dancing with the Stars’ takes stage Saturday

Sunny. High 79, low 54.

INSIDE Opinion Faith Obituaries Education Community

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Sports Classifieds Puzzles Legals Correspondents

CHILDREN’S CLASSIC

Our most-anticipated section of the year, the Children’s Classic, is inside today’s edition. 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

www.patriot-bank.com Like us on

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By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com On Saturday night several prominent members of the community will take to the dance floor to raise money for the Exchange Club-Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The event, which begins at 6 p.m. at the Jimmy

Naifeh National Guard Armory in Covington, will be titled “It’s Time for Dancing With the Stars of Tipton County.” It will also include a dinner, silent auction and other entertainment. Nine couples will dance, using the format made famous by the television show “Dancing With the Stars.”

Three judges – Covington Mayor David Gordon, U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher and Tipton County Clerk Mary Gaither – will give out scores to determine a winner. There will also be a fan-favorite based on monetary donations. “There’s been a lot of positive response from several other Carl Perkins centers in the area that

Please join us for the observance of the National Day of Prayer on the courthouse lawn at noon Thursday, May 3, 2012.

have done this,” center director Bethany Kirby said. “They’ve used this format and been very successful.” Saturday's event is sold out. There will be an encore performance on Sunday at 3 p.m., also at the armory. Tickets can be purchased at the door - $10 for adults and $5 for students. SEE STARS, PAGE A3

www.patriotbankmortgage.com

2 Chronicles 7:14

4/25/12 5:22:29 PM


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April 26, 2012 by The Leader - Issuu