2013
88 $16,9
CHEV. IMPALA
COUNTRY CHEVROLET www.tryuschevy.com
$36,9 88
2013
GMC YUKON
476-2277
THE LEADER THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2013 ▪ VO L . 1 2 9 , N O. 3 5 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
$1
Police officer indicted by grand jury Brighton officer allegedly stole phone case, dealt drugs
servant. District Attorney General Mike Dunavant said, "Mr. Hubbard was charged with official misconduct for allegedly violating a law (theft and/or casual exchange) while acting in his capacity as, and relating to his position as a public servant with the Brighton Police Department." He could not comment any further on the matter. Hubbard is due back in court on Dec. 5. Others indicted during the
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON – Brighton police officer Jimmy L. Hubbard was one of nearly 100 people indicted by the July 2013 term of the Tipton County Grand Jury last week. According to the three-count indictment, Hubbard is accused of stealing a pink iPhone case from the police department, "casually exchanging" Lortab and "obtained benefits" from his employment as a public
term include: ▪ Sherry Ann Claffey, 2 cts. vehicular homicide in the Jan. 4 death of Peggy Harvey and Shelly Harvey on Hwy. 51 north of Brighton. Claffey was allegedly intoxicated at the time of the accident. Claffey is due in court on Nov. 20. ▪ Richard Alan Hatchel, first degree murder and felony reckless endangerment in Jan. 25 the shooting death of his wife, Shannon . His trial date is Jan. 8, 2014. ▪ Michael Todd Pyatt,
solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor. Eighteen-year-old Pyatt is accused of knowingly sending inappropriate photos of himself to a 14-year-old on Facebook. He is due in court again on Dec. 17. ▪ Otis Glen Rooker Jr. was indicted on charges of DUI 5th, DUI per se, violation of the habitual motor vehicle offender law, driving on a revoked license and having a prior DUI. He was arrested on Pintail Circle in January after wrecking SEE INDICTED, A3
Concerns voiced over Atoka splash park By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
On the horizon By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com
C
onsidering the high temperatures and the fact that the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played two days ago, it may not seem like
football season is about to start. But it is and, in fact, already has for the area's high
school football players. “Early, early, early!” Brighton's Will Wolfe, the longesttenured coach in Tipton County, was yelling Tuesday morning as his team ran through some plays in helmets and shorts. Players and coaches at Covington, Munford and Tipton-Rosemark were also working out this week. Several teams have already held 7-on-7 scrimmages and some full-contact scrimmages are slated for the coming weeks. Five weeks from tomorrow all four area teams will open up the 2013 season. Covington, which advanced to the Class 4A state title game last season, opens the season at Munford. Brighton will host Carver in its opener and Tipton-
Brighton football players, top, and Munford band members, above, practice Tuesday morning, preparing for the 2013 football season. The season begins on Aug. 23. Photos by Jeff Ireland
► DON'T MISS THE LEADER'S FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2013, PUBLISHING ON AUG. 22. TO PLACE AN AD IN THIS SECTION, CALL 476-7116 BY AUG. 9.
Rosemark Academy travels to Tupelo Christian Prep. Teams can begin practicing in pads on July 29. Covington will host a jamboree on Aug. 16. The Chargers will play First Assembly Christian School and Munford will take on Haywood. Brighton will host St. Benedict in a freshmen-varsity jamboree the same night. The regular season begins Aug. 23.
WHAT'S THAT SOUND? Gloria Thompson Adams' play "It Sounds Like Thunder" had a great run at the Ruffin, A7
www.patriot-bank.com Like us on
Reader's Guide Opinion A4 Obituaries A6 Community A7 Correspondents A8 Sports A19
In the two weeks since Atoka’s splash park opened, complaints have been trickling in consistently via social media, but town officials aren’t letting them dampen their spirits. “There are startup issues any time you open a new facility,” said Town Administrator Brian Koral. “This is a whole new facility, so there are going to be concerns.” Though many of the negative posts were removed Wednesday morning, members of the Fans of Atoka Facebook group have voiced numerous concerns on everything from a dress code to smoking, drinking and usage of the park by non-residents. On Tuesday, when the heat index was forecasted to exceed 100 degrees, one resident even complained the water was too cold. Over the weekend, another resident questioned the park’s usage by nonresidents after hearing a rumor that a bus carrying children from Memphis City Schools was visiting the park. She complained that the splash park was being overrun by “city kids,” and stated she moved from Bartlett to get out of the city. Koral doesn’t tend to get involved in complaints that are not reported directly to the town, but stepped in Saturday to clear up any misunderstanding. Koral posted information clarifying the children were visiting with a YMCA camp in Munford. Photos taken while the children were at the park show it was less populated during the time in which it was allegedly “overrun” than it is on standard weeknight. He encourages residents with complaints and concerns to report them to town officials so they can be properly addressed. “We understand there have been some complaints on Facebook, but we encourage people to call the town or report it through our website. That’s the actual way to submit an issue and that’s the way to get town staff notified and dealing with it.” SEE PARK, A2
NOT-SO-NEW PRINCIPAL AT CHS
Puzzles Faith Classifieds Legals Education
A14 A12 A16 A16 A10
“Best Wishes to all of our local teams in tournament play!” “Downhome Banking the Way It Should Be”
CHS graduate Marcus Heaston returns his to alma mater, this time as principal, A10
www.patriotbankmortgage.com