THE LEADER THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 ▪ VO L . 1 2 9 , N O. 8 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
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Public Works employees indicted Charged with scrap metal theft, sale
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Two Tipton County Public Works employees were indicted last week and charged with stealing scrap metal from the landfill. The charges come just months after an investigation by the Tipton County Sheriff's Office and the district attorney general's office. The county's audit report also mentioned the thefts, with auditor Keith Rice reporting he'd received allegations that
employees were removing scrap metal from the landfill and selling it to a scrap yard. In the audit report, Rice said of the 14 employees interviewed, nine admitted to removing scrap metal from the landfill for personal use and two admitted to selling it. The public works department actually sells scrap metal it receives at the landfill. It is used as revenue for the county and last year brought in $150,000. Tipton County Public Works Director Shannon Reed said Latham and Holland were
each charged with theft under $10,000. The men appeared in court Tuesday. Latham is expected to hire an attorney and return on April 5. Since the thefts were reported, Reed said the department has installed surveillance cameras and more fencing. He said he is "speechless" about the situation. "We're a good department and we try to do the right thing for this county," he said.
James "JL" Latham and William Holland were indicted last week on charges they stole scrap metal from the landfill and sold it for personal gain.
Two men wanted in home invasion By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
The Tipton County Sheriff's Office has identified two suspects wanted in a March 11 home invasion. Detectives allege Quintin Johnson and Joshua Elkins, both 22, were armed when they entered a home on Robin Hood Circle and demanded victims Lucus Miracle and Jeremy Wyatt give them money. Johnson and Elkins reportedly held Miracle and Wyatt at gunpoint while the residence was searched, then fled with $611 and a firearm. Johnson, of Portersville Road in Atoka, and Elkins, ELKINS of East Harmony Drive in Mason, were named as suspects during the initial dispatch. The two have not yet been located for questioning and the sheriff's office is asking for the help of the public in apprehend- JOHNSON ing them. The pair has connections in the Bartlett area and, at the time of the robbery, they were driving a gold Chevrolet Impala. The vehicle was reported stolen out of Munford and recovered in Bartlett. Johnson has unrelated active warrants in Tipton County for driving on a suspended drivers license and delivery of marijuana. Persons with information in the case are asked to call the Criminal Investigations Division at 901-475-3300, Central Dispatch at 901-475-4300 after hours, phone-in tips at 901-475-3007 or email tips to sheriff@ tiptonco.com.
Colton Leonard, 4, celebrates the first day of spring yesterday by taking a swing at Cobb-Parr Park in Covington. Stacie Sims provided the firepower. Temperatures in Covington were in the low 50s and the National Weather Service put the area under a winter weather advisory until 7 a.m. Friday. Sources say the area could see up to 3-4 inches of snow. Photo by Jeff Ireland
CIAA dance troupe wins big in Dallas The weekend of March 2-3, Covington Integrated Arts Academy’s dance troupe, under the direction of Ms. Deborah Walker, attended Tremaine Dance Semi-Finals Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. And they brought home gold. Based in Hollywood, Calif., Tremaine Dance's employees are award-winning choreographers
SPORTS Baseball, softball play begins with wins for Covington and Munford, B1 Also inside: Munford lineman signs with Northwest, B2
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and dance instructors who offer classes and competitions all over the United States. Their mission is to further dance education in a positive and motivational environment through master classes with top professional choreographers. More than 100 schools and dance studios from across the country attended the convention in Texas and
competed for awards. CIAA’s troupe won first place in their category. “Ms Walker always does great work and I expected them to do well, but the fact that CIAA brought home first place from this competition is a big deal,” said Sara Gangaware, school principal. “We are all so proud of them.” SEE CIAA PAGE A3
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CHS senior Karlie Sorrentino named Student of the Year, A7
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