THE LEADER THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 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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Munford opposes power line Plans for splash pad also scrapped
By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com The Munford Board of Mayor and Aldermen made it official Monday night at the body's monthly meeting: Munford is against an electric power transmission line coming through town. A resolution passed unani-
mously during the meeting stating the board's position. Mayor Dwayne Cole thanked local citizens who have been voicing their opposition to the Plains and Eastern Clean Line. The plan is to run a 700-mile overhead high voltage direct current transmission line from the panhandle in Oklahoma to West Tennessee. Various routes
are still under consideration. “We have been hard at work to make our citizens aware of the detrimental effects this line would bring,” Cole said during Monday's meeting. “It would virtually cut the city into two parts, devalue current properties, and render undeveloped land undesirable for development. Since we last met, we
have contacted many of our elected officials and I have a meeting scheduled.” Cole said the meeting will be with representatives from Senator Bob Corker's and Congressman Stepen Fincher's office today at 2:30 p.m. in Covington. In other matters: • Previous plans to install a splash park on DrumSEE BOARD, PAGE A3
CRIME
Twins in home during meth bust By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
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leepless nights are nothing new when you have infants, but last week Ambra Yarbrough and Daniel Shay were up all night for a different reason. At approximately 10 p.m. on Wednesday night, narcotics investigators came to visit, suspicious the pair was cooking methamphetamine at their Liberty Church Smith Road home. An excessive amount of pseudoephedrine purchases tipped investigators off, Sheriff Pancho Chumley said. Pseudoephedrine is a common component in the drug's recipe and logs kept by stores who sell the medication are used in drug investigations. Two "shake and bake" – that is one-pot method – meth labs were found as well as other components used to make meth, such as drain opener, generators and cold packs. Narcotics officers also recovered a brain filter containing a white powdery substance believed to be meth as well as what is believed to be synthetic marijuana. Two one-year-olds were also in the home. The Department of Children's Services made placement of the children. It is believed the couple was manufacturing methamphetamine in the shed behind their home. Shay, 34, and Yarbrough, 27, reportedly admitted to their roles in cooking meth at the residence. Shay has been charged with initiation to manufacture methamphetamine, promotion to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of schedule I, possession of schedule II with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia. Yarbrough has been charged with promotion to manufacture methamphetamine. At press time, Shay remained in jail on a $10,000 bond and Yarbrough was in jail on a $5,000 bond. They are set to appear in general sessions court on April 16. Chumley said anyone with information about drug trafficking is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 475-3300 or, anonymously, at 4753007 and sheriff@tiptonco.com.
Jennifer Taylor plays with puppies at the Tipton County Animal Shelter on Tuesday afternoon. She, along with members of her family, volunteer at the shelter by walking the dogs and puppies. Photos by Echo Day
New programs reduce euthanasia at shelter By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
I Dog walking is a new volunteer program at the Tipton County Animal Shelter, one of the many recently implemented that is helping save the lives of the county's strays and changing the shelter's high-kill reputation, said public works director Shannon Reed.
t's an unseasonably cool March afternoon, the second day of spring break, and teenagers are spending time at the Tipton County Animal Shelter. They're giggling as they run and play with puppies and lead older dogs on walks in the shelter's big backyard. "I wish the pasture was lined with chicken wire," one of them says, offering a suggestion to allow more room for puppies and small dogs to run and play in an enclosed area. Suggestions, and the help of local volunteers and rescue groups, are helping change the face of the shelter. "Things at the shelter have really turned around," said Tipton County Public Works Director Shannon Reed. In fact, the shelter, which has been notorious for its high kill rate in the past, has only had to put down seven dogs in the last six months. The number is huge departure from the shelter's past: there have been many times when more than seven dogs were put down per week. "It's truly miraculous," Reed said. "It's unheard of here."
With the help of local rescue groups, the dogs at the shelter are being vaccinated, which cuts down on illnesses and disease and increases the likelihood that a rescue group will foster the dog. Healthy dogs have a better chance at being adopted. On Tuesday, as kennels were being cleaned, leashes were clipped on excited dogs and they nearly dragged their humans out the back door. "We try to come daily, but as we get more volunteers we won't feel the need to come daily," said Pam Taylor. Taylor started visiting the shelter to walk the dogs at the suggestion of a Facebook friend who operates Paws & Claws Photography and photographs the dogs for social networking purposes. "They don't really get out except for having their picture made, unless somebody comes up to walk them, so we're trying to get them more comfortable, trying to socialize them, and get them to where they'll walk with us. They love coming out." On Tuesday, she brought her children and nephews along in addition to Lauren Gam, the youth director at Munford First United Methodist Church, and others from the youth SEE TCAS, PAGE A3
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HOLY WEEK Covington churches have been participating in a community Holy Week series of services, A14
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SPRING/SUMM ER 2013 A supplement to The Leader