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SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 124, NO. 37 | THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010
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Bell indicted on four counts By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
A man already accused of murdering a Drummonds mother will now answer to additional charges. On Monday Rickey Alvis Bell Jr., who is the suspect in the June 1 beating death of Starr Lynn Harris, was indicted by the Tipton County Grand Jury on two charges of first-
degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape. Bell was charged with two counts of first-degree murder because the district attorney’s office has accused him of killing the 36-year-old mother during the perpetration of alleged kidnapping and rape. First-degree murder is defined as a homicide that is pre-meditated.
Especially aggravated kidnapping and rape differ from kidnapping and rape in that they are committed with a deadly weapon and result in serious bodily injury. According to the affidavit of complaint, the body of Starr Harris was discovered in a wooded area behind her Richardson Landing Lane home in Drummonds. Investigators
said her body had severe trauma to the head and face as well as bruising on the torso, arms and legs which appear to be consistent with a physical altercation. Inside the home, the affidavit said, signs of a struggle were observed. The computer desk was leaning on its side against the wall with the contents of the desk strewn about the
floor, and the back door to the residence was open Investigators found paths through the tall grass and an area of disturbed leaves was found located in the woods several yards from Harris’s body. Investigators believe something was dragged over the leaves, leading them from that area to the area in which Harris’s body was found.
Rickey Bell Jr., 30, is accused in the brutal murder of Starr Harris of Drummonds.
SEE BELL, PAGE A3
Mason alderman indicted for counterfeit sales By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com MASON – An alderman with a history of arrests was indicted this week during the July 2010 term of the Tipton County Grand Jury. According to an affidavit obtained by The Leader, Alaa “Eddie” Noeman, owner of the Xpress Mart and dollar store at the intersection of Hwy. 59 and 70, was selling counterfeit products. In January, Noeman was arrested after an investigation found 166 pair of counterfeit Nikes being sold throughout his store. The shoes were reportedly confiscated and tagged by a Nike investigator. Court documents report Noeman and co-defendant Raymond Tabbah told officers they purchased the shoes from someone “who came by the store and had shoes to sell.” This is not Noeman’s first run-in with the law, however. According to Mason Police Chief James Paris, Noeman, 47, was pulled over in December 2009 for a violation of the light law. During the traffic stop, it was determined he had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court, Paris said in a December interview with The Leader. The warrant was issued in Tipton County General Sessions Court after Noeman did not appear in court in October to answer to charges he’d been driving on a revoked license. In March 2006, Noeman pleaded guilty to a federal charge of bribing a city employee. SEE MASON, PAGE A3
PLAYING IN THE RAIN Brienna (5), Bailey (9) and Brent (10) Howard enjoyed playing in the rain Monday at their Burlison home. Though the area has been experiencing a dry summer, an estimated 4.5 inches of rain has fallen since Sunday. Photo by April Howard.
Though they are now on the mend, sisters Aaliyah Jordan, 4, left, and Nikeycia Hadley, 7, were burned by hot grease in late May. Their mother, Natasha Hadley, is now thanking the Munford Fire Dept. for its help during their emergency. Photo by Echo Day
After accident, resident thanks Munford fire dept.
Early voting set to begin Friday In today’s edition you’ll find our Meet the Candidates special section, a publication we hope will help you make important decisions regarding the August 2010 election. In it you will find candidates bios and, in some cases, photos. You will hear the ways in which they plan to hold down expenses and increase revenues, even if they aren’t being elected to a paid position. Early voting begins tomorrow, not only for local offices but also in the state and federal primaries. On the ballot you will find candidates for local district 81, a seat long held by Speaker
Democrat, but two Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination. These candidates are Rory Bricco, who ran against Naifeh in 2008, and Jim Hardin. All three men are from Covington. Following are their bios: REP. JIMMY NAIFEH The Meet the Candidates special section appears in todayʼs edition.
Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh of Covington. In terms of primaries, Naifeh is not opposed by any other
Please give us your background information: I was born, June 16, 1939 I still reside in Tipton County. I have three children; six grandchildren. I am a member of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Covington. And I currently represent
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com It is a Saturday Natasha Hadley will not soon forget. She had been to yard sales that morning with her mother and afterward returned to her Oakwood Court home to care for her daughters, 7-yearold Nikeycia and 4-year-old Aaliyah Natasha said she put a pot of grease on the stove, but soon found herself in the bathroom. She is the first trimester of her third pregnancy and morning sickness, she says, has been terrible. While she was in the bathroom, trouble was brewing.
SEE VOTE, PAGE A2
“It was smoky in the house and right away I knew what it was,” she said. Natasha asked Nikeycia to move the pot from the stove, a move which would end with a hospital stay. “She grabbed it and the handle was hot,” said the mother of two. “She tried to switch it and the grease splattered on her hand, then it hit the floor and splattered Aaliyah.” Natasha said she feared the 7-year-old hadn’t thought to use the pot holder and as she came up the hallway she realized her fear was a reality. “Automatically I knew what happened.” SEE BURN, PAGE A3
Area events events Area This week’s This week’sFeatured featuredChurch: church:
Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Morgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
FRONT.indd 1
Mt. Tipton Church
7/24/ 6:30 p.m. Colgate Country Showdown
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