THE LEADER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 ▪ VO L . 1 2 8 , N O. 3 8 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
$1
Atoka ready to take out trash Residents dump on proposed plan
The Town of Atoka could soon be in the waste disposal business. At Tuesday night's meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen, city leaders proposed an ordinance which would authorize the town to collect and dispose of residential garbage. "This says that if you live in Atoka, you'll be provided with trash service," said Town Administrator Brian Koral.
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
The measure comes, he said, to help reduce the cost of services for residents as well as reduce the number of garbage trucks on city streets. "I live in a cove and we have four or five different trucks that come down there," said Alderman Brett Giannini. Under the proposed plan, the city will be granted a franchise for the provision of public utilities and public services. Waste
collection and brush pickup will be done by a contracted vendor. "By doing this, we can reduce the cost for residents from $3035 per month down to $15," Koral said. By comparison, Covington, the only city in the county that provides residential garbage collection, charges residents $18 per month. And while city leaders are be-
hind the plan, some citizens in attendance – including former alderman Brett Pickard and Dr. Alvin Plexico – had some concerns about the choosing their means of waste removal. "I don't have a contractor right now, I pay $35, so essentially you're asking me to pay $180 a year," Plexico said. "Second, and more important, is freedom. One of the reasons
SEE TRASH, PAGE A3
BES students celebrate Patriot Day By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com Dean Brown never served in the military. But his father did. “I kind of served in my dad's military,” Brown joked. Brown's upbringing and sense of patriotism was the impetus for him serving as the organizer of Tuesday's Patriot Day ceremony at Brighton Elementary School, where Brown is an physical education teacher. Students read patriotic-themed messages to the crowd of approximately 100 people, the Brighton High School band performed and a special presentation was made to Arlie Crumpler, a third-grade teacher at BES. Crumpler, who became an educator after retiring from the military, was presented a certificate honoring his service to his country and school. He also received a surprise letter from his daughter, Dawn, and a card of thanks from the staff at BES. “He's a very smart, articulate and knowledgeable guy,” Cain said. “He became an educator to make a difference with the next generation.” Near the end of the ceremony, several BES fifthgraders performed a segment of the Air Force Academy flag-folding ceremony while the BHS band played several patriotic songs. Police and firemen on hand were also honored with certificates. “The goal was to honor the living, treat them like heroes, and remember the dead who sacrificed,” Brown said. “We wanted to do something that says, 'I care.'” Brown closed the ceremony by quoting Ronald Regan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
In the bottom left photo, Brighton Elementary School fifth-grader Rebecca Ghrigsby clutches the American flag after she and her classmates folded it up during a Patriot Day ceremony on Tuesday. Photos by Jeff Ireland
Munford improves long-vacant lot
SWORN IN
By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com Just what will become of the 36-acre lot located on the Munford side of Highway 51 between McLaughlin Drive and Munford Avenue has been pondered upon by Tipton County citizens for more than a decade. Over the last 15 years, businesses directly across the highway in Atoka have popped up all over the place. McDonald's opened on the southwest corner of McLaughlin and Highway 51 in 1999, but that's been it on the west side of the highway, leaving a wide swath of land populated only by grass, a few trees and the occasional deer venturing out of the nearby woods. Former Atoka mayor and local
The Peter Parker parcel behind McDonald's in Munford is currently undergoing improvements that will make it more marketable. Photo by Jeff Ireland
land baron Charles Walker owned the parcel for years. Last year, Peter Parker purchased the land. So far, the only thing that's
changed on the property is the name on the for sale sign. The Shopping Center Group, a national real estate company with SEE MUNFORD, PAGE A3
New school board members sworn in On Monday, Sept. 10, the newly-elected members of the school board were sworn in by County Executive Jeff Huffman in front of the historic courthouse. Pictured are Farrel Vincent, Wanda "Kay" Scott, Alvis Ferrell, Marty Burlison and Thomas Taylor. Photo courtesy Bonnie J. Vincent NEW ON BOARD
r te
he •t tir
Vis om
o om m nC
FAmiL
Le s
zA
A ke •
nk BA
& Br
ire
t tr io
t rd Fo
e•
ow
d By:
e &
An-dAy - Go n
• Ato
Lin
ng Celebratiitness F Health &
Presente
INSIDE
o Cr
to ross wn C •C
to Ck d
’s •
Ce n
y•s
Le
pLin e
A
Lea der w nt of the ssto
rosst
me A sup ple
CELEBRATE MUNFORD 2012
Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Festival season in Tipton County kicks off with the 29th annual Celebrate Munford event. Don't miss our supplement with information.
Reader's Guide Opinion Obituaries Community Education Correspondents
A4 A6 A7 A8 A9
Puzzles Sports Faith Classifieds Legals
A10 A11 A14 A16 A17
Meet some of CIAA's new teachers A5
Premier Sponsors of
www.patriot-bank.com Like us on
Celebrate Munford
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Downtown Munford, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
www.patriotbankmortgage.com