THE LEADER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 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 ▪
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Several local races on November ballot Candidates gearing up for upcoming municipal elections
The race for president is of course garnering the most attention as the Nov. 6 election nears. But there are also a lot of local races on the ballot for Tipton County voters to consider. Incumbent Brighton Mayor Jeff Scott is being challenged by Earl Kinney Bridges. Five people – Sarah Crocker, Phillip Mathis, Melissa Sartain, George Smith and James Wyatt – are running for four Brighton alderman slots in Brighton. In Covington, there will be a contested race for District 1
By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com
alderman between incumbent Shelvie Rose and Minnie Bommer, who ran for mayor several years ago. Down in Atoka, Walker Adams, Brett Giannini, Bobby Hutchison, Richard Kiphut, Chris McConnell and Bradley Ross are running for three alderman seats. Johnny Crigger, Terry Colin, Gary Fodor and Robert Forbess will compete for three alderman spots in Munford. In Gilt Edge, Billy Fleming, Stephen Fletcher and Holly McDow are running for coun-
cilman. Gilt Edge voters will also decide on a referendum to increase the number of councilman in the town from three to five. The result of that referendum will dictate how many are named to the town's council. The state race figuring to garner the most attention is for District 81 state representative. Republican Debra Moody, Democrat Conneye Albright and Tommy Hill, who is running as an independent, will battle for the seat vacated by the retired Jimmy Naifeh.
Early voting will take place Oct. 17 through Nov. 1. The Leader will publish a "Meet the Candidates" supplement, with information submitted by individual candidates, on Thursday, Oct. 18. The Tipton County Election Commission office in Covington and the Munford Muncipal Building on College Street will be open Mondays, Wedensdays and Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
EVENT TECHNOLOGY
Atoka embraces tech to run, maintain city By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
This is all about ways we can work smarter.
Children were all smiles Saturday during the annual Celebrate Munford event, which kicks off Tipton County's festival season. Don't miss Heritage Day on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Covington. For more information on Heritage Day, see the supplement in today's edition. Photos by Jeff Ireland and Sara McKee
SCHOOLS
Burlison elected school board chairman By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com Three newly-elected Tipton County School Board members attended their first board meeting on Thursday and all three voted to elected a new board chairman. Marty Burlison, who is serving his second stint on the board after being elected last month, won a roll call vote 5-4 over Marty Haywood after being nominated by Chris Fisher. New board members Farrel Vincent and Kay Scott voted for Burlison, as did Fisher, Burlison and Grant Shipley Jr. Haywood, Thomas Taylor, Richard Joyner and Alvis Ferrell voted for Haywood. “I appreciate your confidence,”
said Burlison, who took over the meeting upon being elected. At the close of the meeting, Fisher thanked Haywood for serving as chairman. “I'm not going anywhere,” Haywood said, “believe you me that.” In other matters: • Donnie Wallace updated the board on construction projects going on in the schools, including restroom upgrades at the Covington High School gym and a new agricultural barn at Brighton High School. He said a $150,000 grant is helping fund the construction of the new 4,800-square-foot barn. He also said approximately $209,000 was saved last year because of energy saving measures taken by school officials. • Vincent asked the board to
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consider including budget information and job postings on the school board's website. Board members voted to address the matter at next month's meeting. • John Combs, interim director of instruction, talked about the ongoing teacher evaluations. “For the most part it's been a positive experience,” he said. “I would not have said that last year.” • Charlotte Fisher, director of operations, said the system has 410 support staff employees who are are full time and 28 who are part time. She said the system has 154 bus drivers who transport 8,500 students daily. • Director of Schools Buddy Bibb announced that next month's meeting will be on Oct. 18.
SEE IPADS, PAGE A3
NEW RUSHING RECORD
Lea der ent of The
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HERITAGE DAY 2012
Saturday, Sept. 22, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Don't miss our supplement with information. Covington e Courthous
In his role as town administrator, Brian Koral has never been one to shy away from technology, and he is encouraging other city officials to embrace it as well. During last week’s meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman, not only was Koral following along with the agenda on his iPad, but Town Recorder Debbie Pickard, Public Works Director Daniel Lovett and Police Chief Jessie Poole were as well. It’s not very common to see iPads used during meetings, especially by municipal employees. “There’s a cost savings of not having to make board packets,” said Koral, “though we still do, just not as many as before.” But the iPads are not being used simply as e-readers. Koral is encouraging the town’s BRIAN KORAL department heads to Atoka Town Administrator make technology work for them. “Part of adopting new technology, in some senses, is, ‘Here it is, how can you use it? What ways will you find to make it useful?” he said. “The technical skill required to operate it is not great, so it gets that out of the way and allows people to think, ‘Okay, what can we do with it? What are some things we can see this technology doing for us?’” Though each unit cost the city $450, which includes both the purchase and a protective cover, Koral said they will save both time and money. “We bought a generation back, so this is not the new iPad, but we’re not spending the big money to get the latest and greatest,” he said. “This is all about ways we can work smarter.” The public works department’s budget seems to be reaping the biggest benefits of using iPads. Lovett, for example, can now control the city’s water systems without having to be on-site to do so. “We used to have to send somebody out each day to get readings, but you can do that from the office now. Daniel has the ability to log in and look at pump pressures and water levels at our water towers and pump stations and he can control them remotely.” Koral said. “If we get a call there’s an issue, he can pull up things … if there’s a staff member we’re sending out, he can give them a call and say ‘Here’s what I’m seeing, you may need to do this …’ right from where he is.” And not only does the iPad make Lovett’s job easier, the technology allows for a cost savings in terms of insurance premiums. “The controls that used to talk back and forth be-
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Please join us for Covington’s annual Heritage Day. Events are held on the historic square in Downtown Covington at 9:00 am. We hope to see you there!!!
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