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THE LEADER SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 124, NO. 49 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2010
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Early voting begins Oct.13 By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com
Election season is getting closer and there are several statewide and county seats up for reelection on Nov. 2. In the town Atoka, one of the most attention-grabbing races is for Atoka mayor, with Tommy Rogers and W. Daryl Walker running for the position. There are also three spots open for Atoka aldermen that are being contested between Barry Akin, Tom Emerson,
Daniel Feldmayer, Mike Joyner and David King. In Covington all incumbents are running unopposed. Positions up for reelection are Mayor David Gordon and Aldermen John Edwards, Tommy Black and Bill Scruggs. Also unopposed are the three alderman seats in the City of Munford. These candidates are Sue M. Arthur, Mike R. Durham and John “Jack” Foraker. There are more unopposed
EARLY VOTING will take place in Covington and Munford from Oct. 13-28. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. races in Garland since Ben Little runs alone in the mayoral race and there are only five people running for alderman – Donald Hardwick, Wayne Max, Lisa McClain, Janey Rogers and Clayton Wilson – in a council that is suppose to have six seats.
The elected recorder for the town of Garland is also without competition since Darrell Rogers runs unopposed as well. In Gilt Edge there are two city council seats up for election with Phil Nelson running unopposed in his race. However, Dalton Huffman and Rodney McLillie will faceoff for the other spot. The only other contested race is a single councilman spot in the town of Burlison with James E. Coats, III run-
ning against former mayor Eddie Kellum. Aside from the municipal elections there is a race for the Tennessee House of Representatives in District 81 between incumbent Democratic nominee and former House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh and Republican nominee Jim Hardin. In the House race for the 94th District, incumbent Republican Barrett Rich is running for reelection against Democratic SEE VOTE, PAGE A3
Brighton breaks ground on renovation project By TYLER LINDSEY tlindsey@covingtonleader.com
As the time nears for Brighton’s Main Street project to get underway, Brighton mayor Jeff Scott, representative Jimmy Naifeh and county executive Jeff Huffman convened at Brighton Town Hall on Monday, Oct. 4 for a ground-breaking ceremony. The project is a joint venture of the Town of Brighton, Tipton County and the State of Tennessee. “This is a perfect example of how local, state and federal governments can come together to better the lives of citizens in this community,” said Naifeh. Obtained by Naifeh, the grant covers the expense of the project that entails a number of improvements. New pavement will be laid along with brickwork at the intersection and along the edge of the new sidewalks that will host new trees and plants. Town officials look forward to the commencement of the renovations. “We can’t wait to get started and we can’t wait to get finished,” said Scott. Mayor Scott worked with Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates (A2H) of Bartlett who designed the project. He negotiated a design with SEE PROJECT, PAGE A3
Wife strikes husband with vehicle By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
COVINGTON – A woman is under investigation after she allegedly ran over her husband Monday afternoon. At approximately 12:18 p.m. on Oct. 4, deputies were dispatched to the 2700 block of Mt. Carmel Road, near Whaley Lane, after a reported hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian. According to officials with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, while en route to the scene, depuV. CARRICO ties were notified a patient with injuries similar to those consistent with a hit-and-run accident had been transported to the emergency room. “Deputies determined a domestic argument ensued between the parties while they were traveling down the road,” said deputy L. CARRICO chief Donna Turner. “During the argument, Larry Carrico asked to be put out of the vehicle.” Turner said the investigation revealed Carrico, who was traveling with wife Veronica, exited the vehicle. Moments later, Veronica Carrico allegedly struck Larry Carrico with the silver 2003 Nissan Altima she was driving. Investigators believe Larry Carrico hit the front windshield and went over the top of the vehicle, Turner said. Veronica Carrico then reportedly transported her husband to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Tipton. SEE HIT, PAGE A3
Above, a combine dumps cotton into a module builder along Antioch Highway in Covington, where it will be formed into a module and hauled to a gin. Below, workers secure a cover on the newly-formed module. Packing cotton into modules is a much more efficient means of hauling cotton than trailers. Photos by Tyler Lindsey.
Cash crops making change By TYLER LINDSEY
26,226 ACRES
tlindsey@covingtonleader.com
As temperatures last week dropped into the 50s and 60s, Tipton County citizens have no doubt been riding to and from work and around to daily errands with windows rolled down. What many have noticed scenting the fall air is cotton defoliant permeating the low-humidity, clear blue sky. Yes, that’s right. It’s cotton season. For years, Tipton County has been known as a prominently cotton producing area. But in recent years, soybean has become the county’s largest cash crop. University of Tennessee extension agent Michael Morris said, “Though cotton crops do and have done well economically in Tipton County, soybeans have take the forefront of our cash crop industry.” To be sure, cotton remains a sizeable and respected mainstay within the “agri-nomics” of Tipton County. For instance, true to a continuing trend, cotton was planted in close to 26,226 acres of farmland as opposed to around 18,948 acres of corn crops.
of cotton were planted in Tipton County in 2010, compared to 18,948 acres of corn and 79,492 acres of soybeans (source: UT Agricultural Extension Office).
So, cotton remains one of the industry’s premier incomes. However, farmers face new challenges this year growing since years past. “The biggest obstacle farmers have had to overcome this year has been a surge of palmer pigweed infesting cotton stalks,” said Morris. Truly, farmers have had to take into account financially how to deal with this pesky weed. Round-up usually takes care of the job, but apparently the weed control agent is killing everything but pigweed. As a result, is left alone, the weed would blot out essential yields in this year’s cotton crops. “Not only is this a threat on the crop,” said Morris, “but farmers are having to pay extra costs to spray for pre-emer-
gence, post-emergence and residual stages of the weed’s effects.” Naturally, many have expressed concern over the flood disaster which took place on May 1. Resting assured, major cotton farmers were not at risk due to flood damage on crop land. But corn producers had to replant their newly sown corn crops. For cotton farmers, the heat was on this summer as another hazard showed its face threatening cotton crops. Let it be known that cotton does thrive in hot, dry weather. This year’s drought lasting through the dog days of summer had somewhat more of an impact on this year’s cotton crops than did the flood. Especially causal to potential crop damage
was the heat wave Tipton County experienced during September. However, producers have hope. “Though cotton does need moisture to properly culminate,” said Morris, “the yields this year are looking healthy.” Cotton matures whether or not every bulb has opened up. With picking time coinciding with maturity, sprayers introduce an opening agent which maximizes cotton yields at the last minute after the defoliant does its job to rid the stalks of leaves. Regardless of any concerns, cotton yields are looking good for the year. The National Agricultural Statistics Service declared that 17 percent of defoliated cotton has reached maturity as opposed to the fiveyear average of 5 percent. In addition, prices are up 1.71 cents to 99.93 cents from last week. AREA EVENTS
This week’s featured church:
Campground United Methodist Church Turn to Page A7 for details
FRONT.indd 1
10/7/10 7 p.m. Around the World Fashions: Everyday to Holiday Ruffin Theater – Covington 10/15/10 6 p.m. Habitat for Humanity BBQ Dinner and Auction
10/6/10 5:24:26 PM