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INDEPENDENT APPEAL
Volume 119, Issue 25
50¢
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Red Sand Project raises awareness for human trafficking, child abuse By Angele Latham Editor
The McNairy County Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce painted the town red last Wednesday as chamber members and community leaders brought awareness to the issue of human trafficking. In partnership with the Carl Perkins Center and the Red Sand project—a participatory art exhibit used nationally to raise awareness for human trafficking—community members gathered at eleven different locations across the county to pour red sand into cracks in sidewalks. This sand, glittering vibrantly in the autumn sunshine, symbolized those in society who have “fallen through the cracks” into human trafficking. “(It’s important) to bring awareness to McNairy County,” said Callie Allison, director of the McNairy County Carl Perkins Center. “The
See RED SAND, 2
Staff Photo by Angele Latham
Members of the McNairy County Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce and community leaders gather in front of the Latta building to participate in the Red Sand project.
Protest for Anthony Jones marches through Chester County By Angele Latham Editor
Staff Photo by Angele Latham
A small group of protestors, led by Tracy Boyd (far right), began their march in front of the Henderson City Hall in an attempt to gain an audience with the mayor and the police chief.
A small protest formed in front of the Henderson City Hall in Chester County last Wednesday in response to the shooting death of Anthony Jones, the 25 year old Jackson native who was shot after a high-speed chase incident in McNairy County on October 12. Around 20 locals gathered in front of the building, hoping to get an audience with the city mayor and the police chief. Those involved said they
wanted answers from the largelysilent TBI investigation and the county government, and for the involved officers to be suspended without pay pending the investigation. “Another issue is the fact that these police officers crossed the county line to subdue and shoot this man,” said Tracy Boyd, the local activist and organizer who was leading the march. “They should have never been over there.” In his faux bulletproof vest emblazoned with the words “Dear Police: I’m a white woman,
See PROTEST, 2
McNairy County Schools confirm Early voting continues to break number of COVID-19 outbreaks records across Tennessee, nation By Angele Latham Editor
McNairy County Director of Schools Greg Martin has confirmed numerous outbreaks of COVID-19 within multiple county schools. Over the last week, there were 79 students and staff quarantined for coronavirus exposure, with 16 of those being positive cases. Of these positive cases, nine were staff and seven were students. At Selmer Elementary alone, 14 students and staff were quarantined due to a single coronavirus exposure within the Kindergarten grade level. Martin cautions that the number of cases in this cluster may rise as more testing is done. On Monday, two more cases were reported within the school system, after students tested positive over the week-
McNairy Co. COVID-19 Cases as of October 27
end. One student attends Adamsville High School, and the other, Selmer Elementary. The former has resulted in 15 students— but no staff—being quarantined. “Anytime you have something like that—you have some joint classes together, whether it be P.E. or things like that—we have to do contact tracing,” said Martin, referring to the COVID-19 cluster at Selmer Elementary. Martin says a major factor in the large number of quarantined kindergarteners is the fact that younger children lack understanding of social distancing. “It’s the way this animal is that we’re trying to tame,” he said. Martin adds that the outbreak even affected a number of cafeteria workers. The school system was forced to pull in workers from other schools to cover shifts of quarantined cafeteria employees.
See SCHOOLS, 3
Editor
Tennessee voters continue to obliterate previous voting records in the first ten days of early voting for the November 3 general election, according Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett. At the closing of polls on Saturday, October 24, the tenth day of early voting in Tennessee, over 1.65 million Tennesseans had cast their ballots. This number, which includes both inperson and by-mail ballots, is a 39.84% increase (or an increase of 471,097 voters) than 2016’s rate of only 1.18 million people. In a statement released last week by the Secretary of State, Hargett that the “massive turnout shows Tennesseans’ confidence in the safety precautions taken by county election commissions. As I visit early voting sites across the state, I
continue to see elections officials doing a great job helping voters cast a ballot in a smooth and efficient process.” McNairy County also continues to see a steady push of early voters. According to the McNairy County Election Commission, 5,405 county residents had voted by Saturday, with 5,066 being in-person and 344 being by-mail. Early voting for the state and federal general election runs Monday to Saturday until Thursday, Oct. 29. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. The McNairy County Election Commission, located at 530 Mulberry Avenue in Selmer, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Voters are highly encouraged to wear face masks and maintain a six-foot distance from poll workers and other voters.
COVID-19: A Family Affair
By Janet Rail Publisher
Total Tested 10,640 Cases 1,134 Deaths 27 Recovered 1,033
By Angele Latham
For twins Wanda Crider, of Atwood, Tennessee and Donna Siler, of Bethel Springs, coronavirus was a family affair. As the coronavirus spreads throughout the world, families find themselves interconnected in the spread of the virus and the disruptive effect it has on their relationships. Serious illness places challenges on the family unit. For the Ayers family, who are extremely close and keep very close contact with each other, missing their loved ones and staying isolated proved to
cause the spread of COVID-19. In mid-July, Donna was exposed to the virus and was not aware. Her husband Nelson was showing mild symptoms, but his doctor believed it was an unrelated issues and did not test him. Shortly afterwards, the twins took a quick trip together with their brother Ronnie Ayers and wife Kim. “Nelson told me to go on the trip not realizing he had the virus,” said Donna. The four were together for a few days in July, where Donna was exposed and didn’t know it.
See FAMILY, 4
Weekly 2020 presidential election coverage Photo Submitted
Twins Wanda Ayers Crider and Donna Ayers Siler shown celebrating their birthday last August.
Bible Verse “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” -Psalm 73:26 ❚ Opinion 7 ❚ Obituaries 8 ❚ Events 10 ❚ Classifieds 11 ❚ Sports 13 ❚
See ELECTION, 6
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