Local Stores see drop in Christmas sales, 4A
Eastview to rename Highway, 4A
Independent Appeal
Success Story
Lady cats on prowl
Stacy Thompson shares her recipe for success PAGE 5A
MCHS girls win 9th straight PAGE 4B
Making McNairy County headlines for more than 100 years
Volume 107, Number 32, Wednesday, December 28, 2011
2011
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Christmas miracle: Dumpster dog now Saint Oscar
the year in review
By Christen Coulon
Another year is coming to an end so we here at the Independent Appeal are taking a moment to reflect on some of the notable news stories that have effected McNairy County. Fortunately, we managed to have year devoid of national level news events occurring within the county as we have seen too often in years past. However, this year was full of news that has impacted the everyday lives of those who live in McNairy County. We have decided to include some of the major headlines and intriguing photos from the past year. For those of you who have skipped an issue or two these headlines may be news to you. For our loyal readers these events will probably rekindle fond or painful memories. Many of these stories had a large impact on the county as a whole and some are just too interesting to end the year without mentioning again.
Editor
The County’s loss of a local leader was the state’s gain. A local girl represented the county with character and came in second in a national beauty pageant. At year’s end, the school building program stood still but the school board moved forward on repairing the soccer field but the contractor did not. Infrastructure was repaired in Selmer and the rest of the County, Adamsville got a new City Administrator and removed fluoride from its water. Unemployment was high but fell. Hopes for a new industry in Adamsville rose then were dashed. Selmer and Adamsville instituted recycling programs. Local leaders sought new ways to fund technology in the classroom and scholarships for students. There were thefts, storms and drug busts. A man was acquitted for manslaughter but child molesters were convicted. County Schools see impressive growth on TCAP Scores. A Mary Winkler movie was cast, made and debuted within the span of five months. Robocop part II? Selmer traffic cameras go live with better results than prior attempts. Postal officials say: two county branches are slated for closure...may be slated for closure...will stay open for now but we’ll get back with you later. Selmer Bank robbery, suspect captured one week later. National memorial honors Tuberville, Millidgeville renames highway. Election commission proposes precinct closings, nixes closures. AiM finds, restores Carl Perkins earliest recordings. Bethel Springs political turmoil claims another casualty. MRA holds first of many Fall Hog Food Fests Drug Raids at Citgo, BP gas stations. These were the stories that made 2011an eventful and surprising year. The news was sometimes good, sometimes bad, but never boring. Jai Templeton was born for public service. He attended Commission meetings with his grandfather, who served on the body, when he was so young that his feet would not touch the floorboard of the truck. At this age, he even took notes on the proceedings. He would later serve on this body and preside over it. He was instrumental in founding the McNairy Regional Alliance. In May, it was announced that he would be leaving the County Mayor’s office, in which he served for the past five years, in order to take the position of Tennessee Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture in Gov. Bill Haslam’s administration in Nashville. Adamsville’s own Ashley Durham, whose beauty and From top: Officers salute the charm captivated the nation, represented Tennessee with candor and class in the Miss U.S.A. pageant, coming in late Jimmy Tuberville during his funeral procession in Decemsecond after one of the judges didn’t like an honest answer ber. Ashley Durham (left) hugs she gave to a question. Miss California, Alyssa CamLongtime Adamsville City Administrator Terry Thrashpanella, after it is announced er retired in May and was replaced by former City Com- that they are the top two finalists. Foreman Nathan Williams, missioner Steve Simon. Upon hearing evidence that Adleft, and carpenter Bo Carlile, amsville had naturally high levels of fluoride in its water, both of J. Hamm Company, it ceased adding the chemical to its water. work to clear a drainage hole The county’s second largest town suffered break-ins at on the Highway 117 bridge in its water plant and at the funeral home. Adamsville. One of two new The school board considered first one then another bridges on Tull Road that were site for the proposed new Selmer Elementary School. completely washed out during 2011 storms. Mary Winkler, They bid surveying, engineering and dirt work, but were right, during the previous murunsatisfied with the costs to build the school. The plander trial for the death of her ning committee, which was charged with choosing the husband was featured in a lifesite, was unable to agree on one. As a result the full board time movie this year. failed to choose a site or a funding plan and missed the Dec. 15 deadline to get the funding resolution to the election commission so it could be put on the March presihope of more laptops and scholarships dential primary ballot. The board will now try to get the funding for students. Selmer and Michie joined the program. Adamsville proposal on the August county general election ballot. adopted a modified form of Roundup in December, giving all the The county’s infrastructure got a makeover. Selmer’s aging wa- money raised by rounding up utility bills to the nearest dollar to ter pipes were replaced, as were many bridges in the county. Water the One to One classroom technology program. After hearing from rates went up in many places in the county, including Adamsville, Terry Burns, Technology Coordinator for McNairy County Schools Bethel Springs, Eastview, Michie and Ramer. and Karen Lange, volunteer co-chair for the Last Dollar ScholarDrugs continued to bedevil the county last year. Meth was the ship program, in November, Ramer rescinded an earlier decision biggest problem. Several meth busts occurred and the largest co- not to participate in Roundup. Eastview tabled the matter. caine bust in 10 years occurred in 2011. After the Independent Appeal reported on a flooding problem As it has for the past two years, unemployment vexed the coun- with the Selmer Middle School soccer field, the school board voted ty though by the end of the year, we began to see light at the end of to try to get the contractor to fix the field, but at year’s end, these the tunnel. The unemployment rate peaked at 13.2 percent in Jan- efforts had yet to be successful. uary, but had fallen into single digits, just barely at 9.9 percent by The release of the state’s TCAP scores reveled that county October. Masco, one of the county’s top employers laid off 33 work- schools saw growth in every subject area and growth in 20 out of 24 ers in February. American Powersports Manufacturing Co. raised categories when measured at the grade and subject level. hopes of new jobs for Adamsville that were dashed as it abandoned A straight to basic cable movie featuring the story of Mary Winthe Garan building, where it had earlier planned to locate. kler, the killer convicted in the death of her husband in Selmer deThe county’s two largest cities went green in 2011. Selmer insti- buted on Lifetime Television. The movie was cast, made and detuted a recycling program in March and Adamsville in December. See 2011, 2A Selmer Mayor David Robinson’s Roundup proposal offered the
Thanks to some hard work from animal rescue agencies and some caring individuals, a dog found near death, in abhorrent conditions is getting a crack at a new life in McNairy County. The animal, a pure bred and spayed Miniature Schnauzer who has been given the name Saint Oscar, was starved to the point where his ribs were prominently outlined on the outside of his body. He was found in the days leading up to the Christmas weekend in Mississippi inside a plastic bag thrown into a dumpster by a man who was looking for cans that said he heard something moving inside the bag. The man immediately notified authorities and the local animal control officers then took the dog to the humane society in Tupelo, Miss. where the vet and staff immediately started working to try and save him. “Somebody just left him for dead,” said Emily Morris, rescue coordinator at the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society. “When we got him he was cold, emaciated and weighted 7 lbs.” Morris estimated that this type of dog should weigh between 20-30 lbs. She said that despite the dog’s condition it was friendly and was craving human contact. “He just had an incredible will to live,” Morris said. Once the animal rescue Staff and Submitted Photos agency in Tupelo had stabilized (Top) Saint Oscar as he has bethe animal, they rushed to find come known was found in a someone to care for him. The Mississippi dumpster and last task was all the more difficult Thursday. (Middle) Oscar was due to the fact that Christmas transported to Selmer last Friwas approaching and many of day and is shown in his weakthe normal outreach options for ened state following a fresh the shelter would be unreach- grooming. (Bottom) Oscar able or closed for the holiday. made an appearance at the InMorris said that she was dependent Appeal offices last able to get in touch with Karen Monday after gaining 4lbs. in Rudolph last Friday with the as many days. Schnauzer Savers Rescue of West Tennessee in Bethel Springs. “(Rudolph) has helped pull some of our rescue animals before
See Saint oscar, 3A
Ward charged in Hardin County By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
Jerry Matthew Ward, of Purdy, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, felony evading arrest, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident with injury, violation of the financial responsibility law (no insurance) and failure to give immediate notice of an accident in Hardin County General Sessions Court. The charges arise out of an incident that occurred in Crump on Dec. 9 after 11 p.m. According to an electronic traffic crash report by Trooper Charles Stewart, a white 2010 Ford CVC police vehicle driven by Patrolman Daryl Colt Jones was attempting to stop a 1996 blue Ford Ranger driven by Jerry Mathew Ward south bound on Highway
Thu - 57/41 Partly Cloudy
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Sat - 61/46 Sunny
See Ward, 3A
Burglars hit Selmer businesses By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
In the space of two weeks, burglars have hit four businesses, three along Mulberry Avenue in Selmer. Hit were Inman Bros. Auto Sales, Griswell Supply, Selmer Hardware Store and Gray Bros. Tire shop, according to an offense report provided by the Selmer Police Department. Jerry Inman told Officer Ron Pilkington that between the hours of 5 p.m. on Dec. 17 and 10 a.m. on Dec. 18, someone destroyed
See selmer burglars, 3A
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WARD 22, when the Ranger crossed over to the north bound lane and turned the vehicle facing west bound on 22, blocking the roadway. The police car struck the Ranger in the passenger side door. The police car ran off the right side of the roadway and down an embankment.
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