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WHERE IN MCNAIRY, 6A

MRA BANQUET: A NIGHT OF LAUGHTER AND EXCELLENCE, 2A

Independent Appeal Making McNairy County headlines for more than 100 years

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Volume 107, Number 37, Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Driver flees after splashing into pond

Officers investigate possible link between Selmer domestic disturbance, Guys crash By Janet Rail Publisher

A suspect is still at large following domestic dispute in Sel-

mer last Monday night. The sheriff’s department answered the call on a domestic dispute last Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Bendall Trailer Park on Ra-

mer Selmer Road in Selmer. The suspect was a black male approximately 45, driving a 2001 4-door gray Oldsmobile with Alcorn County tags.

Staff Photo by Janet Rail

Trooper Kenny Lamberth, Tennessee Highway Patrol investigates an accident on South Gin Road in Guys. The driver and car match the description of a man seen leaving an earlier domestic disturbance in Selmer. The driver is believed to have fled the scene following the accident.

The suspect left the scene at the trailer park and headed south. Authorities stated the suspect was armed and dangerous. Kenny Lamberth of the Tennessee Highway Patrol received a call at 6:49 p.m. regarding an accident in Guys, Tenn. at 65 South Gin Road. Upon arrival at the scene, trooper Lamberth stated the vehicle met the same description and was traveling in the same direction as the car reported at the previous domestic dispute on Ramer Selmer Road. According to Lamberth, the vehicle left the roadway, struck a fence, became airborne before striking two fences, rolling over and ending up in a pond. The car was found with the driver’s door open, air bags deployed with the vehicle in park and the keys missing. Divers were called to search the pond, however, no body was found at the scene and the suspect was believed to have escaped in wooded area surrounding the pond. Lamberth estimated damage to Will Luster, Jr.’s property to be at approximately $1,200. The Oldsmobile was reportedly owned by Debra Walker of Corinth, Miss. No arrests had been made in the case as of press time and these incidents are still under investigation.

Arrest made in Selmer counterfeiting case By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer

A suspect is in custody following the discovery of several counterfeit bills passed at three Selmer businesses over a three-day period, according to reports from the Selmer Police Department. Steven J. Kiestler was arrested by Sgt. Ted Roberts on state charges of criminal simulation, according to Lt. Roger Rickman. The Secret Service is still investigating the incident for possible federal charges. Selmer police retrieved a printer used to print the notes. Kiestler will appear in General Sessions court on March 8. The first bill was passed at McDonald’s on Jan 21, according to an offense report by Ptl. Tony Westbrooks, who responded. Sunny Hudson was counting her drivethru money at the Sonic, when she noticed

a $20 that looked out of place. She said she did not have a counterfeit pen to check the bill and got another manager. They both agreed that the bill was counterfeit and called the police.

A second $20 bill was passed at Wal-Mart on Jan. 24. According to an offense report from Ptl. Foy Huckabee, the responding of-

See COUNTERFEITING, 3A

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Roaming in a covered wagon on a journey for Jesus By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer

Mark and Deb Harris are on a journey for Jesus. What makes their journey unique is their preferred mode of transportation. They have been on their journey in a covered wagon from Michigan since September, 2011. The Independent Appeal talked to Mark Jan. 24 on the side of the road on Highway 45 between Finger and Bethel Springs, while his wife went to the store across the road. Although the wagon only travels at a speed of 3 mph, this journey is not without its dangers. Their wagon was hit by a truck at Henderson on Jan.23, according to their blog. Luckily no one was hurt and the damage to the wagon was minor. Staff Photo by Jeff Whitten “I thought he was gonna nail Mark Harris stops his covered wagon on the side of Highway 45 between Finger and Bethel Springs us, but he swerved,” Mark said. on Jan. 24. “The Lord just put it in my head The covered wagon is pulled “America is still America. It’s a to do it,” Mark said about where he we feel,” Mark said. They take prayer requests from by two Belgian horses, which are great place to be,” is another disgot the idea for the journey. everyone who often mistaken for Clydesdales. covery he has made on the road. The Harris’s follows them. Casey and Bob are about 2,000 When asked about his destinaspent most of last “ T h e r e pounds. Along for the ride are two tion Mark said. “Just journeying” spring and sumseems puppies, which are rescues. They “We don’t have a real destinamer preparing You can follow the Harris’s on their just for their journey. journey on their blog at walkingin- to be a great have adapted well to the wagon tion, much to our mothers’ chaneed in our life, Mark said. grin,” Mark joked. It took about six thewill.blogspot.com. country. Folks “The Lord has taken very good This is the first time the Harmonths to build will stand near care of us on the road,” Mark said. ris’s have done anything like this, the wagon, and “There’s great folks all across Mark said. train the horses. They also sold our wagon and pour their hearts out, with tears in their eyes,” Mark this country,” is one discovery “We ask that you give glory to most of their possessions. Mark has made on his journey. God, not to us,” Mark said. “The more we let go, the better said.

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Mayor, board express concerns over police hire By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer

Police chief Neal Burks and other officers of the Selmer Police Department expressed concern over the hiring of Michael Gilbert as a part-time officer at a working session of the Board of Alderman last Thursday. Mayor Robinson vetoed Gilbert’s hiring Jan. 20 because the hiring of Gilbert by the board at its Jan. 10 meeting was not in accordance with established procedures. Alderman John Smith had argued at that meeting that these procedures do not apply to part-time hires. Vice-Mayor Paul Simpson expressed agreement with Smith at the working session that the process only applied to full-time employees. Police Chief Neal Burks told the board that he and three other officers on the hiring board, Asst. Chief Holley, Lt. Roger Rickman and Investigator Tony Miller had met with the Mayor and expressed certain concerns about Gilbert’s hiring. “We felt it only fair to everybody concerned that we discuss with you all any questions you have to ask of us—the four of us— because we are here to answer your questions,” Burks told the meeting. Burks said he was concerned that the District Attorney General’s office would probably not prosecute any case handled by Gilbert. “Should Officer Gilbert be put back to work and he handles a case which requires prosecution through the District Attorney’s office that they will probably not do that. That would be a concern of mine for the police department,” Burks said. In response to where he got this information, Burks said from the Mayor. Mayor David Robinson said he got this information from District Attorney General Mike Dunavant. In response to a question from Vice-Mayor Paul Simpson about Dunavant’s reason, Robinson said credibility based upon the history contained in Michael Gilbert’s personnel file, which was distributed to the board. The Independent Appeal also obtained a copy from Burks. In response to a question from Alderman John Smith as to why the board had not been provided with documentation of Dunavant’s statement, Robinson said that Dunavant did not want to put anything in writing. Dunavant said that his reason for not wanting to put the statement in writing is that his office is often blamed for hiring and firing decisions, Robinson said. Dunavant offered to talk with the aldermen individually, he said. Miller said that Asst. District Attorney General Bob Gray told him that if it came down to a case where Gilbert’s credibility was the hinge to make that case then they would not prosecute it. “Sometimes we investigate things and you don’t have enough evidence to file charges, but you have enough evidence that you know personally or you feel personally that there is something there to it and you might not be able to get all the players in and put the pieces together for a prosecution but you think that there’s enough of the pieces you have heard and the circumstantial evidence to make you believe that it’s probably true and my understanding from my conversations is that is where Dunavant’s position is. He didn’t have enough pieces, but he heard enough that he feels like a credibility case could be made in court against Michael,” Miller said. “I’ve tried to call him four times and he won’t return my calls,” said Simpson. “I’ve tried to call him. I represent Mr. Gilbert and he won’t return my calls,” said D.J. Norton. Dunavant told the Independent Appeal that while his office does not inject itself into hiring decisions for police officers, it was concerned with the credibility of those officers. Simpson asked Burks if Gilbert’s wife, Brandi, brought any charges against him and he replied that his father, Frankie Gilbert, had called police on her behalf. The domestic assault charges arising out of this 2010 incident were dismissed. According to the police reports, Brandi told the police that Michael had choked her and that he was taking too much pain medication for a back injury and it was making him violent. The file also contained a report from the Sheriff’s Department from 2002 that said Michael went to Linda Gilbert’s house and threatened “to beat her to the ground” and to “get her and the rest of her family.” It also contained a report of an internal investigation by the department. According to the report, Mike Dilenta told Assistant Police Chief Kim Holley that Gilbert had given him marijuana. The report also said as the result of an inventory of missing evidence from the department that the marijuana that (Gilbert) was alleged to have given Dilenta was “an accurate description of several pieces of evidence of that description.” Holley, who did the internal investigation, said that he turned the results of the investigation over to Dunavant, but no charges

See POLICE HIRE, 3A

INSIDE THIS WEEK

BLACK HISTORY COUNTY MONTH TOURNAMENT McNairy County celebrates black history PAGE 4A

Courtroom 7A z Obituaries 8A z Opinion 9A z Events 10A z Lifestyles 10A z Sports 1B z Campus 6B z Classifieds 8B Wed - 66/50 T-Storms

Thu - 64/43 Showers

Fri - 63/48 Cloudy

Trey 731-610-6687

Sat - 60/42 Showers

Sun - 51/34 T-Storms

Bethel Boys and Michie Girls take respective titles PAGE 1B

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