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Volume 110, Number 02, Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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A’ville hosts Buford Pusser Festival
INSIDE THIS WEEK
By Amanda Lowrance Staff Writer
AIM ROCKS AiM receives federal funds for Littlejohn Project PAGE 2A
BOBCATS AT STATE MCHS finishes in top six
Staff Photos by Christen Coulon
Patrons enjoy a day at the Buford Pusser Festival.
PAGE 1B
Before Memorial Day, the 24th Annual Buford Pusser Festival held in Adamsville brought people together from around the world. The four-day festival offered a carnival, a parade, competitive events, and good family fun and entertainment. Many people helped volunteer and organize the event to carry on the legacy of Sheriff Buford Pusser and to bring the community and families together. “My favorite part isn’t so much what is going on but spending quality time with family and friends,” said local, Belynda Trumble. Trumble and her family entered the car show after modifying their Suburban and won third place in the Modified Truck Division. Candidates for the upcoming
Pusser Foundation seeks to restore tax exempt status Man allegedly assaults father, 86 See FEST, 4A
By Christen Coulon and Jeff Whitten Independent Appeal Staff
The Buford Pusser Foundation’s 501 (c) (3) status as a taxexempt non-profit corporation lapsed on May 15, 2010 and was administratively dissolved as an inactive corporation by the state on Aug. 21, 2006. According to the IRS, the loss of a 501 (c) (3) status means that donations are no longer tax-deductible for donors. Dwana Pusser Garrison, head of the foundation and daughter of Buford Pusser, said that the corporate status with the state and 501 (c) (3) status with the Internal Revenue Service are in the process of being restored. Pusser Garrison told the Independent Appeal last Friday that she did not handle the business details of the corporation, but left that to accountants and lawyers. Kevin Redmon, accountant for the foundation, told the Independent Appeal May 22 that filings would be submitted to restore the foundation’s corporate status with the Tennessee Secretary of State and 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS in the coming weeks. Redmon said that the foundation would not have needed to file
any regular corporate tax returns during the period it was not a 501 (c) (3) organization or not even a corporation. If, as highly likely, the foundation had a gross income of less than $25,000 for some years and $50,000 for others, it would only need to file a Form 990-N or the internet postcard. Even if the foundation was above these income thresholds, it would only need to file a Form 990, the regular non-profit corporation tax form, Redmon said. Pusser Garrison said that the foundation changed its address and was only notified that its 501 (c) (3) status had been revoked in September 2011. Although the revocation was effective in May 2010, the date at which the the IRS posted notice of automatic revocation on its web site was Sept. 7, 2011. “I was shocked to get that then,” Pusser Garrison said. Pusser Garrison said that no tax deductible donations were solicited after she was notified of the revocation of 501 (c) (3) status. Pusser Garrison said that Savannah accountant David Long handled both the state and federal paperwork for the corporation
See FOUNDATION, 4A
Accidents claim 2 lives over holiday weekend By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
Two separate accidents claimed the lives of two individuals in McNairy County last weekend. Johnny Lee Miller, 23, of Finger, was killed in a one-car accident near Finger last Saturday night. According to a fatal accident report provided by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Miller, who was driving a 1988 Chevrolet S-10 pickup southbound on Litt Wilson Road, lost control and ran off the roadway into a ditch. Miller was not wearing a seat belt. Trooper Sam Bryant investigated the accident. In a seperate incident, a Savannah man was run over and killed by a semi truck at Elam Trucking last Friday, according to an incident report provided by the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department.
By Emily Pitts Staff Writer
Grady Grimes, age 86, of Selmer, was allegedly assaulted by his 64-year-old son, Gary Don Grimes, on Thursday May 17. According to the incident report provided by the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, Grimes’ daughter, Margaret Cox, spoke with Officer Jamie West while in the emergency room with her father, who had severe lacerations on his face and arms. She informed
Officer West that she received a call from her father around 1:30 p.m. on May 17, asking her to come to his house. According to the police report, Cox stated, “When I got to him, he was at his dining table with blood all over him.” When Cox asked her father what had happened, he replied that he thought his son, Gary, had beaten him up. According to Cox’s statement, “He said they had bad words over some equipment Gary was getting from the shop.” The report details how she attempted to
call Gary, but could not reach him. She then called Gary’s daughter, Amy Null, who said that she would try to find him. When Cox arrived at the hospital with her father, Null, who was with Gary, called back. “I asked her what he said, and she said he said he did it,” said Cox in the police report. Grady Grimes claimed that his son had come over to his property to pick up some equipment, taking away a truck bed with a
Michie mayor resigns unexpectedly By Janet Rail Publisher
Mayor Mike Glisson opened last Monday’s meeting by announcing his unexpected resignation. “I knew when I decided to run for mayor that time would be a stretch for me. However, I did not know that I would be faced with continued health problems. After much thought and prayer, I feel it is of utmost importance to focus on my health, my family, and my business. Therefore, I am resigning my position as mayor of the City of Michie effective immediately,” said Glisson.
“I have enjoyed my time as an alderman and as a mayor and wish this board only the best in the future. I also want to thank everyone for the support and encouragement that I have been given. I will continue to live in and support the best small town in Tennessee,” Glisson said. His final business was in the preceding Beer Board Meeting in which owner Tim Hearnsberger applied for a beer permit for his new restaurant Top O’ The River in Michie. Mayor Glisson opened up the meeting and asked if anyone in the audience wanted to
speak regarding the application for the permit. Several members of the Covenant Baptist Church were in the audience and voiced their concern regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages. Minister Brian Rainey stated, “Regardless of what this beer board votes, the restaurant can take it to court to voice opposition, but I am here to see how you vote.” City attorney Paul Simpson stated that according to their city ordinance, section 12, no beer permit could be issued within 300 feet of a resident without a petition signed by all residents within 300 feet of the establishment.
Mayor Glisson shared a notarized copy of one letter of the only resident within the 300 feet requirement who voiced her opposition to the sale of alcoholic beverages. Hearnsberger stated that he respected all the opinions of everyone and was requesting this permit as many of his customers are requesting beer and he does not want to lose the business to other restaurants and lose the revenue for Michie. “I would not advertise, have signs in my window or have it on my menu but want to be able to of-
See RESIGNATION, 5A
Fire destroys Guys residence
Cleveland Clyde “Joe” Balentine, 83, an employee at Elam Trucking in Selmer, was run over by a Maroon 2000 Volvo semi tractor truck being driven by Michael Prather. Prather told Deputy Jamie West, who responded to the incident, that he was backing the truck up at a slow speed, when he felt something and stopped the truck. Prather walked to the back of the truck and saw he had struck Balentine, whose head was under the back tire and whose feet were hanging out of the left side of the truck. Prather then said he ran into the shop to get help. Employees then got a fork lift and raised the truck off Balentine. The Tennessee Highway Patrol Critical Incident Response Team arrived on the scene and began reconstructing the accident. They stated that they will have a full report later.
By Christen Coulon Editor
An early afternoon fire destroyed a Guys residence last Wednesday. The incident at 679 Gay Thompson Road in Guys was reported shortly after noon when neighbors called to report that the home was in flames. Units from the Guys, Eastview and Chewalla fire departments responded to the call. McNairy County Fire Chief Darryl Goodrum said that the owner had been working in the home shortly before the fire and had left the residence for a short time when the fire occurred. Goodrum said the owner did not know what could have happened to cause the fire. Goodrum said there was little firefighters could do to save the house because it was com-
Staff Photo by Christen Coulon
A fireman hoses down the smoldering building. pletely engulfed in flames when they arrived. After nearly an hour fire-
fighters had the fire nearly under control with a few isolated hotspots still smoldering.
z Opinion 6A z Obituaries 7A z Events 8A z Community 8A z Lifestyles 8A z Sports 1B z Campus 5B z Classifieds 7B z Courtroom 9B Wed - 90/63 Partly Cloudy
See ASSAULT, 5A
Thu - 84/60 Isolated T-Storms
Fri - 72/51 Few Showers
Sat - 77/55 Mostly Sunny
Sun - 86/61 Partly Cloudy
Goodrum said that there were no injuries as a result of the fire.
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