DOZENS QUALIFY FOR COUNTY ELECTIONS, 5A
BIRCHETT
Independent Appeal
24 HOUR ROAD SERVICE
DIESEL REPAIR 626 Mulberry Ave • Selmer, TN 38375
WE CAN SERVICE YOUR A/C! 731-646-2589 AFTER HOURS: 731-610-3412
LADY BOBCATS PICK UP TWO BIG WINS, 1B
Making McNairy County headlines for more than 111 years
SHOP:
Volume 111, Number 49, Wednesday, April 23, 2014
www.independentappeal.com 50¢
ATTEMPTED MURDER Finger man faces charges related to January arson By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
A McNairy County man has been charged with attempted murder related to a January arson investigation in northern McNairy County. Guy H. Potter, 34, of 5237 Finger Leapwood Rd., in Finger was arrested by Inv. Robert Hitchborn of the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department and charged with aggravated arson, criminal attempt (of) first degree murder last Monday. On Jan. 25, the residence of Brandy Petty and Brian Petty at 2046 Olive Hill Church Loop in Ramer was set afire in approximately six locations. At that
INSIDE THIS WEEK
time of the fire, Brian Petty was out of town and Brandy awoke to the smell of smoke and was able to slip out of a window without injury. Their home sustained thousands of dollars worth of damage. Hitchborn concluded from his investigation that the fires were deliberately set. During the investigation, authorities interviewed a juvenile suspect who told them that they had discussed the fire with Potter two or three times in the days before the fire. Based on evidence obtained during the interview and via phone records, Potter is accused with conspiring to have the juvenile set fires in the Petty’s residence.
Sheriff’s Department records show that during questioning, the juvenile said that they had discussed the fire with Potter two or three times before it was set. The juvenile said that Potter told them to make sure the smoke detectors were not working and to keep the family dog out of Brandy’s room. In his report, Hitchborn said, “The suspect intentionally took steps to try and prevent... Brandy Petty from waking up in the fire which could have caused her death.” Potter will appear in court to face these charges on May 22. Editor’s note: Due to the juvenile suspect’s age, the Independent Appeal has omitted
POTTER any details in this case (including the juvenile suspect’s gender) to protect their identity.
Selmer Police call off high speed chase By Christen Coulon Managing Editor
EASTER EVENTS BRING SMILES
Event filled week in county as citizens celebrate Easter PAGE 2A
A Selmer Police Officer was involved in a high speed car pursuit last Sunday afternoon in south Selmer. The chase began when Ptl. Blake Huckabee observed a maroon Chrysler 300 with Mississippi license plates traveling at a high rate of speed. He then witnessed the vehicle, driven by a white male with dark hair, running a stop sign at the intersection of Old Stantonville Rd. and Falcon St. Huckabee said that when the suspect observed his patrol car, he fled the scene on Old Highway 45 South. With Huckabee’s cruiser in pursuit, the suspect attempted to turned right onto Jones Road from the left lane of the highway before correcting and traveling across four lanes of traffic on the highway and into a parking lot on the left side of the road. The officer said that the suspect was going so fast in the parking lot that it caused his back tires to come off of the ground.
See CAR CHASE, 3A
Staff Photo by Christen Coulon
This maroon Chrysler 300 was found shortly after Selmer officers called off a high speed pursuit with the vehicle last Sunday.
Partnership helps Monogram expand in McNairy County
,
By Jeff Whitten
a f
Head News Writer
EXPLORE ART WALK & the best of local arts, fine crafts, healthy CRAFT FAIR ctivities and good for you food. Spend a day improving your On Saturday, AiM brings the mind, body and soul! best of local arts, fine crafts WIN to Selmer & healthy activities
great prizes by participating in the Scavenger Hunt!
ed By
r practic r
MILLLEDGEVILLE HERITAGE DAY Day-long event scheduled for this Saturday. PAGE 10A
USDA Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode today joined Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Pickwick Electric Cooperative President Karl Dudley and other local leaders to announce funding for jobs in McNairy County. The announcement was made at the McNairy County Industrial Park. “We are here to celebrate this special occasion, with Monogram expanding into this building,” said McNairy Regional Alliance Executive Director Ted Moore. “I am thrilled to be here,” Blackburn said. With Monogram being a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric, it is now the largest employer in the county, Moore said. “This building has kind of been a dream of ours,” said Plant Manager Ray Deming “In McNairy County and across the country, the best stimulus program is a job. For almost 30 years, Monogram Refrigeration has manufactured jobs and boosted the local economy in Selmer and beyond,” said Blackburn. “Today’s expansion announcement will provide more high quality jobs and strengthen Monogram’s footprint in West Tennessee.” “We are tickled to death to be here,” Deming said. Pickwick Electric Cooperative has partnered with the Selmer/ McNairy County Industrial Development Board and USDA Rural Development to purchase an existing industrial building in Selmer. The 125,000 square foot facility will make it possible for Monogram Refrigeration to add a new production line creating up to 40 jobs and keep the company from needing to relocate 160 existing jobs to another location. General Electric has committed to $20 million in investment Staff Photo by Jeff Whitten in the two Selmer Monogram sites over the next five years, DemRep. Marsha Blackburn visits Ramer Principal James R. “Rusty” ing said. In this period, Deming said he hoped nearly 40 additionPetty last Tuesday. The congressman visited with students and al jobs would be created at these sites. “What a great thing to celebrate this day and time is the retenstaff at Ramer Elementary before heading to the McNairy County
Industrial Park for the announcement of a funding project for local jobs at Monogram Refrigeration.
See LOCAL JOBS, 3A
z Opinion 6A z Obituaries 7A z Events 8A z Community & Lifestyles 8A z Sports 1B z Campus 6B z Classifieds 9B Wed - 76/48 Sunny
Jones Nissan - Where all New vehicles have 20 yr / 250,000 mile Powertrain Warranty!
Thu - 81/52 Partly Cloudy
Fri - 82/54 Sunny
Sat - 84/56 Partly Cloudy
JONES NISSAN 1260 Wayne Road • Savannah, TN 38372
(731) 925-0367
www.jonesmotorcompany.com
MSRP $37,155 JMC Disc - $7,217 Rebate - $2,500 NMAC Rebate -$500
Sun - 78/55 Cloudy
Follow us on Facebook © 2014 Independent Appeal
LAST ONE New 2013 Nissan Murano SV OVER $10,000 OFF!
Nav, Sunroof, Back-up Camera
26,938
$
All prices include all manufacturer rebates.TN Salex tax not included in price, $389 CSF included.
Stock # 20543