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Volume 116, Number 18, Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Independent Appeal Making McNairy County headlines for 115 years
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Fire chief expected to be back on job By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
Selmer Fire Chief Anthony Carr is expected to be back at work after being temporarily removed from his position in August. The Selmer Mayor and Board of Aldermen voted on whether to keep Carr chief on Tuesday night. Town attorney Terry Abernathy went
“Every piece of equipment and dime of money has been accounted for.” - Terry Abernathy over his review of the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office findings with aldermen during a Monday work session. “Every piece of equipment and dime of money has been accounted for,” said Abernathy. “The accounts in the comptroller’s
report are not substantiated in my review.” An investigation by the Comptroller’s Office alleged Carr falsified invoices and altered bids. “As far as their recommendation, I don’t see anything improper with the exception
of creating a quote for an invoice,” said Abernathy. “It’s a case of no harm, no foul.” In one of the findings, the Comptroller’s Office said Carr admitted to falsifying a $200 invoice after he used the town’s credit card to make an undetermined purchase. The $200 was used to purchase two Hummer tires from an Unclaimed Baggage Center.
See CHIEF, 6A
Board accepts energy grant
Former legislator receives sentence By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
The McNairy County Commission voted unanimously to accept a grant through the Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conservation. The Clean Energy Grant will install energy efficient LED and solar lighting in six county buildings. “This is a really good project,” said McNairy County Mayor Ronnie Brooks. “Our savings from it would go toward paying for it.” Total cost of the matching grant is $351,262. The county’s portion will be $178,881.50. Lighting upgrades would be made to the McNairy County Justice Center, Jack McConnico Memorial Library, UT Martin Extension, McNairy County Courthouse, Annex Building and Ag Extension & Head Start Learning Center. The upgrade would replace T12, T8 and metal halide lights with new LED fixtures and bulbs. The project has a 3.1year simple payback with the county saving $30,745 a year, according to ENERG3. Lease payments are
See ENERGY, 6A
Staff Photo by Steve Beavers
Cook Coggin architect Rud Robison presents possible justice complex plans to the McNairy County Commission.
Engineering firm goes over jail plans with commission By Steve Beavers
“The jail was designed to add this pod at some point.” - Jim Rickman
Assistant Editor
Plans to alleviate space issues at the McNairy County Justice Center have been presented to County Commissioners. Cook Coggin Engineers Inc. representatives met with the full commission and explained their ideas to help solve space issues at the jail and court area of the justice center. “All of you are aware of the problem,” said McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck about the jail overcrowding. “Although we have been able to maintain our certification, it has
come at a big cost.” The overcrowding problem has forced the county to send state inmates to other places. The jail’s average of 40 state inmates went to 12, dropping revenue from $540,000 to
$135,000. “State inmates are like movable bonds,” said Buck. “They can be moved, but we can’t move county or pre-trial inmates ... that’s not an option.” Architect Rud Robison went over the plans with commissioners. “There are a lot of good things about the complex, you just have outgrown it,” said Robison. “This plan gives you more space and more security.” The jail plan involves turning the existing outside recreation area into a
Believe in McNairy
See JAIL, 4A
A federal judge has sentenced a former Tennessee legislator to over 21 years in prison for mail/wire fraud and conspiracy. Larry Bates received a sentence of 21 years and eight months for running a $20 million Ponzi scheme in the buying and selling of gold and silver coins. Bates – convicted on 46 counts – was also ordered to pay just over $21 million in restitution to 360 people defrauded in the scheme. He also received three years supervised release to begin after incarceration. Bates served in the Tennessee House from 1971 to 1976. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman sentenced Bates and his son, Chuck, in separate hearings on Sept. 5. Chuck Bates was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and three years supervised release. Chuck Bates was also ordered to pay $19.6 million in restitution after being found guilty on 16 counts. Victims lost more than $21 million due to the defendants’ illegal scheme, which lasted from as early as 2002 through October of 2013. Larry Bates; his two
See SENTENCE, 4A
Cake decorating is sweet success for Vandiver
Believe in McNairy
By Joel Counce Contributor
ADAMSVILLE – Deanna Vandiver didn’t set out to make desserts. She just woke up one morning and decided to do it. “It kept coming back to decorating,” said Vandiver. “I didn’t plan on doing this and I didn’t grow up wanting to do it.” Vandiver – with her mother Patricia – took some beginner baking classes before someone asked them to make some Christmas cookies in December of 2014.
3A
The two opened Dannuhcakes Sweet Shop in July of 2016. “This has been the best, fastest and most stressful year we’ve ever had,” said Vandiver. “It’s felt like 10 years.” Patricia Vandiver said they work well together “We’re a team,” she said. “I’m nothing without her and she’s nothing without me.” Patricia bakes most of the cakes and cookies while Deanna decorates each one.
See SWEET, 6A
Selmer Elementary School will incorporate new traffic route.
Staff Photo by Joel Counce
Deanna Vandiver can do it all when it comes to decorating cakes and cookies. The Adamsville High School graduate opened Dannuhcakes Sweet Shop in 2016.
Adamsville Lady Cardinals pound the softball in pair of victories.
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