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Independent Appeal
independentappeal.com
Volume 118, Issue 26 | 50 cents
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Jury convicts man for bank robbery By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
JACKSON – A federal jury has convicted a Selmer man for aggravated bank robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. It took jurors three days to convict 38-year-old Gene Allen Howell on Thursday. Howell was found guilty on two counts of aggravated bank robbery, two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He will be sentenced Jan. 28 before U.S. District Court Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years imprisonment on the
firearms charges, which will run consecutively to a sentence of up to 25 years on the bank robbery charges. There is no parole in the federal system. “Violent crime affects and endangers all communities in West Tennessee both urban and rural,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. “Howell’s brazen and disturbing armed robbery of two small Howell community banks terrorized the rural community and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims.” Howell robbed Home Banking Com-
pany in Finger using a handgun, according to information presented in court on Aug. 25 of 2017. He pointed the handgun at all three female employees and threatened to kill them if they did not comply with his commands. Howell had stolen a utility vehicle from Selmer and rode to the bank and used thereafter to evade capture. The utility vehicle was later found abandoned in a wooded area. Howell attempted to rob The Peoples Bank located in Reagan on Oct. 14 of 2017 using a .45 caliber pistol. He hid nearby and attempted to accost two bank employees as they arrived for work, but they had just entered the secure tellers’ area in the bank.
Unable to gain access to the teller area, Howell fired the pistol at the head of one of the employees, but she was protected by bullet resistant glass. Howell and his co-defendant, who served as the getaway driver, were arrested 10 days later in Alcorn County, Miss. on drug charges. Law enforcement officials found two pistols – including one used in the Reagan shooting, ammunition and clothing worn during the robberies – in Howell’s possession. The co-defendant testified against Howell at trial and entered a guilty plea. He has an extensive criminal history,
See BANK, 9
Trenton man airlifted following bus wreck By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
BETHEL SPRINGS – A Trenton man was airlifted from the scene and three McNairy County students were transported for observation following a bus accident Monday afternoon. Fifty-seven-year-old Anthony Warren was listed in critical condition at Regional One in Memphis on Tuesday morning. Warren struck the
Staff Photo by Joel Counce
Glenn Ford (left) cuts through a tree at a Massey Street residence in Adamsville on Sunday with the help of Steve Snyder. The volunteers are from a team with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief based in Gadsden, Ala.
Relief team helps with damage By Joel Counce Staff Writer
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) team arrived in West Tennessee for the second time this year. “The past several years, Alabama has been very active,” said SBDR Volunteer Debbie Reese. “We responded
to the floods here earlier this year.” The team of 35 volunteers – a number that is likely to change as different teams come and go – arrived last week to help clean up homes and property in McNairy and Hardin counties. SBDR had about 85 job requests by Friday. The organization typi-
See DAMAGE, 9
See BUS, 4
Forecasters didn’t expect this kind of wind from storm By Joel Counce Staff Writer
cally arrives with bucket trucks, skid steers, equipment trailers, shower trailers and food trailers. Volunteers remove trees from houses and pass out “storm kits” that include a flashlight, band-aid, Lysol wipe and business card-sized slip of
rear of a McNairy County school bus around 3:45 p.m. Monday, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The Bluebird bus – driven by 68-year-old Larry Hyde – was traveling north on U.S. Highway 45 when it slowed to make a right turn onto Cheshire Road. Warren’s 2019 Ford Escape hit the bus and came to rest facing north. He was wearing his seatbelt.
ADAMSVILLE – Frank Lacey remembers the silence. “There was no noise to it,” said Lacy after a Oct. 26 afternoon storm knocked down a couple of trees in his yard, damaged his roof and shut his electricity off. He was at a neighbor’s house, talking about the
strong winds when the first tree fell. “My neighbor told me ‘A tree just fell on your house,’” said Lacy. “If you look at the trees in the yard, it’s like they were handpicked. It’s almost as if the storm said ‘I’ll take this one, and this one and take the tops out of these three and leave the rest alone.’”
See WIND, 6
AHS marches to third straight state crown By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor
SMYRNA – Adamsville High School has a firm grip on the Division II State Marching Band Championship. The Cardinals marched their way to a third consecutive state title on Saturday at Stewarts Creek High School. AHS claimed its 12th title overall with a score of 91.50. Elizabethton (90.85) finished second and Signal Mountain (90) was third. McNairy Central (87.45) finished fourth for a second straight year. “The secret is the kids,” said AHS Band Director David Stevens. “It’s not the show ... the kids bring it to life.” The band began working on “Redemption” in mid July. “We felt we had a good show,” said Ste-
vens. “Our kids and parents work so hard and put the time needed in it.” AHS was selected second in color guard and drum major. “It’s something special,” said Stevens on the championship. “It’s also humbling watching them do their thing on the field.” Stevens was impressed with the reception the band received when it returned home. “The community came out and the streets were full of people,” he said. “It was a phenomenal reception and very special.” McNairy Central received Superior ratings in band, drum major, color guard and percussion during the preliminary competition. McNairy’s color guard placed third in the finals.
Staff Photo by Steve Beavers
Adamsville’s Elijah Johnston and the Cardinal band won a third straight marching band state title over the weekend.
Did you know? The County Commission agreed to proceed with a county-wide fire protection plan in April of 1988. z Opinion 7 z Obituaries 12 z Events 13 z Community & Lifestyles 13 z Sports 8 z Classifieds 14
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