7 2 14 issuu pages by Cindy East

THE

VOL. 122, 22, NO. 27

TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2 2014

GCSD approves $27.9M budget BY CRYSTAL BURNS The Gibson County Special School District Board of Trustees passed a $27.9M budget for fiscal year 2014-15 last Thursday evening. The $27,961,469 budget is up just slightly from last year’s $27,347,915 budget and uses the new certified tax rate of $1.7415 per $100 of assessed property. The previous tax rate was $1.80 per $100 of assessed property. The school board passed the budget with a 6-0 vote. Charles Scott was absent, and Dana Welch attended the meeting electronically. She “signed off” before the meeting was adjourned and did not vote on all of the business discussed. Board members also approved paying a portion of retirees’ health insurance. To be eligible, a teacher must have served in the Gibson County school system a minimum of 10 years. Teachers that retire see page 11

10th annual ‘Taste of Dyer’ held Sunday Dyer Station Celebration Committee hosted its 10th annual ‘Taste of Dyer’ event this past Sunday in the church fellowship hall at the Dyer First United Methodist Church. ‘Taste of Dyer’ event allows guests to sample a number of the town residents’ recipes. A variety of local residents were on hand serving up samples of their specialties so those attending could get a taste of the best home cooking in our community. More than 75 cantata spectators sampled a wide range of food from the many entries. Dishes ranged from see page 7

DYER, TENNESSEE

Grand Marshals

Gene Skinner

Skinner is candidate for constable HONOREES – Recognized at the Dyer Station Celebration opening cermony were Grand Marshals Judy Baker, Johnny McIlwain, Kareen Griffin, George Ellis, Alice Ernest, and Kay Tignor. The group are members of the first DSC committee.

Dyer, Kenton kick off Fourth of July celebrations BY CINDY EAST Dyer and Kenton held opening ceremonies this past weekend for the annual Fourth of July celebrations. Dyer Station Celebration kicked off its event at the Dyer VFW on Friday, June 27 at 6:30. Committee member Beverly Laughlin welcomed the crowd and read the schedule of events for the weeklong celebration. Bro. John Coleman gave the opening prayer followed by the raising of the American flag by Dyer Boy Scout Troop 243. Burt Hooper led the Pledge of Allegiance. Veronica Richards sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’ Kelly Tucker gave recognition to all veterans. She spoke about the sacrifices, courage and selflessness of our soldiers. “Our troops are made up of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. They make sacrifices so we can enjoy freedom,” she said. see page 12

DISASTER RESPONSE Area Coordinator Danny Daniels, Gibson County EMA Director Rickey Graves, Interim Director of TEMA David Purkey, Gibson County Mayor Tom Witherspoon

Kenton White Squirrel Grand Marshal Bill Sanderson and guest speaker Marty Sisco

and Mick Woodard discuss the state response to assists counties recover from an 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

Earthquake! Emergency workers prepare TCR will be closed Friday The Tri-City Reporter will be closed Friday, July 4th for Independence Day. Deadline for news and advertising will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 7. Have a safe and happy Foruth of July!

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BY LORI CATHEY Imagine if a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit here. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency recently held a week-long multi-state exercise of responses to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The exercise, known nationally as CAPSTONE í14,í also involved exercising the stateís catastrophic annex to the Tennessee emergency management plan. On June 18th, Gibson County EMA participated by hosting the forward staging area exercise portion at the Gibson County Fairground in Trenton. State officials asked Gibson County EMA to work with other locals to set up a forward staging area. This is an area for actually receiving resources and personnel from other disciplines and jurisdictions into Gibson County to stand by for deployment into areas more seriously impacted by the earthquake, if the event actually happened. More than 98 participants were involved during the exercise, with representatives from TEMA,

‘You really should try

Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Transportation, Tennessee Emergency Medical Services, and Tennessee Department of Public Health; as well as locals from emergency management agencies, fire departments, EMS, police departments and others. There are 21 counties in the West Tennessee region, of those 21 counties, 19 counties participated in the exercise. Gibson County Mayor Tom Witherspoon and Obion County Mayor Bennie McBride took time to participate in the exercise. This gave the mayors the opportunity to see a portion of what would happen during a real event situation. Also present was interim director of TEMA, David Purkey. “An earthquake of this size would tax the response capabilities of more than just Tennessee. It would truly be a national emergency and require response from all corners of the country and possibly internationally,” said Purkey. see page 11

Gene Skinner of Rutherford is announcing his candidacy for constable for District 16-19 in Gibson County. Skinner was born and raised in Kenton and graduated Kenton High School in 1973. He and his wife Edna Horton Skinner have been married 41 years and have one son, Bradley who is married to Kristin (Roberts) Skinner. After graduating high school, Skinner was hired as a police officer for the city of Greenfield. While working at Greenfield PD, he was sent to and graduated from, Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy at Fort Donelson. He is trained in domestic violence, traffic control. Narcotic investigation, court room proceedings, see page 2

Commission adopts workplace drug policy BY APRIL G. JACKSON The Gibson County commissioner unanimously adopted a drug and alcohol workplace policy last week when they reconvened. But they left the three-hour meeting with no agreement on employee raises or the county property tax rate both tied to the 2014-15 budget. Eighteen commissioners of the county’s 25 attended the 6 p.m. meeting June 23. Insurance committee chairman, Bobby Cotham, presented the drug and alcohol policy. Insurance savings, once the policy is in place, is estimated at $24,000 annually. The county will be responsible for the cost of drug testing, which will be include job applicants, suspicion testing, post-accident testing and random testing. When an employee tests positive, it will be up to department heads to choose disciplinary actions including rehab up to termination. The cost of rehabilitation will be paid by the employee. Sheriff Chuck Arnold asked that his department not be required to offer see page 12

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Page 2 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Insight & Opinion We ought to stop using stale clichés

Clayburn Peeples reports: I was having a conversation many years ago with the Rev. Dr. Reginald Mallett, the late British physician/evangelist who delightedWestTennessee Methodist congregations with his eloquent sermons every summer for several years, and in the middle of a statement about where our church was headed, he used a phrase I had never heard before. “I think what we will find at the end of the day,” he said, and I can’t tell you the remainder of his sentence because I stopped listening in order to roll the phrase “at the end of the day” around in my mind. I loved it. As he used it, it sounded so serious, so deep, so unclichéd to be a cliché. I decided I would begin using it, and did, quickly to the point of overuse. But I wasn’t the own only one. A couple of years later, I heard the president (Clinton) use the same term, and suddenly, it seemed everyone was saying it, especially politicians. And they’ve never stopped, especially in Washington. It is now so overused it has been pronounced by one proper speaking advocacy group as the most irritating phrase in the English language. Last week I thought about the Rev. Dr. Mallett’s new, fresh use of the term some 24 years ago when I read a column by Carl Cannon in which he listed what

he considered the 15 most irritating phrases and words used by politicians and those who report on them. “At the end of the day” was number two on his list. Actually, as Canon explained, the phrase has an ancient and honorable lineage, having been around since at least 1826, but it wasn’t until the 1990’s that U.S. politicians discovered, and appropriated, it. Now everyone uses, no make that overuses it. Another term we’ve heard way too much of, said the author, is “war on [fill in the blank].” Amen. “War on drugs,” “war on women,” (or men) “war on poverty,” “war on illiteracy,” you name it, and if it’s a social or medical problem, or an interest group to be exploited, there is someone either declaring war on it or someone being accused of declaring war on it. How about “The science is settled?” That’s what they were saying as they leeched George Washington to death. It’s what they said when they tried Galileo for the heresy of suggesting that the earth revolves around the sun. To those in power, the science is always settled. To a genuine scientist however, the science is never settled. What people usually mean when they say, “the science is settled,” is “Shut up! You’re not entitled to an opinion.”

“Look.” That was another overused word mentioned. Why is it that political figures begin so many sentences with the word “look?” Pres. Obama once began 26 sentences in a single interview with that word, and it was only an hour long interview. Pundits and political campaign managers use it constantly on television. “Look”; they say, “we ought to stop using stale clichés.” No, unfortunately they don’t say that. But they should, because with all due respect, I think politicians should be more careful about using the same old clichés, over and over and over. (Notice how when anybody starts a sentence with the words “with all due respect” they end up disagreeing with the other person so profoundly they show that they don’t actually respect his or her opinion at all.) See if you’ve heard any of these: “ Let me be clear about this”; “mistakes were made,” and they “bring up troubling questions.” I don’t have the “silver bullet” that will solve this problem, but I do think that it might help if our politicians would take a pledge to “man up,” “think outside the box,” “develop a new paradigm” and be “proactive” about “taking ownership” of their language. Think about it. If we “bring all the stakeholders together,” “work across the

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TRI-CIT RI-CITY REPORTER

keeping a check on your residence or property while you are away on vacation. I will implement a ‘safe check program’ as well as a ‘welfare check program for the elderly’ in this district. I will adhere to all of Tennessee’s mandated laws. This is and will be my goals when I am elected to serve you as your constable,” said Skinner. “I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during my campaign to discuss your issues and to answer any and all concerns you might have regarding this position. I, Gene Skinner, am personally asking for each voter to vote for me as your constable for District 16-19 on August 7, 2014 in the General Election. Your vote and influence will be greatly appreciated,” concluded Skinner.

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board. “I decided to run for constable because I have always been a volunteer person for my community and having been in law enforcement for a considerable amount of years, this type of work still runs deep in my blood and I am not ready to give it up. I want to continue this pattern of positive effort in law enforcement. I have stated numerous times that a law enforcement agency, whether local, county, state or federal, is not measured by the citations issued or arrests made but by the lack of crime in your locality. When elected to this position I will serve our community whenever and wherever I am needed whether it’s serving court issued papers, assisting the courts, local agencies, state or federal agencies or

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walk, you need to talk the talk as well.” So let’s go out there and “give it 110%.” I don’t know whose fault all this is, but as a certain president is fond of saying when major government blunders come to life, “We’ll get to the bottom of this, and someone will be held accountable.” “Just sayin’,” mind you.

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before the next election, because “honestly,” it is “literally,” “absolutely” the “most important election in our lifetimes.” So “going forward,” we politicians need to start “singing from the same hymnal” and stop using clichés, because “the fact of the matter is,” sometimes “you can’t just walk the

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Chuck Arnold has been doing that in addition to keeping our county safe from crime for 7 years. He’s cut prisoner costs, he’s cut medical costs and the threat of lawsuits against the county. He’s put adequate guards on work crews so that no one has to worry about being victimized by a criminal who is supposed to be in jail. Sheriﬀ Chuck Arnold. He’s taking care of us, and he’ saving our tax dollars in the process.

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Periodical postage paid at Dyer, TN Post Office, 38330 Published each Wednesday by American Hometown Publishing Postmaster: Send change of address to 618 South Main, Dyer Tenn. 38330 Phone 731.692.3506 The Tri-City Reporter, Fax: 731.692.4844 news@tricityreporter.net P.O. Box 266, Dyer, TN 38330

The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Page 3

Gibson County sheriff candidates tell us what they really think!

Paul Thomas

Paul Alan Thomas, 43, lives in the Sitka community. Education and experience: I graduated from Milan High School in 1989 and later attended Bethel University where I obtained my Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Organizational Development. After 9/11, I joined the Marine Corps where I served for seven years and was honorably discharged. I am proud to be the only sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate who has Paul Thomas served in the military. I began my law enforcement career first as a reserve police officer with the Humboldt Police Dept. in 1994 and was hired in 1995 by the Milan Police Dept., where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still employed and hold the rank of Lieutenant Investigator. In 2002, I was assigned to the West Tenn. Drug Task Force located in Humboldt as the Milan Police Dept.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representative, which is still my current assignment. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had the opportunity to attend and graduate from multiple schools in my law enforcement career. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also been responsible for teaching in-service to hundreds of law enforcement officers all across West Tenn. and Mississippi. Philosophy of law enforcement in Gibson County I believe first and foremost in leading by example and not by fear and intimidation. I would never ask anything of anyone working for me that I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be willing to do myself. I believe in maintaining a proactive approach to every aspect of law enforcement and having a plan put into place for problems that may arise, as opposed to waiting for something to happen then trying to realize what we could have done different. I also believe in the power of the citizen and when law enforcement has the support of the people it makes fighting crime much more effective. I hope to restore a sense of trust back into the minds of the people of Gibson County. Lastly, I believe in working hard and pushing forward on issues that are important in aiding the safety of our county and not giving up on the things that will make Gibson County a better place to live and raise our families. Having these things in mind, I feel Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m separated from the other candidates in the sense that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have a proactive approach to fighting crime and will continue to always move the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department forward. My whole law enforcement career has been spent in Gibson County alone and that gives me a unique perspective of the problems we face that not all the candidates can claim. Changes needed within the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department? I want to make it clear to the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dept. employees that if you have a job on the day of the election you will have a job on the day after the election if I have the honor of serving as Gibson Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sheriff. There are approximately 66 employees at the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dept. and any candidate who says they are going to start firing personnel is being unreasonable. It takes employees to run the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dept, however I will evaluate supervisory positions and make changes where I think they need to be made. All employees will have a clean slate the day Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sworn into office. First, we are going to get our fiscal house in order by effectively and efficiently managing our budget. We will be transparent with how we spend the tax dollars that are allotted to our department. We will not tolerate questionable expenditures and wasteful spending. We will also enforce an overtime policy and government vehicle policy to responsibly manage tax dollars. Second, we will establish better communication and professional relationships with the local police and fire departments as well as rescue squads throughout the County. If the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department is not working closely with these groups we are doing a disservice to the public. We have to be able to work together in order to maximize our ability to fight crime and respond to emergencies. Third, we will address the lack of participation in the Drug Task Force. Currently the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dept. doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t participate in the Drug Task Force and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen first hand the positive results the task force has produced while attacking the meth problem in Gibson County. Fourth, we will address the spiritual, rehabilitation, job and skill training, and education options for the inmates. I believe jails are built for a reason, but over the years, I have come in contact with a lot of good people that have made bad decisions. For this group of people we need to address the problem that caused them to make the decisions they made then make an attempt to ensure they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the same mistake twice. Also, inmates will not just sit around and learn how to be better criminals. We will have community service projects going year round throughout the county.

Chuck Arnold

Charles W. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chuckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Arnold, 57, is from Dyer. Education and experience: I have an Associate of Applied Science, Justice Services Degree. My career as a law enforcement officer includes eight years as the elected sheriff in Gibson County, 15 years as the chief deputy sheriff in Gibson County and12 years as a deputy sheriff. Philosophy of law enforcement in Gibson County Other than criticizing the Chuck Arnold current sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, I am not sure what the philosophy of the other two candidates is, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll share mine with you. I believe that a sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preeminent goal should be to see that the county is as safe as it is humanly possible to make it. That means dealing with all criminal threats and not squandering precious resources on just one or two aspects. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all in this together, and here in Gibson County, where primary law enforcement duties are shared among a dozen law enforcement agencies, it is especially important that every police agency, as well as the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office, understands that and works together to make that happen. The citizens of our county deserve the right to feel safe in their homes. To feel secure as they travel our highways. Remember thisâ&#x20AC;Śthe fear of crime, the perception of crime is as bad as crime itself. I say we have responded to the criminal threat where ever it has been found. And because our resources are limited, I believe a sheriff also has a solemn duty to be a good steward of county resources. Our tax money is too precious to waste even a dollar of it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why it is so vitally important that a sheriff be a good money manager as well, and I am happy for anyone to look at my record in that regard. We have faced one of the toughest economic periods in modern history over the last eight years. I believe I have met the challenge of financial management for our county. Some strong examples of management include maintaining state certification for the 68,000 square foot, 335 bed Correctional Complex which allows a safer environment for inmates, correctional officers and citizens alike. While certification does not completely protect us from lawsuits it goes a long way in our defense were we sued and also reduces the likelihood of expensive lawsuits. Additionally the operation of a state certified jail returns over $100,000 per month to the Gibson County General Operating Fund. That has meant over $1,300,000 received by Gibson County last fiscal year. Seven times I have administered the budgets of the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office and correctional complex. Seven times I have not gone back to the Gibson County Court (commission) and asked for additional funding. Seven times I have been audited by the Tenn. State Comptrollerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office and seven times I have received â&#x20AC;&#x153;clean audits.â&#x20AC;? I have made it an issue to make inmates more accountable for their own medical care. As a result I sponsored legislation in the county court requiring inmates to pay a co-pay for medical visits and prescription drugs. Additionally I have negotiated programs with local healthcare providers to lower cost of inmate healthcare in our county. Changes needed within the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department? My goal, if reelected, will be as it always has been, to make the best better. There is no doubt we have raised the bar of professional law enforcement in Gibson County. We will continue to spread the word throughout the county (to law abiders and law breakers alike) that the law in Gibson County is fair and just and that your sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office is working to see that it remains so, and that for those who choose to break it, punishment is as swift and certain as the law allows. But as well as we have done we can do even better. We have already instituted a video arraignment where we keep inmates in jail there by reducing costs of transporting to court, officer overtime and safety concerns while saving thousands. That program will be expanded. We need to fight drugs smarter, on the streets rather than in the newspapers and we need more coordination among all criminal justice agencies in the county rather than farming it out to a single entity. Biggest problem facing Gibson Co. law enforcement? If there is a single â&#x20AC;&#x153;biggestâ&#x20AC;? problem facing law enforcement locally, it is the same as that all over the country, and that is that our population is becoming more and more lawless, criminals more ruthless and crimes more serious. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why one of my major goals as sheriff has been to make our office more proactive and more professional in order to meet this ever increasing challenge. Officers need to be smarter and work harder than ever.

Rodney Wright

Rodney Wright, 39, resides in Yorkville. Education and experience: I attended school at Yorkville and then graduated from Gibson County High School in 1992. I began my law enforcement career at the Rutherford Police Department in 1995 and served there until accepting a position with the Newbern Police Department in 1998, where I currently am employed as a Lt. Investigator. I graduated the Tenn. Law Rodney Wright Enforcement Training Academy in December 1998 and have attended various specialized training sessions. I have been assigned as an agent with the West Tenn. Drug Task Force since 2009, and I am a member of the Tenn. Meth Task Force, and I am currently serving my second term as a Gibson County constable. In my career I have successfully investigated and prosecuted every type of case from undercover drug operations to sexual assaults and 1st degree murder. I have made numerous drug educational presentations to various groups of children and civic organizations. I have attended several schools and training sessions that were intensive studies in interview and interrogation, professional development, and instructor development classes that will aid and assist me leading the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office staff in day to day operations and also in assisting the citizens in their daily needs of calling on the sheriff. Philosophy of law enforcement in Gibson County As your sheriff, I will be tough on crime and wage a war against the drug problem in Gibson County everyday. I will insist we treat the citizens with respect and I promise to be available to the citizens. I will not negotiate my integrity nor the integrity of the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office for political favor. I believe the Sheriff should be a public servant to the citizens and be accountable for the actions of the Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. I want the citizens of Gibson County to know that if it is inconvenient for them to come to Trenton to meet with me I will schedule an appointment with them and come to them, after all I will work for the people and I want to be a good employee of the people. I will work hard to make the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office the most professional law enforcement office around. I want the staff to be proud of their place of employment and the citizens to be proud of their Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department. I think the public in general has lost faith in governmental agencies and I along with the staff of the Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office will work daily to restore the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trust. I will see that the law is enforced equally and without prejudice or favor. I am more than willing to help anyone who is wanting help with a problem of any kind but I will not break the law for anyone. I am different from the other candidates because I have a perspective of law enforcement that is totally outside the box of the current administration. I have been serving in law enforcement in Dyer County since 1998, except as a Gibson County constable, so I am not soured to the way things are being done now in Gibson County. There are a lot of great people working in every law enforcement agency in Gibson County, I just want to make the Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office the best one around. Changes needed within the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s department? My first change will be implementing a real drug free workplace. I will submit to a drug screen at any time, leading the office by example. I believe the current administration has been resisting a drug testing policy, at least that is my understanding. If there has been a drug testing policy in place at the department then I would ask the Sheriff to provide that policy and also provide the record how many of the employees that have been tested during his term. In my opinion that would clear up a lot of concern about the Drug Free Workplace. My next change will be to reduce spending and to put a stop to the misuse of your county vehicles. The public record of the salaries reflects that outrageous amounts of overtime have been paid exceeding $100,000 some years. At the county commission meeting on June 23, I understood that nearly $200,000 of available salary money from the Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget was being returned unused. I appreciate having money left but if we are paying out huge overtime payments and returning money on the salary line item then I am afraid adequate manpower is not in place and the people are not being given the protection and coverage they should be getting. I will spend your money more wisely and provide the employees with better equipment and the citizens with better coverage and protection than what is provided currently. Gibson County is huge county but our parents, grandparents, and children cannot wait thirty or forty-five minutes for help if they need the sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.

Read more here next week as we continue the conversation.... Each candidate has more to tell you!

eing e r g a isnÂˇt g n i k n g. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thi n i e e r ag or dis G.â&#x20AC;? N I T VO rost F ThatÂˇs t r e - Rob

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Page 4 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Community Living Keely Mill By Diane Hamlin Our Sunday school hour began with everyone singing the hymn ‘Day by Day.’ Bro. John Fields opened us in prayer. We dismissed to our classes. Christy Skelton opened the adult class in prayer before teaching us our lesson ‘When Pride Turns to Greed’ from Ezekiel 28. When pride becomes greed, it becomes selfserving, self-centered, and self-destructive. Selfish pride is an attitude that God condemns as sinful. Our Sunday morning worship services began with Elaine Fields playing the piano and Mike Fields leading us in our offertory hymn ‘At the Cross.’ We sang and wished Lucus Grace and Daneca a happy birthday. Jeffery Hunt and Lucus Grace recited our June memory verse Matthew 6:21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Rejoice in the Lord always. Bro. Steve ministered to those in the Dyer Nursing Home on Sunday morning and was back in time to open us in prayer, welcome everyone and make our announcements. We had a time of giving our praise reports. Everyone enjoyed our time of meet and greet where hugs, handshakes and smiles were shared. Mike Fields then led the

congregation in the hymns ‘How Beautiful Heaven Must Be’ and ‘Nothing But the Blood.’ Bro. Steve delivered our morning message ‘Fruitfulness’ from Colossians 1:3-10. Bro. John Fields dismissed services in prayer as the hymn ‘The Nail Scarred Hand’ was sung. Our Discipleship Training hour began with the hymn ‘When We All Get to Heaven.’ Carolyn Vandergriffe opened the adult class in prayer. Mike Fields did a good job teaching us our lesson ‘All Because of Grace’ from Titus 3:5. Our Sunday night services began with Mike Fields leading us in our opening hymn ‘The Way of the Cross Leads Home.’ Bro. Steve welcomed everyone and asked for our prayer requests. Bro. Steve then prayed over all our requests. We enjoyed a blessed night of fifth Sunday worship through a time of praise songs, testimony, hymns, quoting Bible verses and Poems. Mike Fields dismissed services in prayer. Read your Bibles and pray for our nation this week. Have a safe and Blessed Fourth of July.

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New Hope News By Shirley Hooper The youth group of 15 joined the adults Wednesday evening. Our minister, Brother Corey Meggs continued the study of ‘How can we be the best church for our community?’ Dividing into three groups we were given years, 1990s, 2014, and 2030, which went to the youth. We discussed society, technology, religion, economics, politic, an ecology of each period. We gathered and reported our findings. What kind of day do we live in? Society today has become so diverse the old way does not work. We have to understand the times and know what to do to reach people for Christ. Sunday morning our minister, Brother Corey continued our study of Seven Signs of the Savior from John 3: 46-53 and 24. It was healing the Nobleman’s son who was sick at Capernaum although Jesus was in Cana. He was told twice his son was healed, verse 50 and 53. He took Jesus at his word and found it to be truth. This is the second miracle Jesus did. We are taught seeing is believing but this tells us believing is seeing. The whole point of

Kenton News By Cindy Lamar Welcome home Levi! Little Levi Locke Baucom surprised everyone with his early arrival but his parents, Michael and Gina Baucom are beyond elated to already have their precious son at home with them. Congratulations Michael and Gina! The First Baptist Church closed out a successful week of Vacation Bible School on Sunday night with their annual Family Night. Before a large congregation of proud parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors, the

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John’s Gospel shows us exactly who Jesus is, the Son of God. Sunday afternoon we were honored to see the ordination of our newest Deacon, David McEwen. His family and many friends came to celebrate. Brother Corey gave the welcome and prayer. Brother Terry Owens sang ‘Serve the Lord with Gladness.’ Dr. John Adams gave the charge to the candidate and wife. Brother Terry sang ‘It’s my Desire.’ Brother Corey then gave the Charge to our church to hold David and family in love, encouragement and pray. The laying on of hands was held by all ordained ministers and deacons. Our Director of Missions, Brother Roger Stacy gave the prayer of commitment and consecration. It was a very moving service. Our love and sympathy go to Faye, Kaye and families in the loss of Mrs. Hazel Shanklin, who went to glory Thursday morning. She was a blessing to all who knew her. The beauty of a changed life can attract others to the One who makes us beautiful.

children gave an enthusiastic musical performance demonstrating what they had learned during VBS. Following the program homemade ice cream was enjoyed in the Family Life Center. A general consensus among those to whom I’ve talked is clear that no one’s feelings would be hurt if the continued rainfall that we’ve been having were to stop. Rainfall in the month of June 2014 has set a new record. Sincere condolences are extended to family of Freddie Simmons who passed on to his eternal reward early last Sunday morning. Among those grieving his passing are two of his sisters: Carol Primrose of Kenton and Elaine Davidson of Dyersburg (formerly of Kenton). Mr. Simmons will be greatly missed. Food for thought: She entered the church weary and worn, unable she thought to go on. The pain that she carried deep inside, she’d already carried too long. Wanting freedom from her unwanted load but not dreaming such a time would come. She prayed with the Pastor as he led her to God, and now her pain was gone! Prayer list: Delores Agee, Jolene Keymon, Jackie Hatch, Henry Herane,, Jerry Mount, Ronnie Lamar, Jesse and Elaine Davidson, Bobby and Carol Primrose, Joyce Rice and Clint McLodge.

Community Calendar DYER MARCHING EAGLES REUNION All former Dyer High School band members: your presence is requested to attend the Dyer Marching Eagles Reunion, ‘Marching Down Memory Lane.’ July 5, 2014, at 2 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at New Bethlehem Baptist Church 161 New Bethlehem Rd in Dyer. Special guest is Mr. Thomas Johnson band director from 1974-1978. This will be an event for band members to visit with each other and reflect on the fun and great times we had in the band. There will also be a video presentation highlighting the band and it’s accomplishments from 1973 to 1980. Light snacks and drinks will be available. DYER STATION COUNTRY STORE Friday, July 4 at the park needs donations of home, baked and home-canned goodies to sell. Garden produce will be appreciated also. Call Jeannie Ward at 692-259 for pickups. CHURCH OF CHRIST You are invited to a gospel meeting with Brent Arnold, July 6-11, 2014. Yorkville Church of Christ 7 NeboYorkville Rd. Yorkville, TN 38389. Services are Sunday 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Sunday – Friday evening services 7:30 p.m. Potluck: Sunday morning after services, ice cream supper Friday after services. GCSSD MEETING The Gibson County Special School District of Trustees will have the regular meeting on Thursday, July 10th in the Gibson County High School Library at 6:30 p.m. ITT EMPLOYEES BI-ANNUAL DINNER All former ITT Milan Employees are invited to their Bi-Annual dinner on Thursday, July 10,2014 at Higgs Restaurant in Milan. Social Hour from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. buffet dinner at 6:30 p.m. cost $12 per person. Reservation’s requested but not required by calling Austin Tyner at 783-1139 or Faye Yearwood at 694-5551. GREGORY COMES TO BEECH GROVE BAPTIST Joan Greory will be singing sunday, July 6, 2014 at Beech Grove Baptist Church located on Old Dyersburg Rd. between Trenton and Dyer. Everyone is invited to attend. KENTON WHITE SQUIRREL 4TH OF JULY CELELBRATION LINE UP Kenton White Squirrel 4th of July Celebration Thursday, July 3 5 p.m. Spaghetti Supper at Kenton Gym, 7 p.m. Auction strts at Kenton Gym. Friday, July 4th at 8 a.m. 5K run (registration at 7 a.m.) 10 a.m. Line-up for Parade at Plastech parking lot, 10:30 a.m. parade, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Family adn Friends Day behind Kenton Gym. Vendors include food, crafts, jewlry, oys, face painting, bouncers, 6 to 8 p.m. Karaoke competition behind the Kenton Gym. 9 to 9:30 p.m. fireworks. DYER STATION CELEBRATION 4TH OF JULY LINE UP Dyer Station Celebration 30th Annual Fourth of July Celebration Thursday, July 3: the following activities will take place in Downtown Dyer behind the Georgia McIlwain Ellis Mini-Park. Cake Walk, 6:30 p.m.; Country Street Dance 7 p.m.; Concession and Homemade Ice Cream, 7 p.m.; Memorabilia Sales, 7 p.m.; Jumpers for Kids, 7 p.m.; Friday, July 4: the following activities will take place at the David Robinson Park unless otherwise noted. Fourth of July Parade line-up 8 a.m. at City Lumber Parking lot; Lion’s Club Grilled Food sale, 8 a.m. until sold out; Food Sales, 8 a.m. until sold out; Old Country Store, 8 a.m.. until sold out; Arts and Crafts Sales, 8 am. through late afternoon; forth of July Parade 9 a.m. down East College Street; Dignitaries Reception, following the parade at the VFW; Bingo 1 p.m. at the Gazebo; Pet Show, 2:30 p.m. at Gazebo; and Fireworks Display, 9 p.m.

Arts and Crafts show to offer a variety food The 2014 Dyer Station Arts and Crafts in the Park will offer a wide variety of creative exhibitors who will have booths set up along the shady playground area at the Dyer City Park. Arts and Crafts scheduled for this year’s event will include homemade leather crafts, photography,

Pharmacy & Your Health Overactive Bladder in Women Overactive bladder (OAB) is a medical condition described as having all-of-a-sudden urges to urinate and possible involuntary loss of urine. It can also include needing to urinate more often than normal, or awaking from sleep more then once a night to urinate. The symptoms of OAB happen because of involuntary contractions of urinary bladder muscles. It tends to occur more commonly in older and obese women. Treatments are available to reduce or remove symptoms. One over-the-counter product is available. Oxybutynin patches (Oxytrol) deliver medication through the skin. Oxybutynin (Ditropan) is also available in tablet form but is prescription only. Doctors may prescribe other anticholinergic medication such as tolterodine (Detrol), trospium (Sanctura), darifenacin (Enablex), solifenacin (Vesicare) ar fesoterodine (Toviaz). Mirabegron (Myrbetriq) is the most recent drug approved to treat OAB. It is works on beta receptors to relax bladder muscles. Another option is absorbent pads or underwear (Depends or Poise brands). These do not improve symptoms, but can remove the embarrassment of involuntary leakages. It would also be helpful to start a daily bladder journal to keep track of daily fluid intake, number of trips to the restroom in a day, and OAB symptoms.

handmade jewelry, chalk paint furniture, fragrant soap and lotion, monogram T-shirts, wooden crosses, door hangers, crochet items, quilts, hiking sticks, original art, purses, aprons, and more. This year’s arts and crafts in the park which will also have a children’s petting zoo and pony rides. Plenty of great food will be available throughout the day including; Bar-B-Q, BarB-Q ribs, Bar-B-Q bologna, grilled steak sandwiches, grilled chicken quarters, grilled hot dogs, grilled hamburgers, polish sausage and hand-dipped corndogs. Anyone wanting to preorder a Boston Butt may do so by calling Kim Todd with the GCHS Band at 487-0787. Also, delicious deserts will include snow cones, funnel cakes, deep fried oreos, twinkies and moonpies, along with home baked goods for sale the DSC Old County Store. This is a great day to come out, eat lunch, visit with friends, view original crafts, and have a good time on July 4th at the Dyer City Park. Jesus is Coming Soon

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Page 5 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Summer Reading program comes to an end

MAGICAL MINK - The Summer Reading Program children enjoyed the magic show put on by the Magical Mink on June 18.

On Wednesday, June 18th Magical Mink put on an exciting magic show for the Summer Reading participants. Many of the children got to participate in some of the magic tricks, and Magical Mink left us stunned time after time. The Summer Reading

Program ended on Wednesday, June 25 with the Awards and Sprinklers program. All contestants who entered the contest of their age group received a prize and certificate. Taylor Scott was the winner of the “How many worms contest” and Melinda Patterson won the

teen Music and Controversy contest. After the program dismissed, the Summer Reading participants enjoyed some cookies and KoolAid donated by Trenton FoodRite and the Trenton Fire Department hooked up sprinklers for the children to play in.

Nature photographer to attend Dyer Station Arts and Crafts The 2014 Dyer Station Arts and Crafts in the park will feature Nature Photographer, Clifton Brown and his wife, Joie, of Black Rock, Arkansas. Clifton Brown has won numerous photography awards, and his nature photography has been featured in newspapers as well as publications, including The Jonesborough Sun, and National Magazine. He has been a photographer for over 35 years, using film and digital.

Brown has spent his entire life observing and promoting the care of our natural surroundings, and his photos come from his love of nature. He states that he hopes his photos will leave the viewers with a positive thought and inspiration to look more closely at the gifts that we have been given by nature. All of Clifton Brown’s photos are digitally signed and copyrighted. Also, along with his photography, Clifton and his wife, Joie, will bring a

variety of original handmade leather products such as belts, wallets, checkbook covers, and key rings.

GCVAA presents new exhibit We have a new exhibit at Trenton City Hall. The Gibson County Visual Art Association likes to keep art work in the lobby of Trenton City Hall. Since our last national exhibition, the area looked so bare. So we decided to bring in ‘works from home.’ This is our way of sharing art prints, photographs, our own work, or our own collections from home with the community. We have an interesting collection now on display. These works will be

here until August 16. The display may be viewed at any time during office hours. Works from Home Gibson County Visual Art Association This is a collection of “Works from Home” brought in by the Gibson County Visual Art Association membership to share with the community. The guidelines for this exhibition were to bring in something “framed” to

share; it could be from a vintage collection; it could be photographs or paintings; it did not have to be created by the member; something we have enjoyed. Our goal is as always to promote interest in the arts. Here is the breakdown of grants given: The Dixie Huntingdon $19,800, West Tn Regional Arts Center Humboldt $4470, Gibson County Visual Arts Trenton $4480, and Nite Lite Theater Trenton $5010.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM - The Summer Reading Program K-2 contest winners were 1st place was Paeton Denton, 2nd place was Louis Pitones, and 3rd place was Lynlee Riggins.

Trenton Book Club will have guest speaker David Johnson Local author David Johnson will be the main speaker at the Trenton Book Club meeting on July 7, 2014, at 6:30 P.M. at Trenton City Hall. The meeting is open to all those interesting in reading and writing. David Johnson began his writing career during the fifteen years he spent as a Youth and Family Minister, writing a weekly article for his church bulletin. This led him to publishing many articles in religious journals. For the last twenty+ years he has worked as a marriage and family therapist and for fifteen of those years, he edited and wrote the agency’s quarterly newsletter. Approximately six years ago he took a writing course with Long Ridge Writers and completed the course “Breaking Into Print.” It was then that he found a love for writing fiction and began to write a book whose main character is a rural woman living on welfare in northwest Tennessee and raising her three grandchildren. That book has now spawned four more books about Tucker and her family. Over 120,000 copies of the Tucker books have been downloaded and over 1,000 reviews have been posted on Amazon. Recently the Senior

Acquisitions Editor from Amazon Publishing contacted Mr. Johnson expressing interest in partnering with him, and he signed a contract with Amazon which plans to re-launch the Tucker series in December, 2014. Part of what the Amazon Editor said was: “I was intrigued by the unflinching look at Tucker and Ella’s family lives, and thought the characters were the perfect way to display the dichotomy between the two socioeconomic cultures and their shared struggles. I was also surprised at the skill and subtly of the writing. It’s not often that I read a novelist’s work that has a voice this secure, calm, and established. The customer reviews are fantastic – and I’d like to see the sales match the review intensity. With Amazon’s world class marketing and promotional acumen, I think we could take this series to a whole new level.” Johnson’s motivation for writing the Tucker series began with a desire to help people who have had traumatic childhoods to read about a person they could identify with and they could see overcame all their troubles. He also wanted to challenge

people’s judgmental view of the poor, to help them understand that some people are not poor by choice, and to help them develop more empathy for the poor. Johnson is also the Director of a thirtyfive voice auditioned, community chorus which puts on about fifteen concerts each year at schools and churches throughout west Tennessee. They have also performed at Walter Reed Army Hospital and the Soldier’s and Airmen’s Home in D.C., Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, and V.A. Hospitals in Memphis and Asheville, N.C. They also sing yearly at St. Jude Children’s Hospital, LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, and the Baddour Center in Senatobia, MS, a residential community for mentally challenged adults.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM - The Summer Reading Program 3-5 contest winners were 1st place - Kitana Davis, 2nd place - Rosa Dorado, and 3rd place Francisco Mendoza.

SUMMER READING PROGRAM - The Summer Reading Program Pre-K contest winners were 1st place was Victor Pitones (not pictured), 2nd place was Kennedy Minton, and 3rd place was Preston Lee.

David Johnson

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Page 6 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

RELIGION

Obituaries HAZEL SHANKLIN

Dyer - Mrs. Hazel Shanklin, 85, of Dyer, passed away from this life on June 26, 2014, at the Dyer Nursing Home. Funeral services for Mrs. Shanklin were conducted on June 28, 2014, in the chapel of Karnes and Son Funeral Home of Dyer with Bro. Steve Skelton and Bro. Corey Meggs officiating. Interment followed in Poplar Grove Cemetery of Dyer. Mrs. Shanklin was born June 2, 1929, in Benton County, Tennessee; the daughter of the late Guy and Manie Cuthbertson Askew. She retired from Brown Shoe Company. Mrs. Shanklin was a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Mrs. Shanklin is survived by daughters, Kay Ervin and husband Stan, Faye Pierce, and Gale Hall; daughter-in-law, Dedra Shanklin; eight grandchildren, Marty, Robbie, Emily, Carol, Ross, Tiffany, Bradley, and Jessie; twenty greatgrandchildren; one special niece; sisters, Rozell Cole of Dyer and Mary Etta Watkins of Paris; brothers, Douglas Askew of Bradford, and A. G. Askew of Dyer; and also by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Eddie D. Shanklin; parents; son, Eddie Guy Shanklin; and sons-in-law, Tommy Pierce, and Johnnie Hall. Karnes & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Hazel Shanklin.

Card of Thanks The family of Thomas H. Proctor would like to express our thanks and appreciation to all of the friends and family for all of the love and support provided in our time of need. We appreciate all the food, flowers, cards, and prayers. Your generosity and caring was humbling. Jeanette Proctor, Kevin Mashburn, Thomas Y. Proctor, Jason Proctor

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NEVA ANN STEVENS

Dyer - Mrs. Neva Ann Stevens, 101, of Dyer, passed away from this life on June 25, 2014, at her home. Funeral services for Mrs. Stevens were conducted on Monday, June 30, 2014, in the chapel of Karnes & Son Funeral Home of Dyer with Bro. Daymond Duck officiating. Interment followed in Poplar Grove Cemetery of Dyer. Mrs. Stevens was born October 19, 1912, in Tennessee; she was the daughter of the late Mat and Frances Cochran Austin. Mrs. Stevens worked at Brown Shoe Company and was a member of Union Methodist Church. Mrs. Stevens is survived by two sons, Billy and James Stevens; two grandchildren, Harold Stevens and Laurie Tompkins; four great-grandchildren, Lekeshia Jackson, Luke Stevens, Blake Burks and Travis Burks; and by six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Horace Stevens; a brother, Boyd Rutledge; her sister, Rosa Lee Russell; and grandson, Michael Lynn Stevens. Karnes & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Neva Ann Austin Rutledge Stevens.

Rutherford 1st Baptist By Katheryn Blankenship Rain, rain go away. How many of us have said this in the last few days? In July and August when it gets day, we might want some of this. Congratulations to Brother Jason, Julie and boys. There is going to be a little girl in their house sometime in October. She will have to be a tough one to put up with three big brothers! We were down in attendance Sunday, because of sickness and the weather. We hope to see them back soon.

Brother Jason’s message ‘Assistance’ was taken from Psalm 23: 4-5. The teachers are getting excited about Vacation Bible School. The opening night to sign up is Sunday night July 6th. Bring your child out and enjoy food and fellowship. Those having birthdays this week: Ben Pitcher, Judy Horner, Jody Shampine, Andrew Watson and Cris Adkins. Until next week: ‘Begin each morning with the Lord.’

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When you’re ready please read Luke 15:4-7. The sheep may run away to explore or the sheep may wander away; but no matter what happens, the shepherd is going after the sheep. That sheep belongs to the shepherd just as the boy in the parable of the father and 2 sons, the son belongs to the father, no matter what happens. Jesus compares us to sheep and that’s not a compliment necessarily because sheep aren’t smart animals. But they are smart enough to follow the shepherd most of the time. The shepherd names all of his sheep and he can call them by name and each of them will look toward the shepherd when it hears the shepherd; whether in the field of in the fold; whether close by of far away. The sheep hear the shepherd’s voice, and the sheep know that voice. Once the sheep belongs to the shepherd (is in the fold); the shepherd takes full responsibility for the sheep; (every one of them). The shepherd won’t let the sheep keep wandering. If a sheep wanders away for the third time, it is in danger of

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being killed by a wild animal and then the shepherd will find that sheep and break it’s leg and splint its leg, put the sheep on his shoulders and carry him back to the fold – where its safe with the shepherd. That sheep will be willing to stay where it belongs at that point. We don’t have to worry about the lost sheep. God is in control and He knows them by name. In the parable we studied last week, the father’s son left home. I’m sure he had so called fun for awhile, but then the money ran out; ‘ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks the swine did eat and no man gave unto him’ Luke 15:15-16 (KJV). The boy’s father knew this would happen and the father is grieving for his son the whole time he is gone from him. What happens? Now one might think that the father would punish his when the boy returned home; ‘But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.’ Luke 15:22 (KJV).

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onsider, on this Fourth of July, how important every American is to the future of our country and our world. We understand that our faith in God and acceptance of His guidance have made our nation strong. We were founded on faith and freedom. Each family that worships passes God’s strength to generations! Join together with family and friends at your house of worship this week and celebrate God’s gift of freedom. Ezekiel 39.1-29

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The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Page 7

10th Annual Taste appetizers, salads, cookies, cakes and other desserts. The dishes were judged during the Patriotic Cantata and ribbons were placed by first, second and third place winning dishes. Winners are as follows: overall winner was Sandy Moss. Her recipe is

included in the Dyer Station Celebration Cookbook. Appetizers: first place Sandy Moss, second placeSandy Moss, and tied for third place-Beth Griffin, and Madison Dyer; Salads: first place-Bently and Chasity Reed, second place -Allison Little, third

place-Edd Daniels; Cookies: first place Kay Tignor; Cakes: first place Carol Denton, second place Brenda Laughlin; Other Desserts: first placeAllison Little, second placeKady Griffin and third place -Edd Daniels.

SPECIALTIES - Local residents (front) Elsie Walker, Carlene Stephenson, Marcella Burress and Carolyn Temple were on hand to taste samples of some the best home cooking in the Dyer community. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

FAMILY AFFAIR - The McCurdy family (sitting) Jane McCurdy, Jennie Richardson, DSC Hostess Princess Hallie McCurdy and (standing) Amy Richardson enjoyed the delicious dishes cooked up by local residents. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

SAMPLED - Cantata spectators Rebecca Lee, Savanna Lee and Sharon Lee sampled a wide range of food during the Taste of Dyer last Sunday. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

OVERALL WINNER Sandy Moss was the overall winner with an appetizer during the “A Taste of Dyer” held Sunday at the Dyer First United Methodist Church in Dyer. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

PATRIOTIC CANTNATA - During the Dyer Station Celebration Patriotic Cantata Doug Duncan and Carrie Mercer wore their military uniform. Over 150 attended the Patriotic Cantata at the Dyer First United Methodist Church. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

Golden Agers For Golden Agers June 25, we had 15 present and after feasting in a myriad fare of delicious dishes, we prayed for those recovering from procedures that will improve their health. Our own Kenny McEwen had 3 heart by-passes and Christine McCurdy has a pacemaker. Both are doing well. Dola Acree is scheduled for surgery Monday, June 30. Our hymns for the morning, ‘Just a Closer Walk with Thee’ and ‘O, That Will Be Glory for Me’ were led by Carolyn Temple and Anne Thompson pianist and Jean Baker joined Carolyn in leading the group in the grand old glory song. In her lifting, melodious style, Anne played ‘He Touched Me’ for her pleased. President Gary Baker selected Philippians 4: 4-7

for e t o V lect &E

as his scriptural text and he began his devotional with a description of his anguish early in the spring in his inability to find his keys, which included his house keys that secured his home. He claimed the directive of verse 6 and he found his keys right beside one of the sheets that covered flower pots of tender plants that he had secured the night before. Verse 6 urges us to go to the Lord with every request in prayer and petition and verse 7 is the real kicker for in it we can claim the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds. Rejoice and do not be anxious. We are definitely going to Memphis July 31 to tour the Woodruff Fontaine House, eat a Bar B Q lunch that will be provided there from 11:30 a.m. to

12:30 p.m. and then tour the Cotton Museum in the afternoon. Our plans are to leave Dyer FBC at 8:30 a.m. and return about 5 p.m. The big, church bus will be ready to go and we have a driver. What we need are people to enjoy this outing with the Golden Agers. Call the church office 692-2549 and put out your name on the list. Gary Baker will call you back and give more details. It will be a fun day. May last mission trip out of country was to Costa Rica in 2008, and among the many impressions and memories I have retained was a secular need, it would seem. On our road trip from San Jose, where our plane had landed to Puntaranes, the site of mission for half our team on the Pacific coast, the missionary coordinator of Costa Rica, startled me

By Alice Ernest

when he revealed that most residents were illiterate beginning during the 40’s. He explained that they did not have monetary means to buy even cheap eyeglasses to make reading possible. With the generosity of the Tanya Taylor fund begun by Selene and Ronnie Barron and much sacrifice from many, Dyer FBC has sent a missions team many years prior to my trip and the mission trips continue with tentative plans for next year to go to Romania. Team coordinator Doug Duncan each year rounds up many supplies for great needs for the mission trips and among these are always many eyeglasses to really fill a tremendous need. Since some words of my article last week about the Jerry Legg Mission Trip to Ecuador were left out

Harold Gunn, Judge August 7, 2014

28th District Chancery Court

‘Serving Crockett, Gibson & Haywood counties’

I appreciate your vote & support! Ad paid for by Friends of Harold Gunn Committee

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I needed to explain about their carrying eyeglasses for villagers high in the Andes mountains. All of us who have been to third world countries, especially, just are so thankful that in God’s plan he set you and me here in this glorious United

States of America.

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Morris endorses Wright for Gibson County Sheriﬀ!

Gibson Sheriff Candidate Rodney Wright and Jay Morris announce that Jay Morris is supporting Rodney Wright’s campaign for Sheriff. “Together we will bring nearly 43 years of combined law enforcement experience to the Sheriff’s office to carry law enforcement in Gibson County in a new and positive direction.” Jay Morris asks everyone to make the “Wright” choice and vote Rodney Wright for GC Sheriff.

“I would appreciate your vote for me as Gibson County Sheriﬀ!” - Rodney Wright Paid for by Rodney Wright for Gibson County Sheriff

Page 8 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Sports & Education

Gibson County trap team competes in state championship BY LORI CATHEY The 2014 State Championships for the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target took place June 20-21 at the Tennessee Clay Target Complex in Nashville. Over 1,000 junior varsity and high school shooters competed in trap. This is the eleventh straight year Gibson County has

competed in the TNSCTP competition. On Friday the Pioneers competed in the junior varsity trap portion of the championship. Michael Miller and Olivia Hunt combined to hit 99 of 200 targets. On Saturday two fivemember teams competed in the varsity trap. Gibson

County varsity team one hit 446 of 500 targets and varsity team two hit 318 of 500 targets. Gibson County senior Andrew Hughes led the varsity team with a team high score of 91. Justin Richardson posted a score of 89, followed by freshman Tyner Hughes with a score of 85. Alex Guzman had a

score of 81 and Grayson Whitworth finished with an 80. Michael Miller posted a score of 53 to lead the junior varsity team with Olivia Hunt posting a 46. Gibson County Coach Corey Kesterson would like to thank all of the sponsors and parents of the Gibson County Trap Team Program for their support this past year.

GIBSON COUNTY 2014 STATE JUNIOR VARISTY TRAP TEAM – Members of the 2014 State Junior Varsity Trap Team are Olivia Hunt and Michael Miller.

GIBSON COUNTY 2014 STATE VARISTY TRAP TEAM – Member of the 2014 State Trap Team are (front row) Chay Poynor, Sarah Dodd, Allie Johnson, (back row) Gibson County coach Jay Richardson, Tyner Hughes, Justin Richardson, Andrew Hughes, Alex Guzman, Grayson Whitworth, Joshua Richardson and Randall Holland.

HUGHES LED TEAM – Gibson County Andrew Hughes has his eye on the target to lead the Pioneers’ varsity team with a team high score of 91.

TAKES AIM – Tyner Hughes takes aim to shoot an 85 to finish third among Gibson County members during the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target State Championships.

GREAT SHOT- Justin Richardson makes a great shot to finish second with an overall score of 89 during Saturday’s State Tournament in Nashville.

FIRST YEAR MEMBER - First year team member Joshua Richardson (center) takes aim at a clay target as he competes in TNSCTP State Championship. Team members Allie Johnson and Grayson Whitworth wait for their turn.

EYE ON TARGET - Chay Poynor has her eye on the target for a point at the Tennessee Clay Target Complex in Nashville.

MAKING THE CONNECTION - North Gibson T-Ball All-Star Zack McEwen makes contact for a single against Dresden Friday night. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

SAFE - North Gibson County’s Drayden Blackburn beats the throw to Dresden’s catcher to score a run. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

2014 NORTH GIBSON COUNTY AMERICAN T-BALL ALL-STARS – The North Gibson County American TBall All-Star team completed their 2014 season. Members are (not in order) Deacon Adams, Isaiah Rice, Saide Chartrand, Drayden Blackburn, Autumn Taylor, Cole Wallsmith, Ryder Patterson, Paxton Turner, Zack McEwen, Weston Rogers, Donovan Banks, Joseph Hudgins, coaches are Jeremy Patterson, Clay ‘Bubba’McEwen, Brandon McCurdy, Bruce Banks. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Page 9

Kenton 14U wins state championship BY LORI CATHEY In the 14 and under (14U) Cal Ripken State Softball Tournament held in Newbern, Kenton’s Bradley Owens Attorney At Law team faced Gleason in the opening round on Monday night. Kenton advanced to the second round on a forfeit by Gleason. Tuesday night Kenton faced Trenton and wasted no time advancing to the semi-final round with a 19-2 win. Going into the third inning neither team had scored. But Kenton’s Julie Allen lead off the inning with a single up the middle followed by a double to right-center field by Jaci White. Justyce White hit a

3 run homerun over the leftcenter field fence to take a 3-0 lead. Kenton never looked back and defeated Trenton 19 to 2. With this win, Kenton advanced to the state championship game against West Carroll. Thursday night, behind great pitching, defense and a barrage of hits, Kenton raced past West Carroll to win the State Championship 21-1. Kenton’s pitchers Justyce White, Julie Allen and Lexie Garner combined to lead the team to a 3-0 record and a State Championship in the tournament. Kenton’s Bradley Owens Attorney At Law team finished the season with a 17-1 record.

Bethal Lady Wildcats host weeklong basketball camp Gibson County middle school girls’ basketball programs, the Dyer Lady Eagles, Gibson County Junior Lady Pioneers and Rutherford Lady Pirates attended a weeklong basketball camp held at Bethel University in McKenzie. Lady Wildcats Coach Chris Nelson, staff, and players closed out their sixth grade through ninth grade Middle School Camp recently at Crisp Arena. Coach Nelson thanked all the campers for attending and stressed to them to continue to work hard and enjoy the game. During the weeklong camp Dyer Lady Eagle

Ashton Lannom won the Hot Shot Champion award and Rutherford Lady Pirate Hannah Ball won the FreeThrow Champion and Camper of the Week. “We had a great week with these young ladies. They all worked hard and I want to express to them how excited we were to have them visit our program. Thanks to their parents, my staff and players for making it a great time for all,” commented Coach Nelson. Bethel University Lady Wildcats Coach Chris Nelson will host a four-day girls basketball camp at Gibson County High School July 21 - July 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

KENTON 14U SOFTBALL STATE CHAMPIONS - The Kenton 14 and under softball team took the state championship in Newbern. Members of the team are (front row) Justyce White, Jaeda Hampton, Jaci White, Lexie Garner, Julie Allen, (middle row) Hannah Ball, Rachel Williams, McKinley Burkett, Britton Mann and Briana Taylor, (back row) coach Jason White, coach Justin White and coach Jeff Garner.

BETHEL CAMP AWARD WINNERS – During a week long basketball camp at Bethel University the award winners were Free-Throw Champion and Camper of the Week Hannah Ball of Rutherford, Hot Shot Champion Brooke Hobson of McKenzie, Hot Shot Champion and Camper for the Day Ashton Lannom of Dyer.

RUTHERFORD SWIMMING POOL LIFEGUARDS – This year Rutherford swimming pool has some new faces lifeguarding. Pool manager Kathy Keith invites everybody out for the weekly specials on Wednesday - $1 day, Thursday Family Night 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Friday Midnight swim from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Lifeguards are Katie Keith, Travis Watkins, Drew Scobey, John Michael Morris, Logan Garner and Cassidy Cowan. Not picture are Anna Lyse Sullenger and Rachel Webb. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

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Ask about our 20 Year, Fixed Rate Hom me Loan! Call Brooke Carson Today. Home Ken ton Kenton PIONEERS YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP WINNER - Award winners at Gibson County High School Pioneers Youth Football Tackle Camp were (front row) Tamyka Bonds- best hands, Cameron Nolan- best hands, (middle row) Christian Poore-quarterback, Braxton Ellis- best hands and Seth Cash- power ball toss, (back row) Derek Record -power ball toss and Trey Baker-power ball toss. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

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Page 10 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Classifieds-Real Estate-Legals

Classified Deadline: Friday, 5 p.m. Cost: $6.00 Minimum charge for 20 words or less (After 20, add 25-cents per word.) Classifieds must be paid in advance. This includes yard sales.

Help Wanted DRIVERS: Hiring Solo & Teams. CDL-A Earn $50,000+/per year. Sign on bonus, Benefit Package. Family-Owned Company 573-471-1102. ----------------------(2tp 7-2) DRIVER NEEDED IMMEDIATELY U.S. Mail Route from Yorkville to Jackson. Class B, 3 yrs. Exp. Clean 5 yr. MVR. Call 901-824-2007, fax 904-824-6806 or email safety @postalfleetvs.com. ----------------------(2tp 7-2) WANT A CAREER OPERATING Heavy Equipment? Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hands On Trainingâ&#x20AC;? & Certifications Offered. National Average 1822 Hourly! Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible! 1-866362-6497 ----------------------(TnScan) DRIVERS NEEDED! NO EXPERIENCE? No problem! *14 day training in a growing industry* *Great pay*Benefits*Job security! Placement assistance, tuition loans *Veterans approved* *Company paid Training* 800-423-8820 or go to www.drive-train. org for training with DriveTrain, 119 EL. Morgan Dr, Jackson, TN or 2045 St. Johns Ave, Dyersburg, TN ---------------------(TnScan)

DRIVERS! No Experience? No problem! 14-day, local training in Jackson, TN to earn great pay, benefits, job security. Placement assistance & student tuition loans available. Call 1-800423-8820 or go to www. drive-train.org for training opportunity with DRIVETRAIN, 119 E.L. Morgan Drive in Jackson. ---------------------------(tfn) MILAN EXPRESS DRIVING ACADEMY *Student Loans & Placement Assistance Available â&#x20AC;&#x153;Qualified Applicantsâ&#x20AC;? Approved for Veterans Training 1-800-645-2698 www.milanexpress.com/ drivingacademy 53D E.L. Morgan Dr., Jackson, TN 38305 ----------------------(TnScan) HIRING OTR PROFESSIONALS WHO want Consistent Milesaverage 2,700+; consistent pay- average $51,400 per year; 2011 or newer trucks; Call Fischer Trucking today at 1-800-486-8660 ----------------------(TnScan) MILAN EXPRESS OTR CDL Class A Drivers, Home Weekly. Annual Increases & Bonuses. No Hazmat. Vacation/Paid Holidays. Great Benefits www.DRIVEMILAN.com 731-426-8328 or 731-4268337 --------------(TnScan)

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$785 gross per week. All positions Require Clean MVR with min 1 Â˝ yr exp. Call 615-207-0110 / 8 am-8 pm or email kellydillingha m3@bellsouth.net ----------------------(TnScan) DRIVERS - START WITH OUR Training or Continue Your Solid Career You Have Options! Company Drivers, Lease Purchase or Owner Operators Needed (877) 369-7191 www. centraltruckdrivingjobs. com ----------------------(TnScan) DRIVERS - SOLO & TEAM Company Drivers & Owner Operators No touch, temperature controlled, elite high pay freight. 1 Year Exp., CDL/A Clean Record. TQI (888) 466-0613 ----------------------(TnScan) DRIVERS CDL-A DRIVERS NEEDED Total Respect - Total Success, Start up to 38Â˘ /mile, OTR & Regional Runs. CDL Grads Welcome. 700+ Trucks & Growing! 888-928-6011 www.Drive4Total.com ----------------------(TnScan) DRIVERS: OWNER OPERATORS AND experienced OTR drivers needed for expanding fleet. Call USA Truck today. 866545-0078 ( -----------------------TnScan)

Yard Sales

Services

YARD SALE Friday, July 4th 116 Callis St. in Rutherford 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Furniture, dorm size refrigerator, jewelry, clothes, childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s furniture, crafts, something for everyone. -----------------------(1tp 7/2) YARD SALE 101 New Bethlehem Rd. Dyer Rain or shine. July 4 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7 p.m. and July 5 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. birth â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2T boys and girls clothes. Exercise bike, household items, menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing, double stroller, baby toys and breast pump. -----------------------(1tp 7/2)

DANNY EAST HOME SERVICES Interior â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Exterior Paint - Leaky Faucets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Leaky Roofs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Broken Windows â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ceiling Fans & much more. Most all household repairs and upgrades. Call 665-6292 or 612-8427.

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Pet Supplies ALLNEW! HAPPY JACK DuraSpotÂŽ: Kills & Repels fleas, ticks & larvae. Repels mites, lice & mosquitoes. Contains NylarÂŽ IGR. At TFC County Co-Ops. www. happyjackinc.com ----------------------(TnScan)

For Sale FOR SALE Oak Entertainment Center 61 inch wide, medium finish, and also a maple dining room set with 6 chairs and 2 leaves. Call 262-914-0045. FOR SALE 1997 Ford F 150, ext. cab, lwb, clean, good condition. $4,000. Call 731-487-2188 or 731-665-7252. ------------------------(tp 7-2)

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COMMUNITY CLOSET Yorkville, TN

Open to the Public 2nd Saturday of each month from 9-12 Bedding, clothing, household items

For emergency call 643-6237

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID

Brianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Restoration

A public hearing is scheduled Monday, July 14, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the Dyer City Hall, 105 South Main Street, Dyer, Tennessee. The purpose of this meeting is to consider rezoning a parcel belonging to Marcus Yoder located in the 21st Civil District and on US Hwy 45 W, bounded on the west side by US Hwy 45 W, on the south side by Thompson Lane, and on the east side by North Main Street, and further described as Tax Map 47, Parcel 011.08, from R-2 (Residential) to B-1 (Business).

The Tri-Area Food Service Consortium (TAFSC) is requesting bids for milk and ice cream for its Food Service operations. The TAFSC is a consolidated purchasing agreement between the Board of Trustees of the Milan Special School District, the Trenton Special School District, the Gibson County Special School District, the Bradford Special School District, the Humboldt City School District, the Crockett County School District, the Alamo School District and the Bells School District. The districts operate 27 schools: i.e. Milan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3, Trenton â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3, Gibson County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9, Bradford â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1, Humboldt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4, Crockett County â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5, Alamo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 and Bells â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1.

Roofing, Vinyl Siding, Room Additions, Decks, Pole Barns, Garages

Nathan Reed, City Recorder

Bids are to be submitted on the basis of the vendorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s invoice cost of the goods in each category, plus a fixed fee. The fixed fee will remain firm during the entire term of the contract (one year).

ESTATE AUCTION MONDAY *JULY 7* 3:00 PM GREENFIELD, TN 38230 AUCTION HELD ON-SITE AT 2001 MERIDIAN ST. - HWY. 45E IN THE CENTER OF GREENFIELD TN. WATCH FOR AUCTION ARROWS

PHIL B. HARRIS ESTATE

FURNITURE: 6/$17 723 :5,7,1* %2; 21 )5$0( /29( 6($7 &$59(' /(*6 &/$: %$// )((7 &/$66,&$/ 6(77(( '(&25$7,9( &5(67 5$,/ 3529,'(1&( .,1* %('5220 68,7( 3,(&( %5$66 .,1* %(' :+,7( 0(7$/ */$66 723 ',1(77( 3$7,2 7$%/( 3267(5 %('6 648$5(' 7851(' 3267 5$77$1 &28&+ :+,7( :,&.(5 )851,785( 6(77(( 7$%/( &+$,5 :$/187 (;(&87,9( '(6. 7($ &$57 LAMPS: %5$66 7$%/( /$036 : 251$7( %$6( 67(0 +$1' 3$,17(' 6+$'(6 3$,5 2) 7$%/( /$036 */$66 %5$66 %$6( <(//2: 7$%/( /$036 :22' 67(0 )/225 /$03 : %5$66 52' %5$66 5($',1* )/225 /$036 COLLECTIBLES: ANSONIA PORCELAIN SHELF CLOCK HAND PAINTED, DIAL BRASS RING - SINGER MINIATURE SEWING MACHINE, SALESMAN SAMPLE - WOOD COOK STOVE W/ 4 BURNERS - KRAUS FURNITURE MILKING STOOL - ART GLASS OVERLAY PAINTINGS & PRINTS )5$0(' 1(('/( 32,17 )/2:(56 526(6 35,17 ,5,6 2$. )5$0(' '$))2',/ 35,17 )5$0(' 1,*+7 &$)( 6&(1( 35,17 )5$0(' 35,176 %< /,1'$ 32:(// *2/' )5$0(' 35,176 )/2:(56 )58,7 60$// &+,/' CHINA: 6 HAND PAINTED CHINA AMICA SAUCERS BAVARIAN HAND PANTED LOTUS TRAY - WAMLAR GERMANY HAND PAINTED ROSES PLATES - 2 HAND PAINTED BAVARIAN CAKE PLATES IN FRAME MISCELLANEOUS +(:/(77 3$&.$5' 36& $// ,1 21( 35,17(5 6&$11(5 &23,(5 &$121 52// $:$< &23< 67$1' 3$57,$/ /,67,1*

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Copies of complete bid instructions and specifications will be available beginning June 30, 2014 from Tammie Argo, Alamo City Schools, 264 East Park Street, Alamo, TN 38001. A pre-bid conference will be held on September 3, 2013 at Humboldt Board of Education. Bids must be received by July 22, 2014. The bid opening will be July 23rd at 3:00 at Peabody High School, 2069 Highway 45 ByPass, Trenton, Tennessee. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In accordance with the Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800 795-3272) or 202-720-6382 (TTY). â&#x20AC;&#x153;USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.â&#x20AC;?

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The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 Page 11

GCSD approves $27.9M

RAISING TOWER - Gibson County EMA Director Rickey Graves, Gibson County Fire Chief Bryan Cathey, EMA Station 10 Chief Clayton Powers, Milan Fire Department Operations Commander Daryl Wood and Gibson County Assistant Fire Chief James Fountain raised a portable tower equipped with lights and a radio repeater during Wednesday multi-state exercise. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

CHECK IN - Arriving units check in with logistics personal check in during the forward staging exercise at the Gibson County Fairground in Trenton this past week. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

Eathquake! Emergency from page 1 Gibson County EMA Director Rickey Graves said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This was a great day for all of us in emergency services in West Tennessee. Our local people showed great support for this event and I want to thank those that participated for their help. This was the first time that this type of exercise has been done in West Tennessee and once again our local people came through as they always do. We have some of the best of the best here in Gibson County and I appreciate all that they do to help our citizens be safe.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; When an event such as a tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake or other disaster occurs, the ones who respond to this event are always local police, fire and emergency medical personnel. Their job is to rescue and tend to those injured, suppress fires, secure and police the disaster area and to begin the process of restoring order. Local emergency management personnel and community government officials support them in this effort. Emergency management is responsible for the districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preparedness, emergency response and recovery activities for natural disasters, man made disasters and national emergencies. Emergency management

teams are well-prepared, well-equipped and ready to respond instantly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When a disaster strikes, response teams can be onsite within hours providing immediate relief and support. This rapid response is possible because of the many hours spent planning and preparing. To prepare,

the EMA continually conducts disaster-training simulations and participates in regional training exercises with other agencies. During these exercises, emergency responders refine their ability to handle worstcase catastrophic disaster situations,â&#x20AC;? added Ricky Graves.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS T.C.A. 30-2-306 ESTATE OF RAYMOND CRAWFORD DOCKET: 21311P Notice is hereby given that on the 19th day of June, 2014, Letters ADMINISTRATION, in respect of the estate of RAYMOND CRAWFORD, deceased, who died May 4, 2014, were issued to the undersigned by the Probate Court of Gibson County, Tennessee. All persons, resident and non-resident, having claims, matured or un-matured, against the estate are required to file same with Clerk of the above named court on or before the earlier of the dates prescribed in (1 or (2) otherwise their claims will be forever barred: (1) (a) Four (4) months from the date of the first publication (or posting, as the case may be) of this notice if the creditor received an actual copy of this notice to creditors at least sixty (60) days before the date that is four (4) Months from the date of the first publication (or posting); or (b) Sixty (60) days from the date the creditor received an actual copy of the notice to creditors if the creditor received the copy of the notice less than sixty (60) days prior to the date that is four (4) months from the date of first publication (or posting) as described in (1) (A); or (2) Twelve (12) months from the decedentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s date of death. This the 19th day of June, 2014. Signed: Brenda Nazareth Administratrix Estate of RAYMOND CRAWFORD SHONNA SMITH, CLERK & MASTER By: Paula Hudson, DCM MATTHEW WEST 425 E. BALTIMORE ST. JACKSON, TN 38301

(2tp 7/2)

TOWN OF RUTHERFORD 2014-2015 BUDGET $ "! ( ( & # ! ! ! 4236+ 4237 " ! & $ ! # ! 6:6( " ! 3;;3( * $ " ! " ! ! !& " & 36( 4235 ! 3)52 * ! ' $ ! ! ! * " ! " ! ! " # " ! & & ! ! ! * 4236+4237 4235+4236 4233+4234 ,34 - ,34 - ,34 - ! ! " ! " ! ! # " % /523(6;7 /552(222 /58;(988 ! # ! /346(2;9 /392(957 /5:3(:94 /345(339 /63(379 /4;(;22 ! " /65(3;2 /37:(32: /6(752 ! /7;3(:;; /922(222 /9:8(28: ! ! % !" ! /459(668 /455(979 /4;4(59; ! ! /534(24; /538(465 /6:2(494 ! /76;(697 /772(222 /994(873 ! ! " /7:5(:33 /847(;57 /847(;57 /847(;57 /997(;57 /85;(574

from page 1 with at least 25 years in the school district receive 100 percent of the 18 percent they are responsible for paying from the district. Retirees age out at 65. Terry Cunningham, Director of Finance and Operations, said this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s budget includes about $21,000 for retiree health insurance, which is down from $28,500 last year. The school board has capped retiree health insurance at $30,000. Title I funding â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paige Garner, Federal Programs, Food Services and After School Programs Director, presented a recommendation to approve the Elementary & Secondary Education Act portion of the Federal Consolidated Application. Final federal allocations for the 2014-15 school year have not been released, but the state department has directed school districts to use the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allocation. For the Gibson County district, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $452,443 total with Kenton, Spring Hill, Dyer Elementary, Yorkville, and Rutherford all receiving funds. District-wide positions partially or full funded by Title I include a literacy coach, RTI specialist, Parent Involvement Coordinator, Title I director, and federal bookkeeper. Director of Schools Eddie Pruett, filling in for Renee Childs, the Special Education Director, presented the IDEA portion of the Federal Consolidated Application. IDEA money covers Special Education programs. Pruett said the proposed budget has increased about $33,000 from last year to $2.5 million. The district serves 525 students including 76 pre-school children through IDEA. The board approved the Federal Consolidated Application 6-0. Official Statutory Bond â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The board also approved increasing the Official Statutory Bond on its Director of Schools to $680,000.

Cunningham explained that the state comptrollerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office provides a formula to help local school districts set the bond amount. Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The board voted 5-0 (Welch had left the meeting prior to the vote) to pilot the CEP program at Kenton and Dyer. Garner explained the program, which is a universal meal plan that allows all children at eligible schools to have breakfast and lunch provided at no charge. School districts or individual schools may qualify based on the number of directly certified students. Directly certified students are those children whose families have already sought federal assistance through the Department of Human Services. Schools or school districts must identify at least 40 percent of its student population as directly certified. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t qualify as a district,â&#x20AC;? Garner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do have a couple of schools who are eligible.â&#x20AC;? The schools take the percentage of directly certified students and multiply that number by 1.6, a multiplier provided by the US Department of Agriculture. In the case of Kenton, Garner identified 53.84 percent of students as directly certified. The multiplier brings the percentage of CEP eligible students to 86.16.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of that percent, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to get reimbursement for those students [at $2 each],â&#x20AC;? Garner said. In March of this year, the district recouped $3700 in free and reduced lunch for Kenton. With the CEP program, Kenton would receive about $3800. Garner said the advantages include eliminating free and reduced applications, debt charges accumulated at schools, and the status or stigma of students eating free or reduced lunch because all students at the CEP eligible school receive free meals. However, federal funds canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be used to pick up the costs of the meals if the school goes in the red. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I can provide a free meal for every child and still come out even or better, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to recommend that,â&#x20AC;? Garner said. She added that Rutherford and Yorkville Schools are close to the 40 percent mark but not close enough to pilot the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My goal is to try to get as many schools as we can to be eligible for CEP because you would definitely help those parents,â&#x20AC;? Garner said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an implementation process. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re piloting this to see how it goes.â&#x20AC;? The percentage of directly certified students system-wide is only 27 percent, and the board will evaluate the CEP program annually.

MONITORS ACTIVITY - Gibson County EMA Training and Operations Officer Paula Powers, in the mobile communications vehicle, monitors activity throughout the staging area with remote cameras. (Photo by Lori Cathey)

TRUSTEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTICE OF SALE Default having been made in the payment of the debts and obligations secured to be paid in that certain Deed of Trust executed February 6, 2002, by MASHELLE CANTRELL, conveying to DOTTY JONES, Trustee, the hereinafter described property to secure SECURITY BANK, the payment of one Promissory Note of even date, in the principal amount of Seventy Three Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars and 88/100 ($73,132.88), together with interest from date, as same appears of record in Record Book 683, Page 726, in the Registerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office for Gibson County, Tennessee; and Security Bank, the present owner and holder of said above-described note and indebtedness secured by the said Deed of Trust, having declared the entire amount due and payable as provided in said Note and Deed of Trust and having requested the undersigned to advertise and sell the property described in and conveyed by said Deed of Trust, all of said indebtedness having matured by default, this is to give notice that I will, on Thursday, July 17, 2014, commencing at 11:00 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock a.m., at the south door of the Gibson County Courthouse, Trenton, Gibson County, Tennessee, in accordance with the terms and conditions of said Note and Deed of Trust, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property, to-wit: Lying and being situated in the Ninth (9th) Civil District of Gibson County, Tennessee, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point in the east margin of Jackson Lane, which point is 594 feet south of the south margin of McKnight Street (State Route 105) and at Joesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; northwest corner; runs thence with Joesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; north boundary east 175 feet to a point in Wallace and Stuart Dunnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s west boundary; thence with Dunnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s west boundary north 146 feet to a point at grantorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new southeast corner; runs thence with grantorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new south boundary west 175 feet to a point in the east margin of Jackson Lane, runs thence with the east margin of Jackson Lane south 146 feet to the point of beginning. Being further identified as Tax Map 30K, Group E, Parcel 16.00, in the Tax Assessorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office for Gibson County, Tennessee. This property has a street address of 212 Jackson Lane, Rutherford, Tennessee, 38369. Said sale will be made subject to all current and prior yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; real estate taxes and subject to any applicable easements, including any known and unknown utility and roadway easements, and restrictions or prior liens or mortgages, if any. If the highest bidder is unable to comply with the terms of sale, I reserve the right to proceed to the next highest bidder able to comply, or to re-advertise if I so choose. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another date certain without further publication upon announcement at the time set out above. Title is believed to be good, but I will sell and convey as Trustee only. Other Interested Parties: Atlantic Credit and Finance, Inc. Buffaloe & Associates 201 4th Avenue North, Ste. 1300 Nashville, TN 37219 Discover Bank c/o Barry J. Gammons, Esq. 209 10th Ave, South, Ste. 525 Nashville, TN 37203 Comdata c/o Garner & Conner 250 High St. Maryville, TN 37084 Dotty Jones, Trustee c/o Wilkerson Gauldin Hayes Jenkins & Dedmon 112 West Court Street P.O. Box 220 Dyersburg, TN 38025

Page 12 The Tri-City Reporter, Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Grady Ray, Wade Simpson, Kevin Ray and Lance Ray raise the American flag at Kenton.

Debra Temple

Charles Perryman

Dyer, Kenton kick off from page 1 Dyer Mayor Chris Younger thanked the DSC committee for all their hard work. He asked that everyone remember our veterans serving overseas as we celebrate our freedom with our families. The speaker for the opening event was Joel Reynolds, president of The Farmers & Merchants Bank. Reynolds has lived in Dyer most of his life. He graduated from Dyer High School and after completing college and working in Jackson for a few years, he moved back to Dyer. He and his wife Jan have one daughter, Amanda. Reynolds has been with F&M for 25 years. He said he spends 90-percent of his time in Dyer and feels there is nothing better than living, working and growing old in a small town, where everybody

knows your name. Laughlin presented a plaque to the Captain Roger Gray of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department for their help with the Toy Run held in June. She also thanked the Dyer PD. Melissa Langston-Stafford introduced the Parade Marshals. The first Dyer Station committee members were selected for the honor. Among those committee members attending the opening ceremony were Johnny McIlwain, Judy Baker, Kareen Griffin, George Ellis, Alice Ernest and Kay Tignor. Richard Reed led the closing prayer. The Kenton White Squirrel Festival opening ceremony was held Saturday, June 28 at 8 a.m. at the Youth Center. Area veterans and active military were honored during the ceremony and

Joel Reynolds

Veronica Richards

veterans breakfast was held following the ceremony. Three generations of the Ray family raised the flag: Grady Ray, son Kevin Ray, grandson Lance Ray and stepson Wade Simpson. Mayor Virginia Davidson said, “I am please to have this opportunity to show how much we appreciate our veterans.” Debra Temple sang the ‘National Anthem’ and Charles Perryman, a retired Marine, lead the Pledge of Allegiance. ‘Taps’ was played in memory of those who gave their lives for our country. Randall Pitts lead the prayer. Mary Sisco was the guest speaker. “The sacrifices our veterans have given earn our respect and admiration that can’t be expressed in words. I’m here because I want to be

out of respect for all of you,” said Sisco. Sisco, a former Kenton School history teacher, gave a brief timeline of the wars of our nation beginning with the Revolutionary War, where we won our independence from Great Brittan. “That war began over being unjustly taxed and not represented in Parliament. Conflict broke out. Sacrifices were made then and are the same today: for our freedoms. The 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence were pledging their lives,” he said. Temple led the attendees in the singing of ‘God Bles America.’ Faye Sharp was the coordinator of the event. Faye Wyrick, Virginia Davidson, Emily Woods and Nadine Jackson served as hostesses for the breakfast.

Dyer Boy Scout Troop 243 raise American flag

Dyer Station Celebration Committee members Beverly Laughlin, Melissa Stafford, Burt Hooper, Jennifer Cox, Kareen Griffin, Kelly Tucker, Hostess Princess Hallie McCurdy, Johnny McIlwain, Brittney Thompson, Mandy Armstrong, Betty Rose Thompson, Mae Beth Reed, Amy Richardsn, Judy Baker and Alice Ernest.

Beverly Laughlin and Captain Roger Gray

Commission adopts from page 1 rehab. “Law enforcement officials are held to a higher standard,” he said. There is no place for drug abuse in the sheriff’s department, he added. In the past, he has used both termination and prosecution when drug abuse was discovered among the 60-plus employees at the Gibson County Correctional Complex and Sheriff’s Department. “Don’t set a policy where I can’t weed out employees who abuse drugs. It’s just like violence, theft, etc. It should be termination. I don’t want to offer rehab…don’t put me in that situation,” said Arnold. Cotham said the test results would go back to each department head. He noted discipline included “up to termination” and that would be determined by the department head. If it’s in the sheriff’s department, it would be termination, Cotham said. “We’re not picking on anybody. This will save us money but that’s not the only reason. This may be a way to help a person get rid of a problem,” Cotham said. Other department heads may try counseling and/ or rehab first, but if the employee tests positive again, it would mean termination. County Mayor Tom Witherspoon noted department heads are not exempt from drug testing. “And I’ll be the first to take the test,” he said. A person, unnamed for now, will be overseeing the department head testing, said Cotham. The drug policy was approved with 18

commissioners voting in favor of it and seven absent. Budget debate deadlocked A 4-percent pay raise for all county employees was part of the proposed budget presented by budget committee chairman, Butch Shelton. Commissioner Keith Steele said the raises would cause a $400,000 deficit and made a motion to amend the raises to 2-percent. The motion failed 14-4. Later a motion to adopt the budget, as proposed by Shelton with the 4-percent raises, came to a tie vote, 9-9. Thirteen votes were required for a quorum so the motion failed. A motion to allocate funds to nonprofits, also part of the budget process failed, 12-6. Another motion to adopt the budget, with a 2-percent employee raise included, failed 11-7. The recently certified state tax rate is 93.34-cents. Shelton’s proposal was to round that up to 94-cents and add 1.5-cents to it for a new tax rate of 95.5-cents. The additional 1.5-cents will generate $176,000. The actual proposed budget of $15.36 million was figured on last year’s rate of 92.5-cents, noted Shelton. LaNita VanDyke gave commissioners an overview of some of the savings in different departments from recent calculations. Commissioner Coy Yergin asked if the state certified rate (93.34-cents) would fund the proposed budget and pay for 2-percent employee raises. Shelton said it would, but would not leave a better year-end figure. Shelton and Steele agreed

they both wanted to balance the budget. But Steele said: “You’re trying to do by raising taxes and I’m trying to do it by spending less.” Steele’s comment brought applause from some in the audience. The 94-cent rate breaks down into 76-cents for the general fund, 12-cents for the highway fund and 6-cents for debt service. One problem some commissioners have with the proposed budget is that it take 3-cents from debt service to the general fund in order to balance the budget this year. Commissioner Allen Barker noted that next year, those funds would have to go back to debt service. He recommended going back to department heads and finding places to cut spending. “The fund balance isn’t for reoccurring events,” Barker said. “We’d have a shortfall to start with –if everything stays the same. It’s not a good way to go into the next year. There would be less money to work with.” Steele noted again that there is a $400,000 shortfall in the budget. Shelton referred to the same thing as “just a moving target.” He noted again that not all monies budgeted are spent. Shelton said the budget was done by the whole committee that showed up. To that, Commission Valess Stults said, “Tell the truth.” Shelton admitted the budget committee vote on the proposed budget was 3-2. Gibson County commissioners will meet again Monday, July 14, at 9 a.m. and again consider the tax rate, employee raises and the new budget.