HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOL ARE READY!!!

HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOL ARE READY!!!
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer

*Houston County school employees kicked off the year with their traditional
“Recognition Ceremony” last Friday, Aug. 6 at Houston County High School. After
that, it was officially back to school to gear up for the new year.
*The event started as usual with a brunch of delicious snack foods and punch
from 8 to 9 a.m.
*Teachers, educational assistants, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, maintenance
workers, school staff, administrators, and central officer employees all
mingled together in the commons area, chatting about their summers and their
plans for the new year.
*As brunch ended, everyone converged in the auditorium to enjoy a PowerPoint
presentation of various pictures submitted from each school of activities held
during the 2003-04 school year. Many photos brought laughter from school
employees as they reminisced about the variety of fun activities.
*This year marked the first official welcome by the “new” director of schools,
Cathy Harvey, who was appointed to replace Mark Beal who went to the State
Department of Education this past summer.
*Harvey welcomed everyone and added that there have been a “few” changes.
*“I’m glad to be here,” she said. “I think someone needed to appreciate our
past,” referring to her appointment as director of schools.
*“I also knew this would be a learning experience for me,” she continued.
“We’ve had a good past, and that sets the stage and the tone.”
*Harvey referred to the several positive changes in the past 15 years,
including the fact that test scores in Houston County have greatly improved,
along with the building program and the new high school.
*With that said, she introduced the various departments, which in turned
introduced their new employees, beginning with: transportation,
custodians/maintenance/groundskeepers, cafeteria/food service, central office,
alternative school, Erin Elementary School, Houston County Middle School,
Houston County High School, and Tennessee Ridge Elementary School.
*When HCHS Principal David Bell introduced his new staff members, he
reiterated that there were only seven new teachers this year, contrary to
rumors out in the community that there were more than that. Four of the new
teachers will be teaching math, while there is a new science teacher and a new
English teacher.
*After all the introductions, Harvey also recognized School Board Member Bro.
Mitchell, then she made a brief inspirational speech. She said as a teacher at
the beginning of a new year, she used to tell her students three things:
*1. Accept the responsibility that you’ve got.
*2. You have to be here; you can’t learn sitting at home; and
*3. Be respectful of the things we have.
*She said these three things were true for every employee of the Houston
County School System, too. No matter what your job–driving a bus, teaching,
whatever–accept the responsibility you have been given and just do what you’re
supposed to do. Also, when employees are not here, the school day does not
operate as smoothly as it could, so be here when you can. And finally, be
respectful of the people you work with, especially the students, the parents,
and the community.
*Harvey ended by saying all of the various departments working together make
teamwork.

*TEACHERS OF THE YEAR
*Next it was time to announce awards for the 2003-04 school year. Jeff Rye of
Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative assisted with this because MLEC gives a
monetary award to the teachers, who are elected by their schools.
*Receiving Teacher of the Year for Erin Elementary School was Joyce Pryor, who
teaches kindergarten.
*Beth Abrams, assistant principal and fourth grade teacher, received the award
for Tennessee Ridge Elementary.
*Susan Williams, who teaches seventh and eighth grade language arts, got the
award at Houston County Middle School.
*At Houston County High School, Teacher of the Year was awarded to Marilee
Moore.
*The teachers also received a plaque.
*Support Staff awards went to Billy Weaver, Bethany Meadows, and April
Norfleet at EES, and to Charles McClain at HCMS.
*School Beautification awards went to Bobby and Phyllis Stone at TRES and
Curtis Gant at HCHS.
*Finally, the inservice committee was recognized for their work on the
modified school calendar, and Harvey reminded everyone that they would be
finalizing their look at the year-round school calendar this year if anyone
wanted to give their input.
*Members of the committee were: Chairman Malcolm Jernigan, Robin Hammer, Ann
Hagler, Pat Davis, Elaine Hewitt, Gloria Finch, David Bell, Martha Falls,
Darlene Bentley, Judy Stephen, and Barbara Ungetheim.

*2004 SERVICE AWARDS
Employees of long service were also recognized. Receiving awards were:
*10 YEARS: Orville McCollough, Pam Stanfill, and Shelly Taylor;
*15 YEARS: Faye Bryant, Susie Mahoney, Kris McAskill, Nancy Nave, and Barbie
Taylor;
*20 YEARS: Judy Anderson, Susan Lewis, Sherry Nolen, Beth Patterson, and Gay
Robinson;
*25 YEARS: David Bell;
*30 YEARS: Malcolm Jernigan, Barbara McClain, and Bonnie Rye; and
*40 YEARS: Faye Schmidt .

*HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS MISSION STATEMENT
*Our school system will provide a quality, progressive education in a positive
learning environment.

*HOUSTON COUNTY SCHOOLS VISION STATEMENT
*Our school system envisions a learning community that inspires and supports
all students to:
*- Excel, discover, and create;
*- Contribute responsibly to a civil society;
*- Enjoy learning throughout their lives.

*If you have Houston County news or want coverage of local events, e-mail Teresa Settle at redwriter@hctn.net.

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COUNTRY DAY, ERIN FIREWORKS DRAW CROWD

GOD &
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* The Houston County Ministerial Association has hosted another great community
event in the annual God & Country Celebration 2004. The event took place at the
Betsy Ligon Park in downtown Erin on Sunday, July 4.
* The community celebration coincided perfectly with the City of Erin's annual
fireworks display. People showed up for the God & Country event which kicked
off at 7 p.m. and they just hung around as more people arrived for the big
fireworks display that began at 9 p.m.
* The God & Country Celebration is a casual outdoor service where you can
participate or just sit and enjoy it. Erin Church of God of Prophecy singers
provided a musical prelude before Harriet Bryan of Erin United Methodist Church
welcomed everyone.
* The patriotic song "America" was then sung by all before the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag.
* Next came the song "America the Beautiful" before Bro. Steven Winegardner of
Erin First Assembly of God Church explained how the Ministerial Association
uses community offerings.
* Winegardner said the organization partners with the Bethesda Mission to help
area needy families and individuals.
* "All in all it's been a good program," he said, adding, "all because of you."
The Ministerial Association takes up three community-wide collections each
year: this one, along with one at their Easter sunrise service and one during
their non-denominational Thanksgiving service.
* Winegardner prayed, "Speak to our hearts what we should give and may it be a
great harvest for the kingdom of God."
* The offering was collected as the First Assembly band called "Generations"
played.
* Next, Travis Gerlach, the preacher at Griffin's Chapel Church, said a prayer
for the nations, quoting a scripture about God's mercy. In his prayer Gerlach
spoke of the privilege of being a Christian and how the Gospel should be spread
to all nations.
* The evening's message was brought by Ron Burgess of Campground Presbyterian
Church.
* Burgess opened with a joke about the few raindrops that had fallen before the
service began.
* "Presbyterians are afraid of water, so they'll be the first to leave," he
said. "So if it starts to rain, get out of their way."
* His main sermon was taken from II Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are
called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn
from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin
and will heal their land."
* The Rev. Burgess said the scripture was a prayer offered by Solomon and it
showed certain promises.
* "There's not a perfect individual," Burgess said. "We've got no right to have
a haughty spirit. Without God we are nothing. Without God America is nothing."
* Burgess continued by saying how blessed we all are. If you don't feel
blessed, he told everyone, then go visit a nursing home or a hospital and
you'll change your mind.
* Burgess encouraged everyone to follow the scripture, be humble, pray, and
seek God in His word. Finally, he said the hard part would be to turn from
wicked ways, but that God is faithful.
* "Things can change in America," he said. "We can start right here in our own
homes, in our own lives, in our own communities... There is hope. We have a God
that is bigger than any problem we'll ever have."
* After the message, Richard Neal of Midway Church of God gave the benediction,
as he encouraged everyone in attendance to join hands for the prayer.
* The hour-long service was then followed by musical entertainment from
Generations. Generations is a rock-like Christian group that is renowned for
taking old rock-and-roll songs and changing the lyrics into Christian messages.
* Vocals are done by Becky Winegardner, Amond Winegardner, Sarah Winegardner,
and Hannah Fox. Becky also plays they keyboard. Playing lead guitar is Kenny
Settle. Backing him up on guitar is Scott Hamilton. Playing bass guitar is Jeff
Hamilton. And on the drums is Jacob Winegardner.
* Some of the songs played, with lyrics changes, were "Free Ride" and "Free
Bird." The concert ended with a screaming guitar and jamming drum solo followed
by Settle playing "The Star Spangled Banner" as a guitar solo.
* * * TIME FOR FIREWORKS * * *
* As the concert ended, everyone counted down the five minutes before the
fireworks display began. Hosted by the City of Erin each year, the event is
coordinated by the Erin Volunteer Fire Department.
* Even though less money is spent on it than the Cumberland City fireworks
display, the fireworks seemed to have just as powerful an impact.
* Maybe knowing that local Erin firefighters were risking their lives to bring
the display gave it an extra edge. Or maybe it just seemed that viewers were
closer to the action. But the fireworks seemed brighter and louder at times
than in Cumberland City.
* Plus, little brief pauses heightened the anticipation in between trailing
fireworks, whistlers, and brilliant displays of color. Still, 21 minutes of
fireworks-viewing ended in a nice finale of bright and sustained fireworks that
resembled a white shooting fountain before everyone packed up for home.

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Free D.J., CATS, a chat with the mayor, and Fireworks!!!!
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* When looking back at the "Lighting Up the Cumberland" celebration in
Cumberland City last weekend, specifically Saturday, July 3, there was really
NOTHING missing. The event had everything. It couldn't have been any better,
which really shows a lot of planning must have gone into it.
There were also several "unseen" workers helping to make the day such a success.
* * * A FREE D.J. * * *
* For one, there was George West Wallace. A proud Stewart Countian, he also has
ties to Houston County. "My folks were from Danville, Tennessee," he began,
adding that his mother was a 1935 graduate of Erin High School. Her name was
Maude Reed West.
* George, however, grew up in Dover (since Danville got flooded and the family
had to move). He graduated from Dover High School in 1959. He's into quite a
few things, but one of them happens to be D.J.-ing and entertaining folks. He
brought loads of equipment and volunteered his services to help make the second
annual Cumberland City Fourth of July celebration go so smoothly.
* George announced when and where special events were taking place, he
interviewed many folks, and he played a variety of music for the crowd all day.
He did a great job emceeing the parade as well.
* A 1963 graduate of Austin Peay State University, he was in the auction
business for 39 years before returning to his hometown. Now he plays music for
school dances, class reunions, and other events. He also bills himself as a
"curator of junk."
* Married to a "Stewart County gal," they have two children and three
grandchildren, one of which was in the parade.
* When I asked if he was having fun, he replied, "I'm in Cumberland City, ain't
I?" which should have told me right away he was having the time of his life.
* About the parade, he said, "For a small town, it was excellent." He raved
about the Houston County Rec Club's patriotic locomotive float.
* * * CATS * * *
* An all-volunteer HAMM radio club was on-hand during the event to help make
everything go without a hitch, too. According to Sharon Black, the CATS club is
made up of several members who support community events like the one at
Cumberland City with their radios and expertise.
* "We also provide emergency communications in times of disaster," Sharon said,
in between answering the phone at Cumberland City's City Hall, juggling
responses and queries from HAMM radio operators, and directing people to the
porta-potties outside.
* Sharon said the CATS club had members spread out on the parade route for
safety, at the W.T. Thomas School, at the car show, and at the motorcycle show.
They also had someone assigned to assist the mayor of Cumberland City as needed.
* She coordinated the Tennessee Guard, which was on hand to help, and the
police department, too.
* "I've been involved in emergency communication since 1985," she said. One of
the last local disasters the group helped with was a May 2003 tornado in
Montgomery County. The group also runs a SkyWarn Net, helps with CERT
(Community Emergency Response Team), and volunteers at 5K runs and other
community events.
* Volunteers, along with Sharon and her husband Tom Black, from Montgomery
County, were Ralph Brigham, Art Ahrens, and Lee Daniel.
* From Stewart County, there were Bill Bayer and Charlie Briggs, and Larry Day
of Houston County also pitched in.
* * * A CHAT WITH THE MAYOR * * *
* Cumberland City Mayor Whitey Vaughn seemed quite pleased at the turn-out for
the parade, the festivities, and the fireworks. He was quick to give credit for
the day to community involvement and people from all over, including
Montgomery, Houston, and Dickson Countians.
"This was an effort of concerned citizens to bring everyone back into
Cumberland City," he said. "We look at it like a homecoming."
* The Mayor said the event was well-publicized by the Tennessee magazine, a
publication of CEMC, too, and a host of wonderful sponsors.
* "We're tickled to death at the turnout," he said, adding that everything
would culminate in the PyroTechnic Show put on by a company out of Lafollett,
TN. Last year the community spend $15,000 on the fireworks. This year, the
mayor said, "We've added more money for powder." That should make the fireworks
go higher and be louder.
* Even before the big fireworks display, however, Mayor Vaughn was already
itching to talk about next year's big event. Yep, they're hoping to even have
the fireworks choreographed with music from a radio station. Up to ten thousand
people were expected to view the big show.
* And that's not all. Mayor Vaughn is proud of the little town of Cumberland
City and its community support and participation. He chatted a little about the
recent acquisition of the old W.T. Thomas School. The city has plans to redo
the gymnasium with grants and open it for community events.
* "It has a stage and a red velvet curtain," he raved, adding that there's a
one-third mile paved walking trail that is even lit a night nearby.
* Down at the firehall, there's even a monthly bluegrass night the third
Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. Bring finger foods and plan to attend.
* The city also recently acquired the Guices Creek area which had been closed
by the Corps of Engineers in May. The city plans to clear more land in
preparation for other community events.
* Back to the present, the Mayor added that a committee helped coordinate the
big Fourth of July event, which this year was called "Lighting up the
Cumberland." The committee's chairman was David Duke. Charles Finch was Vice-
Chair, Martha Vaugh was Secretary, Linda Gunson was Vice-Secretary, and Cheryl
Milliken, the city's recorder, was treasurer.
* Other behind-the-scenes folks helping to make the event so successful were:
Caroline Balentine, who handled parade entries; Linda Gunson and Joe Williams,
who oversaw the car show and swap meet. Jimmy Balentine and Newton Wallace took
care of the antique tractor and engine show. K. Hudson handed the motorcycle
show at the Busy Bee. Donna Wallace and Bob Russell coordinated the food and
craft booths. Christy Duke took care of the youth area and activies, while Gary
Vaughn and K. Hudson were in charge of music. Eric Milliken handled the bass
tournament for the event.
* * * FIREWORK EXTRAVAGANZA * * *
* By 9 p.m., there were people lined up EVERYWHERE for the fireworks to be set
off on the other side of the Cumberland River from a barge. People stood
around, or brought lawn chairs, or simply sat on the rails of the railroad
track to watch the big display.
* With five minutes before the hour, a teaser went off to let everyone know to
find a spot--quick. People milled around, smiled at people they hadn't seen in
a long time, gossiped and visited until the display began, then everyone got
quiet to watch the colorful, loud display of fireworks.
* "Ooooohs" and "Aaaaahs" could be heard between the sparkling green and golds,
with some saying, "Oooh, that looks like a weeping willow," or "Ooooh,
fireflies."
* Crackling sounds and big displays brought spontaneous applause from the
crowds at different points in the display, and the fireworks went higher and
got brighter.
* With so many different colors and shapes, and cannon-like booming noises
echoing along the Cumberland, one could almost slip back in time and get a feel
for the Battle of Fort Donelson.
* Slight raindrops were ignored by all as greens turned to purple then to red.
Shooting stars, comets, and rockets soaring into the sky made time stand still,
until at 9:17 the grand finale was signalled by a constant barrage of
fireworks. *By 9:19, it was over and an almost silent mass of thousands slowly
made their way back to cars to leave the small town of Cumberland City for
another year.

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LIGHTING UP MAIN STREET
By TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
* Cumberland City's Main Street was lit up long before the fireworks on
Saturday, July 3, 2004. The community celebration entitled "Lighting Up The
Cumberland," was already in full swing by 10 a.m.
* There were food, craft, and merchandise booths set up in the downtown area. A
"youth area" behind city hall even sported three big inflatables for kids to
enjoy. Further up Main Street, parade participants lined up at the old W.T.
Thomas School to make the short route down the hill.
* There were lots of antique cars, plenty of politicians, Girl Scouts, John
Deere and other tractors, kids in wagons, and even a float or two.
* Randy Baggett of Tennessee Ridge and his son "Little" Randy did their usual
parade duties by driving antique Farmall tractors.
* Randy rode a 1934 or 1935 Farmall(He's still working on figuring out the
year!), and his son drove a 1937 model McCormick-Deering Farmall.
* When asked how many antique tractors he owns, Randy said, "Oh, about a dozen.
I've got six, and my wife's got six. It's a 50-50 deal, ya know."
* Randy's wife, Anne, who is Trustee for Houston County, watched the tractors
in the parade rather than ride one, though.
* The Houston County Rec Club made the short trip from Erin to Cumberland City
to have the best float in the parade. Their train locomotive float, according
to Rec member Ray Elliott, has proven to be very versatile for parades. At
Christmas, Rec Club members throw on icicles and other winter decorations for
the Christmas parades in Erin and Dover. They put Leprechauns and other Irish
decor on in March for the Houston County Area Chamber of Commerce's Irish
parade. And last weekend, they went with patriotic Red-White-and-Blue
decorations for the second annual Fourth of July parade in Cumberland City.
* Local Newt Wallace of Cumberland City had a very interesting parade entry. He
pulled a wagon full of old antique pedal cars, tractors, and pre-World War II
tin wind-ups. Wallace said he's been foolin' with these toys for probably 20
years or better. He even buys and sells, if you're interested. He and his wife
own Springhill Antiques in Cumberland City.
* Cumberland City's Police Chief Jason Gillespie drove an unmarked police car
in the parade, throwing airplanes and frisbees, while members of the Stewart
County Volunteer Fire Department also tossed candy.
* Of course, there were a few Harley's in the parade to help with sound
effects. They were followed by the Queen of Cumberland City, Granny, who waved
and smiled with her arms open wide. (See Related Story, "Best-Kept Secret")
* The Girl Scouts, wearing orange, were high atop a float, and a John Deere
tractor club followed, giving the crowd a good view of some John-Deere green
tractors, which ironically were interrupted at one point by a little red Ford,
and were followed by a Kubota with a box on the back hauling a couple of
youngins!
* Bringing up the rear were some four-wheelers, more Cumberland City Police
cars, and, instead of Santa Claus, the Cumberland City mail carrier!
* After the parade, folks could mill about the booths eating good food or
getting unique merchandise.
* Stewart County Director of Schools Phillip Wallace was caught in the act of
handing out balloons for his son Larry, a candidate for Stewart County Judge.
* Harold and Diana Cox of Waverly were selling Amish rocking chairs made of
hickory and oak, among other merchandise.
* The Cumberland City United Methodist Church has pushing sweets and cookbooks.
* And, without a doubt, one of the most interesting set-ups, was watching a
family and their horses. You couldn't help but love them all. Daniel Welch of
Erin is a farrier by trade.
* That's not to be confused with a ferrier. A farrier shoes horses, and that's
what Welch does. Owner of Lucky Shoe Farrier Service, he is a graduate of
Oklahoma State Horse Shoeing School. He and his family have been in Erin for
four-and-a-half years, and moved here while he was in the military. He got out
of the service just last year.
* Watching him, his wife Deirdre, who also knows a lot about horses, along with
their children, Shayla, 5, and Slate, 2, walk around comfortably inside a small
area full of horses and shoeing equipment was quite a show.
* Daniel took time explaining to crowds of people the technique of shoeing, and
he demonstrated on a beautifully docile momma quarterhorse named Josie. Josie
happily ate hay while her colt nursed off and on all day, along with her
adopted orphan colt, whose mother died when it was a week old. She hadn't worn
horse shoes in the past six months because Daniel took them off while she was
pregnant.
* Daniel prefers hot shoeing, although he says it's tedious and time-consuming.
Raised on his grandfather's ranch in Texas, though, he learned his trade the
old-fashioned way, through experience.
* During the shoeing process, he demonstrated with a small oven that he said
got 1000 degrees on the inside and 300 degrees on the outside. When he put the
hot horseshoe to Josie's hoof, she didn't even twitch, although the burning
sound and smoke made a few in the audience cringe.
* Deirdre grew up with horses and has been training them since she was 15.
Their daughter recently got fourth place in leadline and walk trot, while their
two-and-a-half year old is not at all skittish around the horses, but happily
can be plopped on top of one without even raising a fuss.
* All in all, it was pretty neat watching the family so comfortable around
their horses.
* Stay tuned for more coverage of the Cumberland City celebration with Part Three: Free D.J., CATS, a chat with the Mayor, and Fireworks!!! This was Part Two: "Lighting Up Main Street." Part One was entitled "Best-Kept Secret." If you have comments, you may e-mail the writer at redwriter@hctn.net.MORE PHOTOS Read more!

HOUSTON COUNTY DIGS DEEP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER Record-setting Giving…

Photos by MIKE DAVIS
Story by TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer

The annual American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Houston County may be
just a 12-hour event, but it takes days and weeks to gear up for it.
Hats off to the Houston County Chapter, Mid-South Division, because it was
evident that it was diligent and dedicated planning and a lot of hard work that
made this year’s event such a success story. So far, a record-setting
$34,420.99 has been collected for in the fight against cancer. And, according
to Kathy Parchman, treasurer for the Houston County chapter, more money is
still pending.
The event took place Friday, June 4, beginning at 7 p.m., but the Betsy Ligon
Park was bustling with activities long before that. Relay teams were busy
setting up tents and campsites, which would later be judged on theme and
originality. Relay volunteers were welcoming cancer survivors, finishing up
with the luminaries, and other last-minute details that needed to be seen to
before the opening ceremonies. And Houston Countians came out in droves to walk
for a cure for cancer, to mingle, and to just have fun.

THE OPENING CEREMONY…
Brian Crook, Houston County ACS recruiting committee member, opened up the
ceremonies with a prayer, before Debbie Schmidt sang, “One Day at a Time.”
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gary Walker, before Schmidt sang, “God
Bless the USA.”
Houston County ACS Chairperson Connie Cross then addressed a crowd who had
gathered to kick of the event.
“Tonight we will remember all of our loved ones that have passed away due to
cancer… We are going to walk and eat; We are going to walk and cry. We are
going to walk and play games. We are going to walk and laugh,” she said.
Cross said she asked herself why her brother died of cancer and why her good
friend died of cancer.
“I don’t know the answer,” she said, “but we’re here to raise money to put a
stop to this.”
Cross, who also works at Mattox Jewelers in Erin, continued, “It’s okay to cry,
but don’t feel sorry for yourself. If God brings you to it, He will bring you
through it.”
She then introduced ACS Representative Jessica Kurtzman. Kurtzman recognized
Julene Clark for eight years of service as chairperson for the cancer survivors.
“She has done an amazing job,” Kurtzman said of Clark.
She also gave a certificate to Kathy Parchman, who has been treasurer of the
event for the past eight years.
Finally, she gave a certificate to Cross, who is a four-year cancer survivor
and had been the Relay chairperson for the past three years.
“She puts her heart and soul into the relay,” Kurtzman said of Cross.
Kurtzman came to Erin with her husband, a soldier who just recently returned
from Iraq.
Other committee members included Beth Breeden, assistant chair, and Debra Page,
luminaries.
Through the night there was entertainment, scavenger hunts, and other fun
activities, while team members walked the old railroad bed walking trail.

A SPECIAL POSTMARK…
Janelle Hughes, Houston County ACS marketing and logistics committee member,
had a very unique role this year. A six-year cancer survivor, who lost five
members of her father’s side of the family to cancer, with three diagnosed in
her mother’s side, Hughes designed a postmark to commemorate the occasion in
Houston County.
Tennessee Ridge Postmaster Tonya Sawyer, who is also filling in at the Erin
Post Office, was on hand during the event to sell ACS Breast Cancer stamps, and
to give away ACS envelopes to anyone who wanted to special postmark. The
postmark has the words, “8th Annual June 04, 2004 Irish Station Erin, Tennessee
37061 RELAY FOR LIFE.” It has the crescent moon, a star, and partial sun rays.
Anyone who requests the postmark or who collects postmarks can send it to the
Erin Post Office within the next 30 days.
After that, Sawyer said the postmark will be retired. She said the Houston
County ACS could request it or the local historical society club could, but to
retire the postmark, the post office would have to delete the date in order for
it not to be used again.

CORPORATE SPONSORS…
The Houston County Chapter, and business sponsor committee member Laurel Crook,
gave special recognition to five local corporate sponsors: Traditions First
Bank, West End Kwik Stop, Mattox Jewelers, Richardson Trucking, and Nagle’s.

LOCAL CANCER SURVIVORS…
Julena Clark read the list of local survivors before they made their
commemorative walk. All survivors also got a “survivor” T-Shirt and a
medallion. They are as follows:
Betty Barnes, Reuben Barnes, Gracie Beal, Betty Beard, Patsy Brooks, Bill
Burnhard,
Dareal Cary, Edna Caughron, Gilda Clark, Evelyn Cook, Pat Courtney, Connie
Cross,
Marilyn Fuller, Shelli Furman,
V.R. Haneline, Janell Hughes,
Wiley Jenkins, Brenda Jones,
Sam Langley,
Mary Frances Mobley, Lisa Murray,
Mary Norfleet, Belinda Nunn,
W. C. Patterson, George Powell,
Kathleen Rushing, Mary Rye, Wilton Rye,
Dorothy Schmidt, Margaret Simpson, D. Anne Sykes, Muriel M. Sykes,
Artie Tanner, Gary Taylor, Lloyd Tomlinson,
Ann Williams, and Jane Wright.
Many survivors took time to reflect about cancer. George Powell, famous for his
prime rib at Southernaire Restaurant in McKinnon, enjoyed the evening, even
though he didn’t get to walk very far. Powell, who was diagnosed Jan. 27 of
this year with colon cancer, said he still has 16 or 17 treatments to go, but
his prognosis is good, according to the folks at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center
in Nashville.
Powell, who is 45, said his diagnosis earlier this year was a real eye-opener.
The cancer, he said, had been growing in him for five years but had not been
found earlier.
“I’m going to keep going forward,” Powell said. “I’m not going to sit around
and sulk.”
Powell’s maternal grandparents died of cancer. Currently he is on full
disability due to the side-effects of the medical treatments.

A VERY COMMITTED WALKER…>
There may not be a more committed Relay walker in Houston County, or even
Tennessee, than Artie Tanner. Tanner, a Tennessee Ridge resident who is 73
years young, has walked 4,879 miles since August 2000.
Since last year’s Relay, Tanner has walked 1,460 miles.
His goal is 6,000 miles—that would be equivalent to walking from the east coast
to the west coast and back.
With only 1,121 miles to go, Tanner is optimistic that he will do it before
next year’s Relay.
“I’m going to try to get it in a year,” he said. “I hope I’ll have those miles
in.”
Tanner’s wife, who passed away two years ago, really encouraged him to attend
the Houston County Relay for Life back in 1997. Three years later, at the 2000
Relay, Tanner, who is a ten-year cancer survivor, walked eight miles.
“I really got into it,” he said.
Now a walking advocate, Tanner recommends the activity to anyone and everyone,
for your physical and mental health. A daily walker himself, Tanner said once
he got started, he no longer needed medications he had relied on.
“Walking is good for most ailments,” he said. “You can sit down and get on
medications and die from depression, but try walking first.”
He said if you walk 100 yards today, try to walk 200 tomorrow. Tanner logs his
miles on good walking shoes: Red Wings.
Tanner retired from Southern Gage on 1996 after working for over 39 years for
them. He stays active in American Legion, VFW, and Masons.
Last year he was recognized at the Clarksville Relay for Life for the miles he
has walked. He also met Tom Grant, a 20-year cancer survivor, who even later
sent Tanner a cap with the name of Grant’s band… you guessed it, “The
Survivors.”

RELAY TEAMS…
There were 11 teams: Cedar Valley Church, Trinity Hospital, Tennessee Wire,
Southern Gage, Cleghern’s, Curves, Richardson Trucking, Nagle’s, Team Spirit,
Team Courage, and the JFG Club.
Southern Gage
When the night was over, the Southern Gage team had broken another record.
Coming in first, they collected $10,000.
“We’ve never had a team [do that],” said Parchman. “That is just phenomenal.”
With only 12 to 14 walking, Southern Gage’s secret was advance planning. They
had two fishing tournaments, one in April and one in May, both at Lick Creek in
Dover. They also raised over $1,000 at a go-cart race at the Black Hollow
Speedway near Erin at the home of Greg Black.
Paula Brake was the team captain for Southern Gage. She said they also had a
yard sale to raise money for ACS.
Southern Gage, located in the Stewart-Houston Industrial Park near Cumberland
City, employs about 90 workers and manufactures various gages.
Cedar Valley
The Cedar Valley team came in second, bring in over $7,300. Julena Clark was
their team captain. They had a unique theme, “Lighting the way for a cure,”
complete with a tall, lighted lighthouse.
Trinity Hospital
The Trinity Hospital team came in third. They used the theme “Racing for a
Cure,” and their tent was filled with Nascar and car decorations. Trinity’s
team captain was Amanda Bush.
JFG Club
The JFG Club was new to the Relay this year. “Just For Girls” meets once a
month at Erin Church of Christ, according to its founder, Judy Black. They talk
about “girl stuff,” she said, adding that they’ve done their nails, had a
fashion show, done service projects, arts and crafts, and even had a beach
party.
The group serves girls from first through eighth grade.
“We deal with issues that deal with girls,” Black said. “We just get together
and have a good time.”
Lora Adkins and Katie Gray, recent graduates of Houston County Middle School,
dressed for the theme that their team had going of a western/rodeo style. Gray
wore denims and a western shirt, while Adkins was festooned as a cow—complete
with udders!
The girls were excited to participating in this year’s event.
Team Spirit
Team Spirit Captain Gary Walker said the team was full of friends of Connie
Cross. They went with the Titans theme. They also were the only team serving up
fish plates. Captain D’s donated a lot of stuff, too.
“We’ve gt a great bunch of cooks,” Walker said.
Tennessee Wire
The Tennessee Wire team, captained by Lisa Lyle, went with a festive and
colorful luaua theme, “Riding Waves to Cure Cancer.” They had at least 25
members walking and had raised over $2,500.
Nagle’s
The Nagle’s team was “Cruisin’ for a Cure.” Their team captain was Jennifer
Taylor.
Richardson Trucking
The Erin Volunteer Fire Department walked for the Richardson Trucking team.
Team Captain Brian Richardson said their theme was “Fighting the Fires of
Cancer.”
Cleghern’s
Cleghern’s Grocery also had a team walking. Their team captain was Shawn Popp.
Curves
The ladies from Curves got in even more exercise as they walked for a cure.
Their team captain was Lorrie Hargrove.
Team Courage
Brad Averitt was team captain for Team Courage.
MORE PHOTOS Read more!

Houston County veterans hold Memorial Day Service

Houston County veterans hold Memorial Day Service

Photos by MIKE DAVIS
Story by TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer

Erin may be a small town, but it is full of community-oriented celebrations.
At Christmas, count on the parade and tree-lighting ceremony; In March, count
on the Irish Celebration.
And on Memorial Day each year, make plans to attend a short service on the
courthouse lawns hosted each year by local veterans.
This year's Memorial Day service was better than ever, according to many who
attended. Put on by the American Legion Post 73, along with local VFW Post
9689, the service was traditionally carried out from start to finish.
American Legion Commander Paul Moody welcomed attendees, some of whom brought
lawn chairs for the occasion.
"This is a special day," Moody said, referring to the remembrance of the
living and dead who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and for the sake
of freedom everywhere.
Chaplain Webb Mitchum then gave the invocational prayer.
"We pray for our service men and women in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan,"
Mitchum said. "We pray for the leaders of our country... for wisdom,
understanding, patience, and tolerance."
Mitchum also gave thanks for the new World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.
"It's been a long time coming," he prayed, "but it's been achieved and not
through government expense."
Mitchum mentioned freedom throughout the world, continuing by saying, "We pray
that the world might see that this is the intention of this great nation."
After the prayer, the American flag was raised slowly to the top of the
flagpole, then brought back down to half staff as the crowd solemnly watched,
hands over hearts or saluting.
Wreaths were placed in front of the war memorials on the lawn by the American
Legion and the VFW before the service was turned back over to Moody, who
mentioned the two gold-star mothers in Houston County. Back in WWII, mothers
placed a blue star in their window if they had a son fighting over in the war.
If their son died, the blue star was replaced with a gold star. Larry Steppee
and Phillip Warfield, both of Houston County, lost their lives overseas, and
their mothers are still living here.
Moody then read the names of the servicemen who had served in the various wars.
"Most of our veterans are very humble people," Moody said. He talked about the
heroes who are now still in harm's way fighting for the freedom of other
nations. He talked about trying to conclude this current war, adding, "It's a
war throughout all the world," because not everyone understands the desire for
freedom.
Moody mentioned the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "We cannot predict the future," he
said, "but as long as man exists, there will be wars."
"We pray for peace. We are a peaceful people," he said, adding that "Our
nation was founded on the premise that we are created by God and we have
values." Among them, he cited freedom, liberty, peace, and the right to pursue
your dreams through the grace of God.
"We do not force our beliefs on others, but we do not retract our beliefs,
either," he said.
Moody then quoted Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, adding that even
though it was spoken during the Civil War, its words are still contemporary
today.
He also quoted Psalm 46, which he said reminds us that we are a nation under
God.
To conclude the service on a powerful note, the American Legion Honor Guard
fired their rifles three times, prior to the playing of taps.
Members of the Honor Guard include: Commander Ray Brotherton, Billy Ellingson,
Art Sloan, Jim Kupiec, Fred Wilson, and John Ed Bradley.
Playing taps on the trumpet was a recent Houston County High School graduate,
Paul Warren.
After the service, community members, friends, and family milled around on the
lawn.
"It's the best [Memorial Day] service I've been to," said Kathleen Rushing,
who attended with her son Darol. "My husband was in the second world war. He
went in at 18," she said, adding that he served three years of peacetime before
being recalled in Feb. 1941. Her son also served in the Air Force for four
years.
Francis Blair added, "I really enjoyed [Bro. Paul Moody's] sermon." Blair had
four sons who served in the Vietnam War.

The Gettysburg Address
delivered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
by President Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a
new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any
nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great
battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as
a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation
might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can
not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here,
have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will
little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what
they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It
is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us --
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which
they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that
these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall
have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.


The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
Psalms 46
God Is Our Refuge and Strength
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Al'amoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.

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Houston County High School Class of 2004 says farewell

Photos by Mike Davis
Story by Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS NEWS WRITER

The Houston County High School Graduation Ceremony and Presentation of
Diplomas took place last Friday night at HCHS, beginning at 7 p.m. From the
first notes of the HCHS band playing "Pomp and Circumstance," to the final two
farewell songs selected by the seniors themselves, the evening seemed to go
without a hitch.
Principal David Bell welcomed a gymnasium packed with family and friends of
the 93 graduating seniors, before turning the ceremony over to Senior Class
Vice-President Frani Odom.
Odom quoted a poem by William C. Bryant, written in 1817, that, paraphrased,
means live life to the fullest without regrets. Odom thanked the friends and
family in the audience for their attendance and added that the seniors are very
blessed to have such a wonderful community supporting them.
Senior Class Secretary Dawn Cobb gave a brief class history, beginning with a
tragic accident during the class's freshman year when Holley and Alisha Wolfe
were killed in an automobile accident.
Cobb reminded everyone that the Class of 2004 was the last class to experience
both the old high school (now the middle school) and the new school (now three
years old). As freshmen, the class was also the first class to experience block
scheduling all four years.
Their sophomore year, with 9/11, Cobb stated, "Tragedy instilled a new sense
of togetherness, not just for the class and the community, but the country as
well."
During their junior year, they hosted the prom at Paris Landing, using the
theme, "Where You Take Me." And, during their senior year, the class finally
got the coveted spirit stick.
After the class history, the song "I'll Be There For You" was played prior to
the introduction and speeches of the valedictorians and the salutatorian.
This year's five valedictorians were Jamie Cary, Megan Cleghern, Dawn Cobb,
Crissy Deason, and Morgan Falls. The five intertwined their speeches so that
they almost flowed as one.
Cary began the speech by recalling the seniors' progression through school. In
kindergarten, she said, they were taught to be nice and share. In sixth grade,
they were only interested in being "cool." As sophomores, many learned to
drive. Now as seniors, many are trying to pick the right college.
"Now is the time to prove that we can spread our wings, leave the nest, and
soar," she said, adding that senior fears are shared by their parents.
Cleghern stated a quote about success. She gave seniors pieces of advice.
"Live your dreams. Never give up. Use your God-given talents. Don't waste that
potential."
Cobb started out with quotes about studying hard, making good grades, and how
school comes first, but she also said students should have fun.
"Sing like no one is listening," she said. "Dance like no one is watching.
Splash into puddles. Don't ever take life too seriously," she added.
Deason said seniors have been lucky to have a loving community full of
friends, families, teachers, and church families. She said these have made
seniors stronger, wiser, and better.
"Thank you so much for your encouragement and support," Deason stated.
Finally, Falls began with, "It's finally here... the next stage... a new
journey... a new path." He concluded with FUTURES as an acronym.
F - Find fulfillment.
U - Use your talents.
T - Talk to people.
U - Understand everything you can.
R - Remember
E - Everything
S - Sacrifices and Steps
Falls said Jesus Christ made the greatest step in sacrificing His life. He
said seniors should "Go. Make your life what you want. Go. Do."
Salutatorian Rebekah Lamberth talked about moving to Houston County in the
fourth grade. She reminded the class that people change over time. Her only
advice was "Do what makes you happy, and do it for the love of God."
Senior Class President Rachel Rohm read the names of the seniors while
Director of Schools Mark Beal presented the diplomas and shook each senior's
hand. He was assisted by Bell.
Beal added, "I wish each of you success, but most importantly, I wish each of
you a life of happiness."
Rohm said the two chairs at either end of the front row with flowers in them
were in memory of Alisha and Holley Wolfe.
The senior class song was then played: "I hope you had the time of your life."
Seniors then moved their tassles from the right side to the left of the
mortarboard. Then Senior Class Sergeant-at-Arms Leslie Lewis gave the closing
words, "As these challenges come, face it with a new determination," before
presenting the graduates to the audience.
As follows tradition, the seniors then tossed their motarboard hats high in
the air and cheered.
HCHS Class of 2004 is now a part of history.

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Baccalaureate Message: Have Roots and Wings... Start Living Your Dreams

Story by Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS NEWS WRITER


The Baccalaureate Service, a religious ceremony held to honor our county's
seniors about to graduate from Houston County High School, took place Sunday,
May 16 at 3 p.m. in the afternoon in the forum of HCHS.
Thirty-seven graduating seniors, along with their family and friends,
attended. The Class of 2004 has 99 members altogether.
After the graduation march, underclassman Brad Averitt welcomed everyone, then
introduced Senior Frani Odom, who sang a song a capella. Then Senior Dawn Cobb
led everyone in singing:
"Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
Pure and holy, tried and true;
With thanksgiving I'll be a living
Sanctuary for you."
The message to seniors was delivered by Bro. Jason Allison, minister of Pegram
Church of Christ. Allison himself was a 1992 graduate of HCHS.
Allison reminisced about graduating from HCHS, recalled teachers who made it
special, and shared how going away to college helped him to grow up and mature.
He told seniors to have "Roots" and "Wings," crediting his mother with sharing
that piece of advice to him on his graduation.
Allison told seniors that your roots are really your family and where you come
from. He said they are also a measuring stick of how far you've been able to
come. About roots, he also said:
* Your beliefs should manifest themselves in your behavior.
* Actions speak louder than words.
* People may doubt what we say, but they will never doubt what we do.
* People won't care how much you know until they know how much you care.
He quoted Rick Warren's book, The Purpose-Driven Book by saying, "It's not
about me."
Referring to "wings," Allison said you should never pass up an opportunity to
do something you WON'T regret. When weighing difficult decisions in life, he
added, always ask yourself if you won't regret doing it later. If you won't,
then take the opportunity.
Allison quoted Dr. Seuss by reading, "Today is your day... You're on your
own... Oh, the places you will go."
He also addressed parents, who will be giving their children the "wings" of
freedom.
Finally, he concluded his message to seniors with some "don'ts."
* Don't try to understand everything.
* Don't be reluctant to share your feelings.
* Don't be afraid to try to make things better.
* Don't ever feel guilty about the past, but learn from your mistakes.
* Don't ever think that you are alone.
* Don't ever stop loving.
* Don't ever stop believing.
* Don't ever stop dreaming your dreams.
He ended with the statement, "Roots and wings, start living your dreams."
After his message, underclassman Erin Miller gave the benediction, then
everyone enjoyed refreshments in the school cafeteria.
Seniors who attended the Baccalaureate Service were:
Courtney Beal, Heather Black, Stephanie Brooks, Jamie Bush, Jamie Cary,
Brentnie Childers, Megan Cleghern, Dawn Cobb;
Crissy Deason, Jennifer Dickey, Morgan Falls, Bobbie Jo Ferguson, Devin
Fillingham, Heather Hooper, Jolynn Jowell;
Rebekah Lambert, Sheppard Lambert, Ashley Langford, Stacy Lewis, Cory Lowery,
Lisa Mitchell, Joshua Morphew;
Marilynn Meadows, Stephanie Morris, Frani Odom, Amber Porche, Ruby Pulley,
Priscilla Rachford, Brian Richardson, Laura Richardson;
Rachel Rohm, Kimberly Rumfelt, Jonathan Schnepp, Joshua Spears, Benjamin
Torres, Megan Tyler, and Paul Warren.

Read more!

Erin council approves next step
for consolidation attempt

By Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS STAFF WRITER
It didn’t take a lot of time or discussion for members of the Erin City Council to give the go-ahead to form a charter commission to work on a consolidated government in Houston County.
According to Erin Mayor Rhyne Largent, “It starts the ball rolling, but it doesn’t mean consolidation is going to happen.”
Largent said with the council’s approval, the charter commission which would be formed would develop a charter and submit it to the state. Then there would be a referendum election, where the citizens of Erin and Houston County could vote for or against consolidation.
“If it fails either [the city or the county election], then it’s a dead issue for six years,” he explained.
Largent told the council that there are three communities in the state currently with consolidated governments: Nashville-Davidson County, Monroe County, and Trousdale County.
The mayor added that he had not formed an opinion for or against consolidation, but he felt the council should approve the charter commission in order to give the people of the community the opportunity to vote for or against it.
He said the city is in no way out any money. Houston County government, however, will be out more than $25,000.
“We’re always wanting the public’s input,” Mayor Largent said. “This resolution will lead us to a referendum and give the people the decision of whether to consolidate or not.”
Councilmember Jimmy Lowery made the motion to approve the charter commission, which was seconded by Martha Greenfield.
Randy Lewis then asked what the county’s reason was for wanting consolidation.
Mayor Largent told him the county had formed a 14-member committee to study consolidation, and after months of looking into it, 12 members were for it, with only two members against it. The committee made the recommendation to Houston County commissioners at their January meeting.
Largent added that Montgomery County had recently tried to consolidate, but failed to do so upon the referendum.
With no further discussion, the motion passed.
In other business, the council ratified the revised city charter, revised a franchise fee ordinance for Peoples CATV from five years to 20 years, and approved more funds for on-going water projects of $1.2 million.
During the meeting at one point when it was difficult to hear discussions, Betsy Ligon made a motion to look into the cost of a microphone system and video for council meetings. It was seconded by Wanda Lockhart and passed unanimously.
Also at the meeting, the board heard from an outside attorney, Tim Potter, who said his investigation was complete and that he was ready to file a declaratory action to see whether or not receipt payments in lieu of insurance for the mayor and city attorney were proper or improper.
The Erin City Council will meet again n
ext Tuesday, May 4 at 6 p.m Read more!

Attorney gets go-ahead from council to serve papers on the mayor

By Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS STAFF WRITER

It’s been an item under “old” business for a long time—and dates back, according to Erin City Recorder Linda Bratschi for over 25 years. The issue: payments in lieu of insurance for city mayors and city attorneys.
“This has been a practice of the City of Erin for the past 25 years. I have documents to prove it,” says Bratschi, who cites at least four mayors in the past and several city attorneys who received in lieu of insurance payments.
However, this old business took up considerable time at the Erin City Council meeting last Tuesday, April 6.
At the outset of the meeting, City Attorney Jennifer Roberts apologized for Attorney Tim Potter, who was running late to the meeting. Roberts said Potter was in court, but that he should be able to make the meeting later.
Potter had been retained by the city council after a June 24, 2003 public hearing to file a declaratory judgment action to see whether or not receipt payments in lieu of insurance for the mayor and city attorney were “proper” or “improper.”
The wording of the city ordinance allows for payments in lieu of insurance to city employees; however, the mayor and the city attorney are not technically employees.
Potter addressed the board and said that he has done his job and after numerous trips to the city of Erin and other phone calls and investigations, he is ready to file the declaratory judgment.
City Councilmember Loraine Beechum asked Potter if he felt he had done an accurate investigation to the best of his ability, and Potter replied, “Absolutely.”
Potter also stated that he had been contacted by Assistant District Attorney General Carey Thompson regarding the case, but stated at the moment this is a civil matter, and this limited the scope of his investigation.
Roberts then sternly spoke to the council saying that past payments have been done for over 25 years and that it is the council that allowed them to be done this way.
“This board has continued to do that,” she said. “Those payments have been made, whether negligently or intentionally. Each one of you are the ones that did it.”
Roberts said the auditors see no problem with it, but the council obviously does but is not doing anything to stop it.
“Ya’ll have taken no action to stop it,” she said. “It’s still an ongoing issue, but it’s not being paid.”
Councilmember Wanda Lockhart said she had asked that when Mr. Potter attended the first council meeting that it be advertised in the local newspaper, but it wasn’t. She said during budget meetings she asked the mayor if the payments were going to continue and he said yes.
She also said that Councilmember Martha Greenfield made a motion in November to take the matter to circuit or chancery court, but that Roberts said a declaratory action had to come first.
Lockhart made a motion to request a full state compliance audit of the city’s affairs for the past five years to see if the laws were in compliance, which was seconded by Beechum.
Greenfield stated, “We should wait to get the ruling [on the declaratory action]. One step at a time. I just think that’s sensible.”
The motion failed before a motion to have Potter proceed with the declaration action passed.
When asked how long this would take, Potter said the Mayor as the responding party would have 30 days to file and answer, then either side would have “discovery” where they could obtain document depositions.
“I think we need to expedite the matter and get it heard,” Potter stated.
Later, Beechum stated for the record that Roberts was wrong in saying the council had done nothing to stop the in lieu of insurance payments from continuing. She said during budget talks she expressly stated that it should not be left in the budget.
She then made a motion to stop any payments to all unauthorized persons not classified as employees of salary in lieu of insurance according to the charter.
Alderman Terry Lewis addressed the mayor then by saying, “You are not receiving insurance money and Mrs. Jennifer [the city attorney] is not. Why have this motion? Why do we even have to vote on it?”
However, the motion passed.
Lockhart then asked Potter to discuss his conversation with the assistant D.A. Potter told him that he had not formed an opinion about the matter but that he did give him a copy of the declaratory action.
Stay tuned for other action by the board in part two. To send comments on this or other stories, write to Tennessee Express Writer Teresa N. Settle at redwriter@hctn.net.
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Erin Council Taxes Local Cable Company

Photos by Mike Davis

Story by Teresa N. Settle
TENNESSEE EXPRESS STAFF WRITER

Peoples Cable TV will be asked to pay an additional five percent to the City of Erin. That’s because the Erin City Council voted to create a franchise tax at their regular meeting last Tuesday night, Feb. 3.
The motion narrowly passed, with two council members objecting to the measure.
Jimmy Lowery, Ward 2, stated, “We don’t need to create any new taxes. Honestly, I think we’re going about it the wrong way.”
Lowery added that he did not feel this would generate more money for the city.
Agreeing, Wanda Lockhart, Ward 1, said the new tax would hurt the lower income residents, because she and Lockhart felt the cable company would just turn around and charge the residents in order to pay the tax.
“If you have cable, you are going to starting paying a tax,” Lowery said.
In favor of the motion, Martha Greenfield, Ward 3, stated, “The reason I favor this motion is to treat every business the same.” Greenfield said in the past 25 years, Peoples Cable has never been asked to pay a franchise tax.
The motion in favor of the franchise tax passed 5-4. Voting “yes” were: Greenfield, Randy Lewis (Ward 1), Terry Lewis (Ward 4), Betsy Ligon (Ward 2), and Mayor Rhyne Largent.
Voting “no” were: Loraine Beechum (Ward 4), Walter “Bo” Dunn (Ward 3), Lowery, and Lockhart.
The council also revisited charter revisions. City Attorney Jennifer Roberts explained changes, including a past-tense change under general elections and a change denoting the city judge will be appointed to a four-year term with the salary to be fixed and approved annually by the council.
One sticking point that council members and the mayor debated was in regard to a proposed change that did not pass. Lockhart and Beechum felt the wording under officers and employees salaries was inappropriate. The two argued that the phrase “salary and compensation” should not be listed together under the pay plan.
After a motion by Randy Lewis and seconded by Terry Lewis to adopt the charter, Beechum wanted more discuss on the proposed change that failed at the last committee meeting.
“The elected officials should not fall under the pay plan,” she said. “It’s a mixed up plan. It leaves open salary raises by elected officials.”
Lockhart and Mayor Largent had words about the wording as well, but in the end, the charter revisions passed with six in favor and only three voting no. Beechum, Dunn, and Lockhart carried the no votes.
After the charter revisions passed, Mayor Largent said the council had been discussing changes for several months and that now that the charter revisions had been adopted, the council would have to move to send them to the legislature for a private act and approval from the Governor. That motion also passed 6-3.
When the charter returns, the mayor explained, the council will then vote to ratify it.
Under new business, Brian Welch with Tennessee Wire asked that the council waive the industry’s sewer tap fee.
Welch said the company, which is located in the Stewart-Houston Industrial Park, has maintained an average of 80 employees since opening in 1997. It has paid over $36,000 in county taxes and provides revenues and local jobs.
“Now we need a large system,” Welch said, adding that the company would like the council to consider their request based on its contributions to the community in general.
After his request, Mayor Largent stated, “We’ve actually dealt with these types of situations before.”
He reminded council members that Cass Rye, owner of Rye’s N Shine service station, just up the road on Hwy. 149 across from the industrial park, came before the board years ago asking for the same waiver. The board did not grant it, however.
“If you do it for one, you set a precedence,” the Mayor said. Largent added that the tap fee is $1,000 an inch for industrial lines. Since it is a six-inch line, it would be a $6,000 tap fee.
Lowery made a motion to waive the tap fee, but since there was no second, the motion died.
With no other new business, and a quick motion to pay the bills, the council adjourned.
The Erin City Council meets at City Hall on the first Tueday of each month at 6 p.m.MORE PHOTOS Read more!

FIRST LOTTERY ADS HIT MONDAY
TV & RADIO COMMERCIALS DESIGNED TO BUILD AWARENESS

NASHVILLE --Enthusiastic lottery players across the Volunteer State will see and hear the Tennessee Lottery's first broadcast ads on Monday, eight days before the first games go on sale January 20.

The initial ad campaign, produced by Nashville agency Gish Sherwood & Friends, includes two TV commercials and one radio ad, all of which will begin airing statewide on the same day. The consistent message in each ad is clear: Get ready for fun and excitement on January 20.

"These early ads are all about building awareness that the Lottery will begin raising money for education on January 20," said Rebecca Paul, president and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery. "The more Tennesseans who know about our games, the more dollars we'll raise for Tennessee students."

The first commercials include:

"Ticket to Fun"--Ten-second TV "teaser" mimics an instant ticket being scratched to reveal the Lottery's bright yellow, purple and green logo, and a message about the imminent launch: "Tennessee Lottery. Coming January 20."

"Mark Your Calendar"-- Thirty-second TV commercial features an office scene in which a rumbling phenomenon affects desktop and hanging calendars and a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA signals an urgent alert and the calendars automatically flip to the Lottery's January 20 launch date.

"Exciting Forecast"--Sixty-second radio spot features a fictional weatherman predicting a "blizzard of excitement" and forecasting a "massive fun front" rolling in ahead of the Tennessee Lottery's launch date January 20.

In addition to TV and radio ads, the Lottery is planning a color newspaper insert that will be placed in publications across the state before the launch. The insert will provide players with written instructions on how to play the games as well as information on how Tennessee students can apply for Lottery-funded scholarships.

All Tennessee Lottery profits go to education. Most immediately, the Lottery is charged with raising at least million by July 1 in order to fund scholarships for an estimated 65,000 students expected to attend Tennessee colleges and universities next fall.
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RESCUING THE HELPLESS…

One Woman’s Battle against almost unbeatable odds in Houston County
Story by Teresa N. Settle

PART FIVE: The Sheriff Responds

Houston County Sheriff Kennith Barnes said in an interview that he did not get a call from the 911 center on Sept. 12, but he did get a call from Dep. Laxton. He said McCoy did visit him at the Sheriff’s Dept. after leaving the scene, and that he asked for her charter. He disputes having her charter since March of 2000. Contrary to the reports of the neighbors, Sheriff Barnes also claims that Dep. Laxton did not help remove the puppies from the first location.
Sheriff Barnes said Dep. Laxton acted appropriately on Sept. 12, and that the first situation was due to the dog owner being sick and hospitalized.
When asked if Dep. Laxton acted appropriately on Nov. 1 by kicking McCoy off a different location weeks later (yet due to the situation again with the same puppies, and at the request of the officers on duty), Sheriff Barnes said, “Yes.”
Barnes said the deputy followed proper channels, speaking with a judge and the assistant district attorney before making McCoy give the puppies back to the owner due to her “refusal to supply credentials.”
“I feel like it was an unintentional case of neglect,” Barnes said, regarding the animals, . Sydney Warden (son of William Warden) was charged, however, with five counts of animal cruelty, a Class A misdemeanor.
Barnes said jail time is not likely, based on the circumstances and since the owner is a first time offender.
According to Sheriff Barnes, if anyone in Houston County suspects a case of animal cruelty or neglect, they should call the Houston County Central Communications non-emergency number, 721-4019. When asked if his office ever encounters of a bad case of neglect or abuse of domestic animals, Sheriff Barnes said he will continue to contact McCoy for her assistance, so long as her charter (which he says he now has) does not change.
McCoy did contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and on Nov. 7, she was interviewed over the phone for two hours concerning the events of Sept. 12 and Nov. 1. However, later, the TBI investigator phoned her from the Dickson County Central Communications office, to tell her the investigation had been cancelled by none-other-than District Attorney General Dan Alsobrooks.
In the meantime, the dog owners’ arraignment took place Tuesday, Nov. 25. A trial date has been set for Feb. 3 at 8 a.m.
“Faith,” “Hope,” and “Charity,” the three remaining puppies, have been taken into custody by St. Francis, where they have been placed into a foster home. The puppies may be permanently crippled from their ordeal, but they are now getting much-needed love, are improving daily, and are gaining weight.
As for McCoy and St. Francis: The stress of the past two months has nearly killed her and the animal rescue itself. She has contacted other animal rescues in order to downsize her operation. Caring for over 100 animals and serving Houston County almost single-handedly has taken its toll, and this ordeal has been traumatic enough to even cause her to consider closing her doors and leaving Houston County for good.
But then again, who would take up the charge of caring for neglected and abused animals here?
“My commitment is to the animals,” says McCoy. “And as long as I live, there will always be a St. Francis. The bottom line is I have worked too hard to achieve what I have achieved.”

If this five-part story has moved you, there IS something you can do…
1. Become a volunteer with St. Francis;
2. Adopt a pet from the animal rescue; or
3. Dig deep in your pockets for this non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible.
Call 289-4858 or mail your check or money order to St. Francis Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 266, Erin, TN 37061.
St. Francis was the patron saint of animals. In Houston County, after the ordeal she’s had, Annamaria McCoy should get that title, too.

To contact the author…
E-mail the author with your comments at redwriter@hctn.net Read more!

RESCUING THE HELPLESS…
One Woman’s Battle against almost unbeatable odds in Houston County

Story by Teresa N. Settle

PART FOUR: A Cry for Help

Going to her computer, unable to sleep and armed with the digital pictures she took to document the atrocity, McCoy began e-mailing everyone she could think of, asking for help.
By Sunday, the story via the internet has gone national and international. Some of the organizations contacted were: the American Humane Association, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, Animal League Defense Fund, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. To see some of the graphic pictures of the puppies, for instance, go to canadianvoiceforanimalsand click on “A Cry for Help.”
On Monday, Nov. 3, the Houston County Animal Clinic received a visit from Dep. Laxton and a member of the dog owner’s family. They brought a puppy for Dr. Beuerlein to examine. The vet’s findings: the pup was emaciated, had worms and an ear infection, and was suffering from rickets (a malady due to malnourishment). He estimated the dog to be about five to six months old. It weighs 11 pounds. (A healthy dog would weigh 55 to 65 pounds at this age.)
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, District Attorney Dan Alsobrooks responded to an e-mail from an animal welfare officer who had gotten wind of the case.
Alsobrooks wrote, “I have talked with one of my assistants, who indicated that the Houston Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and a local veterinarian have been involved in an inquiry concerning some puppies that were allegedly to be mistreated. I have further been advised that no criminal charges have been issued and that the circumstances you have described, upon being investigated, have not been supported by the actual facts at this time.”
Alsobrooks had apparently not seen McCoy’s pictures or spoken to her about the incident.
Alsobrooks added in his e-mail, “I am confident that the Sheriff’s Dept. has taken the appropriate steps to investigate this matter.”
On Thursday, Nov. 6, two months after the first call and a week after the second call, the Sheriff’s Department did charge Sydney Warden with animal cruelty, but the puppies remained in his custody.
Later that same day, Carey Thompson, the assistant D.A., told McCoy in a phone conversation that he had informed the dog owner of his right to press charges against McCoy for trespassing, in spite of the fact that she was acting on the request of the Sheriff’s Department and in the company of two deputies.
“I have no idea why they are protecting [the dog owner],” McCoy said of her two harrowing run-ins with Dep. Laxton. “I put my family and the lives of these dogs (referring to over 100 she currently cares for at St. Francis) in danger. I feel very much threatened. How far are they going to go to protect him?” she wonders.
“This is a case when animal rights and human rights alike were violated,” she said.
Ironically, for unknown reasons, the district attorney’s office did appear to reverse its position, contacting the Sheriff’s Department and instructing them to allow McCoy to take charge of the puppies on Thursday, Nov. 13. (Yes, it’s now her THIRD attempt to RESCUE these animals). Well, third time’s a charm, even though the property owner again did not want to relinquish them. However, with a deputy on the property, McCoy was able to get the animals and take them to the Houston County Animal Clinic for further treatment.
Log on tomorrow for the final segment of this Five-Part Series Read more!

RESCUING THE HELPLESS…
One Woman’s Battle against almost unbeatable odds in Houston County

PART THREE: Several Weeks Later
Story by Teresa N. Settle

It’s Saturday, Nov. 1, at 9:29 p.m. The phone at St. Francis rings. It’s the dispatcher at the Houston County 911 center requesting her assistance in yet another case of “severe animal cruelty.” The central dispatcher gave her the cell phone number of the deputy on duty, Officer Randy Hagler. Dep. Hagler explained that he had never worked this kind of case before, and that his supervisor (Dep. David Barnes, told him to contact McCoy for assistance.
McCoy and another animal rescue volunteer met the officer at Tennessee Ridge Elementary School and followed him to where the dogs were being kept. Neighbors Dale and Mary Johnson (who had called 911 this time) said they had knowledge of the severely neglected coon dogs.
“As soon as we enter, the stench is so strong you just want to throw up right there,” McCoy recalls. The two deputies escort McCoy and the other volunteer to the kennel.
“I can’t believe this,” McCoy thinks, “they get me back out here for the same case, the same dogs.”
This time, McCoy has brought along her digital camera (since the Sheriff’s Dept. hadn’t bothered with one in September). So she starts taking pictures of the evidence. The stench is unbearable, but McCoy is sizing up the situation. There are two dead dogs in a black plastic container and three live dogs eating on the decayed dogs’ carcasses, because the food that is in the kennel is covered in maggots.
Meanwhile, the deputies have confronted the property owner, who has come out of the house. The deputies talk the owner into agreeing to hand over the emaciated dogs, and McCoy continues to call 911 to get the Sheriff out to the property.
Instead, Dep. Laxton (the same officer from the Sept. 12 incident) arrived and according to McCoy began threatening with physical violence if she did not leave.
“You can kill me if you want to,” McCoy returns, “but not until you look at these puppies.” She wanted Laxton to see the horrific situation she felt he helped create with his interference on Sept. 12.
“There is nothing wrong here,” Dep. Laxton says, as the Johnsons look on.
Dep. Laxton gave McCoy two choices: return the puppies to the owner and leave, or be arrested for trespassing (even though she is there at the property at the request of the other two deputies), blocking an official vehicle (because she has followed the other deputies and is parked behind them), and theft (even though the owner had already relinquished the puppies into her care).
McCoy did the only thing she could by relinquishing the puppies, although she refused to return them to their maggot-infested home.
Dep. Laxton told McCoy and the concerned neighbors that the owner had fed the pups earlier in the day and none were dead at that time. The neighbors disagreed, claiming that at least one puppy had been dead for several days before they finally called 911.
At home, McCoy was distraught and infuriated.
“I cannot begin to describe to you what I felt.”
Log on tomorrow for Part Four of this Five-Part Series Read more!

RESCUING THE HELPLESS…
One Woman’s Battle against almost unbeatable odds in Houston County

Story by Teresa N. Settle

PART TWO: A Rude Awakening

It all started in March of 2000. St. Francis Animal Rescue was looking for a country setting to relocate from Clarksville. Houston County seemed ideal at the time, or so McCoy thought. With no zoning or restrictions, a small farmhouse off Hwy. 49 just outside Erin was purchased to relocate the organization.
Within a week of opening its doors, St. Francis had its first run-in with Houston County officials. Though no laws were being broken, neighbors were upset with the noise of the barking dogs, and the county commission got involved. McCoys says she received a late night visit from a sheriff’s deputy a week after she moved here. At that time, McCoy says, she handed over a copy of her charter, showing that St. Francis was a non-profit corporation whose purposes included “to provide benevolent relief of unwanted dogs, puppies, and other domestic animals; and to provide food, shelter, medical assistance, and general relief to those animals that have been injured, abused, abandoned or made homeless through the acts or omissions of people; and to do EVERY ACT AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY to promote the goals and gains of this mission.”
With the county in possession of the charter, and attempts to pass a nuisance law foiled, things settled down. In fact, over time, St. Francis began to get local calls for assistance with animal control issues. Over the years, the Sheriff’s Department has asked her to quarantine dogs in bite cases, and they have handed over to her stray and hurt dogs.
“You name it,” says McCoy. “They would call me and involve me. So many cases. Any time, day or night.”
Just this past March, McCoy says Sheriff Kennith Barnes’ brother David, who is also a deputy, called her about a relative who had died and left behind 34 coon hounds. True to form, McCoy came to the rescue, providing thousands of dollars in services for the homeless animals. This is just one example of McCoy’s commitment to her mission and to her community.
Given the solid relationship McCoy had established with the Sheriff’s Department, the events of September 12 came as a rude awakening for this tireless champion of animal rights. It began innocently enough, with a rather typical phone call.
Liota Powell, a Hurricane Loop Road resident, contacted 911 to report that there were dogs starving to death near her home, with no one feeding or watering them. The owner, William “Bill” Warden had apparently had a heart attack and was a patient at the nursing home. According to Powell, the 911 center told her to contact McCoy.
This was business as usual for McCoy, who had prosecuted over 300 animal abuse cases in Montgomery County, including one precedent-setting case that resulted in jail time for the abusive pet owner.
McCoy arrived at the location, with another animal rescue volunteer in tow. They found a litter of emaciated puppies, a half-starved mother dog to weak to stand, and a chained up male dog without water or shelter. After assessing the severity of the situation, McCoy herself called 911 and asked for Sheriff Kennith Barnes to come to the site. Over two hours later, Deputy Jason Laxton arrived according to mccoy Dept. Laxton threw her off the property. Before leaving, she told Dep. Laxton to NOT remove any evidence, that she would be contacting the local animal clinic AND the sheriff about this. But instead, the neighbor who first called 911, watched as Dep. Laxton helped in removing the dogs from the location by loading them into the back of a truck.
True to her word, McCoy did go to see the Sheriff, who met her on the sidewalk in front of the jail. According to McCoy, the sheriff told her that in order to proceed with her complaint, she would have to file her professional credentials with the district attorney. The D.A.’s office was closed, however, and would not reopen until the following Monday. Of course, by then, the neglected dogs were nowhere to be found.
Log on tomorrow for Part Three of this Five-Part Series.
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RESCUING THE HELPLESS…
One Woman’s Battle against almost unbeatable odds in Houston County

Story by Teresa N. Settle

PART ONE: All’s Well That Ends Well???

Annamaria McCoy is a champion of animal rights. As president of St. Francis Animal Rescue, located in Houston County, she has spent the past three-and-a-half years helping domestic animals here. It hasn’t been easy. It may never be.
Take a suspected case of neglect or cruelty. Who should you call? According to the Tennessee Cruelty to Animals Statutes (Title 39, Chapter 14), animal offences against domestic pets such as dogs and cats refers to “any act, omission, or neglect whereby unreasonable physical pain, suffering, or death is caused or permitted.”
For instance, if a dog owner fails to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter to an animal in the person’s custody, that constitutes cruelty. [TCA 39-14-202(a)(2)]
St. Francis Animal Rescue has a special place in state law with regard to animal cruelty. Section 39-14-210 says that the agents of any society which is incorporated for the prevention of cruelty to animals (as St. Francis “Animal Rescue” clearly is chartered) may make arrests and bring before any court cases of animal cruelty [TCA 39-14-210(a)] and any officers or members may LAWFULLY interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty upon any animal in such person’s presence [TCA 39-14-210(b)].
Ironically, these laws have not been carried out well here in the past two months. According to McCoy she has had to fight battles with local law enforcement officers here, and even the district attorney general’s office, in the past two months to save the lives of three coon puppies—appropriately named “Faith,” “Hope,” and “Charity.”
It’s a story full of emotion: Sadness for two puppies who died of neglect; Helplessness as McCoy made attempts to save the puppies all the way back to September. Confusion as local law enforcement officers would not assist her in her mission to save the animals; Anger, as a deputy threatened her with charges as she tried to save the animals; and finally, Hope, as the three live puppies continue to improve and get much needed love and attention.
It’s a story whose ending we still await, and it all started back in March of 2000 when St. Francis Animal Rescue opened its doors in Houston County.
Log on tomorrow for Part Two of this Five-Part Series.
Read more!

Consolidation Talks…
Houston County committee holds public forum

Story by Teresa N. Settle

Over 40 members of the Houston County community turned out last week at Houston County High School to hear from members of a committee studying governmental consolidation. Attendees were welcomed by Chairman John Law and the other 14 members on the committee. Law gave a brief history of the committee and said the committee’s final recommendation (for or against) consolidation should be ready for the January meeting of the Houston County Legislative Body.
“Your presence here tonight shows your concern [for this issue],” Law said, adding that the committee’s work since last July has been a very good civic exercise.

Merits for exploring consolidation
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Law listed five points why the topic of consolidation has come and gone over the years in Houston County:
1. Consolidation can give an economic development edge;
2. Consolidation can bring combined purchasing power for economies of scale;
3. Consolidation would bring less duplication of operations, offices, and employees;
4. Government Accountability; and
5. More harmony and less discord (with only one governing body).
Law reminded members of the community that the committee’s findings and recommendations, whatever they will be in January, will not be binding.

Members of the committee
Law introduced all of the other committee members, saying they were appointed by Houston County Mayor George E. Clark with the approval of the Houston County Commissioners. They include, along with Law: Russ James, Byde Simpson, Paul Moody, Ken Douglas, Nina Finley, Clay Hataway, Polly Fussell Miller, Frank Goodwin, Webb Mitchum, Kent Tyler, Daniel Whitaker, Paul Lyle, Jerome Parchman, and Kenneth Adcock.

A brief history of consolidation
In 1953, there was an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution allowing for city and county governments to consolidate, but it wasn’t until 1987 that two counties did so. They were Nashville-Davidson County and Lynchberg.
In 1990, Hartsville-Trousdale (population 7,259) and Moore County (population 5,740) consolidated.
The Houston County committee has studied the Trousdale consolidation and paperwork extensively, since it is similar in size to Houston County.

A unique situation
Since Houston County has two incorporated cities (Erin and Tennessee Ridge), there is a bit of a snag to consolidation.
“Tennessee Ridge is simply in charge of their own destiny,” Law said, explaining that since Erin is larger (by just 90 residents), the city of Erin would become the “urban services district.”
Tennessee Ridge could continue to be a city unto itself, or it could try to become a part of the consolidation process. Members of Tennessee Ridge and Erin, however, would have to approve Tennessee Ridge’s becoming a part of the Urban Services District because it is the smaller city.

Those who have tried, but failed
The committee looked at a number of counties who have tried, but failed, to consolidate. Law delineated each county and their population. The committee tried to establish why the move to consolidate didn’t work.
For Franklin County (population 39,000), they found consolidation to be a very emotional issue, since there were five smaller cities that would be giving up their identities;
For Coffee County (population 48,014), they found the issue to be schools;
For Hamblin County (population 58,128), the issue was law enforcement.
Residents in Sullivan County (population 15,300) told committee members that they are just “not much on change.”
Other counties where consolidation has failed include: Warren, Knox, Madison, White, Hamilton, as well as neighboring Montgomery County (population 134,768).

Committee members speak out
During the public forum, several members of the committee answered questions from the audience about issues such as the question of “identity.” Several committee members said consolidation would not affect the identities of the communities in Houston County. In other words, Erin would still be Erin, Tennessee Ridge would still be Tennessee Ridge, Stewart would still be Stewart, and so on.
Although most of the night’s comments seemed to be pro-consolidation, Russ James added that the committee is getting both sides of the issue “pretty vehemently.”
Webb Mitchum spoke briefly on zoning and planning. He said even though “zoning” is a dirty word for some, planning, on the other hand, is a very important part of the process. He reminisced how the Arlington community was annexed years ago, stating it still hasn’t lost its identity. He touted community functions in Stewart, McKinnon, and Tennessee Ridge, as well.
Another concern brought up is a way to maintain certain ordinances, like the no beer sales in Tennessee Ridge. Erin also has zoning laws, while the county doesn’t. Law said the committee has looked into ways to maintain local ordinances like this.
One committee member said that while Trousdale is not saving any money yet, the county is convinced that they will be saving within five years.

Finance committee findings
Byde Simpson talked about findings from the finance committee. The committee studied such things as revenues and expeditures for the local governmental entities of Houston County, the City of Erin, and the City of Tennessee Ridge.
The total revenues, for instance, for Houston County, are $17 million, or 86 percent. For the City of Erin, they are $1.6 million, or eight percent; and for Tennessee Ridge, revenues are $1.2 million.
Of total expenditures, schools takes up $8.7 million; general administration gets a $3.4 million chunk; and roads gets $2.2 million. The rest includes law enforcement, solid waste, and fire.
Another interesting comparison by the finance committee was the annual local tax revenue per capita. In Tennessee Ridge, it’s about $196.43 per person. In Erin, it’s $489.38; and in Houston County, it’s $415.76.
The annual expenditures per capital are: $200.26 per person in Tennessee Ridge; $730.68 per person in Erin; and $1,800.58 per person in Houston County.
Of course, it was explained that there are different services for Tennessee Ridge, Erin, and the county.

Public Works findings
Ken Douglas chaired a committee looking into public works, such as water, sewer, roads, solid waste, and parks and recreation. He compared the two cities and the county water departments and noted how many employees and the pay scales for each, as well as which ones have benefits. For instance, the City of Erin pays nine full time employees and three part time employees in their water department. The pay scale ranges from $7.83 to $14.21 per hour. The City of Tennessee Ridge has three employees (who do double dutyu with the street department). The pay is $11.47 to $15.68 per hour.
When comparing road figures, Houston County maintains 313 miles of roads at $6,166 per mile. Erin maintains 19 miles of streets at $19,958 per mile. Tennessee Ridge maintains 13 miles of streets at $2,769 per mile.
“I do believe that some monies could be realized by consolidation,” Douglas said, while comparing the figures.

Where do they go from here
“Regardless of what we recommend, the county can take it or leave it,” Law said, adding that even residents themselves could call for a vote for consolidation with a petition only 272 registered voters. That would enable the forming of a charter commission.
The commission, made up of 10 members of the county and five from the city of Erin, would take nine months to prepare and file a charter for consolidation. Then a referendum election would take place within 80 to 100 days. If voted on by the county, the new consolidated government would levy a property tax, establish legislative districts, outline a budget, etc.

Your comments are welcome
Law said the committee wants to hear from members of the community on this topic soon, since they will meet again in mid-December before coming up with a recommendation for the county commission. You can write your comments down and mail them to Law at P.O. Box 196, Erin, TN 37061. Read more!

Singing Waiter Steals the Show

Story by Teresa N. Settle
Photos by Mike Davis

Erin Rotarian Phil Averitt stole the show Thursday night, Nov. 6 at the annual Rotary Spaghetti Dinner and Auction when he belted out the tunes for “Rocky Top” and “The Lollipop Kids” (from the Wizard of Oz), not to mention giving a spectacular Tarzan yell to the delight of over 100 area residents in attendance. Averitt, an avid Alabama fan, was coerced into singing the chorus of “Rocky Top,” by a special $50 donation taken up among the diners.
The event started out like all regular Rotary meetings: with the recitation of the four-way test (led by Rotarian Ken Douglas) and the Pledge of Allegiance. Rotarian Bruce McMillan then invited dinner attendants to join with the “Rotary A cappella Choir” as they sang “God Bless America.” The Rev. Harriett Bryan said the blessing before Erin Rotary President Linda Bratschi welcomed everyone to the event, one of the club’s top fundraisers for the year.
Ticket-holders enjoyed salad, spaghetti with a choice of sauces, Italian bread, and a wide range of desserts. And best of all was the service…
Rotarians pulled the duty of waiting on tables, decked out in white aprons and tall white chef hats. An added benefit was that they were “singing” waiters… taking requests (for an additional $5.00).
Topping off the evening was an auction of items that netted quite a haul, all for good causes, like scholarships, the Rotary park (next to the middle school), clothing, food, and toy drives.
“It’s just a fun night,” stated President Bratschi, describing the event as waiters hustled from table to table, taking drink orders and delivering the food.

Singing Waiters…
Waiting on tables were Rotarians Dr. Jim Branson, Russ James, Tim Cleghern, Jeff Rye, Phil Averitt, Donnie Simmons, Dana Miller (filling in for Judge Sid Vinson who was delayed in Dover), Mitch Mitchum, and Ray Fussell. Other Rotarians also helped out with food, drinks, desserts, and by taking song requests.
While Rotarians may be known for their “service” to others, their singing is another story…
Still, there were numerous requests throughout the evening. Russ James kicked things off nicely by serenading his table with an old college alma mater (something to the effect of My gal’s a hullaballu).
Tim Cleghern really shook things up when he donned Elvis glasses and sideburns to sing a special request made by Scott Bratschi: “I’m a little teapot.” Cleghern thrilled the audience with body movements to mimic the handle and the spout on the teapot as well.
Bratschi, who spurred other requests, said, “I always heard about Tim’s voice. It was more than I expected.”
Bratschi’s dad added that Tim must have gotten his singing from his momma.
Donnie Simmons was asked (i.e. ordered by another $5.00 request) to sing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.”
A nice duet was performed by Mitch Mitchum and Ray Fussell as they belted out “Sweet Home Alabama.” (You guessed it, they’re really UT Vols fans!)
Then Phil Averitt thrilled the crowd with “Rocky Top,” “The Lollipop Kids,” and the Tarzan yell.
Next, Gina Bell rivaled Tanya Tucker as she sang “Delta Dawn.”
“Mary Had a Little Lamb” was… well, sort of sung… by a trio of Billy Ray Cleghern, Webb Mitchum, and Beck Alsobrooks.
Jeff Rye, who works for MLEC, was asked to sing “I am a lineman for the county,” which he had no trouble doing.
Then Bell and Dana Miller sang “You are my sunshine.”
During the auction, one last request was put to Judge Sid Vinson to sing “I’m a little teapot.” His rendition, though not as demonstrative as that of Cleghern earlier, was, nonetheless, hilarious.

Top bidders…
Bidding was fierce at times, funny at times, and downright breathtaking at other times, but all for a good cause. Top bidders (spending $50 or more) were:
* Sylvia Vinson, who bought a Playtime Wonder Doll Set for her granddaughter Kyran (who was also present);
* Grant Gillespie, who paid $255 for end zone tickets to the Titans vs. Colts game. (He dualed it out with Rotarian M.J. McMillan on the bidding.)
* Randy Baggett, who paid $120 for season basketball tickets for Austin Peay games. He later purchased a full-size quilt handstitched by Houston Countians in green, brown, tan, and yellow, for $160;
* Lori Pendergrass, who purchased a beautiful handstitched framed Erin railroad picture done by Donna Carson, for $55. Pendergrass later grabbed an antique-looking pie safe for $110;
* Barbara Alsobrooks, who got a beautiful full-sized quilt in lovely shades of mint greens, creams, and pinks, for $260;
* Randy Gill (the auctioneer himself) who walked away with an autographed Titans football for $85;
* Ruth Herrington, who pocketed a collection of the first 25 state quarters, for $50;
* Russ James, who salivated over a country ham to the tune of $65;
* Becky Averitt, who got a red berry Christmas tree for $55;
* M.J. McMillan, who gave $130 for two Titans tickets with parking to the Titans vs. Buffalo game in December on the 35-yard-line five rows back;
* Art Sloan, who lugged home a 20-inch color TV for $135;
* Bruce McMillan, who bid on an elaborate Christmas sleigh floral arrangement for $60;

Other bidders…
With so many items to choose from, no one had to go home empty handed, or with empty pockets. Plenty of items were up for grabs, and lots of attendees got exceptional value for their money, spending less than $50. Even Miss Houston County (Nikki Wilburn) bid on and got a fall wreath for just a few bucks.
Young Megan Rye couldn’t resist yelling “I want it! I want it!” as a Celtic Cow Parade Collectible, green with gold accent, was put on the auction block. Needless to say, she got it!
And another neat bidding occurrence happened when several people started bidding competitively on a stenciled poem ready for framing entitled “Frettin.” Jimmy Felts made the top bid on it at $30 for Highers, Koonce and Associates. Then he turned around and donated it back to the Rotary Club to be auctioned off again. Teresa Mitchell took it home the second time for $27.50.
In all, there were pictures, books, trinkets, floral arrangements, wreaths, autographed sports memorabilia, knives, candles, vases, throws, pictures, prints, and more, that were auctioned off for a good cause.

Door Prizes
To break up the evening’s entertainment and auction, Rotarians also kept attendants throughout the evening in the hopes they would win a door prize. Lucky winners were: Linda Smithey, Kristy Hinson, Nikki Wilburn, Rhonda Nolen, Lori Oldham, Faye Mobley, Brad Averitt, and Becky Averitt.

Erin Rotary
The Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Erin United Methodist Church. Officers, along with Bratschi, are Vice President Russ James, Secretary-Treasurer Anne Baggett, and Sargent at Arms Phil Averitt. On the Board of Directors are Jim Branson (Recorder), Donnie Simmons, Sid Vinson, Drew Taylor, and Yvette Gillespie.

How you can get involved…
Erin Rotary Club is currently collecting food and toys for needy families for the holidays. There is a display and collection bins inside Erin City Hall, or you may contact Beck Alsobrooks to donate food, or Gina Bell to donate toys. According to President Bratschi, this year’s theme is “Lend a Hand,” and the local club is doing their part. Rotary International is celebrated 100 years in 2005, and the local club has been around since 1950
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