The Leader

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THE LEADER

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014 ▪ VO L . 1 2 9 , N O. 3 5 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪

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Drummonds man shoots, kills wife Second murder of its kind in 2014

By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com This week, Dwight Alston became the second Drummonds man charged with killing his wife this year. Alston, 53, was arraigned in Tipton County General Sessions Court on Tuesday afternoon, three days after Johnnie Patricia Alston, 51, was found dead in her Andy Drive home. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the couple's son called police after

hearing a gunshot during an argument between his parents. Officials say deputies were dispatched to the home at about 1:40 a.m. and found Johnnie dead. Dwight had left the home by the time deputies arrived, but he later turned himself in to police. The family is reportedly cooperating with the investigation. Dwight was charged with first-degree murder. He is being held on a $250,000

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN TENNESSEE From 2011-2013, domestic violence accounted for 288 homicides in Tennessee, with 159 female victims compared to 129 male victims. There is a higher prevalence of reported domestic violence in white women (41 percent) than in African-American women (31 percent). Source: Tennessee Domestic Violence Report 2011-2013, July 2014 RELATED: A local woman has founded an organization to help victims of domestic violence. See AMANDA'S WAY, page A3. bond and is set to reappear in court on Oct. 24. This was the second murder in Tipton County in 2014.

In July, Chris Rains was indicted for second-degree murder in the January shooting death of his wife, Laura.

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MUNFORD

Board passes $3.8M budget By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com

Trenton Stafford, now 8, son of Ashley Baum and Eric Stafford, was diagnosed with leukemia after breaking his nose on Christmas Day 2012. His family is no stranger to a cancer diagnosis; his grandmother, Jenny Stafford, has also battled breast cancer. Courtesy photo

Playing the hand they were dealt By FRANCE GASQUET fgasquet@covingtonleader.com Eight-year-old Trenton Stafford, a second grader at Munford Elementary, has a migraine today. The oldest child of Ashley Baum and Eric Stafford, Trenton is hesitant to talk and grumpy. Dressed in what appears to be a baseball uniform, the young boy has flushed cheeks that look as if he’s stayed outside a little too long. In fact, the flushed cheeks are a side effect of the steroids Trenton is currently taking. Once a month, for five days, Trenton is given an aggressive round of steroids,

which make him flushed, sick and in pain, hence the migraines. As his mother explains this, she finishes by saying, “Chemo can really hurt.” Trenton has leukemia. Diagnosed on Christmas Day 2012, Trenton goes to St. Jude every Thursday for treatment. He’s in week 77 of 120, which is a little over half-way. “We have our Thursday ritual down, don’t we, babe?” Ashley says to her son and he nods his head. On Thursdays, when they arrive at St. Jude, they check in and then, “We go get access,” said Trenton. Access is what the porta-cath, right near Trenton’s heart, is called. A needle is pushed right into the port-a-cath where lab work and chemo is accessed and given. “People ask me every day, How can you handle this? People survive it. It’s a battle,

Editor's note: In commemoration of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, The Leader has published feature stories on young people in the community battling cancer. Following is the final part in this series.

You play the hand you’re dealt in life and it is what it is. Just because I’m crushed by the diagnosis, it doesn’t mean it’s going to go away. ASHLEY BAUM on being the mother of a child battling cancer

but people survive it every day,” she said, nodding her head and focused on Trenton. “You play the hand you’re dealt in life and it is what it is. Just because I’m crushed by the diagnosis, it doesn’t mean it’s going to go away.” Trenton’s broken nose was a God-send. It was Thanksgiving 2012 and Trenton kept getting sick. He had strep throat, but it didn’t get better after the antibiotics. Then it was an ear infection. He’d come home and gone to bed after school. Ashley was concerned, but thought it was due to the back-to-back infections. By then, it was Christmastime. As the

Christmas weekend progressed, Trenton became paler and paler. On Christmas Day, around 8 p.m., as they were leaving his grandparents' house, Trenton passed out or tripped and broke his nose on the family truck. Ashley and Eric immediately took him to LeBonheur. The doctor asked questions and based on history, ran some blood work. Within 45 minutes, the family had an answer. The chief doctor came in, hugged Ashley and said, “Your child has leukemia and we’ve already set up transport to go to St. Jude.” By midnight, the family

The 2014-15 budget, which was discussed and passed on first reading at last month's meeting, was passed unanimously on second reading Monday night during a brief Munford Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. Nobody spoke during a public hearing on the budget. The budget of $3.841 million is an increase over last year's $3.456 million. The largest expenditures in this year's budget are for police ($1.169 million), parks and recreation ($1.011), fire protection ($827,705) and streets ($352,571). In other matters: • City manager Peter Colin briefly discussed Munford's master transportation plan, which is still in the beginning stages. He said that having a plan in place makes the city more competitive for grants in the future. • Fire chief Alan Barkelew announced that Gary Hancock was hired Sunday as the department's newest firefighter. • Mayor Dwayne Cole said that Saturday's Celebrate Munford was a success and raised approximately $21,000 in grants and awards that are “invested back into the community.” • Cole said that construction on the new Family Dollar is expected to begin soon and could open by next March. The 8,500-square-foot store will be located at Munford Avenue and Beaver Road. • The mayor said that a referendum asking voters to allow wine sales in grocery stores will be on the ballot Nov. 4. “This is not the result of any action by this board,” said Cole, who added that area grocery stores are supporting the referendum. The board meets again on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

SEE TRENTON, PAGE A6

MHS A CONTENDER Cougars keep the momentum going, can possibly take district. B1 Also: BHS, CHS lose to Haywood, Hardin Co.

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Please join us for Covington’s annual Heritage Day September 27. Events are held on the historic square in Downtown Covington at 9:00 am. We hope to see you there!!!

SCHOOL GOES TEAL FOR SUPPORT Brighton High School honors cancerbattling librarian. B12

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