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THE LEADER THURSDAY, MAY 15, 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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School enrollment now open Available space and other factors determine transfer
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
Next month, the Tipton County Board of Education will be accepting applications for transfers to any school within the district. Provided there's space available, that is. "The biggest obstacle that students who want to transfer will face is if there is adequate space available," said Tipton County Schools Director of Operation Dr. Charlotte Fisher in April. "There is not much room for
movement." Fisher said some schools will be closed to transfers because they're already at full capacity. The state board of education has set maximum class sizes at 25-35, depending on grade level, and class size will need to remain the same, the board said. No new teachers will be hired to accommodate the potentially shifting populations at schools, Tipton County Director of Schools Dr. Buddy Bibb said. In fact, the budget proposed for next school year will cut seven
teachers from the district's rolls because enrollment, systemwide, has decreased by 169 students. The limited space at local schools, said Dr. Bibb, will prevent mass movement, but he doesn't anticipate that to become a problem, anyway. "My experience has been that, by and large, our students are happy where they are." Participation in sports Perhaps one of the main reasons students would opt to change schools would be
extracurricular activities, such as sports. State law requires giving students the opportunity to transfer to other schools, but the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association governs participation in sports. TSSAA rules state that transfer students are ineligible for 12 months from the participation date, and cannot even practice with the team, if the student is already in high school. The one-year waiting period prevents student athletes from moving from school to school. SEE TRANSFERS, PAGE A3
KITTEN CATASTROPHE BRIGHTON
Subdivision speeding tops resident complaints By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Brighton police have an increased presence in the Woodlawn Plantation subdivision after numerous complaints about speeding motorists. Since Monday, more than a dozen tickets have been written in that neighborhood alone, said chief Mike Durham. Last month, residents Henry and Robin Brainard had had enough of people flying and up down their street, so they started a petition and also asked their neighbors to join them at Tuesday's regular meeting of the Board of Mayor and Alderman. "A lot of folks are concerned about speeders," he told the board. "Monday and Tuesday they gave out a lot of tickets, but we don't know JEFF SCOTT if that will slow Brighton mayor them down." Mayor Jeff Scott said he hopes the increased police presence will do the trick. "When we heard you were concerned, we went out there," he told Brainard. "The speed limit is 25, but when they're going 30 or 35, it looks like they're going 50. We are concerned that you're concerned. We will do something about this." Scott also suggested Durham work with residents to create a neighborhood watch program, not only to curb speeding and make it a safer for children to play, but also other crimes. "You watching the neighborhood probably does a lot more, people just looking out the window will do a lot," he said.
A cat mews while standing in the door of the Mason Market last week, watching while its alleged rescuer, Charlotte Creasy, is cited in to court by Mason police and Tipton County Animal Control Officer Terry Pool. More than 100 cats have been found in the abandoned convenience store, including above the drop ceiling and between the walls. Photos by Echo Day
We are concerned that you're concerned. We will do something about this.
Police find 105 cats in old store By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
You could smell them before you could see them. Once you got closer to the building, the ammonia-like smell of urine was unmistakable. "People have been complaining since day one that I came here," said rescue group organizer Charlotte Creasy. "They broke in the first week I was here." Friday morning, it was the police and animal control officers breaking into the former Mason Market, search warrant in hand, to evaluate just what was taking place inside the abandoned store. Inside they found more than 100 cats – some with eyes swollen shut, some with fur missing, all of them hungry – and litter boxes so full the cats were defecating and urinating on any flat surface they could find. "I think it's disgusting," said Mason Police Chief James Paris. "There's no heat or water in the building and
Above, a cat jumps on the back of Alethea Connor, friend to rescue group organizer Charlotte Creasy, while she fed cats locked in the old store Friday morning. Connor had a cat, which was a family pet, among the cluster.
they've been here during the cold weather. Now it's getting warm and it's hot in there." Animal control officer Terry Pool said it was the worst case of abuse
and neglect he's seen in eight years on the job. "I've come out here twice and both times I've told her she had to get the place cleaned up and keep it clean," SEE CATS, PAGE A3
SEASON ENDS Munford edges out win over Brighton, both teams end season. A17
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Reader's Guide Opinion A4 Obituaries A6 Classifieds A10 Legals A11 Puzzles A15
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EXCITED ABOUT AG DAY Local fifth graders learn about agriculture on Ag Day, A20
Congratulations to our Brighton, Covington, Munford and Tipton Rosemark Academy graduates! “Downhome Banking the Way It Should Be”
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