COUNTRY
OIL CHA ANG NGE Up U p to to 6q 6qts. 6 qts ts.
CHEVROLET & CADILLAC, INC.
* Excludes diesels & synthetics plus tax & environmental fees
Vissiit u uss aatt ttry tryuschevy.com rryyyu uschevy.cco om om
THE LEADER Thursday, January 14, 2010
pinch.com www.justa
75¢
Serving All of Tipton County
Established 1886
Volume 123 • No. 95
www.covingtonleader.com
Mike Parsons sentenced to seven years By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON – A former candidate for county executive was sentenced to seven years in prison Friday after being convicted of assault, burglary and theft charges. Last month, Mike Parsons was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault, bur-
glary of a vehicle and theft after holding neighbors hostage and stealing from them. The period of confinement for – which is a combination of four sentences – is something Judge Joe Walker deemed necessary to avoid depreciating the seriousness of the offense. "This defendant possesses a criminal mentality evinc-
ing a clear disregard for laws and morals of society," Walker said in his sentencing order. In September 2007, Parsons, who challenged Jeff Huffman for the seat of county executive in 2006, held neighbors Barry Laxton and Nick King at gunpoint after Laxton shot and killed Parsons' wolf hybrid, Brandy. Brandy, the jury decided,
Local man wishes to share his secret of a life without limits
had charged at Laxton and thus Laxton was justified in shooting her. While Parsons maintains he simply initiated a citizen's arrest, the jury found him guilty of aggravated assault. Parsons was also charged with kidnapping, but the jury could not reach a unanimous decision on this charge. Additionally, during the
“citizen's arrest,” Parsons admitted to "confiscating" firearms from one of the victims' vehicles. He was charged with burglary of a vehicle and misdemeanor theft. Parsons' defense was he was cooperating with law enforcement and the investigation, however a jury decided his SEE PARSONS, PAGE A3
First baby of the New Year
By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com Learning to overcome barriers set in place by others is most often consider a challenge but learning to overcome personal or self-set barriers is likely to leave one in despair with a feeling of helplessness. Former Atoka resident Herman Hall wants to change that and offers readers of his new book, Breaking Free from the Trenches of the Mind: Giving Birth to Life Without Limits, the keys to success. Hall calls his book a semi-spiritual book which will help readers develop a mind set of walking and speaking with authority and shows how forming an honest relationship with one’s self and a more intimate union with God can bring about the winds of success. “They are going to have more faith in themselves and in God after reading my book,” said Hall. “They’ll develop more self-confidence and will realize the means to be successful is already a part of our lives. We just need help identifying and nurturing the resources within ourselves.” Hall, a Tipton County native, currently lives in Maryland where he is a computer engineer, investment coach and author. He attend-
Herman Hall
ed Brighton High before joining the U.S. Army for eight years where his service took him to foreign shores. Hall said his travels and interactions with others is what has helped him write his book. The book is filled with self-empowering proverbs to aid the reader to find the strength to look within themselves for the power and success which lies in all. Hall helps the reader to understand how a relationship with God and aligning one’s thoughts with Him will not only bring about God’s favor but also will allow one to continuously tap into His grace. “I’ve learned from the places I’ve visited and from the people SEE HALL, PAGE A2
Photo by ECHO DAY
Approximately 40 patrol cars participated in the Seas of Blue last week.
Remembering fallen officers with a Sea of Blue By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com On Wednesday, Jan. 6, law enforcement officers from all over West Tennessee gathered to remember one of their own with a sea of blue. Approximately 40 patrol vehicles from the Tipton County Sheriff's Office, local law enforcement agencies and the Tennessee Highway Patrol processed from the Justice Complex to Cotton Lake-Antioch Road where Trooper Calvin Jenks died three years ago.
Jenks was fatally shot during a traffic stop on Jan. 6, 2007. Two teens from Texas – Alejandro Gouna and Orlando Garcia – were convicted in the murder in 2008. The processional marks the route believed to have been traveled by Jenks just before his death. Patrol vehicles traveled the route with emergency lights on, memorializing Jenks and other fallen officers. It is a tradition that is expected to continue every January for the foreseeable future, said one officer.
The BMH-Tipton Volunteer Auxiliary annually creates and donates a baby basket to be presented to the hospitalʼs firstborn baby of the New Year. Betty Liles (r), vicepresident of the BMH-Tipton Volunteer Auxiliary, is pictured presenting the New Yearsʼ baby basket to the Coleman family. Khloe Paige Coleman was born on New Yearʼs Day at 10:10 p.m. She weighed six pounds and nine ounces and measured 19 ½ long. Also pictured are, nurse Betsy Cothran, R.N., her sister Shea, her mother Amy brother Luke and father Bryan.
Morris joins UT Extension office By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com The Tipton County UT Extension office provides local residents with expert, research-based information on how to improve their livelihood where they live by acting as an educational gateway for the University of Tennessee. Michael Morris of Fayette County joined the Tipton County UT Extension Office staff last week as a new agricultural extension agent specializing in row crops and livestock. Morris, who lives in Summerville, is no stranger to agriculture, livestock and farming – his family once owned a cattle farm. “Although I’m not farming currently I come from a livestock background,” said Morris. “We used to run about 250 head of commercial cattle at one time.” Morris, a graduate of UT Martin and UT Knoxville, has worked in agriculture in some capacity his whole life. “I’ve seen quite a bit, explained Morris. “After college, I worked for a farm management company and I’ve managed about 30,000 acres in Missouri and Ar-
kansas. I’ve also worked with rice, cotton, corn and commercial catfish.” Morris’ joining comes at a critical time said Extension Office County Director Booker T. Leigh. “We’ve been missing someone in the row crop and livestock speciality for about a year and a half,” said Leigh. “Michael is going to be a big asset to the office and we’re real excited he’s here. We really need him in this field.” Morris’ speciality is in big cattle management and breeding. He hopes to share his knowledge of livestock and row cropping with whom ever needs it. “I am hoping to fill whatever void needs to be filled,” he said. “I’m not going to have all the answers but I’m hoping that if I don’t I can get them in touch with the proper folks who do.” Morris, Leigh explained, will be able to help farmers with row crop demonstrations and supply information dealing with planting, plant disease, crop rotation and various other information dealing with crops and raising livestock. “I’m not going to just give them a phone number and send them on their way,” assured Morris. “I’m going
Michael Morris
to do my best to give them the information they need to solve their issues or if I can’t, connect them to the speciality person who can. I am just glad to be here in Tipton County.” The Tipton County Extension Office offers programs in agriculture, consumer horticulture, community resource development, family and consumer education and 4-H youth programs. Also offered each year is the Tipton County master gardener program. The office is located at 111 W. Washington Avenue in Covington. Business hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information visit the Extension Office website at http://tipton.tennessee.edu/ or call (901) 476-0231.
Area events events Area This week’s This week’sFeatured featuredChurch: church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Morgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
FRONT NEW.indd 1
Hyde Park United Methodist Church Turn to to Page Turn PageA7 A7forfordetails details
Feb. 20, 6-11 a.m. Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Covington Integrated Arts Academy Tickets: Adults $5; Children $3
1/13/10 2:58:09 PM