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THE LEADER Thursday, April 15, 2010
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Volume 124 • No. 24
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Accident claims life of county attorney By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com FAYETTE COUNTY – A one-vehicle accident claimed the life of county attorney Duke Brasfield Friday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced. The accident, said THP spokesman Mike Browning, occurred in Fayette County at the intersection of Hendrick
Road and Sinai Drive. Trooper J.V. Johnson was dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:28 p.m. Brasfield had been traveling west on Hendricks, approached a stop at Sanai Road, but did not stop, said Browning. The Chevrolet Suburban continued across Sanai Road, a T-intersection, struck a dirt embankment and
traveled up a hill. Browning said at some point during crash events, the vehicle caught fire. He said witnesses to the crash were able to remove Brasfield from the vehicle before it was engulfed by flames. The only occupant, Brasfield died at the scene. Browning said the accident is still under investigation and may not be a motor vehicle
fatality. Friends say Brasfield was very involved in the community. "He has had more affect on Covington and Tipton County's growth than any other one person I can think of," said longtime friend Tim Sloan. "He came to town and just jumped right in." Brasfield, 62, has been practicing law in
Tennessee since 1976. A member of the Lions Club, Brasfield was also instrumental in bringing Dyersburg State Community College to Covington and served as the county's attorney since 1985. "Duke was one of the instigators to us having a Dyersburg State Community College SEE BRASFIELD, PAGE A3
Brasfield
Motorcycle accident kills CHS teen By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON - A motorcycle accident Tuesday morning claimed the life of a Covington High School sophomore, the Tennessee Highway Patrol announced. At approximately 9:40 a.m., officers were dispatched to Hwy. 59 West and Walton Loop, west of Covington, after a three-vehicle accident was reported. According to THP reports, a vehicle was stopped in the westbound lane of Hwy. 59, waiting to turn left on Walton Loop, when 16-year-old Jerry B. "Ben" Yon II, who was riding a motorcycle, hit it from behind. Reports indicate Ben was traveling westbound and over a hill when he lost control
of his motorcycle. Upon impact, Ben and the motorcycle slid across the pavement and into an oncoming lane of traffic. He was struck by an eastbound truck. Ben was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Ben was an active member of Covington's Future Farmers of America organization. He is the son of Jerry and Amanda Yon of Covington. At press time, arrangements were still incomplete. Friends and family members have started a memorial Facebook page for Ben: http://www. facebook.com/covingtonleader#!/pages/RIP-BenYon/114948191865420?ref=ts
Date set Clean up Covington By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com
Dr. Isaac Richmond carries a sign in protest Monday. Richmond leads CORR, a group who alleges wrongdoing by the Covington Police Department. Photo by Echo Day
CORR protest wrong agency By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON - A group who protested alleged wrongdoing by Covington police Monday is planning another demonstration, this time against deputies with the Tipton County Sheriff's Office. After attending Covington's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Tuesday night, the group found they'd demonstrated against the wrong agency. "We had about a half dozen people there and two individuals spoke," said Covington mayor David Gordon. "One of them was concerned about their treatment by the Covington police department." The Memphis-based Commission on Religion and Racism (CORR), led by Dr. Isaac Richmond, protested what Richmond calls "unlawful and illegal police raids" conducted at an Ervin Lane home in December 2009. Richmond claims the home
was searched without a valid warrant, but Deputy Chief Donna Turner said investigators had a search warrant signed by Judge Joseph Walker and left a copy at the home per protocol. The home was searched during an investigation into burglaries that occurred on Yarbrough Lane, said Turner. During the search, officers reportedly seized a shotgun and vehicle belonging to Katie Middlebrooks. An affidavit of complaint signed by Middlebrooks and two other family members states no drugs were found in the residence, but property seizure receipts show .6 grams of cocaine was also seized by officers. Richmond believes the search was unlawful because no one was arrested and he does not believe probable cause was shown. The home was searched during an investigation into SEE CORR, PAGE A2
Spring is here which means it’s time to do a little spring cleaning. And when you get done with your home, don’t forget the city. The sixth annual Clean Up/Fix Up Covington is scheduled for the week of Apr. 17-24 and at the end of the week, get out your walking shoes and sunscreen and invite a few friends and join the City of Covington for its annual walk across Covington on Saturday, Apr. 24 from 8 a.m. to noon. The yearly event celebrates Earth Day and urges residents to clean up their property. City workers will be doing extra routes next week to pick up debris left alongside the curb. “We will have the trash trucks run continu-
ously during the week in a concentrated effort to pick up residential trash,” said Robert M. Simpson, director of Public Works. “Every year more residents come out and help to make Covington a beautiful and cleaner city.” The clean up will begin at 8 a.m. at the city maintenance shop located at 410 E. Ripley Street. Upon registration, volunteers will be given a t-shirt, garbage grabber and assigned a team leader and areas of the city to clean. At the conclusion of the clean up, volunteers will meet back at the city maintenance shop at noon for lunch, sponsored by Barker Brothers Waste Inc. Door prizes, donated by Covington businesses, will be given away during lunch. City residents may call 476-7191 to schedule a trash pick-up for larger items.
TEA party set for Thursday night By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON - “Tea’d” off with government spending, concerned residents of Tipton County have organized another anti-tax rally. TEA parties have become increasingly popular across the country since Tax Day 2009, when more than 20,000 Americans gathered in protest. The rally, which will be held Thursday, April 15 from 5-7 p.m., is a mass gathering criticizing what the group calls excessive taxation. "Basically, we're gathering to express our disapproval of excessive taxing and spending by the government," said organizer Leah Coop. "We want to gather together to
show strength in numbers." If you plan to attend, leave your cups and saucers at home – TEA means “taxed enough already." The name is a reference to the Boston Tea Party when citizens gathered to protest taxation without representation. On Memorial Day last year, the group held a TEA party at Covington’s Shelton Park and was very pleased with the attendance. An Independence Day rally was also held in Munford's City Park last year. Coop said approximately 200 people attended the rally with very little publicity. This time she is hoping for a larger crowd. The event will feature speakers and entertainment. Dr. Raymond Gardocki
will speak about the recent healthcare legislation and what it means from his perspective as a surgeon, she said. Additionally, Sheriff J.T. "Pancho" Chumley will be speaking about second amendment rights. "We'll have a few different speakers and they'll discuss different subjects," said Coop. Entertainment will be provided by the band Four Wisemen as well as singer Steve Childress. The non-partisan event will be held at Shelton Park, corner of Highway 51 and Church Avenue, from 5-7 p.m. For more information, visit www.tiptoncountytnteaparty.com.
Area events
This week’s week’s Featured This featuredChurch: church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Morgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
FRONT.indd 1
Munford Church of Christ Turn to to Page Turn PageA7 A7forfordetails details
Area events April 17, 10 a.m., Earth Fest 2010 Veterans Museum
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