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THE LEADER Thursday, April 29, 2010
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Serving All of Tipton County
Established 1886
Volume 124 • No. 26
www.covingtonleader.com
Operation nets sex offenders, weapons By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com COVINGTON - A sex offender compliance operation conducted last week in Tipton County netted 16 arrests, dozens of weapons, ammunition, drugs and pornography, the sheriff’s office reported. Last week, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with agencies such as the US Marshals, visited the residences of each of the county’s 112 registered
sex offenders. “This is a compliance operation and we just want to make sure these people are living where they’re supposed to be living,” said Don Hankinson, one of just 36 US Marshals in the country specializing in sex offender compliance. “Our fear is that they’ve moved out of the area, out of the state, and aren’t registered.” Persons convicted of sexual offenses are required by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act to
register with local officials as a means of tracking residences and activities. The act gives law enforcement the option to randomly check offenders for compliance. The first of its kind in Tipton County, Operation Compliant Offender began Thursday morning and concluded Saturday evening. Headquartered in the command unit in the parking lot at the justice complex, deputies and marshals worked in four-hour shifts, surpris-
ing offenders with random visits. Thursday, a dozen weapons were seized and seven arrests were made. Weary from a long day, the marshals and deputies were back in Covington early Friday morning, ready to get back to work. After a stop at McDonald’s for a coffee refill Friday morning, Hankinson and his team set off for 2259 Hwy. 59 West, the home of David S. Sullivan. SEE OPERATION, PAGE A2
US Marshal Paul Melson, left, Deputy Pete Arender, center, and Marshal Don Hankinson discuss the compliance of an offender Friday during Operation Compliant Offender. Photo by Echo Day
Beer board serves out fines By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com
Construction works with Ronald Franks Construction of Savannah work to complete the construction of a concrete clear well near Masonʼs water tower. The clear well is part of a community development block grant. Photo by Echo Day
Water system upgrades underway in Mason The building will also contain two new high-service pumps and controls. Additionally, the existing chemiMASON – Water system improvements, which will bring an increase cal feed equipment will be relocated in volume and quality to customers, from the old building to the new are currently underway in the town pump building. The city will also receive new yard of Mason. A month ago, city officials held a piping and all new electrical work ground-breaking ceremony to kick and equipment. Trimble said the off construction of a 15,000-gallon con- “This will allow us water plant was originally built in 1936 and crete clear well. "This will allow us to supply and treat has seen four updates in the seven decades to supply and treat more water for our more water for our since. The next step in customers," said city improving the water superintendent Chris customers” system, he said, will be Trimble. "There will a water main upgrade be more water to put Chris Trimble, in the Gainesville out for our customers city superintendent community and the if the demands calls construction of a for it." And the improvements, said 200,000-gallon water tank. Ward said the improvements mayor David Ward, will come at no will also improve the quality of the increased cost to taxpayers. "There are very few infrastructure town's drinking water. "We have a good water system, jobs cities can do without imposing a raise in rates and taxes," Ward said. this just gives us adequate drinking "That's one good thing about this water." The city services 953 total water project." Partially funded by a $500,000 customers. Including the jail, there Community Development Block are 341 water customers inside the Grant, which the city received a city limits. The project, which will require a year ago, the project will add two filter influent pumps with controls $140,000 share from the city, began and a pre-fabricated pump building this week. It is scheduled to be completed in mid-August. in addition to the clear well. By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
The Beer Board of the City of Covington met on Tuesday, at Covington City Hall. The board clearly sent a message to underage alcohol providers that they will not get away unpunished. The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Mayor David Gordon. Vice Mayor Ed Timberlake was the only Alderman not present. Three hearings were held on revocation of beer permits for the unlawful sell of alcohol to minors from previous sting operations by the Covington Police Department. The first was with Saher Mohammed Jaranduqa at the College Market and the second was with Ralph Watkins at Midway Market II. Both men had their cases in court on the same day where the charges were dismissed
with court costs due to a technicality involving a notification procedure not abided by the CPD. Both of the men had been cited for three separate offenses. However, unlike Jaranduqa, Watkins was not present during the underage selling or the undercover sting operation and was only the license holder for the store. He said before the board he had fired the person who sold to minors and his business had “been here for 39 years and this is the first offense I’ve ever had.” He also stated he did not practice or condone the selling of alcohol to minors. However, in the effort of fairness both men were given the same conclusion by a motion of a $1,000 fine to be paid in seven days or have their license revoked. Both men agreed to the motion that carried 4 to 1. The lone opposition to the motion came from Alderman Tommy Black who SEE BOARD, PAGE A3
Village development proposed in Munford By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com MUNFORD - City officials voted Monday to annex more than 300 acres of land after the announcement of a proposed housing development near McCormick Road. "We know develop will be coming to Munford with the construction of I-69 and we're planning for this property to have a mixture of uses, multiple lot sizes and different types of residential developments as well as a com-
mercial center," Brenda Solomito, a land planner representing developer Nick Brown, said during Monday's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Proposed to occupy 373 acres from McCormick to Watson roads, developers hope to include age-restricted and low and medium density housing as well as a neighborhood commercial center. Age-restricted properties would be offered to persons 55 years of age and older, Solomito said. Residences are planned
as quadreplexes with stone facades and garages. The community may also be gated. Solomito said property management companies would handle indoor and outdoor maintenance of the facilities. She also said the development would include private clubhouses and pools. The 15-acre neighborhood commercial development, said Munford Mayor Dwayne Cole, would be limited to certain types of businesses. "You could have, say, a SEE MUNFORD, PAGE A5
The Leader needs your help The Leader is planning to publish a section filled with photos of local teams participating in spring and summer recreational leagues through Atoka, Brighton, Covington and Munford city parks and recreation departments. It’s a new spin on an old idea inspired by a commitment to bring back many of the community service elements The Leader was known for in the past. But since the last time The Leader published an edition like this, Tipton County has grown -- a lot. So have the leagues, teams and rosters. In short, there’s a lot more to it now than there once was. Pulling off full representation of all
teams will be impossible without your help. There are simply too many soccer, softball, baseball, t-ball and coach-pitch leagues to allow successful inclusion of all teams and all children without the assistance of the parents, coaches and league leaders. In fact, calls have been made to all departments, but finding someone who can and will help can sometimes prove difficult. So we’re asking for your assistance. And we really need it. We’re asking for readers, parents, coaches and league chairmen to work with us to ensure the children on your SEE HELP, PAGE A5
Area events events Area 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
Mt. Tipton Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Turn to to Page Turn PageA7 A7forfordetails details
5/1/10 10 a.m. Dunlap SpringFest 1 p.m. Rabies Vaccination Clinic – Munford City Hall 7 p.m. Music on the Square Covington Court Square 5/6/10 Kindergarten Registration
4/28/10 5:32:09 PM