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THE LEADER Thursday, June 3, 2010
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Serving All of Tipton County
Established 1886
Volume 124 • No. 31
www.covingtonleader.com
Woman found dead in Drummonds woods By ECHO DAY
eday@covingtonleader.com
A 36-year-old mother was found beaten to death in the woods Tuesday evening, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office said. At approximately 8:40 p.m., deputies responded to a call at 57 Richardson Landing Lane after friends and family members discovered the body of Starr Lynn Harris
The crime scene is being processed with the assistance of the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Highway Patrol CIRT Team. The crime scene encompassed the residence and a large amount of dense forest and downhill terrain, which required a team effort in
behind her home. Chief Deputy Billy Daugherty said Harris likely died of blunt force trauma and was beaten in her head and upper torso. The case, said the sheriff’s office, is being investigated as a homicide. “We will utilize every resource that is needed to investigate this case,” said Sheriff J.T. “Pancho” Chumley.
the collection of evidence in the case. At press time, the sheriff’s office did not have a suspect in custody and stated the matter was still under investigation. “We’re still trying to ascertain the timeline,” Daugherty said. “Detectives are out canvassing the neighborhoods, trying to find out her whereabouts yesterday.”
Daugherty said mation in this case the department is is asked to contact looking for tips the Tipton County and anyone who Sheriff’s Office had contact with C r i m i n a l Harris on June 1 Investigation to help determine Division at 901the tragic turn of 475-3300, after events that resulthours at Central ed in her death. Dispatch at 901Harris “Any tip, no 475-4300, tips may matter how small, can be be called in to the Tip the lead to solving this Line at 901-475-3307 or case,” he said. emailed to sheriff@tipAnyone having infor- tonco.com.
Sewing Basket to close doors after 31 years By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com
SLIDING INTO HOME Over Memorial Day weekend, the Lady Chargers and Lady Cardinals competed the BlueCross Spring Fling Tournament. Autumn Glenn, above, slides into home and scores a run. Though they had a record-breaking season, the Lady Chargers fell short of the AA state championship, losing to the Camden Central Lady Lions. For more on the game, see pages B10-12. (Photo by Lisa Norman)
New park set for construction in Drummonds
In 1975, Gerald Ford was the president, “One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” won the Oscar for Best Picture, and a young woman named Maxine Farrell Cranford began working at The Sewing Basket on the Covington Court Square. Four years later her sister, Zadie Farrell, would join her in the business. For 31 years, these women have been two of the most familiar faces on the Square. But on Friday, May 28, the women altered their last dresses and added buttons to their last suits and The Sewing Shop would close its doors. Deciding to leave the business was not an easy decision. Both of them describe sewing as a major part of their life. After all, it has been their profession for decades. However, with the economic downturn business had slowed, and the women decided it was time to ease themselves into retirement. The Sewing Basket has been a fixture on the Square in Covington for over 30 years and the two women who run the store have dozens of stories of people they have worked with and things they have seen. One of Cranford’s most memorable experiences came when she had to alter the clothes for a corpse for a funeral. Many people in Covington have taken their clothes to be altered to the women at the store their entire lives. Therefore the women remember many of its customers since they were much, much younger and went from having their t-ball uniforms and ballet leotards altered to having business suits and wedding dresses come in for a better fit. As far as future plans, these two ladies do not plans on resting with idle hands, but have plenty SEE BASKET, PAGE A3
By ECHO DAY
Meth bust injures deputies
eday@covingtonleader.com 65 CONTROL POINT
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right there where they can be watched.” The playground will also feature a soft surface, which allows for use by children in wheelchairs. County officials want the park to be passive in nature, leaving a tree line will be left as a buffer to the adjoining property owned by Doug Downing. The park is the first of
BURLISON – A meth lab bust on Lavelle Cove has left two people behind bars and two deputies injured, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday. On Saturday, May 29, investigators were following up on a tip that methamphetamine was being manufactured – or “cooked” – by individuals at the residence. At the scene, they reportedly observed a strong odor commonly associated with the cookMasters Jr. ing of meth coming from a shed near the residence. A man later identified as a resident was allegedly observed shaking a one liter plastic bottle, the sheriff’s office said. “This case was the result of a tip from a citizen about meth in their neighborhood. It was a good piece of police work to Hebert catch this suspect in the act of cooking the meth,” said Sheriff Pancho Chumley. Fred Edward Masters Jr., 43, of 232 Lavelle Cove, was approached and investigators reportedly confirmed he was cooking the drug. While investigators were in the process of evacuating the scene for safety and the clean-up of
SEE PARK, PAGE A3
SEE BUST, PAGE A3
N 5 VE R SE PA 5' 29
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Residents of Drummonds will soon see increased recreational opportunities as the construction of a park is set to begin next month. Set on nearly 30 acres on Tate Road, behind Drummonds Elementary School and the QuitoDrummonds Volunteer Fire Department, the park will feature amenities for all ages and will meet the needs of the residents of the growing community. “We want it to be a well-used area,” said County Executive Jeff Huffman. Included in the site plans are an 18-hole disc golf course, regulation soccer field, quarter-mile walking track, playground, six pavilions, amphitheater and a milelong nature trail. “The walking track is level, but the nature trail is up and down, it’s not
272.84 6' • • • ••• • ••• • •• 89 • •• • • • • CONTROL POINT 2 • • • • • • • • • • • •
level at all,” Huffman said. “If you’re a serious walker, this trail is for you.” The park, which has yet to be officially named, will also have six pavilions, restrooms, benches, picnic tables, trash receptacles and a large parking lot. The walkways, except for the nature trail, will all be well-lit for safety and the park is also com-
pliant with the American Disabilities Act. In drawing up the plans, Huffman wanted to make sure the park was convenient for parents as well as make sure the features would all be used. “The playground is inside the walking track,” he said. “We wanted to make it convenient for parents who want to walk. Their children are
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.indd 1
Mt. Zion Baptist Church Turn to to Page Page A7 Turn A7forfordetails details
Music on the Square – Covington Court Square 6/5/10 7 p.m. Infinity – R&B 6/12/10 7 p.m. Courage Under Fire 6/19/10 7 p.m. Eric and Andy (Bluegrass)
6/2/10 6:00:45 PM