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THE LEADER
SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 124, NO. 35 |THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2010
Playground rebuild effort ends incomplete By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com A lack of manpower has left the Project Play rebuild effort unfinished after a week of work dates. Hundreds of volunteers were needed to rebuild the playground, which was destroyed by arsonists in February, but a lack of help means the effort will have to continue in another phase. “We didn’t have the volunteers (we needed) at all,” said coordinator
Michelle Johnston. “We had 100 volunteers at three different times, not three days, three times.” At least 130 people were needed for each of the four-hour shifts each day, she said. With 400 volunteers, the project was expected to be completed in five days. While organizers said contractors were “pleased” with the progress, the playground is still incomplete. “I don’t know what to say,” Johnston said. “I’m hurt, I’m sad we didn’t get it
finished.” The brainchild of The Rev. John H. Fullerton, Jr., the $300,000 park was originally built in the summer of 2003 through community donations and volunteer support, which saved the community approximately $100,000 in building costs. On Tuesday, Feb. 16, a fire completely destroyed the playground at Cobb-Parr Park. A 911 call at 6:28 p.m. alerted officials of the fire but by the time they arrived minutes later, the playground
was already engulfed in flames. The outrage that followed the playground’s destruction brought the community together to raise funds to replace the destroyed haven for children. U. S. Country 51 93.6, The Leader and the Covington Parks and Recreation Department hosted a radiothon to raise the money needed to cover the playground’s insurance deductible. The fundraiser resulted in more than $21,000 in donations. SEE PARK, PAGE A2
Fireworks, fun set for July 4 weekend By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
JUST KEEP SWIMMING! On June 29, the Covington Manta Rays hosted a swim meet in which six teams from the surrounding areas participated. During the meet, the teamʼs youngest swimmer, 4-year-old Jonah Hensley, reportedly jumped in for the first time and was cheered on by his family and the rest of the team as they walked the length of the pool while he completed his 25-meter freestyle. Swimmers placing first in at least one of their events were Arianna Stearns, 50-meter fly; Cullen Schwarz, 100-meter freestyle; Ben Roberts, 25-meter backstroke; Elijah Stearns, 50-meter backstroke and 50-meter freestyle. Pictured above, Annalea Posey takes the lead in the 50-9meter backstroke. The teamʼs next meet will be on Tuesday, July 6 at 6 p.m. at the Covington City pool.
Brighton’s ‘rose man’ offers reward for arrest
SEE FOURTH, PAGE A3
MPD selected for accreditation
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com BRIGHTON – After vandals struck his greenhouse, a Brighton man known for his roses is offering a reward for an arrest. Whit Wells, who in his greenhouse has created hundreds of different rose hybrids, is offering $500 for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for the vandalism to his greenhouse and damage to hundreds of roses. “We’ve already had to throw 500 away,” Wells said Tuesday afternoon. “There will be more, too.” As a boy he grew up helping his grandmother in her rose garden and now, more than 70 years later, still grows them at his home on Lucy Kelly Road. Three weeks ago while he was in the hospital, vandals struck his greenhouse, cutting holes in the plastic and making it difficult to keep the inside cool. “It opens everything up,” he said. “It lets all the outside air in. I lost all of my insulation because its two pieces of plastic, and we got a little fan that blows them apart.” Wells said the weapon used may be the best clue for finding the vandals. A distinctive knife was found on the ground near one of the holes.
It’s become an annual tradition to celebrate the country’s independence in lawn chairs or blankets in the middle of Munford’s City Park. First the band plays, entertaining event-goers with its delightful sounds, and children play as the sun slowly creeps beyond the horizon. Celebrate Independence will take place on FriOnce darkday, July 2 at Munfordʼs ness falls, the City Park. celebration begins. Festivities begin at 7:30 Though firep.m. with a perforworks usually mance by the Navy light the sky on Band “Freedom”. July 4, this year The event is free and July 2 is the the MHS band will be day Munford selling food and beverwill celebrate ages. our nation’s 234th birthday. Mayor Dwayne Cole said the reason for the early celebration is savings. “The contractor offered us more bang for our buck, so we moved it to accommodate our contractor and get a few more firecrackers,” he said. Starting at 7:30 p.m. the Navy Band Mid-South’s contemporary entertainment ensemble “Freedom” will perform a 45-minute concert. The Munford High School Band will offer food and beverages for sale. A spectacular fireworks display will be
Whit Wells, known all over the country for his rose hybrids, has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for vandalizing his greenhouse three weeks ago. He believes the knife, above, is a valuable clue. Photo courtesy Tipton County Sheriffʼs Office
Investigators hope someone recognizes it and will admit to the crime. “The people that went in, whether it’s a greenhouse a vehicle in a driveway, whether it’s a TV inside a house, they don’t have any business touching what’s not theirs,” Tipton County Sheriff Pancho Chumley said. In all, there are about 5,000 roses in the greenhouse. Wells says it will cost thousands of dollars to repair the damage.
“I don’t know what they were hunting, but evidently they didn’t find it,” Wells said. “I don’t know if they were doing it for meanness or thought I was growing marijuana in there.” Deputies hope the distinctive knife will be the key to solving this unusual crime. If you have any information about this case, call the Tipton County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 901475-3307.
MUNFORD – The City of Munford Police Department has cleared the first hurdle in the accreditation process offered through the Tennessee Law Enforcement Program. In a letter dated June 8, Police Chief Jim Harger received formal word that his force was selected from amongst the police departments throughout the state of Tennessee to begin the accreditation process. Eleven police forces were chosen to participate in this inaugural program fostered by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, Tennessee Municipal League (TML) and Municipal Technical Advisory Services (MTAS.) Many benchmarks must be met and documented to receive the accreditation: proper use of force/deadly force, search and seizure, legal requirements for arrest – with or without a warrant, offduty authority, mutual aid and emergency assistance, pursuit driving and response to routine and emergency situations. All directives must be achieved, documented and submitted to a professional Standards Committee. Police Chief Harger noted the tax savings to the citizens of Munford by achieving this accreditation, “After accreditaSEE MPD, PAGE A3
Area events
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
River of Life Church Turn A7forfordetails details Turn to to Page Page A7
Area events Have a Safe and Happy Independence Day
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