The Leader - Aug. 19, 2010

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THE LEADER

SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 124, NO. 42 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2010 S

INSIDE TODAY: FOOTBALL PREVIEW 8/17/10

PM 4:31:48

Munford man charged in robberies Front.indd

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By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com

A Munford man faces charges in two cities after allegedly robbing two businesses – and police say witnesses were the key in catching this suspected thief. Gary Moore, 64, is currently in custody after police say he committed armed robberies at Covington’s Cash-N-Dash on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Atoka’s Subway on Saturday, Aug. 14.

Covington detective Jack Howell said Moore went into the cash advance store and asked the employees for money. “They thought he wanted a loan,” Howell said. “He told them they didn’t understand … he wanted all the money.” Brandishing what employees believed was a small caliber revolver, Moore took the money and instructed the employees to lie down on the floor. Atoka police say two days later,

Moore, who was again in possession of what appeared to be a small handgun, robbed the town’s Subway franchise. According to reports, Moore reportedly demanded money from employees, then instructed employees and customers to lie down on the floor. Moore allegedly attempted to flee in his vehicle, but not before several witnesses took a good look at him. “One of the employees alerted a customer at the drive-thru window that

they were being robbed,” said Atoka Police Chief Jessie Poole. “Another employee called (911).” Poole said the drive-thru customer followed Moore and was able to give officers a good description of him and his vehicle. Atoka officer Kenneth Cross attempted to stop Moore, but he stopped his vehicle briefly and continued driving. Moore led Cross and other officers on a short pursuit into Munford and Poole SEE ROBBERY, PAGE A2

Commissioners Fee, Walker and Wilson retire By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com The county commission meeting was held on Monday night and while much of it was business as usual, it was an emotional meeting for many since it was the last commission meeting for three long-term commissioners and the county clerk. Commissioners Charles Walker, Patsy Fee and Clifford Wilson all were in attendance for their last meeting ever, as was the county clerk Pam Deen. During the meeting, County Executive Jeff Huffman spoke to all these people and thanked them for their years of service. “Mr. Wilson is respected and revered here,” said Huffman on Wilson. “And he sets and example for a lot of us. I appreciate your service.” A former educator, Fee, who is being replaced by her daughter, Courtney Fee on the commission, received equally as kind words. “Commissioner Fee has been on the county commission for 28 years … and a lot of those were transitional years,” said Huffman. “But we have gone on to have 12,000 people and a $92 million budget. And (in all that time) I don’t recall one bill on education that she did not support.” Commissioner Walker is the longest serving commission member in Tipton County history and has held his seat for more than 50 years. He SEE RETIRE, PAGE A3

Highway to be renamed for Hayes Late singer, Tipton native to be remembered Friday By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Friday will be a day of recognition for late legendary singer and Covington native Isaac Hayes. To mark his 68th birthday and a lifetime of achievements, a section of Interstate 40 will be renamed the “Isaac Hayes Memorial Highway” in his memory. Earlier this year, House Bill 3471 to rename the highway, sponsored by Hayes’ longtime friend and colleague, Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh (D-Covington), was passed unanimously by both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly. It was signed into Portions of I-40 will be law by Governor Phil renamed Friday in honor of Bredesen in June. the late Isaac Hayes, a The section of I-40 Covington native. named after Hayes stretches from the Shelby County line to the intersection at Sam Cooper Boulevard. A provision of the bill requires Tipton County to pay $325 for the signage. Hayes was a native of Tipton County, born in the Rialto community on Aug. 20, 1942. He and sister Willette were raised by paternal grandparents SEE HAYES, PAGE A3

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Football is back in season for Tipton Countyʼs middle and high schools. On Friday, Aug. 13, area teams participated in the annual Jamboree, showing off their skills during 20-minute games. Above, Munfordʼs Hunter Harden (#10) evades a tackle by Haywood County. The Cougars went on to lose to the Tomcats, 14-13, after a failed two-point conversion in the last seconds of the game. For more results from the Jamboree, see our coverage on page A21. Donʼt miss our 2010 Football Preview in todayʼs edition. Photo by Jeff Ireland.

woman finds unusual What’s in a name? Burlison way to invite guests to church By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com What’s in a name? A lot if you happen to be named Tammy. This is what nearly eight dozen women in Tipton and North Shelby counties found out this summer after receiving an unusual call from Tamie Atkins. “I started with the ones I knew,” said Atkins. “I’m shy and I have a really hard time talking to people on the phone.” Atkins, who attends Bethel Baptist Church in Munford, called more than 90 people in an effort to recruit visitors to church. It’s not unusual for regular church-goers to invite family, friends, co-workers and strangers to attend their place of worship, but Atkins found her guests in a most unusual manner: the phone book. “I’ve never done any kind of campaign and reached out to people like this,” she said. “I was way out of my comfort zone.” Atkins said her pastor, Brother Harold Bledsoe, gives each year a theme. This year the church’s theme was “Bring Them In,” which was a challenge to members to bring guests to church. For Atkins, the challenge wasn’t just from Bro. Bledsoe, she believes it was also from God. “I could have not done it, but it kept coming to my mind,” she said. “I told myself that somebody out there needs me.”

In an attempt to invite guests to church, Tamie Atkins called every Tammy in the phone book. Seven Tammys attended Tammy Sunday at Bethel Baptist Church in Munford. Photo by Dennis Atkins

She spent weeks going through each page, taking note of every person listed whose first name was Tammy or any its spelling variations. Atkins’ first look through the phone book provided a list of 54 women named Tammy. The list grew when she noticed she’d missed some. It grew again in July when the new phone book was published. With the help and support of her husband Dennis and friend Tarina Laxton, she worked through her

anxiety and dialed each number. Some of them several times. “One person hung up on me,” said Atkins. “It was during the campaign, so I think they misunderstood why I was calling. Everyone was nice, though, and many people said they were interested.” One of those women was Tammy McCulley who’d been praying for a church family. “I’d been praying and asking God to send me to a church I’d feel comfortable in,” McCulley said. “I’ve been to several churches (in Covington) and I’ve never felt comfortable.” But that changed this month. Atkins planned to have her visitors attend church together on Sunday, Aug. 1. It was what she called a “Tammy Sunday.” To prepare for her guests, she made each a button with their name on it as well as a DVD containing each guests’ name. “I wanted to give them something to thank them for coming.” She also wanted to surprise Bro. Bledsoe. Atkins didn’t tell him the theme of that service and at first Bledsoe said he didn’t realize that each of the guests was named Tammy. “I knew she’d been inviting lots of folks,” he said. “It didn’t dawn on me until later that she was having Tammy Sunday. Never in all my years have I seen anything like this.” SEE CALLS, PAGE A3

AREA Area EVENTS events

Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Morgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville

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This week’s This week’sFeatured featuredChurch: church:

8/21/10 8 a.m. Celebrate Munford 5K Centennial Park – Munford

Turn A7forfordetails details Turn to to Page Page A7

8/21/10 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Confidential Care for Women Open House

River of Life Church

8/19/10 8:21:53 AM


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