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THE LEADER SERVING TIPTON COUNTY SINCE 1886 | COVINGTONLEADER.COM | VOL. 126, NO. 13 | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2011
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Schools bode well on state tests
By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com
Tipton County high schools received some positive news at the beginning of 2011 when the state report card on education was released. All three high schools – Brighton, Covington and Munford met their benchmarks for the No Child Left Behind Act and scored above the state average. New curriculum standards for the 2009-2010 year almost
guaranteed low scores for local schools across the state. More challenging tests were put in place where teachers would have to catch students up on material from earlier grades that they had missed in addition to the new material for their current grade. Therefore the year averages for the entire state would be predictably lower than previous years. In spite of this uphill climb, Tipton County high schools fared well on most individual tests by scor-
ing what they were expected to or higher in nearly every subject. According to the No Child Left Behind Act every school must meet certain requirements to show adequate yearly progress (AYP), which determines if the student is making progress in achievements by taking yearly tests. Students must meet the standards of AYP to be in good standing. Attendance and graduation rates are also used in achieving AYP. ACT scores
are used as well in evaluations of progress. ACT is used as a college entrance exam, which is divided in four sections and has a high score of 36. At Brighton High school students tested above the state average in Algebra 1, Biology, and English II. On the ACT college entrance exam Brighton students scored above average as well in each test portion. The 2010 average for Brighton was 20.6 in Math, 20.9 in English, 21 in
ACT COMPOSITE SCORES Brighton HS 20.9 Covington HS 18 Munford HS 20.1 Average composite score in Tipton County 20.5 Average composite score in Tennessee 20.3 Source: Tennessee Dept. of Education
SEE SCORES, PAGE A2
FUN IN THE SUN
Collision kills Atoka mother Car hits semi head-on, killing 1, inuring another By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
Tipton County was treated to spring-like temperatures and sunshine over the weekend, with cloudless skies and highs in the upper 60s. The warm temperatures were sandwiched between wintry weather on Wednesday, Jan. 26 and snow flurries and highs below freezing on Wednesday, Feb. 2. At press time, there was a 30 percent chance of snow on Friday. Above, Patrick and Michelle Lorimer of Covington entertain their daughter Fallyn at Project Play on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Tyler Lindsey
PARKS & RECREATION
Covington to revamp, rework soccer fields By TIFFANY HOLLAND tholland@covingtonleader.com As the brutal winter weather eventually fades away the city and county will prepare for an influx of spring and summer sports participation, but there are some changes underway. The Covington Parks and Recreation Department is planning on repairing some of its fields for upcoming sports season. The spring soccer league is getting underway and the existing fields located on the Tipton County Board of Education property are in need of some repairs according to officials at the park and recreation department. The fields are located next to Covington Integrated Arts Academy where the old Covington landfill resided. Amy Payne, the Park and Rec. director, presented proposals to the city council and committees last week that included costs estimates from Rose Construction to
reconstruct the field. There is also a possibility that Public Works would place dirt where needed to get through the year. “We are very thankful for the Tipton County Board of Education to let us use their land,” said Payne. “We hope we can get (the reworking) done before the season begins. That is the goal.” The General WelfarePublic Relations committee in Covington agreed to continue to work with Public Works on the maintenance of the soccer fields through this year. Budget estimates for repairing the Sportsplex soccer fields have three alternates. The first is to strip the topsoil on entire area and then grade the area on a plane and return topsoil back and seed. This would cost $5,200. The second choice suggested was to truck in dirt and spread as necessary to fill in low areas for the price of $5,330.
BRIGHTON – An Atoka woman was killed Monday afternoon during a collision with an 18-wheeler, the Tennessee Dept. of Safety reports According to police reports, at approximately 3:45 p.m. a 2002 Saturn SC2 driven by 26-year-old Kylee E. Shay Hankins was traveling northbound on Hwy. 14 near Poindexter Road when it veered left into the southbound lane, hitting an 18-wheeler. Hankins, of Wellington Way, was reportedly killed on impact. An investigation by Trooper J. Jarrett with the Tennessee Highway Patrol revealed Hankins was wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the semi, James M. Hill, 47, of Dyersburg, was also injured but survived the wreck. Neither drugs nor alcohol were found in either vehicle. Hankins, a student at the National College of Business and Technology, is survived by daughter Lillian Grace Hankins and son Jordan Thomas Hankins. SEE WRECK, PAGE A3
Dental charity to see makeover Wrather launches contest for free dental makeovers By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
City officials hope to renovate soccer fields located near Crestview Elementary School before the start of the season in March. There are alternative means to complete the work and estimates put costs between $5,200 and $7,280.
The third choice is to strip the topsoil of the land to a stockpile, then grade each field to specific design of actual soccer field specifications and return topsoil and seed or sod. The price estimate for this is $7,280. None of these estimates take in the price of seeding the land which can cost roughly $1,000 an acre. The soccer fields are
used for the soccer league which brings hundreds of children and adults. The fields are often described as “wavy” and hard to play on. Reworking the field would make the playing conditions much more to par, according to the Park and Rec. officials. No final decisions on the field have been decided by the city as of yet.
A Covington dentist known for providing free services at Valentine’s Day has a change of plans this year. For a decade, Dr. Roy Wrather and his team have provided dental services for nearly 300 patients at no cost. In the past, patients have lined up at the dental office on Sherrod Avenue, but this year several people will be chosen for a complete dental makeover. “This year we are turning our concerns and free treatment to selected individuals,” Wrather said. “We are asking patients who would normally line up the night before and withstand the winter elements to, instead, write a letter telling us why they feel they are in need of dental services and how their smile could make a difference in their life.” SEE TEETH, PAGE A3
AREA AreaEVENTS events
This week’s week’s Featured This featuredChurch: church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Mortgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
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Big Creek Church Turn to to Page Page A7 Turn A7for fordetails details
2/12/11 6 p.m. TCCA – A Night to Remember Chamber Center – Covington Call 901-476-3333 for tickets 2/19/11 6 a.m. Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Covington Integrated Arts Academy
2/2/11 6:28:21 PM