HOME OF THE
19.
COUNTRY
98 OIL CHANGE
Up to 6qts. Includes Tire Rotation
CHEVROLET CHEVROLET & CADILLAC INC
THE LEADER * Excludes diesels & synthetics plus tax & environmental fees
COVINGTONLEADER.COM ▪ THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2011 ▪ VO L . 1 2 6 , N O. 2 4 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
$1
L gh Li ghtn htn ninng st stri rike ikkees on on M Mt. t Ca t. Car arme mell Road Road a iinn Covi Co ving ngto ton on duuri rinngg a sevver eree th thun u de ders rsto t rm to r Tues Tu esda es dayy ni da nigh ggh ht. t Ph Phot otto coourr te tesy syy Heath ther er Z Zie i gl ie gler er
Rains fall, rivers rise County pounded with dangerous storms, bracing for Mississippi River flooding
STORMS
FLOOD
Storms pound Mid-South, flood parts of Tipton County
Corps expecting highest river levels in decades
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
estimates seven inches of rainfall
Mississippi to hit 45 feet on May 10
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com Several waves of devastating thunderstorms hit the Mid-South this week, bringing with them damaging winds, tornadoes, hail and heavy rain. While still recovering from damaging winds from at least two previous storms this month, on Monday heavy winds made their way to the area. Beginning Tuesday afternoon and ending Wednesday morning, Tipton Countians braved three more rounds of thunderstorms that dumped approximately seven inches of rain on saturated ground. “They were dead on with the forecast,” said Covington-Tipton County Emergency Management Director Tommy Dunavant. “We did get a little more rain (Wednesday) than the Weather Service said, though.” After the May Day flood, which hit Tipton County on May 1, 2011, many residents were worSee ROADS, A2
Reader’s Guide
A4 A6 A8 A8 A9
A home in Mason is flooded following heavy rainfall for more than two days. Officials estimate the area received approximately 7 inches of rainfall between Monday night and Wednesday afternoon, citing Mason as the area hardest hit. Photo courtesy Beth Taylor
Closures disrupt county motorists By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
B
efore the storms had finished exercising their wrath upon the Mid-South, reports of flooded roadways had already begun pouring into Tipton County Central Dispatch. Covington-Tipton County
Emergency Management Director Tommy Dunavant said at one time, 16 roads were closed due to flooding, including McCormick, Watson and Quinton roads in Munford, Hwy. 59 South and R.W. Anderson in Mason and Mt. Carmel Road in Covington. See ROADS, A3
We want people to use extreme caution in driving because water is still rising in some areas. -Tommy Dunavant, Covington-Tipton County Emergency Management Agency
Meteorological disturbances and rainfall have prompted weather officials within both local and regional to make browraising forecasts: the highest stages on the Mississippi River since 1937 and flash flooding along local streams. Recent weather activity and precipitation have been a testament to a surge in forecasted flooding nearly a year to the day from last year’s severe flood on May 1, 2010. On Tuesday, the Memphis gauge of the Mississippi River read 33.2 feet, under a foot below the flood stage. The river rose above the flood stage of 34 feet to 34.7 feet on Wednesday and is forecasted to continue to rise until it reaches 45 feet, See RIVER, A2
SCHOOLS
TODAY’S WEATHER Sunny. High, 72. Low, 51. INSIDE Opinion Faith Obituaries Events Education
By TYLER LINDSEY tlindsey@covingtonleader.com
UP ON THE ROOF: Principal loses bet, spends time on rooftop
Lifestyles Sports Classifieds Puzzles Legals
A10 A22 A17 A16 A18
THE SOUND OF MUSIC On Sunday, May 1, famed concert pianist David Troy Francis will be playing at Poplar Grove United Methodist Church. See A24 for more. HOW TO REACH US Call 901.476.7116 Email news@covingtonleader.com Visit us at 2001 Hwy. 51 South, Covington, TN 38019
By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
W
hen Covington Integrated Arts Academy principal Jan Sanford tells you to do something, you’d better do it. Last month she posed a challenge to students: if they raised more than $1,500 for the accelerated reading program, she would spend a day up on the roof.
“I knew they would,” Sanford said. The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is a progress monitoring software assessment in wide use by primary and secondary schools for monitoring the practice of reading. Once a student finishes reading a book, he or she tests for comprehension and receives AR points based on their score. The points can be used to purchase items at the AR store and students can also See ROOF, A3
LOST A BET CIAA principal Jan O. Sanford waves to students while spending time on the school’s roof on Monday, April 18. Photo by Echo Day
AreaEVENTS events AREA
Thisweek’s week’s Featured Church: This featured church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Mortgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • South Covington • Collierville
FRONT.indd 1
First Baptist Church Mason TurntotoPage Page A7 details Turn A7forfor details
4/30/11 6 p.m. Carl Perkins Child Abuse Prevention Banquet National Guard Armory 5/7/11 7 p.m. Music on the Square – Ronnie Twisdale Court Square – Covington
4/27/11 8:47:16 PM