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THE LEADER Thursday, January 21, 2010
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Serving All of Tipton County Volume 123 • No. 96
www.covingtonleader.com
Munford sailor assists with relief effort By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA – Last week a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti and a local man stationed in Cuba has found himself among those assisting with the relief effort. A Munford High School graduate, Eddie Nelson enlisted in the Navy and has worked as a corpsman for several years. Two months ago, he arrived at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a military installation which has housed a prison for combatants captured in Afghanistan and Iraq. "I didn’t know what to expect, but I was excited about coming. I had only been told two months
prior that I would be stationed here, so it was all very short fused," Nelson said. "Now that I have settled in, I really enjoy it here. The water is amazing. I spend as much of my time as possible freediving for conch and other shells. I mean, it’s the Caribbean. What better place to be?" Nelson said last week started off like any other week. He went into work on Tuesday, ordered supplies and verified shipments; he had lunch with friends and resumed his normal routine. That evening while watching TV and talking on the phone, his barracks building began to shake. "My TV started to sway and a picture frame fell off the wall. I would say that it lasted around
15 seconds or so," he said. "I went outside to the awning to see if anybody else had felt it. Sure enough, there were around a dozen people on the walkway asking the same questions." Nelson said he believed the quake to be offshore and soon the base had issued a tsunami watch; it was lifted a few hours later. "We had some large waves but nothing serious. I turned on the news to see if anybody had reported anything, but there really wasn't too much being said about it, so I shrugged it off and went to bed." The next day, he said, started off "pretty unassumingly," he said, until an announcement of
SEE MUNFORD, PAGE 2
PHOTO BY MCC BILL MESTA
U.S. Sailors transport an injured U.S. citizen from a Coast Guard helicopter Jan. 13, to the Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The American, was injured during the earthquake that struck Haiti Jan. 12. Sailors pictured are HM3 Justin Arnold (front left), HM3 Nicholas Bailey (rear left), HN Michael Troll (rear right, obscured) and HM2 Eddie Nelson of Munford.
TVA seeks input By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com
Photo by ECHO DAY
Local youth enjoyed a wildlife supper at First Baptist Church in Covington Friday night. Pictured from left are Colton Arredondo, 12; Brady Green, 13; Mack Kidwell, 13; Hunter Huffman, 8; and Ty Flanagan, 13, back row.
Save your hard earned money; get free tax assistance By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com It’s that time of the year again and there’s no getting around it. Tax season is here. But it doesn’t have to be all dread and gloom thanks to the continued partnership between United Way of the Mid-South and Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC). The Tipton County United Way of the Mid-South’s Earned Income Tax Credit/Smartbucks Alliance (EITCA) is committed to change the way people have their tax returns prepared. The EITCA offers free tax preparation through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Established in 2007, the annual community VITA partnership provides eligible residents no-cost tax assistance in applying for EITC and in filing their annual taxes. “Sadly, too many low to moder-
ate income tax filers pay ridiculous fees for tax preparation and outrageous fees and interest to get their tax refund back quickly,” said Yvonne Howard, United Way Community Impact Specialist. “Many don’t realize that by getting their refund rapidly, they are actually getting a loan. If the Internal Revenue Service rejects their tax return, they are subject to additional loan interest expenses, until the paid tax preparer that gave them their rapid refund receives their payment. ” EITC is a refundable credit for people who work but do not earn high incomes. The EITC is a valuable tool which helps eligible taxpayers lower their taxes or receive refunds. The IRS wants all eligible taxpayers to take the credit they deserve. Those who qualify could pay less federal tax or pay no tax at all. In some cases, they could receive a refund beyond the amount of
tax withheld. “Current IRS data shows that a lot of Tennessee residents still don’t claim the EITC or they don’t know about it,” said Howard. In tax year 2006, the IRS reports that 5,605 Tipton County residents applied for EITC and received $11,630,193. “We know that many more in Tipton County qualify for EITC and our goal is to make them aware of that,” added Howard. “According to the IRS, 20-25 percent of people eligible for EITC do not claim it.” To qualify for the EITC, taxpayers must meet certain guidelines and must file a tax return. New for tax year 2009, the amount of EITC increased for workers with a third qualifying child and the rules have changed for determining who is a qualifying child. The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing
BURLISON – The Tennessee Valley Authority has proposed improvements in the electric service it provides to Covington and Burlison, including a proposed substation. If plans go as proposed, the new substation will be constructed near the intersection of Hwy. 59 and Garland Drive in Burlison. Improvements will also bring seven miles of 161-kilovolt transmission line to the new substation. These improvements, said the TVA, will relieve overloaded equipment and provide reliable power to Southwest Tennessee Electric's customers in the Burlison area. But the TVA is seeking input on the proposed project from the public. "TVA's process for siting new transmission projects is designed to allow public input at all stages," said media contact Myra Ireland. "TVA is committed to working
with area stakeholders to address concerns during the course of the project." An open house will be held Thursday, Jan. 21 from 3-7 p.m. at the Chamber Center on Covington's historic court square. During the event, several alternate routes from a network of eight alternative line segments and three tap point locations will be presented. According to press releases and project information, the TVA is interested in receiving comments on the potential of the proposed action to affect the environment or historic properties and would like to identify any other issues associated with the proposal. Other comments and concerns will also be addressed. Persons unable to attend the meeting may submit written questions to TVA Siting and Environmental Design specialist Chris Austin SEE TVA, PAGE A3
Texas’ Most Wanted arrested in Mason By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com MASON – Last week, one of Texas' most wanted fugitives was arrested in Mason during a drug investigation. Roydon Riley Stone, 40, has been wanted by the Nueces County, Texas Sheriff's Office since 1999 for violation of probation on a possession of methamphetamine conviction. "This was a great capture and drug bust by the deputies in the patrol division," said Sheriff J.T. "Pancho" Chumley. "The deputies took the initiative with a tip, ran with it and it resulted in the arrests." Tipton County deputies had
SEE EITC, PAGE A3
SEE WANTED, PAGE A3
Area events This week’s featured church:
South Tipton Assembly of God Church Turn to Page A7 for details
FRONT.indd 1
Feb. 20, 6-11 a.m. Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Covington Integrated Arts Academy Tickets: Adults $5; Children $3
1/20/10 4:05:28 PM