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THE LEADER Thursday, December 17, 2009
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Serving All of Tipton County Established 1886
Volume 123 • No. 91
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Save the Children opens doors for CES students By SHERRI ONORATI sonorati@covingtonleader.com
For the past three years, Crestview Elementary School students have been benefitting from a littleknown gem. An international organization which strives to make a lasting impact on children both abroad and in the United States has been working with the Covington school assisting students through its literacy program. Save the Children works with at-risk children in grades 2-4 who are struggling with reading skills and who are failing or at risk of failing grade level indicators. Monday, Senate Majority Leader Sentor Mark Norris visited CES to tour the Title I school and observe the Save the Children Literacy School volunteers, both grand- program. Currently, the mothers of Crestview Elementary students, Susan Ballard, program works left, and Daisy Bolds, talk to with approximateSenator Mark Norris about the ly 90 children durdifference the Save the Children ing in-school and literacy program has made in after-school sesthe lives of their grandchilsions. Students are dren. identified through various means, including Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) scores and STAR Early Learning testing. Save the Children programs benefit more than 35,000 children in 13 states, including 14 sites in rural Tennessee. Crestview Elementary is the only site in Tipton County which uses the Save the Children supplemental literacy program. “This is a wonderful program which supplements the instruction the children already receive in school,” said principal Betty Glass. “Students are able to receive more individual attention in the areas they need it most. “ The program consists of three structured sessions; in-school, after-school and a summer session. All three use guided independent reading practices SEE CHILDREN, PAGE A3
Photo by ECHO DAY
On Friday, 4-year-old Emily Pilkington climbed on Santaʼs lap at BancorpSouth and asked for “everything,” her mother said. Santa will be at the bank again tomorrow, from 2-4 p.m., taking requests from good boys and girls. The south Covington branch is located at 1624 Hwy. 51 South, across from Walmart.
Covington animal rescue wishing for shelter consolidation By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, it’s easy to get carried away with giving gifts. And for local animal rescue organizations, life is the gift they’re giving. Saving pets is not a mission restricted to the Christmas season, but is a year-round endeavor for these organizations. “We save the dogs that someone has thrown away, caring for the castaways,” said Dogs 2nd Chance co-founder Linda Sutphin.
Construction begins on new Park By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com ATOKA– Construction on a new park officially began Friday as city and state officials gathered for a ceremonious ground-breaking event. The park, which was named for longtime mayor Charles L. Walker, will be the first of its kind in Atoka, officials said. "We think it's something we'll enjoy," Walker said while giving remarks Friday. "In a few years you'll come back and not know the place." Situated on more than 90 acres, the park will house two multipurpose fields for soccer and football, among other activities, as well as a playground and walking trail. Construction of the park will be partially funded by a grant
This year alone, local rescue organizations have saved more than 300 dogs. In operation since September 2007, Dogs 2nd Chance has saved approximately 140 dogs across the Mid-South this year. And since March, Covington Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) has saved 139 dogs from the Covington pound. Non-profit organizations, both were founded on the premise of saving shelter dogs, fostering them and finding them good homes. “We know we can’t save them
all. We won’t be able to find home for all of them, but we can make a big dent,” said CARE founder Sarah Sullivan. Several of the dogs rescued by Sullivan have found forever homes here in the Mid-South and even as far away as New England. Two of her dogs have even joined the law enforcement ranks. Esme, a deaf dog who was one of her earlier rescues, recently became a narcotics dog and has done really well, much SEE SHELTER, PAGE A3
Cable barriers under construction on Hwy. 51 By ECHO DAY eday@covingtonleader.com BRIGHTON – In an effort to make Tipton County safer for motorists, construction crews have been installing new equipment along Highway 51 South in Brighton. New cable barrier rails are being constructed north of Brighton, near Jack Bennett Road, a Tennessee Department of Transportation official has confirmed. "TDOT's mission is to provide the
traveling public the safest roadways possible," said community relations specialist Nichole Lawrence. "These cable barrier rails are a safety feature approved by the Federal Highway Administration that are being erected throughout Tennessee." The barriers, which are designed to prevent accidents on multilane divided highways, are being installed in areas with a high-rate of crossover accidents. Lawrence said a half-mile length SEE CONSTUCTION, PAGE A2
Photo by ECHO DAY
Atoka Mayor Charles Walker, second from right, makes a few remarks prior to the groundbreaking of Walker Park, which will be located near the intersection of Walker Parkway and Meade Lake Road
received last year. County executive Jeff Huffman said the park is a good example of the government and private entities working together. "This partnership shows that even in a bad economy we can get things done," he said. In August 2008,
the Town of Atoka was awarded a $400,000 grant from the Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation. A matching grant, the town was required to have assets matching $400,000 to be contributed to the construction of the park; SEE PARK, PAGE A2
Area events
This week’s week’s Featured This featuredChurch: church: Covington • Barretville • Millington • Collierville South Tipton • South Covington Morgage Offices: South Tipton • Millington • Arlington • Collierville
FRONT.indd 1
River of Life Assembly of God
Area events 12/18 - 19, 7 p.m. The Standards The Ruffin Theater
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