MILLEDGEVILLE POST OFFICE SLATED TO CLOSE, 3A
THREE METH BUSTS IN COUNTY, 3A
Independent Appeal
SANTA CLAUS VISITS SELMER Plans to come to Adamsville next week PAGE 2A
MCHS HOSTS WAYNE CO. Bobcats swipe two from Wildcats at home. PAGE 1B
Making McNairy County headlines for more than 100 years
Volume 107, Number 29, Wednesday, December 7, 2011
County schools get report card By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
The Tennessee Department of Education released results from the 2011 state Report Card last Friday. This release included district- and schoollevel data on a variety of indicators, from student achievement and growth on standardized tests, to attendance and behavior. The report card reveals that one sub-group failed to make adequate yearly progress in one subject area. African-American students in grades three through eight failed to meet proficiency standards in reading/ language arts/writing. As a result, the county school system lost its good standing status and landed on the target list. Of the eight schools in the McNairy County school system, six are in good standing. Two schools, Selmer Elementary School and Michie Ele-
mentary School are listed as targeted schools. This is a school that misses one benchmark in at least one area. At SES and MES, economically disadvantaged students fell short of the proficiency benchmark in reading/ language arts/writing. There are no sanctions or penalties imposed on target schools. “We are concerned as a district that demographic groups of students are not progressing at the same rate as their contemporaries. We plan to study what factors contribute to the divide and seek solutions that positively impact our students. Further, we are seeking assistance from Tennessee’s First to the Top initiative to align professional development to address the identified areas,” said McNairy County Supervisor of Instruction and Assistant Director of Schools Dr. Brian Jackson. Jackson told the Independent Appeal last Monday that McNairy County
2011 Report Card Scores and Benchmarks Proficiency
Benchmark State
In a stunning revelation last week, Bloomberg Markets Magazine reported that the Federal Reserve lent banks approximately $1.2 trillion in below market rate loans on a single day in 2008 to keep some of the largest banks in the nation solvent. The Fed lent nearly $4,000 to these banks on behalf of every man, woman and child living in this nation in just one day. The loans came in the final days of the Bush administration just as the same banks were telling their investors that COULON they were not in trouble, and as the same banks were paying millions to lobbyists to block legislation that would have increased regulation in their industry, regulation designed to prevent similar bank failures in the future. In addition, at the same time these banks were failing, they spent millions on bonuses to keep the talented employees that caused this mess to begin with. In all, the Fed doled out $7.77 trillion or nearly $25,666 per U.S. citizen or more than $50,000 per U.S. taxpayer in loans to these banks during a few month span in late 2008 and early 2009, an amount so large that it is double the annual budget and triple the annual revenue for the entire U.S. Government. To make matters worse, the banks who received this money at an interest rate of roughly 0 percent were then able to take that money and lend it back to the government in the form of bonds netting the banks a profit of an estimated $13 billion. These loans represent the single largest expenditure of any government entity in the history of mankind and were basically done in secret through the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP taking three years, an act of congress and several freedom of information act requests before it was finally revealed to the public. To put this in perspective, that means that you (assuming that you are a tax paying citizen of this nation) have lent the wealthiest individuals in the nation (bankers) $50,000 in interest free loans then borrowed that money back from them, all without your knowledge or permission. And you are now expected to pay interest, which at this point is more than $100 per tax payer, on that money that you lent to them in the first place. If you think this is fair, please stop by our offices at the Independent Appeal. In addition to being a journalist I am thinking of opening my own lending business using this same business model. I will loan you any amount of money for a very low interest rate provided you put up the same amount up front as interest free collateral. (The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Independent Appeal, its publisher of staff.)
40%
41%
42%
K-8 Reading/Language Arts
49%
54%
54%
9-12 Math
44%
55%
57%
9-12 Reading/Language Arts
61%
69%
70%
The report showed that county students matched or exceeded the state average in each of the four academic content areas: math, reading/language arts, social studies and science. County students from kindergarten to high school seniors matched or exceeded benchmarks, and the
See SCHOOLS, 4A
By Christen Coulon Editor Staff Photo by Christen Coulon
Barricades were recently installed at the Dollar General in Selmer. The city installed the barricades in an attempt to improve driver safety.
Selmer takes steps to improve driving safety By Christen Coulon Editor
dea.gov
A demonstration photo from the Drug Enforcement Agency shows confiscated crack cocaine. substance on the ground as he ran. Lowrance said that he retrieved the bag and continued his pursuit of Nathan. The officers caught up with the suspect at a nearby treeline where he surrendered without incident. The white substance field tested positive for crack cocaine and weighed in at 21.3 grams. Lowrance estimated the street value of the crack to be approximately $2,000. Nathan is charged with possession of a schedule II controlled substance with intent to sell and deliver, driving with a suspended license (first offense), and resisting arrest. He was also issued a citation for seatbelt and headlight violations.
The City of Selmer has taken proactive steps to prevent accidents at the South Y Intersection where Court Avenue splits into Poplar and Mulberry Avenues. At issue, is the south entrance of Dollar General where many cars make illegal left turns onto Poplar leaving the store and illegal left turns into the store from Court. The issue was brought to the attention of the city after numerous minor accidents occurred at the intersection and several citations were
issued by officers to motorists making illegal turns. Once the city was aware of the problem, the mayor, street superintendent and police department met to come up with a solution to this problem, said Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks. The city barricaded the south entrance of the Dollar General, which would prevent cars from turning onto Poplar or making an illegal left at the split as a solution to this problem. “We talked to the state and they said that if it poses a risk to traffic
See BARRICADES, 3A
Staff Photos by Christen Coulon and Jeff Whitten
Recent accidents at Selmer’s North and South Y intersections illustrate the need for drivers to use caution when negotiating these areas.
Adamsville moves on in the aftermath of devastating fire By Andrew Alexander Sports Writer
The fire that claimed three of Adamsville’s downtown businesses may not have taken any lives, but it certainly took a lot from the residents and employees of the town. “We were a big family,” said Michelle Geiger, Saw Meal owner. “It’s just a shock, and that word isn’t even big enough to describe it.” Christmas is only a few weeks away and the devastation of the fire has left many unemployed. Saw Meal Restaurant’s 38 employees are now without work and many will collect unemployment. “Everyone that worked there had to work,” said Geiger. “Nobody worked for fun.” One employee, 70-year-old Maylene Barber, has worked on main street in some capacity for the last 52 years. Each business owner who suffered a loss in the fire is anxiously awaiting the Fire Marshal and insurance inspectors to finish their investigations before cleanup can begin and for the estimates on the damages to be made. Geiger says they are looking, with the assistance of the City of Adamsville, for a new building to open in temporarily and has not ruled out rebuilding at the former location. Likewise for the owners and operators of Bob’s Heating and Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Services, The Tanning Alley and The Academy: School of Dance and Gymnastics. “We’re definitely going to re-open,” said The
Academy’s instructor Jennifer Lee Leckner. “I don’t know if it will be in the same place, but we will reopen.” Leckner says dance classes are still on and are being held at the Adamsville Community Center as they prepare for a dance competition in Nashville Saturday, Dec. 10. The dancers are also still preparing for their Christmas recital, which has been pushed back “a few weeks.” According to Leckner, many churches in town have opened their doors and offered their facilities to The Academy’s students. “I just want to say thank you for the concern from the community and the willingness to help from the parents of the dancers,” said Leckner. “They’ve been great in understanding and offering their help and support. (The fire) is such a terrible thing, but great things keep coming from it.” The community’s concern and support has been extended to Saw Meal as well. “It’s just been unbelievable,” said Geiger. “A lot of people really want to help.” Hardin County Bank is taking up donations from individuals who feel compelled to help out. The bank will also be adopting a family and providing them with clothes and gifts during the holiday season. Churches and other businesses in Adamsville are following suit by adopting families effected by the fire as well. Assistance is also being offered by the Carl Perkins Center of McNairy County. The center will offer Christmas and emergency assistance for employees that cannot work right now, according to County Di-
By Christen Coulon Editor
DTF agents make crack arrest in Adamsville Investigators from the McNairy County Drug Task force arrested a man for possession of crack cocaine last Friday night during a traffic stop on Highway 64 in Adamsville. Investigators Jamie Lowrance, Lynn Ingle and James Frazier made the arrest following a traffic stop. “(We) noticed that the driver of the vehicle in front of (us) didn’t have his seatNATHAN belt on and after passing the vehicle noticed that the entire left headlight area was missing from the car,” Lowrance said in his incident report. “The vehicle was stopped in front of the M&M meat market in Adamsville.” The officers spoke with the driver, identified as Derick Nathan of Savannah, Tenn., and asked him to move his vehicle to an area away from traffic. According to Lowrance, Nathan moved his vehicle to a more secure area and then jumped out of his car fleeing on foot. Nathan was pursued by Lowrance and Frazier and was seen throwing a plastic bag containing a white
Backroom deal cost you $50,000 plus interest
McNairy Co.
K-8 Math
school officials are planning to meet with a group from Samford University. This group has helped Fayette County make progress in its report card, he said. Though this designation does not bring sanctions at this time, Jackson compared it to a warning flag. If the situation leading to the designation is not corrected, sanctions could result in the future.
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Coming Next Week Submitted Photo
Miraculously, a picture of Jennifer Lee Leckner, who ran The Academy: School of Dance and Gymnastics, and her daughter, Amelia Leckner dancing lies on the sidewalk as it somehow escaped the fire and “put things into perspective on what really matters in life.” rector Luke DeLa Vergne. “The Carl Perkins Center will be happy to assist
See FIRE, 4A
The next installment of our continuing feature series on the Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year Banquet awardees. Next Week: Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Sheriff Guy Buck. The Independent Appeal investigates the state of animal rescue resources in McNairy County.
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