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Volume 110, Number 45, Wednesday, March 27, 2013
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Traffic stop leads to major drug bust
APRIL 2013
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ADAMS THROWS NO HITTER McNairy Central Baseball crushes Middleton PAGE 1B
A traffic stop on North Mulberry Avenue in Selmer last Saturday night led officers to a large haul of drugs. In the end, two suspects were arrested and officers seized nearly 3/4-pound of marijuana, 1/4-ounce of cocaine, a loaded handgun and pills believed to be Hydrocodone. According to the incident report from the Selmer Police Department, the bust began when Sgt. Robert Pipkins stopped a white Pontiac Bonneville driven by Edward J. Pollard of Guys at the entrance of America’s Best Inn. A computer check of Pollard’s driver’s license revealed that it was revoked due to a previous DUI conviction in 2012. A resulting search of Pollard’s vehicle turned up a loaded Glock 9 mm pistol, two small bags believed to be marijuana, bag containing a large amount of what is believed to be cocaine, two smaller bags with a similar white powder and four blue tablets marked Watson 540, thought to be Hydrocodone. Following Pollard’s arrest, Pipkins then went to America’s Best Inn to search for his room. According to the report, Pipkins was directed to room 220 by the hotel manager. When the door to the room was opened Pipkins reported smelling both burnt and raw marijuana com-
Submitted Photos
(Above) Selmer Police display marijuana seized from a guest at America’s Best Inn in Selmer. One suspect was arrested at the hotel, and officers secured $1,200 in cash and more than 11.6 ounces of the green stuff. (Left) Just minutes before the hotel room arrest, officers find cocaine and a loaded gun during a traffic stop on a suspect leaving that location.
See DRUG BUST, 4A
Local Easter celebrations get hopping Students from Ms. Christy Perkins’ McNairy County Pilot PreK class lead by substitute teacher Patsy Pearson and assistants Tammy Kelly and Charles Randolph get into the Easter spirit with an Easter egg hunt at the Selmer City Park last Wednesday. The students met with the Easter Bunny before the hunt and practiced their counting skills during the hunt with each student searching for a designated number of eggs. Pearson, who is also the supervisor of Adult Education, encouraged parents to turn in their Pre-K registration forms now.
JESUS CARES OPENS ADAMSVILLE STORE Main Street store opens to support transitional housing
Read our special event listing of upcoming Easter events in the McNairy County area. SEE PAGE 11A
PAGE 2A
Staff Photos by Christen Coulon
arrest former Bethel Mayor Happy Deputies Smith accused of driving on license suspended during Reagan Administration Easter! By Jeff Whitten
Be sure to check out our Easter Events on Page 11A.
Head News Writer
Former Bethel Springs Mayor Norma J. Smith, who has been back in the public eye recently stepping in to help coordinate the town’s recovery efforts after January’s devastating tornado, was arrested by the McNairy County Sheriff’s deputies for driving with a suspended license following a traffic stop in Bethel Springs on March 15. According to an incident report, Smith’s license appears to have been suspended for more than 25 years. Deputy Josh Gilbert observed a silver Nissan pickup truck pulling onto Main Street from Buena Vista Road in Bethel
Springs. Due to Gilbert’s prior knowledge of the suspended status of the driver, a traffic stop was conducted. Upon making contact with Smith, a check of her driver’s license status was performed. At that time, Gilbert determined that Smith’s license had been suspended for more than a quarter of a century. The report shows that her license was suspended on Jan. 28, 1987 for failure to file insurance after conviction. Smith was then taken into custody and transported to McNairy County Jail in Selmer. She was released on her own recognizance and will have her day in General Sessions Court on April 25. When contacted by this publication, Smith declined comment on the matter.
SMITH
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