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Volume 111, Number 10, Wednesday, July 24, 2013
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Missing man found in Chester Co.
Gary and Lisa would like to say thank you to our customers for our busiest year ever.
By Jeff Whitten and Christen Coulon
We will be moving to a bigger location to better serve the needs of our customers.
A search for Smith began last week following these reports; however, no word on his location surfaced until a Chester County hunter stumbled upon Smith walking out of the woods last Saturday. Hitchborn said that Smith was wearing only a shirt and boxer shorts when found and that he seemed confused. “He told the man who found him, ‘they tried to kill me,’” Hitchborn said. Smith had minor injuries when found and has since been transported to a hospital in Huntsville, Ala. for treatment of a possible head injury, Hitchborn said. “As soon as he is released, we will interview him,” Hitchborn said. No evidence has surfaced to suggest foul play in Smith’s disappearance, Hitchborn said. Smith’s cycle is still missing, and this case is still under investigation. “I don’t think we will ever know what really happened,” Hitchborn said. Anyone having knowledge of this case should call the sheriff’s department at (731) 645-1004 or 1005.
Head News Writer
An Alabama man missing since July 12 was found wandering in his boxer shorts and a shirt in a Chester County field last Saturday. According to McNairy County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Robert Hitchborn, witnesses had reported that Randall D. Smith left Bethel Springs for his home in Florence, Ala. on July 12. Two days later, Smith’s girlfriend, Thenia Allen, reported that she had not seen him since, according to the sheriff’s incident report. Allen provided Deputy Ricky Finley with Smith’s cell phone number. Finley called this number several times, and it went to voice mail. Chris Hadley, also of Bethel Springs, reported to Finley that he had helped Smith push his Honda 1100 V Star motorcycle out of a carport and said Smith put on his helmet, got on the motorcycle and rode off. Allen told Finley that Hadley’s neighbor had later found Smith’s helmet on the side of the road on July 13 and brought it to Hadley, thinking it was his.
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Inside this week Burglary call ends with family charged for growing marijuana By Christen Coulon Managing Editor
A routine burglary call on July 15 ended with police charging four family members living at that location with drug charges. Officers arrived at a home on Highway 22 in Michie to investigate a burglary call at the home of Cynthia Layton. Layton, age 52, told officers that she had returned home to find her front window broken and a window in the rear of the home open. A Playstation 3 belonging to Layton was found outside the house. Deputy Christopher Williams and Sgt. Steve Ellsworth who responded to the call then followed a trail on the property to a wood line behind the house, where they discovered seven plants they believed to be marijuana. Layton told officers that the planters in which the marijuana was growing were hers, but she said that the plants did not belong to her.
Headed for the big easy? MCHS Percussion Band holds fundraiser
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Cynthia Layton
lewis Layton
Layton then consented to a search of the home where officers discovered what they believed to be 100 marijuana seeds and a glass pipe. Layton was charged with illegal manufacture of marijuana. Additionally, Layton’s three family members who were not at home, her husband, Lewis Layton, 56, her son, Michael Layton, 19, and
michael Layton
her daughter Sherri Layton, 27, were all charged with illegal manufacture of marijuana. Michael faces additional charges of possession of a schedule VI substance, and Sherri faces additional charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. A court date of Aug. 8 has been set for Cynthia, Lewis and Michael. No court date for Sherri was available as of press time.
Savannah couple indicted for murder By Jeff Whitten
a fast food restaurant. He found his mother dead when he came back and called 911, staying on the line until Mitchell arrived. The Violent Crime Response Team from the Memphis Crime Lab responded and gathered evidence from the scene. TBI agents believe that Alexander was murdered between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. March 10. In the investigation, which was also assisted by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department, evidence of a strained relationship between Alexander and the Knights was uncovered. Alexander allegedly expressed a desire to move and change her will in regards to Christopher Knight, who admitted using his mother’s debit card to withdraw $60 from her account, Savannah Police Chief Donald Derr said. The Knights were arrested on March 11, Derr said. They were booked into the Hardin County Jail. Christopher Knight’s bail was set at $1 million, and Tonya Knight’s bail was set at $500,000. The 24th Judicial District Attorney’s Office requested that the TBI assist in the investigation.
Head News Writer
Christopher King Knight and wife Tonya Knight, who is originally from Adamsville, were indicted on July 16 by the Hardin County Grand Jury for first degree murder, according to the Hardin County Circuit Clerk’s office. They are charged with killing Christoper’s mother, Peggy Alexander, 71, also of Savannah, Tenn. On March 10, Christopher Knight called the police around 9 a.m. and reported that he found his mother dead in the home they shared, according to the Savannah Police Department. Knight told Sgt. Mark Mitchell of the Savannah police that the last time he saw his mother alive was around 11:30 the previous night. Knight also said it was not unusual for him not to see his mother for a day or two despite the fact that they live in the same house and their rooms were next to each other. Knight told Mitchell that he had left the house that morning, went to the bank to get some money and then ate breakfast at
1000 acre lake opens in west tn Man-made lake opens in Southern Carroll County
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back to school McNairy County Adult Education is staying put Savings... By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
GED classes will remain at their previous building at the Industrial Park, according to Wayne/Hardin/McNairy County Adult Education Supervisor Ryan Franks. Franks said he would meet Wednesday with County Mayor Ronnie Brooks, Director of Schools Charlie Miskelly and former Mc-
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Nairy County AE Supervisor Patsy Pearson in order to discuss the final details of the program. Classes start next week, Franks said. About eight people have signed up for the test Monday. “We’re planning on getting started next week,” Franks said. Franks and Micki Greer will serve as instructors.
Franks declined to provide specifics on funding levels for the three counties and McNairy County alone. “We’re excited to finally have a location to have classes...We’re just excited and ready to get to work and to help as many people in McNairy County as we can,” Franks said. Adult Ed will be joined by the Pilot Pre-K and McNairy County Individualized Graduation programs in the building.
The McNairy County Adult Education program will soon begin renewed services at their original location. Yellow
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