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Making McNairy County headlines for more than 111 years
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Volume 111, Number 31, Wednesday, December 18, 2013
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48-PAGE CHRISTMAS 31st Annual Shopping Spree: All about the smiles SPECIAL XXX
PAGE XX v INDEPENDENT APPEAL
By Christen Coulon Managing Editor
WEDNESDAY, XXXXXX
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4th Grade
Skye Smith - SES
Christmas
The McNairy County Children’s Shopping Spree marked its 31st year of providing McNairy County children in need with Christmas presents. Last Monday at the Selmer Walmart, round after round of happy children from area schools poured into the store, escorted by McNairy Central National Honor Society Students and volunteers to pick out new clothes and a few presents for Christmas. This long running Christmas tradition is directed by local resident Jack Cheshier, who said the organization served more than 325 area children this year. Many area children will have a brighter Christmas thanks to the program’s efforts which rely on student volunteers and donations from local businesses and individuals. “This is a wonderful thing to see each year,” Cheshier said. “The event provides assistance to the needy children at all of the elementary schools in the county.” McNairy Central Seniors Madison Roach and Averi Alda spoke with the Independent Appeal as they helped local student (who we will call) “Ashley” pick out presents for the Christmas holiday. “It’s good to help them out, and I realize now that when I become older I want to help kids,” Alda said. Roach and Alda were able to find a perfect winter coat for Ashley before picking out shoes and a toy. “It’s pretty cool,” Ashley said. The event is open to all children in need and there is no form to fill out to participate. Each school determines
5th Grade
Making seasons bright for more than 111 years
Volume 111, Number 31, Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Kylee Brown - BSES D Section
Honorable Mention Art Selections 6th Grade
4th Grade 4th Grade Nathaniel Overman - SES - SES Nathanial Overman
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Rane Moffitt BSES
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Arianna King - SES
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24-pages filled with Letters to Santa, Christmas artwork and Essays from McNairy County children
INSIDE THIS WEEK Bill would expand Shiloh Park into McNairy County
Staff Photo by Christen Coulon
McNairy Central Senior Madison Roach helps a local student pick out a new winter coat during this year’s shopping spree last Monday.
See SHOPPING SPREE, 3A
By Christen Coulon Managing Editor
TIS THE SEASON The IA Looks at some of this week’s Christmas events
PAGE 2A
CARDINAL ALL-STARS Neary named West defensive MVP
PAGE 3B
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Next week’s issue of the Independent Appeal will arrive in stores on Dec. 23 and will be delivered locally on Dec. 24. The Independent Appeal office will be Closed on Dec. 24 & 25 in observation of the Christmas holiday. The deadline for submission of content and ads for this issue will be Fri. Dec. 20 at 5 p.m.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) recently introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate which would add four Tennessee Civil War Battlefields into the National Park System. This bill would expand The Shiloh National Battlefield Park to include two McNairy County Battlefields: at Davis Bridge near Big Hill Pond and at Fallen Timbers near Michie. Alexander's staff said that the legislation was also introduced in U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Marsha Blackburn. Last Wednesday, Alexander announced that he introduced legislation that would expand the boundary of Shiloh National Military Park to include three Civil War battlefields in Tennessee and designate Parker’s Crossroads as an affiliated area of the National Park System. U.S. Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-Brentwood) introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year. “As Americans, we have a special obligation to preserve and protect our heritage,” Alexander said. “Including these Civil War battlefields in the National Park System will honor that commitment, while providing an opportunity to attract more visitors to Tennessee and encourage the local economies.” “I am pleased to be working with Senator Alexander in preserving this important piece of our national history,” Blackburn said. “Tennessee played a vital role in the Civil War and it’s important that we remember those who lost their lives on these hallowed grounds while fighting for what they believed in. This legislation will preserve our history for future generations and encourage all to travel to West Tennessee to see it firsthand.” The legislation would designate battlefields at Davis Bridge and Fallen Timbers in Tennessee, and Russell House (which is in Tennessee and Mississippi) as part of Shiloh National Military Park. It will also include Parker’s Crossroads of Tennessee in the National Park System. The National Park Service has already determined these battlefields are nationally significant and in need of preservation and protection, and the majority of the land included in this legislation is currently owned by the State
Staff Photo by Janet Rail
Blue Gray Alliance members participate in a reenactment during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh in April 2012. Many of the events during the reenactment took place in eastern McNairy County just a short distance from the proposed park expansion at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. Legislation is being introduced in both houses of congress to incorporate this site and two others into the Shiloh National Battlefield Park. The legislation would also add Davis Bridge, which also sits in McNairy County and Russell House, which is in Tennessee and Mississippi, to the park. of Tennessee or the Civil War Trust, which would speed the process of including these areas in the system. In April 2012, during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh, the Civil War Trust joined with the National Park Service and State of Tennessee to announce the preservation of 925 acres on the Shiloh Battlefield including 267 acres at the Fallen Timbers site in McNariy County as well as the transfer of 167 acres from the Trust to the park and the launch of a $1.25 million campaign to preserve an additional 491 acres inside the park. The McNairy County lands at Fallen
Timbers are currently within the care of the Civil War Trust and are not part of the park. Mary Koik, a Civil War Trust representative said that the long term goal is for all of the preserved lands to eventually be placed in the hands of the American people. “We believe that every acre we save is an investment in our country's future. There can be no more lasting and fitting tribute than protecting the sites where the war’s outcome was decided — the battlefields themselves,” said Trust President James Lighthizer. “As a permanent and meaning-
See SHILOH EXPANSION, 3A
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