Remembering Sept. 11...A decade removed, 2a
Vandals sack Bethel Cemetary 3A
Independent Appeal
County Showdown
Measuring America
AHS wins third straight against MCHS PAGE 1A
McNairy County grows but jobs do not PAGE 4A
Making McNairy County headlines for more than 100 years
www.independentappeal.com 50¢
Volume 107, Number 17, Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Selmer Bank Robbery By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
The Selmer branch of SouthBank was robbed last Tuesday morning. The suspect was described as a white male wearing khaki pants.
Staff Photo by Jeff Whitten
SouthBank’s Selmer branch was robbed last Tuesday morning. The suspect who was not in custody as of press time, was described as a white male wearing khaki pants. The suspect left the bank with an undisclised amount of money and the investigation as to his identy and location are ongoing. Officers of the Selmer Police Department, assisted by the McNairy County Sheriff’s Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded. Further details were unavailable at press time. For updates on this story check our FaceBook this week and for complete coverage read next week’s issue of the Independent Appeal.
Probation sentence APMC defaults on lease in deadly assault Future of Adamsville factory uncertain By Jeff Whitten
By Jeff Whitten Head News Writer
The City of Adamsville served American Powersports Manufacturing Corp. with a Notice of Default on Lease Thursday, Mayor David Leckner told the Independent Appeal. “We had high hopes for them,” he said. Leckner and APMC CEO Don Hopper both confirmed that the company only paid $2,000 of a $3,000 rent payment that was due under a contract with the city. Hopper said he couldn’t get liability insurance on the building because it wasn’t up to code. He also said APMC never got occupancy of the top floor. Leckner said that the city had performed all obligations under the contract. He said that the city had until Sept. 3 to remove all occupants of the third
floor of the old Garan building, where the APMC facility was to be located and had done so, except for material that APMC had agreed to allow to remain there. The city was right on schedule in its performance of the contract, Leckner said. APMC never occupied the top floor, as required by the lease, he said. Another reason Hopper cited for failing to make the payment is that transformers to the building were replaced with smaller ones he could not use. Leckner said that the transformers had been there since the 1950s and were replaced by the kind of transformers that Pickwick Electric Cooperative has routinely used to replace other outmoded transformers. “I sincerely apologize to all those that had their hopes up that we had an industry that would bring jobs here,” Leckner said.
The Adamsville Mayor said the town would not cease in its efforts to bring jobs to the town. According to Hopper, the company only has 12 to 15 employees and has no manufacturing operations and has never had them. When asked what assets the company had, Hopper said that it had 148 Huawin motorcycles, some prototypes and warehouses in Norcross, Ga. and Garland, Texas. Hopper said that his repair facilities included the former Fastenal facility in Adamsville, but a call to the facility resulted in a message that the number had been disconnected. Hopper promised to fax documentation on the company to the Independent Appeal but this information has not been forthcoming at press time. For more information on APMC visit www. apmcusa.com.
Head News Writer
Stanley Alexander was sentenced to six years at 30 percent, all on probation, for aggravated assault on Sept. 2 by McNairy County Circuit Court Judge J. Weber McCraw. This means he will spend 30 percent of six years or less than two years on probation. Alexander was convicted in June in connection with the death of John Burkhead. He was charged with manslaughter but acquitted of that charge by a jury. His attorney, Carthel Smith had argued that Alexander should be acquitted of all charges because he acted in self-defense. Both Alexander and Burkhead were neighbors
in Milledgeville. Aggravated assault is a lesser included charge of manslaughter. This crime is defined under Tennessee law as intentionally, knowingly or recklessly committing an assault against another person and either causing serious bodily injury or using or displaying a deadly weapon. Assault is defined as knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another, creating a reasonable fear of it or intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact that a reasonable person would regard as extremely offensive or provocative. Under state law, aggravated assault can be either a Class C or Class D Felony, carrying penalties of between two and 15 years imprisonment.
Selmer set for Main Street Music Fest a success Broomcorn Festival By Andrew Alexander Assistant Editor
By Amber Price Staff writer
The 16th annual McNairy County Broomcorn Festival will take place Saturday, at the Selmer City Park. The event, which has been a yearly tradition in Selmer for the past 15 years, is sponsored by Hockaday Handmade Brooms, along with Arts in McNairy
and McNairy Regional Alliance. The festival will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. According to Jack Martin, owner of Hockaday Handmade Brooms, “Education is the mainstay of the event.” The festival strives to promote folk artists and teach people about the traditional meth-
See broomcorn, 3A
File Photo
Jack Martin, founder of the Broomcorn Festival, assembles one of his signature products at Hockaday Handmade Brooms.
The streets of Adamsville were alive with the sound of music last Saturday while the Main Street Music Festival was in full swing, offering a bevy of entertaining ventures for the whole family. “There were a lot of people and we were very happy with the turnout,” said Secretary of the Adamsville Partnership Renee Moss. “We had some great bands and everybody enjoyed the music all day.” Vendors and merchants lined Main Street selling goods, food, and simply enjoyed the wholesome family environment of the festival. The headlining group The 1-900 Band had many in attendance on their feet, dancing to the tunes and having a wonderful time. Other groups performing included Bo Jack Killingsworth and the Rockabilly Band, The Myxx, and Riverstone. Tammy Daniels of Adamsville United Methodist Church led a conglomeration of choir singers from multiple churches around the area in an “All Sing.” Cyber Tech on Main Street held a Guitar Hero contest Saturday afternoon. David Prince won and took home the $75 grand prize. Marty Estes placed second taking home $50, and Za’kerrigan Wallace rounded out the top three and walked away with a $25 prize for her efforts. MA MA Fia’s Cafe put on a competitive eating contest in front of the main stage. All five competitors were vying to become the Big Whack Champion by consuming a one pound “Big Whack” sandwich loaded with steak, chicken, Italian sausage, veggies, and bourbon sauce. Terry Taylor won the title, but there are no losers in an eating competition.
like this? Find more photos on our Facebook Page.
Staff Photo by Andrew Alexander
The 1-900 Band performs their rendition of Young MC’s “Bust a Move” Saturday night during the headlining event as Adamsvillians danced with delight. Jennifer Leckner and Jermaine Chap- champion, Jill Brasher, did not return to pell of the Academy, School of Dance and defend her title in this year’s music festiGymnastics, put on a dance competition val, and Rhonda Browder took full advanin front of the main stage later in the af- tage, winning the race by several seconds. ternoon. The contest originally had seven Veronica Miller placed second, and crowd groups competing, but several dropped out favorite, Mildred Pettigrew rounded out the by the time the event began. The Adams- top three. ville High School cheerleaders won, making The fourth year of the annual festival them Adamsville’s best dancers. proved to be one of the best as the AdamsThe race for Adamsville’s “Fastest Man” ville Partnership, responsible for putting was won by Onri Damron, a sophomore on the Main Street Music Festival, outdid at AHS. In second place was A.J. Damron, themselves with the help of sponsors and former athletic standout at AHS, and third all involved in making the day possible. place went to Jack Majors, a freshman at “See the people of Adamsville out there AHS. All three took home prizes for their ac- dancing was my favorite part,” said Moss. complishments. “There were a lot more people out dancing Last year’s defending High Heel Race than we thought there would be.”
z Courtroom 5A z Obituaries 6A z Opinion 7A z Events 8A z Community 8A z Lifestyles 8A z Sports 1A z Campus 6B z Classifieds 8B Wed - 88/60 Isolated T-Storm
Thu - 74/51 T-Showers
Fri - 77/50 Sunny
Sat - 81/55 Partly Sunny
Sun - 81/56 Isolated T-Storm
Follow us on Facebook © 2011 Independent Appeal