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News Headlines
Wednesday, June 1, 2005
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Relay for Life Promises Fun for All This Weekend |
It's the event of the year in Carroll County as young and
old turn out for Relay for Life, scheduled for this Friday
evening at City Park in McKenzie. Relay for Life is a
fun-filled event that celebrates survivorship while raising
much needed funds for cancer research, education, advocacy
and patient services.
Teams will fire up their grills at 5:00 p.m. at which time
guests will also begin to arrive, with survivor check-in and
reception from 6 until 7 p.m. Entertainment starts at 6:00
with opening ceremonies scheduled for 7:00, hosted by emcee
Wayne Bannister. Honorary chairpersons are Kaye Gilliam and
Beverly Ellis. Don't miss their inspiring stories of faith,
hope, and endurance buttressed by the love of community and
family.
The fun, carnival atmosphere of Relay for Life is
accentuated by the emotional celebration of advances in the
fight against cancer, which is never more apparent than when
cancer survivors take their places to walk the ceremonial,
first lap around a course highlighted by glowing luminaria
in honor of those whose fight continues or in memory of
loved ones whose race has ended. Caregivers will also be
honored with a special lap.
Entertainment lasts until 10 p.m. with a variety of
performances scheduled including music provided by Lexie
Bolin; The Napoleon Dynamite Wannabes (Harris Laughrey, Ben
Roger, and Tyler Watson); Jessica Neisler; and the Long Shot
Band. The Calvary Tabernacle Drama Team will also perform
and Wayne Bannister will have the audience rolling as he
presents his homespun, southern-bred alter ego, "Bubba".
The fun continues with team events taking place all night
long.
Folks will want to come for supper and save room for dessert
as teams offer an astounding variety of good food from
southern home cooking and barbecue bologna to delightful
Hawaiian grilled chicken and fresh fruit kabobs.
A rock climbing wall, mechanical bull, pony rides and
petting zoo are just a few of the activities, games, and
give-aways to look forward to. Best of all is the fellowship
enjoyed community-wide as friends, old and new, discover
each other at this popular event.
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Veterans Decorate Graves |
Decorating the graves of
veterans at Mount Olivet Cemetery in McKenzie are veterans
Aaron Robertson, Army; Tom Nolen, Jr. Navy, and Mayor Walter
Winchester, Air Force. The three are pictured at the grave
of veteran Regel Baker who died last year.
Veterans of all ages gathered Sunday morning for the annual
fellowship breakfast provided by the American Legion Post 37
of McKenzie, after which they disbursed to local graveyards
to place some 750 American flags on the graves of their
deceased brethren. Guests enjoyed a delicious country ham,
eggs and biscuit breakfast plus gravy, bacon, sausage,
danish, french toast, and strawberries.
The crowd assembled at the Catfish Restaurant May 29 on the
eve of Memorial Day was increasingly youthful as successive
generations realize their duty of honor to those who went
before them in service to their country. Veterans of World
War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and America's current
conflict were represented in those present, as well as
peacetime veterans who nevertheless heeded their country's
call to service.
Commander Bailey Wrinkle welcomed the group for breakfast
and asked that a few moments of silence be rendered in
respect for their departed comrades prior to pray offered by
chaplain Karl Barlow. Barlow gave thanks for those who paid
the ultimate sacrifice and asked that God always bless
America, as well as for the safety of current servicemen and
women and the wisdom of legislators.
Wrinkle presented those in attendance with up to date
roadmaps of Tennessee, a summary of VA benefits and bumper
stickers proclaiming, "Support Our Troops". He stressed the
importance of continuing the legacy of veterans who meet
each year to decorate the graves of veterans and invited all
to join the American Legion. Among other services performed
by the group were the provision of 500 flags to citizens
upon the deployment to Iraq of the McKenzie National Guard
unit, assistance in maintaining the flag display along
College Drive, the donation of flags to the Tennessee State
Veterans' Home in Humboldt, and the sponsorship of a local
soccer team.
Missed were members Wrinkle said were on "the sick list",
including Aaron Roberts, Ralph Walker, Eddie Lankford, and
Everett McBride.
He welcomed Robert Gulledge, a member of Company A, 230th
Engineers in McKenzie, who was home on leave from Iraq, and
noted George Nolen, a member of the Dyersburg unit currently
stationed in Kuwait, had been recently home as well.
The meal concluded, the veterans left for Shiloh, Memorial
Gardens, and Mount Olivet cemeteries to pay homage to
deceased veterans.
Robert Gulledge, a member of
Company A, 230th Engineer Battalion home on leave from Iraq,
converses with World War II veteran Jack Fitzgerald. In the
background is veterans Max Manley and Oscar Owen.
Air Force veterans Dana Deem,
Tan-Gee Deem and Donna Martin decorate the grave of Edward
Thomas, who was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps
during World War II.
McKenzie Mayor Walter
Winchester (foreground) calls out names and locations of
veteran's graves while Tom Nolen (left) and Bailey Wrinkle
assist.
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Huntingdon Says "Thank You" |
A.W.O.L. performs behind a
display recognizing all the wars in which Carroll County
soldiers have been involved. A bouquet of white carnations
trimmed with patriotic ribbon was placed in the basket by
members of the Church of Christ youth.
"Thank you" was the simple but eloquent message imparted
Monday evening by the Honorable Walton West to a patriotic
crowd gathered on the grounds of Thomas Park in solemn
celebration of Memorial Day.
West grew up in Huntingdon a lifelong, personal friend to
Mayor Dale Kelley, who also grew up on Paris Street. A
graduate of Huntingdon High School, West was educated at the
University of Tennessee School of Law and was a captain in the
United States Air Force during the Vietnam era. A former
General Sessions judge who retired as chancellor in 1998, West
now works as an attorney in Huntingdon. His wife is Cindy and
his son is John West.
He admitted, "There are no words to adequately describe the
extent and depth of our obligation and gratitude to our
service men and women" who gave their lives for the cause of
America's freedom.
"Words," he said, "are inadequate to describe the feeling for
those who died for you and me; the value of a person's life...
they are as the tinkling of a cymbal."
We can build memorials to them and thank their families for
their sacrifice but we cannot bring them back, he said. "About
the best we can do is respect their memory... They are why
we're here as free man and women."
From all walks of life, he said, those dead "were willing to
endure a final separation from family and friends... They had
one thing in common: love and loyalty to their country.
"They must not be allowed to have died in vain," he declared.
"Each generation must protect the freedoms paid for by those
before us. Continued vigilance itself is a way of honoring
those we remember today."
He also stressed loyalty to veterans, especially those
disabled in service to their country, and decried "leeches"
who demand many freedoms but "are unwilling to pay any price
at all-not even a pittance-when others gave their lives for
our freedom.
"It's up to us to insure we as a nation do not forget our
national heroes and not take for granted what they've done for
us," he said. He spoke of mothers tearfully embracing their
returned servicemen in thanksgiving for their safe return, and
of the "untold thousands" who did not return, the tears of
their mothers soaking the pillows of beds from generation upon
generation.
He concluded that the simple but repeated and heartfelt "thank
you" was as much as we could hope to speak in recompense for
the lives lost for freedom and the sacrifices made by all
service men and women.
Prior to West's remarks, Kelley welcomed the audience and
declared Memorial Day an occasion to "remember those who died
in service to America and to honor veterans and those
currently serving in the armed services, and a time to
celebrate the patriotism that binds us together as a nation."
He recognized veterans present as well as the widows of
veterans, former prisoners of war, and active duty service men
and women. Each was presented a fragrant red carnation.
UT Knoxville voice major and Huntingdon resident Jessica
Tucker sang the national anthem and Henry Simpson, First
Baptist Huntingdon minister of music, delivered the opening
prayer and performed the trumpet solo of "Amazing Grace" and
"Taps".
Simpson's Amazing Grace solo was treated by veterans, who
stood at its playing, as respectfully as the national anthem
and "Taps".
In his prayer, Simpson recognized God as the author of freedom
and thanked Him for those men and women who gave their lives
for their fellow man.
Members of the A.W.O.L. (All Walks of Life) men's vocal
ensemble were Larry Thomason, Dr. Lee Carter, Buster Barger,
Dr. Billy Webb, Dr. Tim Tucker, Johnny Clement, Bob Newman,
and Dr. Kevin Wheatley. The group sang "Heal Our Land", "We
Say Thank You", "Let There Be Peace on Earth", "America the
Beautiful", and "This Land is Your Land".
Unbidden, the crowd joined A.W.O.L. in singing "America the
Beautiful" and, perhaps symbolically of the rejuvenation of
the nation following wars' renewed blessing of freedom,
reacted jubilantly to the upbeat performance of "This Land Is
Your land" while veterans remained solemn in apparent respect
of their departed comrades: those fallen servicemen and women
whose lives were sacrificed for freedom, and those currently
in harm's way in foreign lands.
Members of Huntingdon's 230th Engineer Battalion, Company B
acting as color guard were Staff Sgt Princeton Yarbrough,
Staff Sgt. George Holder, and Staff Sgt Bobby Hollowell and
son, Specialist Bradley Hollowell. Those rendering the 21-gun
salute were Spec. Matthew Sikes, Sgt. Jeff Towater, Staff Sgt.
Frankie Woods, Sr., Spec. Anthony Simmons, Sgt. Mark Hedge,
Staff Sgt. Kevin Tegethoff, and Staff Sgt. Joe Payne. From the
Humboldt Guard unit was Sgt. Leonard Britt.
Henry Simpson, amid a backdrop
of veterans, prepares for his role in playing "Taps".
The 230th Engineers, Company B color guard present the colors
to open the ceremony. From left to right are Spec. Bradley
Hollowell, Staff Sgt. Bobby Hollowell, Staff Sgt. George
Holder and Staff Sgt. Princeton Yarbrough.
Brittany Lovett, a member of the Church of Christ youth
registering veterans at the service, fastens a patriotic
ribbon to the shirt of World War II Army veteran Vernon Bobo
of Trezevant, a two-time Silver Star and four-time Purple
Heart recipient.
Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride welcomes former WWII P.O.W.
Dwayne Pearson of Huntingdon to the Memorial Day service.
Elicia and John Stevens picnic with two-month-old daughter
Alexis at Thomas Park while waiting for the Memorial Day
service to begin. "It was a pretty day and Memorial Day and we
wanted to have a picnic and show our support," said the
Huntingdon couple. Elicia's brother-in-law Tommy Baker is in
service in Iraq.
The Honorable Walton West, speaker, and Mayor Dale Kelley
converse before the service begins.
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Tri-Counties Unemployment Continues Downward Trend |
By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
Unemployment rates throughout the tri-counties continued to
decline, according to latest statistics released by the
Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Carroll and Henry counties reported their lowest rates this
year, while Henry County reported its lowest rate since
February.
Carroll's jobless rate for April is 7.7 percent, down from 8.8
percent in March. From a labor force of 13,510, a total of
12,470 were employed, leaving 1,040 unemployed.
The number of persons employed in Carroll County has also
increased 300 since the first of the year. Employment figures
show 12,170 were employed in January, 12,250 in February,
12,190 in March, and 12,470 in April.
During April, Carroll County experienced slight increases in
both manufacturing and government, according to Judith
Bradberry, labor market analyst for the state.
Henry County's unemployment rate for April is 7.4 percent,
down from 8.1 percent for March. From an available work force
of 14,050, a total of 13,010 were employed and 1,040 were
unemployed.
Henry County reported small increases in goods producing and
service producing industries, said Bradberry.
Weakley County's jobless rate for April is 5.6 percent, down
from 6.4 percent for March. From a labor force of 17,260, a
total of 16,290 were employed, leaving 970 jobless.
Weakley County also experienced small increases in
manufacturing, TTU (trade, transportation and utilities), and
government.
Tennessee's unemployment rate for the month of April is 5.8
percent, the same as the seasonally adjusted March state rate
of 5.8 percent, Commissioner James Neeley stated. The national
unemployment rate for April is 5.2 percent, unchanged from the
March rate.
"From April 2004 to April 2005, the business survey shows
small growth at a gain of more than 25,000 jobs," said Neeley.
"We saw the largest gains in trade/ transportation/utility
jobs, health care/social assistance employment and
professional/business services. We are optimistic Governor
Bredesen's recently passed jobs package will encourage
employment growth in the state."
The March-to-April figures show increases in leisure and
hospitality jobs, up by 8,900. This includes a 4,000-job
increase in food services and drinking establishments.
Government jobs rose by 2,800. Month-to-month seasonal
decreases took place in clothing and clothing accessory store
jobs, down 500. Nursing and residential care facilities
employment dropped by 400, and general merchandise stores lost
300 jobs.
From April 2004 to April 2005, trade/transportation/utilities
increased by 6,400. Jobs in health care/social assistance rose
by 5,900. Professional and business services employment grew
by 4,500 jobs. Jobs decreased in nondurable goods
manufacturing by 2,100, accommodation jobs by 1,700 and
information by 1,400. |
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