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Carl Mann to Perform at Soldiers' Welcome Home
Entire community is invited to attend |
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Carl Mann will perform January 7 at the
Soldiers' welcome home ceremony at McKenzie High School.
Carl Mann, the Huntingdon native who in 1959 topped the
charts with "Mona Lisa", will perform at the soldiers'
welcome home celebration scheduled for Saturday, January
7, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the McKenzie High School
gymnasium. Bethany Ellis will also perform at the event
which will be broadcast live on WDAP radio.
Everyone is invited to come and share in the excitement
and joy as area soldiers are welcomed back into the fold
of family, friends, and community.
The community-wide party will honor the soldiers of
McKenzie's 230th Engineer Battalion, Co. A, as well as
soldiers assigned to other units, both active duty and
reserve, who have served the country in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Local troops from the Jackson-based 194th Engineering
Brigade who recently returned from active duty will also
be recognized. Soldiers, other than the 230th, from the
McKenzie area, who have returned from the war on
terrorism are urged to contact McKenzie City Hall to
ensure his or her name is on the list.
Carroll County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hurley
will emcee the event which is expected to also be
attended by state Senator Don McLeary, state
Representative Mark Maddox, county Mayor Kenny McBride
and Carroll County commissioners from the McKenzie area.
Also invited are Governor Phil Bredesen and Major
General Gus Hargett, Tennessee Adjutant General.
Following the presentation of mementos to members of the
230th and recognition of each local serviceman and woman
known to have returned from service in the gulf theater
of operations, a reception with refreshments will be
held in the school cafeteria, where those in attendance
may interact casually with the soldiers.
Bailey Moore Wrinkle, commander of McKenzie's American
Legion Post 37, announced the organization will
distribute 500 American flags among those who attend. |
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Primary Care Services Now Offered at Local Health
Department |
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By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com |
Uninsured adults in Carroll County now have access to
basic health care offered on a sliding fee scale based
on income.
On Tuesday, January 3, 39 county health departments
statewide began offering an expanded list of adult
primary care services to uninsured residents of
Tennessee, with eight more counties scheduled for
implementation later in the year.
Carroll and Weakley County began offering primary care
services Tuesday, while Henry County will begin the
service on July 1, 2006.
The expanded services, which surpass the implementation
goal and quantity set forth by the Governor's Safety Net
Task Force, are a result of funding to strengthen the
state's health care safety net, ultimately helping those
disenrolled by TennCare as well as the approximate
580,000 Tennesseans who are without health insurance.
Basic medical services will be offered on a sliding fee
scale based on income, with a $5 minimum fee for each
visit.
"Now that we have regained control of TennCare we can
turn our attention to the very real problem of the
uninsured in Tennessee," said Governor Bredesen. "Safety
net investments that increase access to primary care
services for uninsured and underinsured Tennesseans are
some of the most important we can make."
As of December, of the counties scheduled for new or
expanded primary care, implementation or expansion had
occurred in the following eight counties: Anderson,
Carter, Cheatham, Greene, Hawkins, Putnam, Roane and
Washington. Thirty-one more counties began offering
services January 3, 2006. Because of the regional
structure of public health and primary care services,
some health professionals will provide primary care
services in multiple counties. Four counties were
appropriated $1 million each for new facilities for
primary care.
In addition to services previously offered, the clinics
will provide treatment of acute illnesses and management
of chronic diseases. The health departments will also
offer basic lab services and a limited pharmacy;
however, no narcotics will be maintained at the health
department site.
"A strong public health system and safety net is
paramount to the health and well-being of a state's
citizens," said Health Commissioner Kenneth S. Robinson,
M.D. "Employees of the Department of Health have worked
diligently to make these services available as soon as
possible to enhance the offering of primary care across
the state. These services, coupled with innovative
funding to federally-qualified health centers, and
faith-based and rural health clinics, are examples of
the Governor's and Legislature's efforts to improve the
health care safety net that has fallen into disrepair
during the last several years."
Beyond the new adult primary care services, the county
health departments will continue to offer the following
services: for children - immunizations, Well Child/EPSDT
screens, WIC nutrition services and children's special
services care coordination; for adults - breast and
cervical cancer screening, family planning services, HIV
counseling and testing and communicable disease control.
In addition to expanding access to care for Tennessee's
uninsured, the Governor's Safety Net Task Force offers
transitional assistance programs for TennCare
disenrollees including prescription assistance, insulin
and diabetic supplies, mental health services and a
variety of programs for special populations.
Those interested in making an appointment at a health
department location or needing more information about
the availability of services should call the closest
county health department. A complete list is available
on the DOH Web site at http://www2.state.tn.us/health/LocalDepts/index.html.
For more information on primary care resources or other
services of the Governor's Safety Net Task Force call
the Health Options Hotline 1-888-486-9355 or visit
www.TNHealthOptions.com. |
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Suspects Caught in Act during Pharmacy Break-in |
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Two McKenzie burglars were arrested Monday, December 26
after allegedly being caught red-handed breaking into
Phipps Pharmacy on Hospital Drive, according to a report
filed by Sgt. Richard Sawyers of McKenzie Police
Department.
Matthew W. Belk, 18 and Justin Lynn Roberts, 22, both of
Walnut Circle, McKenzie were charged with
burglary/breaking and entering. Roberts was additionally
charged with evading arrest, after he fled the scene and
was apprehended a few hours later. Belk's bond was set
at $5,000 and Roberts' at $10,000.
Officers from McKenzie Police Department, the MPD
Special Response Team, Carroll County Sheriff's
Department, Henry Count Sheriff's Department (including
later use of a K-9 officer) and Huntingdon Police
Department were involved in surveillance of the pharmacy
after MPD received word of a possible burglary at the
business.
At 2:04 a.m., Officer Dennis Taylor observed two
suspects exiting a vehicle behind the Tennessee
Technology Center, with one of the two carrying a bag.
Taylor reportedly lost sight of the suspects as they
walked away from the vehicle. However, Taylor approached
the suspect vehicle and obtained the license number.
A short time later, Officer Ryan White observed a
suspect approach the front of Phipp's Pharmacy. The
suspect paced about nervously and then walked away,
according to the police report.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., White observed two suspects
approach the front of the pharmacy. The suspects paced
about for several minutes before one of them removed a
concrete block from a bag and shattered the glass front
door of the pharmacy. When both suspects entered the
pharmacy, officers Bobby Pate, Taylor and White
approached the building. The suspects exited the
pharmacy as the officers arrived, with one suspect
running north and the other headed south on foot. Belk
was apprehended as he ran around McKenzie Medical
Center. Roberts reportedly ran around the patrol car to
avoid capture and fled into a nearby field. Officers
from Carroll County Sheriff's Department, Henry County
Sheriff's Department and Huntingdon Police Department
were called to the scene to establish a perimeter.
Meanwhile, McKenzie S.R.T. team was called out to assist
in the search for Roberts. A K-9 unit from Henry County
Sheriff's Department was used to track Roberts. The K-9
located the bag that Roberts was carrying when he fled,
however Roberts was not located.
Officer White stated the suspects were inside the
building for only a few seconds and did not have
adequate time to steal anything. According to the
report, Belk told officers they did not take any
medication. He said Roberts fell on the broken glass and
got up and stated, "I'm outa here." Belk said when
Roberts left, he decided to leave also, the report
stated.
Jay Phipps, owner of the pharmacy, confirmed that
nothing was taken in the burglary. He stated that all
controlled substances are locked in a safe at the store.
According to the report, Belk admitted that he and
Roberts planned to burglarize the pharmacy to obtain
hydrocodones. Belk stated he was addicted to the
medication and said Roberts wanted the drug to sell,
according to Sawyers' report.
After transporting Belk to Carroll County Jail, officers
checked several residences where Roberts might have
sought refuge.
At approximately 7:45 a.m., Officer Kim Barker was
enroute to investigate another complaint when he
observed a male walking on Stonewall Street. Barker said
the man was wearing clothes that matched the description
of Robert's clothing.
Sawyers went to that location and found Roberts walking
on Cherry Street. He was taken into custody and
questioned regarding the burglary. Roberts reportedly
admitted his involvement and was charged as noted.
Phipps advised damage to the front door of his business
was estimated at $525.00. |
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Natural Gas Costs rise by 16.7 Percent |
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By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com |
Gene Mash, general manager for the West Tennessee Public
Utility District branch office located in Huntingdon,
advised that although residential costs for purchasing
natural gas had risen from 16.7 percent from December
'04 to December '05, the potential for a consumer cost
decrease may occur. Mash noted that a recent analysis of
the stock market trends revealed that trading activity
for natural gas had decreased due to milder weather
conditions.
Mash noted that despite the potential cost decrease
projection, the future remains uncertain.
"The cost of gas spiked in October of this year due to
various problems, and no one can say for sure where the
price goes from here," noted Mash.
Perhaps the largest factor to affect natural gas costs
was the extremely active and devastating 2005 hurricane
season. Deadly hurricanes wreaked havoc on major oil
production facilities located in the Gulf of Mexico,
damaging sites near New Orleans, Louisiana and Houston,
Texas, impeding production flow.
Adding to concerns, National Weather Service forecast
projections predicting prolonged cold temperatures for
the Northern region of the United States helped
perpetuate elevated consumer purchase costs for heating
fuel.
Bruceton City Recorder Tony Lancaster noted, "So far,
the town hasn't had any exorbitant natural gas cost
increases. I've heard horror stories from folks talking
about how heating costs could rise by as much as 70
percent, but that hasn't happened here."
Donnie Neihoff, Procurement manager for Norandal USA's
Huntingdon facility, noted that the company had
sustained a 75 percent increase in cost for natural gas
between November '04 and November '05.
"There are so many dynamics involved that affect the
change in natural gas pricing. Weather is always a big
concern, but now that gas commodities are paper traded
so rapidly by individual investors on the New York
Mercantile Exchange, the old standard law of supply and
demand has gone out the window. The price can shift as
much as 20 to 30 percent in a matter of days," he noted.
Neihoff stated that Norandal purchases gas through
"hedging". The company buys a specific amount of gas for
future use in an attempt to procure the best price
possible. He noted that although the strategy was
effective in reducing cost, the latest market increases
are still incurring expense to the business' operation.
Hollow Rock resident Paul Mathis stated that he and his
wife RaSha had opted to utilize the fixed price payment
plan offered each fall by West Tennessee Public Utility
rather than pay the total cost amount each month. Mathis
stated that his monthly statement had not reflected any
substantial cost increases yet. Mathis stated that the
answer for homeowner's combating increased heating bills
was found at the thermostat. "Just cut it back," he
advised. |
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