By Linda Bolton linda@mckenziebanner.com

      
Parades, horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides, home tours, games, petting zoo, shows, meetings with Santa, food and music are part of the upcoming McKenzie's Hometown Christmas set for December 1 - 9.

The event is co-sponsored and coordinated by the McKenzie Lions Club and the City of McKenzie.

"We have many new events and programs scheduled this year," said Chairman Herb New. "We try to add new flavor each year to keep Hometown Christmas interesting. This year we have more events for teenagers and young adults and we hope the quilt show and train depot will generate interest for the adults in the community. There will be several new games and prizes will be awarded to all children that participate."

"McKenzie Hometown Christmas is an event the family can enjoy together," he added. "We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities."

Many of the events are free of charge, while others bear a small charge.

The official event will begin with a visit by Miss Tennessee to the McKenzie Elementary School on Friday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. and end on Saturday, December 9 with performances by Bethel Renaissance and Holly Hills Open House.

The official beginning of the hometown Christmas weekend will be on the downtown square with entertainment provided by Rebel Singers. Relay for Life tree lighting will also be part of the opening ceremony.

Other Friday and Saturday events include First United Methodist Church chili sale, quilt show, carnival attractions, Reed's Concessions, petting zoo, inflatable games, carriage rides, train rides, paintball games, Bethel Festival of Lights, SUW Wrestling (Friday only), Homestead Tour, Tour of Homes, and Rotary Club Classic basketball tournament.

Other Saturday events include: breakfast with Santa, dog show, zoom bash, hot cocoa, hot cider and Polish sausage sale, ATV fun pull, Santa at the depot, local talent in the gazebo, magic show, cake walk, YMCA Christmas musical, and mini-tractor pull.

McKenzie's Christmas parades will be held Saturday with the junior parade beginning at 1:00 p.m. Saturday for children ages 12 and under and the main parade beginning at 5:00 p.m. (See separate article in this edition).

Joan Gibson will serve as this year's grand marshal of the main parade and Marty Marshall will serve as honorary marshal.

Bethel Renaissance will present musical performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 1-3 and Saturday, December 9.

On Tuesday, December 5, McKenzie Garden Club will host its annual Garden Club Luncheon.

Five residential homes in Holly Hills will be part of an open house event on Friday and Saturday, December 8-9.

A complete schedule of events will be published in next week's edition of The McKenzie Banner. An expanded description of activities will be available, along with a holiday recipe guide.

For more information, call Herb New at 731-676-4363 or Violet Patterson at 731-352-5897.

 
HUNTINGDON (November 20) - Three homicide defendants entered a plea of guilty Monday in four homicides that occurred in 2004. Appearing in court Monday were Charles Gadlen, Jr., Adam Anthony Mann, and Jerome Wesley Simmons, all of Huntingdon. A fourth murder case, that of Brandon Rankin, was not resolved Monday in Carroll County Circuit Court.

Circuit Judge Creed McGinley accepted the guilty plea of Charles Gadlen, Jr., age 26, represented by defense attorney Matt Maddox. Gadlen pled guilty to the September 29, 2004 homicide of Laura Denise Tegethoff and her one-year old son, Jayden Ford. He received a life sentence without parole for first-degree murder in the death of Denise, and 25 years for the second-degree murder of Jayden. Both sentences are to be served consecutively.

Although Gadlen suffers from diminished mental capacity, a psychologist's evaluation determined that Gadlen is competent and able to understand his rights.

The family of Tegethoff, seated on the second row in the courtroom, sobbed audibly as the crime sequences were read aloud by the prosecuting attorneys. Assistant District Attorney Beth Boswell said Gadlin drove Tegethoff and son to the Obion River bottom (King's Levee Bottom) where he struck Tegethoff in the head several times and threw her body in the water. She died of multiple skull fractures from blunt force trauma. He then retrieved the toddler in a car seat and threw him in the water, where he drowned. Boswell said Gadlin confessed to the homicides on October 5, 2004.

"Are the facts as cited true and correct," asked Judge McGinley of Gadlin. After a brief pause, Gadlin responded, "Yes sir."

Tegethoff resided on McCall Street in Huntingdon. The 1997 graduate of Clarksburg High School was the daughter of Barbara Tegethoff Ellis of Huntingdon and the late Floyd Tegethoff.

Tegethoff had been reported missing October 1 by her mother, who filed a missing person report with Huntingdon Police Department Investigator Johnny Hill. The mother and son were last seen on September 28, 2004. In the report, Mrs. Ellis states that she was afraid that the father of Laura's baby, Charles Gadlen, could have possibly done something to Laura. Ellis became concerned when Laura didn't show up to help the family plan a birthday party for Jayden at a Huntingdon park.

Ms. Tegethoff's body was recovered at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, October 3, 2004 and the child's body was recovered at 8:30 p.m., a short distance from the mother's body. Both bodies were sent for autopsies.

Defense Attorney Maddox told The Jackson Sun, "I think it was a fair resolution of the case. Mr. Gadlen has shown much remorse for what happened, and though he cannot change anything that happened, he has taken steps to rectify what happened by his plea."

Jerome Wesley Simmons, age 20, charged with two counts of first-degree murder of Jessica Julius and Bobby Petty, II, age 33, pled guilty to reduced charges of two counts of second degree murder and one accessory after the fact for sentences of 40 and two years to run concurrently. Petty was killed November 12, 2004 at his home. All other charges were dropped against Simmons.

He was charged in the September 24, 2004 murder of Julius and her unborn son. Julius was a Huntingdon High School senior at the time. Simmons (age 17 at the time) and Brandon Alexander Rankin, were accused of participating in the murder of Julius at her home on Colvett Road, Huntingdon.

According to Carroll County Coroner Steve Cantrell, Petty sustained a single gunshot to the chest from a small caliber weapon. The bullet pierced the heart and right lung, he said.

Adam Anthony Mann, age 26, of Lakewood Drive, Huntingdon was charged with first-degree murder in the Julius and Petty cases. Age 24 at the time, Mann was additionally charged with aggravated burglary of Chuck Spivey's residence on September 2, 2004 and armed robbery at Bill's Florist on November 16, 2004. In a previous hearing, Mann was described as the person who organized the crimes.

In Monday's hearing, Mann pled guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder in both the Julius and Petty cases and aggravated burglary of the Spivey residence. All other charges were dropped. He received a sentence of 17 years for each homicide and four years in the burglary, all to be served concurrently. He will be eligible for parole in 14-1/2 years. Mann was represented by Memphis attorney William Massey.

As part of their plea agreement, Simmons and Mann both agreed to testify truthfully in the Rankin case.

District Attorney Hansel McCadams said he did not expect Mann and Simmons to plea their cases on Monday, but he is happy the cases were settled prior to the holiday season, especially for the victim's families.

Rankin was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Julius and the September 2, 2005 aggravated burglary of Chuck Spivey's residence. Rankin was charged with accessory to murder in the Petty case and armed robbery of Bill's Florist in downtown Huntingdon.

Rankin's attorney, Matt Maddox, will file motions or a plea in a December 28 hearing. Prosecutors are seeking life without parole in Rankin's case.

During a previous hearing, Maddox said Rankin suffers from a mental deficiency, scoring 35 out of 100 on a Global Assessment Function to determine his ability to function as an adult. The score would indicate Rankin is developmentally disabled, said Maddox.

The interrelated cases of the homicides of Julius and Petty, the burglary of Chuck Spivey's residence, where guns were stolen, and the armed robbery of Bill's Florist in Huntingdon were investigated by a collaborative effort of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Carroll County Sheriff's Department, and the Huntingdon Police Department.

The 2004 homicides were part of a string of homicides in the county, which included Julius, Tegethoff, Betty Crocker, and Petty. Bobby Crocker was convicted of his ex-wife's homicide. Arrests and convictions have been made in every case.

Janie Sue Grooms-Lindsay, age 55 of Atwood, who disappeared on October 10, 2004, has still not been located. She was last seen at Wal-Mart in Huntingdon on the day of her disappearance.

For a more complete story and photos of the defendants and victims, see the print edition.

 

David Bumpus served as Henry County Sheriff from 1998 until August. (File photo)

Former Henry County Sheriff David Leon Bumpus, along with Faye C. Scott of Henry County and Samuel J. Ferren of Boaz, Kentucky, who was employed at Elite Firearms and Supplies, have been indicted by a federal grand jury.

The three are charged with nine counts of alleged conspiracy to violate and violated federal mail fraud statute by purchasing firearms, ammunition vests and other supplies in the name of the Henry County Sheriff's Department and using the items for personal use.

The indictment also alleges that the three submitted false and fraudulent invoices to Henry County for payment on these items that were intended for personal use.

"This is a dark cloud over Henry County Sheriff's Office, and we hate to hear it," said Sheriff Monte Belew. "But this is a very narrow investigation of two people, and you have 62 people dedicated to the citizens to make them proud. We're going straight ahead."

Belew was involved in the investigation since he entered office September 1.

The charges carry from five to 20 years in prison and fines up to $20,000.

Ferren and Bumpus are both facing up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine for allegedly entering false records for the sale of handgun that was sold to a third party when it was in fact sold to Bumpus.

Bumpus served as Henry County sheriff from 1998 until August.

 
CARROLL COUNTY - Area Christmas parades in Carroll County towns have been scheduled as follows: McKenzie - Saturday, December 2; Bruceton - Sunday, December 3; Huntingdon - Tuesday, December 5; Trezevant - Monday, December 11; and Clarksburg - Thursday, December 14.

McKenzie - As part of McKenzie's Hometown Christmas, the Junior Christmas Parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, according to Parade Chairman Herb New. Participants will include children ages 12 and under. Registration begins at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church parking lot.

Parade units will travel onto Stonewall Street, turn onto Cedar Street and disband at McKenzie Banking Company parking lot. Four-wheelers will be allowed in the junior parade, along with decorated bicycles, tricycles, costumed Christmas characters

Entries will be judged prior to the parade and winners will display a blue ribbon for first place, red ribbon for second place and white ribbon for third place as they travel along the parade route.

McKenzie's Main Christmas Parade will begin at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, according to New. Participants may begin lining up for the parade at 3:30 p.m. at McKenzie Middle School.

Local civic leader and volunteer Joan Gibson will serve as this year's grand marshal and will be accompanied in the parade by her husband, Hoot Gibson.

Marty Marshall, owner of McKenzie Depot building, will serve as honorary marshal. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall will also be participants in the parade.

Bands, floats, decorated vehicles, marching groups, churches and organizations are invited to participate. Four-wheelers will not be allowed in the main parade. Decorated horses will lead other horse entries near the end of the parade. Santa Claus will also be a special guest on the Lions Club float.

Parade units will travel onto Stonewall Street, turn onto Cedar Street, Waldran Street, Lee Street, Broadway Street, back onto Cedar Street and disband at McKenzie Feed and Grain.

Entries will be pre-judged with winners bearing blue, red and white ribbons to depict first, second and third places respectively.

For more information, contact Herb New at 731-676-4363 or Violet Patterson, co-chairman at 731-352-5897.

BRUCETON - Bruceton's Christmas Parade, sponsored by the city of Bruceton and Bruceton Woman's Club, will begin at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 3. A grand marshal will be announced prior to the parade.

Units will travel from the former H.I.S. Outlet parking lot to Broad Street, turn onto Rowland Avenue and disband at the New City Park.

Participants may obtain a pre-registration form at city hall or sign-up at the HIS parking lot prior to the parade. Lineup begins at 2:00 p.m. at municipal parking lot.

There will be an award ceremony and program following the parade at the park. For more information, contact Bruceton City Hall at 731-586-2401.

HUNTINGDON - The annual Bill Willoughby Memorial Christmas Parade, sponsored by Huntingdon Police Department, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, according to Joe Parker, Chairman. A grand marshal will be announced prior to the parade.

Bands, floats, decorated vehicles, marching groups, organizations, antique vehicles, four-wheelers, and horseback riders are expected to participate. Santa Clause has promised to make a special guest appearance.

"We also welcome all fire, police and emergency services vehicles and personnel to participate," said Parker.

Participants must pre-register by 5 p.m. Monday, December 4 to be eligible to win a cash prize. Those desiring to be judged should call Huntingdon Police Department at 731-986-2906 or go by the office.

The parade will line-up at Jackson Clinic parking lot (beside Domino's) on East Main Street and travel to Court Square downtown and on to West Main Street. Units will disband at Carroll Bank & Trust parking lot.

Christmas lighting in the downtown area will be an added attraction for spectators this year. This is the first time in two years the parade route will travel through the downtown area, said Parker, who noted the lighting is an attraction as well.

TREZEVANT - Trezevant Christmas Parade will be held Monday, December 11 at 7:00 p.m. Participants are asked to lineup at 6:00 p.m. at the churches parking lot. The route will continue down Highway 79 to the school, turn onto Holmes Street, Hurt Street, travel to Highway 105 and back to the churches.

First and second place trophies will be awarded.

For more information, contact Danny or Phyllis Curter at 731-669-7150 or Loretta at Trezevant City Hall at 731-669-4831.

CLARKSBURG - Clarksburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m. Registration and lineup begins at 6:00 at Clarksburg School. A grand marshal will be announced at a later date.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be greeting participants as they arrive to register for the parade and will also travel the parade route to greet the spectators. Units will disband at Clarksburg Church of Christ.

Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place winners. A grand champion will also be selected from all the participants.

For more information, call Clarksburg City Hall at 731-986-5547.