By Linda Bolton linda@mckenziebanner.com

The Scott house on Highway 423 shows extensive damage to the south end of the house after it was struck by a vehicle Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Kellet Hochreiter)
 

Three occupants of a house on Highway 423, McKenzie fortunately escaped injury Sunday when a vehicle struck their home at approximately 2 p.m. The teenage driver was transported to McKenzie Regional Hospital, where he was reportedly treated and released.

Kellet Hochreiter, who resides at the residence with his grandparents, Johnny and Betty Scott, said a Chevrolet pickup truck veered off the roadway and struck a bedroom on the south end of the house. The impact caused extensive damage to the residence, before hitting a propane gas tank, sending it down an embankment.

“It sounded like an explosion or a lightning strike,” said Hochreiter. “The whole house shook and the gas tank was spewing gas everywhere.”

Lewis Gas Company arrived on the scene to remove the gas tank and replace it with a new one.

The impact knocked out a wall and moved the house off its foundation, said Kellet. He noted the cinder blocks were bursted and the impact caused walls to crack on the north end of the house as well.

Hochreiter is upset that the county or state will not agree to make the road a safer place, therefore putting his family in harm’s way.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” he said. “I would like the county or state install a guard rail in the curve to protect our home.”

He noted that three separate accidents have claimed the family’s propane gas tank and this is the second vehicle to strike the house in recent years. One of the vehicles in a previous accident struck the living room, where the three occupants were sitting when the Sunday accident occurred.

Hochreiter noted the family’s house use to be somewhat protected by numerous trees in the yard. However, over the years, some of the trees have been downed by vehicles during accidents and others have been cut by the electrical department, therefore leaving the house less protected by straying vehicles.

Trooper Brent Russom of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Carroll County Sheriff’s Department reportedly investigated Sunday’s mishap.

Carroll County deputies Sgt. Lee Bates, Eric Sawyer, Jonathon McDowell, and A.J. Butcher display the drugs and money taken during a traffic stop in rural Carroll County.

An early morning stop on March 30 lead to the arrest of a McKenzie man on charges of promotion, manufacturing Schedule II Methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, Officers seized $4,051 in cash and drugs with a street value of $27,000.

Ricky Lynn Gilbert, age 37, of Highway 79, McKenzie, is free on a $100,000 bond following his arrest.

Carroll County deputies Sgt. Lee Bates and A. J. Butcher stopped a pickup truck on the Terry Road near Parkers Store at 2:30 a.m. Consent to search the vehicle reportedly yielded a metal container with a gallon plastic bag with white crystal substance which tested positive for methamphetamine, electronic scales, and a plastic scoop. A small bag of white crystal substance was found in Gilbert’s pocket along with the cash. A handheld stun gun was found in the driver’s side door panel of the truck. Total methamphetamine recovered was 9.4 ounces, probably the largest find in Carroll County. Deputies Eric Sawyer and Jonathon McDowell and Trooper Mike Sullivan assisted in the search.

Several findings were identified in an audit of the county of Carroll’s operations. The Comptroller of the Treasury, Department of Audit, Division of County Audit released its finding this week concerning the county budget ending June 30, 2006. The audit did not indicate any money was missing or embezzled.

In departmental audits, the state indicated the Highway Department exceeded budgeted appropriations as follows: administration $39,953.; highway and bridge maintenance $39,391; other charges, $3,872; principal on debt $24,653; and interest on debt $121.00. The audit indicates the Highway Department failed to maintain a system to account for materials used on some types of road projects. Auditors recommend a system to determine the use of materials, such as bridge lumber, culvert tiles, and rock for state-aid roads. The Department answered the findings by stating that some of the account codes were changed, coupled with a computer glitch, that improperly showed the insufficient revenue for the accounts.

Adequate computer backups were not stored off site as recommended by the auditor. They recommend that weekly backups be rotated off site and year-end backups should be stored off site and retained indefinitely.

In the county mayor’s office, auditors indicated a $364,019 fund deficit and a cash overdraft of $162,001 at year-end, June 30, 2006 in the capital projects fund. This fund deficit existed from expenditures exceeding available funds and unperformed portions of a construction contract in the amount of $202,018. The mayor’s office responded that the funds from the loan pool were not received in a timely manner and the contractor needed to be paid for the courthouse renovation project. Carroll County had sufficient funds in reserve accounts to more than cover the amount of the check.

A second finding in the mayor’s office indicated expenditures of $9,240 in the “social cultural and recreational” and $1,164 in the “other charges” category in excess of appropriations. The mayor’s office responded that the error was the result of a miscalculation in the county clerk’s office. The amount was adjusted and corrected for the next quarterly payment to the Carroll County Watershed Authority. The $1,164 was the result in the state of Tennessee’s change in the drug court reporting. There were sufficient funds on deposit.

The office of trustee had one finding concerning a $16,168 deposit in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage. The state requires any bank that deposits county funds to have collateral security equal to 105 percent of funds exceeding FDIC coverage into an escrow account in a second bank. The trustee’s office said they immediately contacted the bank and corrected the deficiency.

The office of circuit and general sessions court clerks had one finding concerning the user documentation pertaining to the accounting software and operating system. The finding indicated inadequate documentation may result in inaccurate and inefficient processing of data.

The sheriff’s department had findings concerning contracts and purchases without competitive bids. The first deficiency was related to a one-year contract with Securus Technologies for an inmate telephone service. The agreement provided for the Sheriff’s Department to receive remuneration of 28 percent of the gross revenue billed for all phones. The department allowed the company to accumulate its monthly commission in an escrow account until the department sent the company various invoices to pay from this escrow account. Additionally, a signing bonus of $20,000 was credited into this escrow account in November 2005. From October 2005 through November 2006, the account earned commissions of $14,607.59. The company paid invoices on behalf of the Sheriff’s Department totaling $24,996.34 through November 2006, a period beyond the June 30, 2006 year-end. Other expenses paid by Securus Technologies included: Gulf States Distributors in the amount of $17,809.50 for cartridges, 18 tasers ($13,745.64), Cole Computer Services ($3,104) for two computer workstations, Craig’s Firearm Supply ($1,308.60) for three Glock 21 guns; Gall’s for $1,427.67 for uniform shirts, pants, and jackets and two Mag flashlights; and Kay’s Uniforms ($1,345.88) for 23 uniform shirts, 11 pair of uniform pants and various uniform accessories.

The audit indicates the $24,996.34 was not in the county budget and the 18 taser guns were purchased without a competitive bid required for items in excess of $5,000. The Department also did not remit the revenues earned from its jail telephone operations to the county as required by state law.

Another finding indicated the duties of offices in the Carroll County Schools, Circuit, General Session, Juvenile Court, Clerk and Master, Register, and Sheriff were not adequately segregated. Officials and employees responsible for maintaining the accounting records in these offices were also involved in receipting, depositing, and disbursing funds. “We realize that due to the limited resources and personnel, management may not be able to properly segregate duties.

A common finding for the county of Carroll is the recommendation of a central system of accounting, budgeting and purchasing. The audit indicates a central system would significantly improve internal controls over accounting, budgeting, and purchasing.

Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride said the county has a central purchasing system, however, centralized accounting would be very costly to the county. Implementation would necessitate the hiring a budget director and support staff, who are knowledgeable in governmental accounting, especially the disciplines of school and highway department accounting.

   

MCKENZIE (April 13) Members of the Executive Committee of the Northwest Tennessee Head Start have requested a probe into allegations of misappropriations of funds for the nine-county region. The board, which met immediately after the Executive Committee, concurred with the request for an investigation by the regional office in Atlanta.

Kenny McBride, chairman of the Executive Committee and the full board, said the allegations come from two former employees who claim the central office in McKenzie is spending extravagantly for the central office. He said one issue is a new plasma television at the central office. The television is used for training for personnel. McBride said the board is taking the allegations seriously and it is going through the proper procedures. “There are no allegations of theft that I have seen,” said McBride.

The Executive Committee consists of the county mayors from the nine-county region while the board consists of additional members.

Pam Castleman, director of Head Start, said the McKenzie facility, is undergoing its first renovation since 1984. The facility is located on the ground floor of Webb School on Walnut Avenue. Renovations include a new environmentally-controlled room, with a major update of electrical wiring, for computer servers for all 29 offices in the district. McKenzie is part of a three-year program to upgrade all offices. Office desks have not been updated in 15 years, said Castleman. A new 50-inch plasma television, used for training, was placed in her office, she noted. It’s the only area available for small group training. Upgrades have also been completed in Benton County, Dyersburg, and Tipton County and at Washington Douglas ($15,000) in Jackson. New offices have been opened in Humboldt and soon in Huntingdon in the former HOPE Center.

As for the 50-inch television, Castleman said the office unsuccessfully attempted to use a computer, projector, and screen for training. “I wanted to put the televisions somewhere else,” said Castleman.

Under the administration of Eric Dupree, director, the headquarters moved from McKenzie to Dresden in 1998 and back to McKenzie in 2001. Those desks were part of those moves, said Castleman.

According to a report in The Jackson Sun, Jim Churchill, a suspended maintenance engineer, said the funds have been used inappropriately. Former employees presented $12,000 in receipts and purchase orders for the purchase of a 50-inch plasma television, furniture, and building improvements. Castleman said the employees chose not to follow the grievance process.

The regional office in Atlanta spent three days in early March investigating the allegations, said Castleman. The Atlanta office has provided no findings of illegal activity at this time.

However, she noted the packets of information, mailed out by the complainants to board members and others, included illegally photocopied personnel files. It was also mailed on the Head Start’s postal machine, which Castleman questioned how former employees had access to the postal meter.

Castleman invites the public to tour the facility. “I’m looking forward to the end of this,” said the director, who noted it is damaging the program and instruction.

McBride said the Executive Committee will convene at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in Nashville prior to a 3:00 p.m. Tennessee Association of County Mayors meeting. A full board meeting will convene, either in person or by telephone, sometime Friday.

Head Start is a national program created in 1965 to help prepare children from low-income families for school. Comprehensive in scope, the program deals with health, nutrition, and parent involvement as well as education. The local office administers more than $10 million in grants, approximately 350 employees, and approximately 19 bus routes that run through 13 counties. It also collaborates with five local school districts.

 
The first degree murder trial of Mary Winkler, daughter-in-law of Huntingdon Church of Christ minister Dan Winkler and wife, Diane, began last week in Selmer.

Mary is accused of shooting her husband, Matthew Winkler, who served as minister of Fourth Street Church of Christ in Selmer, in the back as he slept on March 22, 2006. Matthew is buried at Carroll County Memorial Gardens near McKenzie.

Paternal grandparents Dan and Diane Winkler have had custody of Matthew and Mary’s three children since her arrest shortly after the murder. Dan serves as minister of Huntingdon Church of Christ in Carroll County.

Matthew Winkler attended Huntingdon Middle School, where he played football. However, the family moved prior to his entering high school.

Dan Winkler was called Thursday by the prosecution to testify in the case. Diane Winkler testified Monday morning and Patricia Winkler, daughter of Matthew and Mary, testified Monday afternoon.

The date of Matthew Winkler’s death had at least one interesting significance. Dan Winkler told jurors Thursday that March 22 is his birthday.

Defense Attorney Steve Farese on Thursday said that when problems between Matthew Winkler and his wife, Mary, started to affect the couple’s daughters, Mary felt forced to take action, according to coverage of the trial by The Jackson Sun.

“Mary could take it for herself, but she could not let her children take it for her,” Steve Farese said. “You will hear from the stand what happened on the morning of March 22, of 2006. Mary had always tried to talk to Matthew about his problems.”

Farese never said what the nature of the problems were or how they affected the children. He hinted there was some type of abuse involved.

The assertion was one of several revelations that surfaced Thursday during opening statements and in testimony on day four of Mary Winkler’s first degree murder trail in her husband’s slaying. Matthew Winkler, the minister at Selmer’s Fourth Street Church of Christ, died from a single shotgun blast to his back.

Farese told jurors that Mary had once suffered a swollen jaw and a black eye and that Matthew Winkler had threatened Mary with a shotgun, the Sun reported.

He said that Mary Winkler “would give proof” in court that the shooting was an accident. He said that she had no knowledge of how to prime, or fire, the 12-gauge shotgun, and was balancing on several pillows near the bed that Matthew was in when the gun went off.

Freeland talked about a financial motive for the shooting in his opening statement. He told the 12 women and four men on the jury that Mary Winkler had deposited several checks from a Nigerian lottery scam, and was several thousand dollars overdrawn at the bank. He said that Regions Bank was ready to turn the matter over to security.

“They were one day away from the bank requiring that Matthew Winkler come in with her to try and straighten it out,” Freeland said.

After opening statement, the prosecution called six witnesses, including Dan Winkler.

Winkler revealed that he had told former prosecutor Elizabeth Rice about Matthew having an adverse reaction to two prescription medications. He said he told Rice about that after learning of a news account in which Mary’s attorneys said that Matthew had once threatened her life when the couple lived in Pegram. They lived there from 1999 to 2002.

He was taking one medication in Pegram for a toothache when he locked Mary out of their house, Dan Winkler said. He took another prescription medication in McMinnville for a stomach problem that he also had an adverse reaction to, Dan Winkler added.

He never saw his son abuse Mary Winkler, he testified.

Dan Winkler said he’d not forgiven Mary Winkler when he visited her in jail in Orange Beach, Alabama. He said he told Mary when he saw her, “I’m so sorry for all this.”

Mary said nothing Dan Winkler said.

“I told her I wish we could take the handcuffs off, and I could give her a big bear hug, and she reached up with the handcuffs toward me, and I told her that I loved her,” Dan Winkler said. “I told her I wish we could take the handcuffs off, and I could give her a big bear hug, and she reached up with the handcuffs toward me, and I told her that I loved her,” Dan Winkler said.

All he knew at the time is that Mary Winkler was “a person of interest” in his son’s death. He said nothing to Mary Winkler about forgiveness, Dan Winkler added.

Freeland asked him why.

“We love Mary, and we were extending kindness to Mary, but forgiveness is something that comes, according to our beliefs from the Bible, when an individual has what the Bible calls a broken and contrite spirit and is penitent, confesses the wrong to you and asks for forgiveness at that time.”

He added that he willing to extend forgiveness.

The others who followed Dan Winkler on the stand were Kacey Broadway, who worked at Selmer Elementary School the day Mary Winkler substituted there; Selmer Fourth Street Church of Christ Elder Dr. William “Drew” Eason, Selmer Police Investigator Roger Rickman and Orange Beach, Alabama police officers Jason Whitlock and Travis Long.

Broadway observed Mary at Selmer Elementary School on March 21, 2006, the day before Matthew Winkler’s death. She testified about how Mary appeared to be talking a lot on her cell phone. She saw Mary crying at one point and pacing at another, looking upset.

Defense attorneys have suggested in their questioning of Mary Winkler’s in-laws, Dan and Diane, that they tried to keep the girls from seeing Winkler since September. Winkler has seen her children twice since the shooting, defense attorneys have said.

Diane Winkler Testifies

Diane Winkler testified that when Patricia came home from her September visit with Mary Winkler, Patricia said that Mary had told the girls she did not kill their father. Diane Winkler testified that she knew that was not true and the girl was angry with Mary for lying to her.

Diane Winkler also testified she’d talked to Patricia about a story the girl had made up. Patricia had told a friend that she was going to live with Mary Winkler in Georgia and that Mary was getting married and having another baby. Patricia cried when she asked her about the story and said all she wanted was to be normal like other kids at school, Diane Winkler said.

Patricia said she wanted to have her mommy and daddy and be a normal family, Diane Winkler added.

Farese asked about a broken arm Patricia suffered while in Dan and Diane Winkler’s care. He wanted to know why they didn’t notify Mary Winkler about it.

Diane Winkler said she didn’t think to call Mary Winkler. She said the injury was not a major break and the girl stayed in the cast only about two weeks.

Farese also brought up a car accident all three girls were in with their grandparents while headed to see their counselor in Nashville. Diane Winkler said no one was hurt.

Patricia Winkler Testifies

Patricia Winkler was one of five witnesses the prosecution called Monday, according to The Jackson Sun.

Since the trial began with jury selection on April 9, Mary Winkler had been sitting between her attorneys behind the defense table. But Monday, her chair was positioned to the side of the table, in direct view of the witness box, just as Patricia was called.

Winkler smiles as the girl entered the courtroom, wearing a black dress with large white polka dots. The girl began to cry when telling Freeland her birth date.

Her mother and others cried, too. A couple of female jurors had grabbed some tissue when it was announced the girl would be the next to testify.

“I’m ready,” Patricia Winkler said once she regained her composure.

The girl, now in the fourth grade, told jurors what awakened her the day her father was killed, according to The Jackson Sun coverage.

“I heard this big boom or something,” Patricia said. “It seems like something fell on the ground.”

She said she shared a room with younger sister Mary Alice “Allie” Winkler, now 7. The room was next to her parents’ bedroom.

Patricia went to her parents’ bedroom door and was joined by Allie. Freeland asked Patricia what she saw.

“My daddy was face down on the floor,” Patricia Winkler said.

“Where was your mommy,” Freeland asked.

Patricia responded, “She was just walking around, and she saw us and closed the door.”

She added that she heard her father groaning.

An expert for the prosecution has testified that Matthew Winkler’s body was rolled after the shooting, because of the position of his feet. His feet were crossed at his ankles.

Freeland asked Patricia what happened after her mother closed the door.

“Me and Allie was scared,” she said. “We just sat there. We didn’t hear anything, though.”

At some point, Mary Winkler came out of the room and got her youngest daughter, Briana Winkler, now 2, Patricia Winkler said.

The girl said her mother told the children that she’d called 911 for an ambulance but they “would already need to leave” before the ambulance got there.

Patricia broke down in tears again when Mary Winkler’s attorney, Steve Farese asked her why she hadn’t seen her mother since September.

“Because I didn’t want to see her,” Patricia Winkler said. “I mean, I still love her, I just don’t want to…”

Patricia began to cry and held her head down sobbing for about a minute. At one point during the girl’s testimony, Mary Winkler held her right hand beneath her chin. Her fingers were visibly trembling.