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Maddox and Finney Honored at Reception |
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Carroll County Mayor Kenny McBride,
State Senator Lowe Finney, State Representative Mark
Maddox, and John Mann, chairman of the Carroll County
Democrats, chat about the upcoming legislative session.
By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com |
HUNTINGDON (January 22) State Representative Mark
Maddox (D-Dresden) and newly elected State Senator Lowe
Finney (D-Jackson) were the guests of honor during a
reception Monday at First Bank Community Room hosted by
the Carroll County Democratic Committee.
The two Dresden natives spoke about the upcoming
legislative year, proposed legislation, and the
challenges the new session brings.
"I am very pleased that you sent him (Lowe) to Nashville
to work with me," said Representative Maddox. "I'm just
as pleased that you sent me to Nashville to work with
him." The two have set on the House floor twice in joint
convention of the two legislative bodies. "We discussed
just how unreal it was for both us to have started in
politics together." Maddox has served 10 years and
Finney is starting his first four-year term. Maddox,
Finney, and State Senator Roy Herron all are natives of
Dresden. Herron previously served as state
representative in Carroll and Weakley counties.
Maddox said some issues this term are "just a little
tough." The Senate is a little unsettled currently after
a change in leadership. The representative said the
Governor received a mandate to move this state forward
and glad you sent some good help to Nashville.
Finney joked and said County Mayor Kenny McBride invited
him to a reception in the new senator's honor. Finney
then asked Maddox to attend the reception, to which
Maddox responded he would attend as soon as he got done
with his own reception. In actuality, it was a single
event honoring both.
"Thank you for this tremendous opportunity to go to work
with him (Maddox)," said Finney. "He's my friend and my
mentor for a long time. It really means a lot for me to
go to work with him." The new senator said the campaign
was a collective effort.
Finney said he has met two to three times with Ron
Ramsey, the new lieutenant governor. He said he has
enjoyed his meetings with Ramsey, but is still unsure
what direction Ramsey will take the Senate. Finney said
he supported former Lt. Governor John Wilder for the
seat because he felt it was important to have a West
Tennessean at the post.
Finney said everyone is waiting on the Governor's
initiatives to be revealed during the State of the State
address by Bredesen. Finney said his office is located
across from Senator Herron's.
Maddox said, according to the Governor's inaugural
speech, the main focus of this year's legislation will
be education. Maddox said he believes that involves more
emphasis on pre-school and at-risk students.
He said senior citizen issues would bear major
discussions. The electorate approved giving low-income
senior citizens greater tax relief on property taxes of
their primary residences. Maddox said it would be
important to implement the right policy so it will not
adversely effect local governments. A possible ban on
smoking in public places will also be considered, as
well as the tax reduction on food, and franchise fees
for communication companies. The reduction of taxes on
food could also affect tax receipts of local government.
Taxes on groceries are strong and consistent, said
Maddox.
Finney said excess lottery receipts would also be
addressed. The question is whether to put some of the
excesses into capital improvements at schools or to
lower the GPA standards to retain the HOPE scholarships.
The implementation of CoverTennessee health program will
also be a major issue this year. The five-part program
is designed to help the uninsured, small business, and
children. He, too, says the Senate is awaiting
Bredesen's initiatives before proceeding. |
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Governor Bredesen Begins Second Term
Carroll Countian James
Neeley Takes Oath to Begin Term as Commissioner of
Labor. |
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Governor Phil Bredesen, with First Lady
Andrea Conte by his side, takes the oath of office for his
second four-year term. Photos by Joel Washburn
Country music star Jo Dee Messina entertained at
Governor Bredesen's inaugural ball at the
Wildhorse Saloon. |
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Governor Phil Bredesen took the oath of office Saturday
to begin his second term as governor of Tennessee. After
winning in all 95 counties during the November election,
Bredesen urged Tennesseans to dream big and be bold. He
placed education as the top priority of his administration.
James Neeley, commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development, was among those who took the oath of office for
a second term with the Bredesen administration. Neeley and
wife, Rachel, reside in Huntingdon. He was one of 16
commissioners continuing with the governor's cabinet.
With First Lady Andrea Conte at his side, Tennessee's 48th
governor took the oath of office on War Memorial Plaza in
front of the State Capitol. The event was attended by
members of the Tennessee General Assembly, Justices of the
Tennessee Supreme Court, members of the Governor's Cabinet
and staff, family and friends and a crowd of more than 2,000
Tennesseans.
Enjoying the inaugural ball were Gary and Jane Blount,
Charlie, Kay, Lindsey, and Wesley Beal.
After being sworn in, Bredesen delivered his second-term
inaugural address. In a very personal and uplifting speech
to Tennesseans, Bredesen promised to continue his leadership
of the state "in a way that has proven successful already -
to seek not conflict but common ground, to reach out and
embrace good ideas from whatever quarter they come, and to
be the Governor of all of the people of Tennessee."
"Hear me now: I am rolling up my sleeves. I want these next
four years to be the time when we set Tennessee on the path
of truly putting our children and their education at the
head of the list," Bredesen said. "Lots of things are
important: health care and jobs and social services, but
education needs to head the list because it is the most
important way government pulls its weight to make things a
little better for the next generation. To do this, we are
going to have to be bold ... but that has never been a
problem for Tennesseans."
Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development takes the oath of office to continue into his
second term with the Bredesen administration.
Bredesen concluded his speech with a request of all
Tennesseans.
"Inaugurations are a milestone where we pause, where we
recommit and renew our purpose. My fellow Tennesseans, I
call on you today to join me in rededicating ourselves to
big dreams for our children."
Following the inauguration ceremony, Bredesen swore in the
16 reappointed and five newly appointed members of his
Cabinet. They include:
- Ken Givens, Commissioner -Department of Agriculture;
- Viola Miller, commissioner -Department of Children's
Services;
- Leslie Schecter Newman, commissioner - newly
appointed -Department of Commerce & Insurance;
- George Little, commissioner -Department of
Corrections;
- Matt Kisber, commissioner -Department of Economic &
Community Development;
- Lana Seivers, commissioner-Department of Education;
- Jim Fyke, commissioner-Department of Environment &
Conservation;
- Dave Goetz, commissioner-Department of Finance &
Administration;
- Greg Gonzalez, Commissioner - newly appointed
Department of Financial Institutions;
- Gwendolyn Davis, commissioner -Department of General
Services;
- Susan Cooper, commissioner - newly appointed
Department of Health;
- Gina Lodge, commissioner- Department of Human
Services;
- James Neeley, commissioner-Department of Labor &
Workforce Development;
- Virginia Trotter Betts, commissioner-Department of
Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities;
- Gus Hargett, Adjutant General- Department of
Military;
- Deborah Story, commissioner- Department of
Personnel;
- Reagan Farr, Commissioner - - newly appointed
Department of Revenue;
- David Mitchell, commissioner - newly appointed
Department of Safety;
- Susan Whitaker, commissioner- Department of Tourist
Development;
- Gerald Nicely, commissioner-Department of
Transportation;
- John Keys, commissioner-Department of Veterans
Affairs.
The Governor will more thoroughly outline his plans for
strengthening education, job creation, health care and
environmental conservation efforts during his upcoming
State of the State address next month.
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First Responders Program Suspends Operation |
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MCKENZIE (January 3) - The Carroll County First
Responders program is temporally suspended in a
restructuring effort. The Tennessee Department of
Health certified program, administrated by the two
ambulance services serving Carroll County, started in
October 2001.
Chuck Latimer, Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
coordinator, co-founded the program along with Tim Marr,
"We didn't want to disband the program. The problem
that we encountered was overseeing the program without
the proper documentation. We felt that it was better to
restart the program with one person primarily in
charge," said Latimer.
Latimer said the First Responder program is governed by
the local ambulance services and that Johnny Sexton has
been appointed program director.
The First Responder Program provides an invaluable
service to the county by being able to disburse
state-trained and qualified responders proficient in
advanced first aid, CPR, and basic patient care. Each
responder is required to complete sixty hours of
state-regulated training and pass the state exam.
He noted that most of the county's approximately
thirty-one Responders are primarily located in Bruceton,
Atwood and other areas.
While the program is not a entity of the county
government itself, County Mayor Kenny McBride said the
county pays the First Responders' general liability
insurance premiums. "The First Responder program is a
great idea," said McBride. He noted that both hospitals
provide the necessary supplies for the Responders' jump
bags filled with first aid supplies.
"Having most of the responders in the rural areas of the
county diminishes response time to the scene and allows
responders to speak with ambulance services regarding
the situation as they proceed to the site." Latimer
noted that surrounding counties including Henry, Gibson,
Crockett, McNairy, and Dyer also utilize the First
Responders program.
He concluded by stating that plans are currently being
developed to reinstate Carroll County's First Responder
program in February. |
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Baby Rape Trial Set for March |
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A trial date for Jonathan Wayne Goodrum, who is charged
in the March 24, 2006 rape of his one-day-old daughter,
will go to trial March 8, according to officials at
Carroll County Circuit Court.
According to Lt. Tim Nanney of the McKenzie Police
Department, Goodrum, 20, of McKenzie, allegedly had
unlawful sexual contact with his daughter by penetrating
her with an unknown object while the infant was still at
the local hospital where she had been born. Nurses at
the hospital reportedly observed tears in the child's
body during a routine assessment of the infant.
The child's mother, Kristina Sawyer, 19, of McKenzie,
was also charged with child rape following an
investigation. She was released from jail after entering
a not guilty plea in May to a lesser charge of failure
to report child abuse in exchange for her truthful
testimony in Goodrum's trial.
After the couple's arrest, the infant was placed in the
custody of Kristina's sister, who resides in McKenzie.
Sawyer and Goodrum were engaged at the time of the
incident and were listed as residents of a room at 15220
Highland Drive, McKenzie. |
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