By Linda Bolton linda@mckenziebanner.com

   
MCKENZIE (September 17) – A threat phoned into the Bank of Gleason, McKenzie Branch at 9:03 a.m. Monday was a hoax. James Terrell, branch manager, said the bank received “a threatening call.” In response, the bank immediately closed and the police were summoned.

McKenzie Police Department said the caller indicated three snipers were surrounding the bank and if bank representatives cooperated, no one would be injured. Otherwise, bank customers would be picked off as they left the bank. Once the associate received the call, the phone was laid down and the doors were immediately locked. MPD responded and the FBI was called to investigate.

The bank reopened after one hour, said Terrell.

No hostages or guns were involved, as rumors indicated.
 

    

Carroll County officials plan increased security measures in readiness for the Wednesday hearing in Carroll County Chancery Court in which Mary Winkler is asking for the return of her children to her. The hearing will mark the Winkler family’s first court appearance in Carroll County in connection to custody of Mary and Matthew Winkler’s three minor children.

On Monday, September 10, Mary Winkler through her attorneys Kay Farese Turner and Rachael Emily Putman, filed an emergency motion asking for the return of her children, or, as an alternative, regular visits with them.

Chancellor Harmon will hear arguments on Mary Winkler’s emergency motion at 10 a.m. September 19.

The hearing is expected to draw the attention of national media and cause congestion at the already limited parking near Carroll County Courthouse. Carroll County Sheriff’s Department is in charge of security. The Banner’s calls to the department to determine what security measures will be implemented were not returned.

A motion was filed Monday asking the court to prohibit television and still cameras, as well as broadcasting, at Wednesday’s hearing. The motion was filed by attorney William R. Neese of Neese & Adams in Dresden. Chancellor Harmon will take up the motion Wednesday prior to the custody hearing.

Winkler, 32, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in April for shooting her husband, Matthew Winkler in the back. The shooting occurred in their Selmer home on March 22, 2006. She accused him of verbal, mental, physical and sexual abuse at the trial. Matthew was a pulpit preacher at Selmer’s Fourth Street Church of Christ.

The emergency motion states that the mother will show the court that she has not had parenting time with her three young children in approximately 12 months. Mary Winkler contends that it is unconscionable and detrimental to all three girls, now ages 2, 8 and 10, to continue to be withheld from the mother. She is asking that immediate parenting time with the three children commence immediately.

The motion asks that all attorney fees and court costs incurred by the mother in bringing the motion be assessed against the petitioners, Charles Daniel and Diane Winkler.

Dan and Diane Winkler, who live in Huntingdon, currently have a case pending in Carroll County Chancery Court to end Mary’s paternal rights so they can adopt Mary and Matthew’s three daughters Patricia, 10; Mary Alice (Allie), 8, and Brianna, 2. The grandparents have had custody of the children since Mary’s arrest in March 2006.

Mary Winkler appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show on Wednesday, September 12, after Dan and Diane Winkler filed a court motion to try to stop her from appearing on the show. A judge declined to grant their motion Tuesday and Mary appeared in a 30-minute taped interview on the hour-long show that was live in Chicago.

Judge Weber McCraw, who conducted the criminal trial and sentencing of Mary Winkler, prohibited her from traveling out of state except to her attorney’s office in Mississippi, where the interview with Oprah was conducted. The judge denied Winkler’s request to go to Chicago and appear live on the show.

During the interview, Mary told Oprah that she didn’t think the shotgun she used to kill her husband was loaded.

“I never in a million years would have dreamed that there would have been something in that…,” Winkler told Winfrey.

“In that?” Winfrey asked.

“In the gun being loaded,” Winkler responded. “I just thought that was a rule that he always took that out.”

Winfrey asked if she wanted to hold the gun to get his attention.

“That’s what I would think,” Winkler said, adding she just wanted to talk to her husband.

Winfrey had to press Winkler for answers, at times.

She admitted wiping blood from Matthew Winkler’s mouth after the shooting, but told Winfrey that he said nothing.

After the shooting, Winkler fled with her three young daughters to Orange Beach, Alabama. Police who arrested her there said she told them in a confession that her husband had asked her, “Why?”

Winkler told Winfrey that on the day of the shooting she wanted to tell her husband to “be happy...stop being so mean...just relax and enjoy life.” She indicated that she could not have said that without using the shotgun.

“Oh, he never would have allowed that,” she said.

Winkler said the confrontation was sparked by Matthew Winkler’s trying to quiet their then one-year-old daughter, Brianna, by putting his hand over her nose and mouth. She asked for the baby and got her quieted, she said.

She told Winfrey that Matthew “was sitting back down” when she returned to the room. The prosecution argued at trial that he was lying down and may have been asleep at the time of the shooting.

Winkler said she heard the “boom” of the shotgun and thought the blast had hit the ceiling or a window.

“…I just though, oh, my goodness,” she said. “He’s gonna think I meant to do that on purpose. And so I took out. I just took out of there. And took off running.”

“And then at some point, I just realized he wasn’t chasing me," she said “And I just had to go back in and face the realization.”

Winfrey asked Winkler if she believed she’s served enough time for the killing. She spent 12 days in jail after the trial and about two months in a mental health facility. Before the trial, Winkler also spent about five months in jail before obtaining bond.

“There’s no amount of time. I think you can put on something like this,” Winkler said. “No, I just was ready for them to lock the door and throw away the key.”

 

McLemoresville Mayor Phil Williams presents Carroll Bank & Trust President and CEO Mike Cary a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

MCLEMORESVILLE (September 14) Carroll Bank & Trust employees representing all the offices of the bank, along with numerous well-wishers, converged on the bank branch to celebrate the banks 100th year of business. Officials at Carroll Bank & Trust, previously known as the Bank of McLemoresville, thought it was only fitting to have this celebration in the place where it all began.

In 1907, J. Connie McKinney and his friend, J.H. Bramley, conceived the idea of the Bank of McLemoresville. They were driven in horse and buggy to solicit stockholders by a friend, Professor E.H. Harrell.

In June of 1907, a contract was made with H.B. Woodard and S.E. Carter to build and finish a brick house to be used for banking purposes on the lot known as the
Dr. Bryant property, which is located in the town of McLemoresville.

The Bank of McLemoresville was organized on September 12, 1907 with J.H Bramley as the first President; John Holmes, Vice President; J.C. McKinney, Cashier; and Miss Zettie Gardner as Assistant cashier. The capital stock was $10,000.00 in 1912, the total resources of the bank was $32,761.27. The growth of the bank was slow but it did grow. In 1907, there were no automobiles, running water, or electric lights in the homes of McLemoresville. The bank was lighted, in 1922 by a dynamo owned by J.H. Bramley that lighted his home and store as well. All of the work in the bank was done, by hand, by two employees who also had time to serve as Postmaster and Assistant Postmaster, both businesses being housed in the same building. The times changed, the workload grew, and customs changed in the years that followed.

On the death of his father, J. Adrian Bramley became President and served until his death in 1957, when J.C. McKinney became President.

Original Bank Building in McLemoresville.

During the Great Depression of 1933, the Bank of McLemoresville closed its front doors for a few days only because it was so ordered by the President of the United States. The back door was open to customers to keep their confidence and to avoid a "run" on the bank. After a thirty-minute examination by federal examiners the order was, "Open your doors; go ahead, you are alright." The Bank had lived up to its motto, "Security Solid as a Mountain."

The bank bought the lot and building that formerly housed the H.L. Carter Store and enlarged the bank. The remodeling was completed in October 1958. Mr. J.C. McKinney died in June 1958, and Jim O'Neill a first day depositor, a stockholder, and one who had rendered valuable assistance on the Board of Directors for many years, was named President.

J.I. McKinney came to work for the bank in 1961 as VP & Manager and became President in 1971 after the death of Mr. Jim O'Neill. He served until 1972 when the bank changed ownership.

In 1972 the bank management changed and Billy M. Cary became president, with Billy B. Tines the executive vice president. Under their leadership the Bank of McLemoresville continued to grow by branching into other locations in Carroll County. In 1973 the Bank of McLemoresville, Huntingdon office opened followed by McKenzie office in 1974.

In February, 1987 Bank of McLemoresville changed its name to Carroll Bank & Trust. It was felt that the new name would better identify with the bank's trade area, which included all of Carroll County.

Following the death of Billy M. Cary in September 2002, Billy B. Tines became President and Chairman of the Board of Carroll Bank & Trust.

In 2006, Michael E. Cary became president of Carroll Bank & Trust and Billy B. Tines remained the chairman of the board. Under their guidance the bank is continuing to grow by branching into Camden in 2006 and Milan in 2007.

Throughout the history of Carroll Bank & Trust, there have been eight bank presidents and three were of father and son relation.

As people filled the bank lobby, McLemoresville Mayor Phil Williams presented Mike Cary a plaque to commemorate the event.

Following the plaque presentation, Mrs. Rachel McKinney spoke to the gathered crowd, "As you may already know, the McKinney's were associated with the bank for a long, long time. When I moved here in 1929, you didn't want to say anything about anybody because you would be talking about someone's relatives because McKinney's and Carter's lived in most of the homes (in the area)," McKinney continued, "It's good to be here today, but it's a happy and a sad day for me because I wish my husband, Billy McKinney, could be here along with Billy Cary to enjoy this day. They would be so proud of this structure that we have in the Town of McLemoresville. They would also be proud of all of those who were in attendance to mark the 100th anniversary."

"On July 23, 1907 J.H. Bramley, J.L. Harvey, Tim Carter, J.H. Haley, and E.H. Harold applied to the State of Tennessee for a charter to open a bank in McLemoresville," said McKinney, "But, they could never have dreamed that the 1,300 square feet of space in the first building could ever become the Carroll Bank & Trust Company. The bank opened in September of 1907. We have to think about the houses that have been built, the business that has been established, crops planted, and children educated along with all the other things that have been done because of the Bank of McLemoresville and the fact that they were here to lend to us that needed the money at different times."

McKinney continued, "The Bank of McLemoresville was a good foundation, of which Billy Cary and Billy Tines noticed, and they had a dream for the future. I'm thankful that I've been around to watch that dream unfold. Those who had the same kind of dream to build the original bank in 1907 would be really proud of what's happened in the last 100 years."

Before concluding, McKinney addressed Mike Cary by stating, "I hope that all the dreams that you have for Carroll Bank & Trust will come true."

McKinney has lived in McLemoresville all of her life. Her husband was Billy McKinney (Former Bank President) and is the historian of McLemoresville, having written a book called, "The History of McLemoresville".

Following McKinney's address, Mike Cary introduced Hunter Birdwell, a fifth grade student from the Hollow Rock-Bruceton school system, who read his contest winning poem about banking.

Upon reciting his poem, Cary presented Birdwell with a $100 U.S. savings bond and a 2007 proof set.

In closing, Billy Tines reflected on the history of Carroll Bank & Trust, the McLemoresville community, and thanked everyone for being present for the monumental occasion.

Tines concluded by stating, "I'm proud of the fact that since Billy Cary and I came down here, I think we've made an effort to put a priority on making sure we know where we started and we (want to) make sure that the McLemoresville community is served (as in years past). McLemoresville is a unique community, everyone should be proud of it."

"I am convinced that the founders (of the bank) would be overwhelmed by the accomplishments through their efforts, but I think they would be pleased."

Carroll Bank & Trust has bank branches in Huntingdon (two locations), McKenzie, McLemoresville, Camden, and Milan (effective the week of September 17).

 
MCKENZIE - Excitement is building as the McKenzie Rebels football stadium dedication night and football reunion nears. A special dedication ceremony is Friday, September 21 at the recently renovated Rebel Field in McKenzie. Plans for the weekend include a pre-game barbecue, recognition of the alumni players on Rebel Field, and the presentation of an autographed Titans football.

Rebel Field has significant improvements including new grandstands, field house, and concession area. New field lighting and restrooms were added in recent years. Approximately $850,000 of improvements have been made to the stadium.

The new seating nearly doubles the seating capacity of the stadium and returns to its original location south of the field. In the early 1980s, the home and visitors sides were swapped when a new grandstand replaced the old visitor seating. This year, the sides were again swapped when the former visitor seating was razed for the new all metal seating, complete with handicap accessible ramps and spaces.

Murray McCaleb and crew are preparing hundreds of plates of pork barbecue for the celebration. Former players are invited to eat free of charge with the ticket they received in their invitation. Additional plates will be available for the general public at a cost of $6.00. Proceeds benefit the McKenzie Youth Tackle Football League. Additional meal tickets are available at The McKenzie Banner.

All attendees, including the alumni football players, must pay the gate admission price of $5.00.

Meal service begins at 5:00 p.m. at the stadium, located behind McKenzie Middle School on Woodrow Avenue in central McKenzie. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to eat and to find a good seat. Due to limited dining seating, persons are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs. In case of rain, the food will be served in the McKenzie Middle School cafeteria.

All former players should register and receive a name tag Friday evening. White-colored meal tickets represent a complimentary meal to the alumni football players. All other tickets are red.

A recognition ceremony is planned at 7:00 p.m. on Rebel Field. Former football players will be recognized according to the decades in which they participated. Alumni players from the 1920s to 2006 are encouraged to participate. The honorees will form a “victory tunnel” at the east end of the field to welcome the MHS Rebels on the field prior to the 7:30 p.m. Region 7-1A match between the Rebels and the Union City Golden Tornadoes.

An NFL football signed by Titans players and another football signed by QB Vince Young, in his 2006 rookie year, will be given away by random drawing. Persons who purchase a general admission ticket or hold a season ticket are eligible for the drawing. Two tickets for the Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons game will also be randomly drawn. The MHS Class of 1977 is heading the drawing, which will occur at the end of the third quarter.

McKenzie High School Principal Terry Howell said, “To all former MHS football players and to the community, we invite you to the barbeque prior to the game and to a special recognition of football players by the decade they played. It promises to be a special night for all. We encourage you to attend.”

On Saturday, September 22, a golf tournament at Carroll Lake Golf Course in McKenzie is planned for anyone interested in participating. Registration and lunch is at 11:45 a.m. with tee time at 1:00 p.m. McKenzie High School Golf Team is coordinating the event. Persons interested in participating should contact Coach Larry Joe Smith at McKenzie High School at 731-352-2133.

For more information, write Joel Washburn at reunion@mckenziebanner.com or write Football Reunion, P.O. Box 100, McKenzie, TN 38201-0100 or phone McKenzie High School at 731-352-2133.