From the March 4, 2010 edition
Hee Haw 2010 is Underway
Photo by Bryan Huff
It’s Show Time! The McNairy County Hee-Haw show takes the stage tonight Thursday, March 4th thru Saturday, March 6th at the McNairy Central Little Theatre.
Next weekend, on Friday and Saturday, March 12th and 13th, the show will be in Adamsville at The Marty.
All shows start at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 7-12. Children under 6 get in free.
Make your plans now to attend. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
The 2010 show will have you laughing in the aisles. DON’T MISS IT!!!!!!
County schools growing 
Photo by Tom Evans
The four new classrooms at Ramer will be ready when the 2010-2011 school year begins next fall.
Work is underway at two McNairy County schools as the increase in the student population means more space is needed.
The McNairy County Board of Education recently added four new classrooms at Michie. Bethel Springs has added six new classrooms, an office, and some storage areas. The new addition at Bethel Springs is almost complete. Work is also well underway at Ramer to add four new classrooms that students will move into in the fall.
The good news for the taxpayers of McNairy County is, all the additions are being paid for without borrowing any money or raising taxes.
“We haven’t had to borrow any money to add these new classrooms,” said Larry Smith, a school board member. “All the money is being funded from our existing budget and that’s something we are proud of.”
The Bethel Springs addition was around $768,000 and the Ramer project’s cost will be a little over $500,000. The School Board is also looking at property at different locations trying to come up with the best location for new schools.
The elementary schools in Selmer and Adamsville are currently overcrowded. The increasing student population will result in the need to build new schools at Selmer and Adamsville in the future and the Board is working on putting a building plan in place.
Selmer Idol Winners
Photo by Bryan Huff
Winners in the 8-13 age group were Malory Lowery (2nd), Abbie Bayless (3rd) and Kaitlyn Wilson (1st).
The Selmer Idol Contest held its second round preliminaries last Friday night.
Winners in the 8-13 age group were; 1st – Malory Lowery of Hornsby; 2nd – Abbie Bayless of Reagan; 3rd – Kaitlyn Wilson of Henderson.
Winners in the 14-19 age group were; 1st – Brianna Hill of Henderson; 2nd – Lacie Lanier of Pocahontas (there were only two contestants in this age group.)
The next contest will be held on April 24th for ages 20-25 and 36 & above. The second round for those age groups will be May 22nd .
Finals will be held for all winners on July 3rd.
*Note: You can view a video of Friday night’s winning performance of “Unchained Melody” on the McNairy County News Facebook page.
Gray receives award for service
Photo by Tom Evans
Assistant District Attorney General Bob Gray (left), and District Attorney General Mike Dunavant.
District Attorney General D. Michael Dunavant is honored and pleased to present Assistant District Attorney General Bob Gray with a 5-year State of Tennessee employee service pin for his years of dedicated service as a prosecutor for the 25th Judicial District of Tennessee.
Bob has served with distinction since September 1, 2006, when he was appointed by District Attorney General D. Michael Dunavant as an Assistant District Attorney General.
Since that time, he has vigorously and effectively prosecuted all types of criminal cases in the 25th Judicial District (Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy), and primarily in McNairy County. Bob’s prior service to the State of Tennessee also includes service as a Staff Attorney for the Tennessee Department of Revenue from 1985 through 1987.
Prior to his service with the State of Tennessee, Bob was engaged in the general practice of law in McNairy and Hardin counties from 1987-2006. During that same time, Bob also served as the McNairy County General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge. General Gray received both his Bachelor of Science degree in 1982, and a Law Degree in 1985, from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
“Bob is one of the most experienced and capable prosecutors in the State, and I am proud that he is a vital part of my staff. He is a veteran trial lawyer who provides valuable knowledge, experience, and leadership to the younger attorneys in my office, including myself. He is a trusted friend and colleague, and I look forward to continuing to work with him in our collective prosecutorial efforts in McNairy County,” said District Attorney Mike Dunavant. We join the State of Tennessee in expressing our gratitude to Bob in recognition of his distinguished years of service to the citizens of the 25th Judicial District.
Savannah woman reports carjacking
Vehicle recovered in McNairy County
A Savannah woman reported to Savannah Police that she was shoved and had her car stolen as she banked at an ATM machine in the early hours of Saturday, February 27th. Reports state that at around 4:10 a.m., she pulled into a bank on Wayne Road to use the teller machine, at which time she exited her vehicle and reported being shoved by a masked individual. The assailant then drove away in her vehicle, a 2005 gold Nissan. The vehicle was later located, after a “be on the lookout” bulletin was issued, in neighboring McNairy County at around 1:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The details of the assault and auto theft are still under investigation.
Search on for missing inmates
Authorities in Alcorn County are searching for two inmates who walked away from a work detail early Monday morning.
Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart said his department was continuing to follow up leads and search locations for Rodney James Wooden and Bobby Durane Prather. Both were present on Monday around 6 a.m. when they ate breakfast and then went to their jobs in the jail’s laundry. They apparently walked away sometime after that. Both were being held on violations of their probation. Both men, from the Corinth area, had been convicted on drug charges.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s department at 731-286-5521 or Crimestoppers at 1-800-733-TIPS.
Patty Kiddy appointed to Governor’s Teacher Evaluation Committee
Governor Phil Bredesen has appointed nine men and women to serve on the Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee established by the recently enacted Tennessee First to the Top Act of 2010. Patty Kiddy, a Selmer Elementary School teacher, who was recently named the Tennessee Teacher of the Year, was named as one of the three public school teachers appointed by Governor Bredesen.
“I am grateful to the individuals willing to serve in this capacity to help move Tennessee public education forward in bold, new ways,” said Bredesen. “I am confident that with the level of experience each of these Tennesseans brings to the table, we can accomplish this goal for teachers and their students across the state.”
The 15-member committee will develop and recommend to the State Board of Education guidelines and criteria for the annual evaluation of teachers and principals, including a local-level evaluation grievance procedure.
The appointments announced by Bredesen include:
Public School Teachers
Kenny Lou Heaton, Carter County School System
Patty T. Kiddy, McNairy County School System
Judy Stewart, Franklin County School System
Public School Principals
Jimmy Bailey, Jackson-Madison County School System
Jill Levine, Hamilton County School System
Director of a School District
Jesse Register, Metro-Nashville School System
Other Members
Mike Edwards, Knox County
Darrell S. Freeman, Sr., Davidson County
Tomeka R. Hart, Shelby County