From the April 8, 2010 edition
Downtown Selmer fire
Photo by Tom EvansThe fire was quickly brought under control, but some damage was done to the shrubbery surroundling the light pole.
The Selmer Fire Department was called to the scene of a downtown fire on Tuesday afternoon.
The fire apparently started from some type of electrical short at the base of one of the streetlights along the sidewalk between Jesus Cares and the Selmer Drug Company.
The fire was quickly extinguished and caused little damage, although it did cause a lot of commotion in the downtown area. The fire burned some of the shrubs around the pole.
Chief Anthony Carr stated that he didn’t think the fire was started by someone throwing a cigarette on the ground because of the green shrubbery around the pole.
Local boxer wins Golden Gloves 
Photo by Submitted
Pictured with Jason and his trophies are; (left) Brandon Crump, a former student of Matlock’s, and at right J.D. Matlock, who trains Anderson.
Jason Anderson, who trains at the J.D. Matlock boxing club in Selmer, won the 185 lb. division at the Golden Gloves boxing tournament held in Jackson recently. Anderson, a 6’5” southpaw, defeated Eric Curry of Covington for the title.
“We’re proud of Jason and he’s a great fighter to train,” said Coach J.D. Matlock. “There were some of the best fighters in the mid-south at the tournament and Jason really looked good.”
Breast cancer survivor keeps racing for a cure
Photo Submitted
Molly Meisenheimer is pictured with her mother, Tommie Webb.
Molly Webb Meisenheimer, a 1972 graduate of McNairy Central and daughter of Bill and Tommie Webb of Selmer, was diagnosed with breast cancer in February of 1990, at the age of 35, while living in Memphis.
She was lying in bed one morning when she rolled over and felt what appeared to be a lump in her breast. A visit to the doctor the next day and a biopsy later that week showed she had cancer.
“I felt as if a huge boulder had fallen on me,” she said. “The weight of it was almost more than I could bear.”
On March 14, 1990 she had a mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy. The physical pain was almost more than she could bear, but the emotional pain also took its toll. Her husband Ed, and sons Drew and Tyler, stood by her side through the good and bad, but she also needed to talk with other women whose lives had been impacted by breast cancer.
Molly took matters into her own hands and wrote to the Susan G. Komen foundation, which was responsible for starting the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The race raises significant money in the fight against breast cancer.
Molly founded the Memphis Area Race for the Cure in 1993. The race had a total of 1,753 female participants that first year. She created a carnival-like atmosphere to combat the gloominess of cancer.
The event included an all-female band, prizes, t-shirts, and each woman who crossed the finish line was given a pink carnation. By the second year of the race there were over 3,000 participants.
Under Molly’s leadership the event grew to almost 14,000 participants by the eighth year.
In 2003, she moved to Oxford, MS where she now teaches at Ole Miss. She donates her time to C.A.R.E. Walk, a walk for breast cancer, which is put on by the Ole Miss Panhellenic Council. All proceeds go to the Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Her efforts in the fight against breast cancer have not gone unnoticed. In February, she was honored at the 2nd Annual Think Pink luncheon hosted by the Memphis Alumnae Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Today, Molly’s cancer is in remission. Although she no longer lives in day-to-day fear, she still recognizes the importance of working for the cause and spreading the word to increase awareness.
“It is an every-person disease that crosses all borders,” said Molly. “Everyone is at risk and it’s important that everyone is aware of the signs and risks of breast cancer.”
Bethel Purdy Bridge finally open
Photo by Tom Evans
After months of detours, traffic is once again moving on this section of Bethel Purdy Rd.
The long awaited opening of the Bethel Purdy Road Bridge finally came to realization recently.
“We are glad to finally get the bridge completed and I know the residents that have been having to detour around it for the past several months are glad,” said Jackie Hamm, owner of Volunteer Bridge Company the company that did the work on the bridge. “There have been some smiling faces crossing that bridge the past few days.”
The State of Tennessee Department of Transportation closed the bridge in March 2009 when a bridge inspector was conducting a routine inspection and an overweight vehicle crossed the bridge and it appeared unsafe.
Bids to rebuild the bridge were approved in June 2009, but the contractor later withdrew his bid and a new contractor had to be found, which has led to the delays in repairing the bridge.
Ellen King wins March Madness Contest
Ellen King of Selmer was the winner of the $100 prize in the McNairy County News’ March Madness basketball contest.
Contestants had to pick the teams in the sweet sixteen, elite eight, final four, and national championship. There were a total of 30 teams that had to be picked and King got 19 of the 30.
She correctly picked 12 of the sweet sixteen teams, 5 of the elite eight and 2 of the final four, West Virginia and Duke.
Tying for second place was Danny Hendrix of Selmer and Cherri Tomaszewski of Selmer. Each got 18 correct.
Jack Davis got 17 correct. Stacy Dancer, Rudy Moore, Harold Settlemires, Heather Doles, and Mike Reynolds each picked 16 teams correctly.
John Finlayson, Brian Franks, Phillip Hollingsworth, Larry Doles, Will Wintermute, Beau Brousseau, Ty Davis, Dave Bausman, and Gerry Stricklin all picked 15 correct teams.
A special thanks to all our sponsors and to all those who entered the contest.
AiM presents Steel Magnolias
Arts in McNairy is proud to announce three upcoming performances of Steel Magnolias 7:30 p.m., April 9 & 10 and 2:00 p.m. April 11. All shows will be at McNairy Central High School’s Little Theatre, 493 High School Road in Selmer, TN. Tickets will be available at the door for $8.00 (adults) and $5.00 (students).
The show is based on Robert Harling’s original stage play that first appeared Off Broadway in 1987 and was later popularized by the 1989 Tri Star Pictures release.
The familiar and much beloved characters are portrayed by an outstanding cast of six local ladies. Three are new to Arts in McNairy and three are veteran performers.
Making return appearance to the AiM stage are Megan Woolworth (Annelle), Christy Carmack (Ouiser) and Melanie Murray (Truvy). Making their AiM debut are, Sara Morris (Shelby), Dr. Nichole Feeney (M‘Lynn) and Sara Norris (Clairee).
Tom Cook returns to direct his second show with Arts in McNairy. Tom directed the memorable 2008 production of A Christmas Carol and has been seen on stage in numerous roles over the last several years.
THP plans roadblocks
Lt. David Killingsworth of the Tennessee Highway Patrol advised motorists that there will bee a Drivers License Checkpoint at the Hwy 22 & 57 intersection at Michie on Friday, April 16th. There will also be a Sobriety Checkpoint on old Hwy 45 (State Route 145) one half mile north of the Mississippi State Line on Friday, April 16th.
Record temperature tied
Photo by Tom Evans
Easter Sunday’s high temperature of 84 degrees at 3:35 p.m. tied a record set in 1954 and tied in 1988. McNairy County residents enjoyed temperatures in the 80’s earlier this week, but rain and a cool front will send nighttime lows down in the 40’s and 50’s over the next few days. A temperature of 87 degrees was recorded at Pickwick Electric around 3:30 on Monday afternoon.
