From the April 29, 2010 edition
Winding up Downtown Project
Photo by Tom EvansRiver City Concrete delivered the final load of concrete last Friday as the last section of sidewalk was poured in Adamsville’s Downtown Project.
Workers poured the final section of sidewalk for the Adamsville Downtown Project last Friday morning.
The project, which was scheduled to be completed at the end of last November, is finally drawing to an end and finishing touches are now underway. Most of the shrubs, trees, flowers, and mulch have been put in place along with signs and gas lamps.
Once the project is completed, city officials, the contractor and architect will go over the project from one end to the other to inspect the work and see what parts of the construction need to be fixed or replaced.
Several residents who purchased engraved brick pavers for the sidewalks have voiced their concerns over the size and quality of the engraving. There have also been reports of some areas where the new concrete is already cracking.
Once the project is complete, TDOT plans to mill the old asphalt and re-pave the downtown section.
Plans are for the width of the traffic lanes to be reduced. The city decided not to put brick crosswalks across the roads due to the cost of maintenance and extra time it would take. The bricks, which were already purchased for the crosswalks, were used to extend the sidewalks down to Magnolia Street on both sides of town.
County 8th grade career fair 
Photo by Tom Evans
Regina Jackson, owner of Styles & Profiles Beauty College, talks with 8th-graders at the career fair.
Students in the 8th grade from all over McNairy County attended a Career Fair on Tuesday at the Selmer Community Center.
Students visited booths set up in the gym and in rooms at the center to get information on careers in agriculture, business/marketing, construction/welding, health sciences, law & public safety, and manufacturing.
Booth participants included; National Guard, Selmer Parks & Recreation, UT Martin/McNairy Center, AG Extension Agency, Tennessee Technology Center at Crump, Styles & Profiles Beauty College, and McNairy County Regional Alliance.
Special speakers included; Lance Carter & Megan Thweatt – Mid South Farmer’s Cooperative, Kenny Hamm, Leah Teague – Lincare, David Prestwich – Mercy Hospice, Kristy Davidson Lott – Star Physical Therapy, Stephanie Ray – Masco Bath, Martha Taylor, Jay Weatherford – Jay Bird Construction, James McNeil, and Rudy Moore. A special thanks goes out to all the speakers and all those that provided booths.
First Round Selmer Idol Winners
Photo by Bryan Huff
Ages 20-35 Selmer Idol winners were: 1st Place - Jeremy Lawson, 2nd Place - Amy Hollon, and 3rd Place - Elizabeth Plunkett.
Photo by Bryan Huff
Ages 36 and over Selmer Idol Winners: 1st Place - Mary Flatt, 2nd Place - Jewell Elam, and 3rd Place - Judy Presley.
Selmer Parks and Recreation held the first round of the Selmer Idol competition on Saturday, April 24 at Selmer Community Center for age groups 20-35 and 36 and above.
The second round of competition will be on Saturday, May 22.
Police officer fired
Selmer police officer cleared of rape charges; city terminates officer
District Attorney General Mike Dunavant’s office has decided not to pursue rape charges following an investigation of Selmer Police Officer Joseph Colin Cadle.
Cadle was placed on administrative leave on March 8 after being accused of a possible rape by a female victim. The TBI, at the request of Dunavant’s office, investigated the case and recently determined that there was not sufficient evidence to charge Cadle with rape. However, Cadle has been terminated by the City of Selmer and is no longer employed by the Selmer Police Department.
Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks stated that he had not been contacted by the District Attorney’s office and could not comment on the case at this time.
“I have not received any word at this time from the District Attorney and until I do I can’t comment on the situation,” said Chief Burks. “I will say that Officer Cadle is no longer a member of the Selmer Police Department.”
Fatal shooting case goes to grand jury
John Wayne Wilson
John Wayne Wilson, age 38, of Bethel Springs, who authorities say shot Timmy Bright, age 44, three times with a pistol at Wilson’s home on March 23 has been bound over to the McNairy County Grand Jury.
The shooting resulted in the death of Bright and Wilson was charged with second-degree murder. Wilson is currently in the McNairy County Jail and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Wilson, who fled the scene of the shooting and spent the night hiding in a horse trailer a mile or so from the scene, turned himself in the following day. His case will go before the grand jury in June.
16 arrested in Hardin County drug bust
A drug sweep in Hardin County on Wednesday resulted in the arrest of at least 16 individuals, and more arrests may follow.
Sheriff Sammy Davidson announced that the arrests come after months of investigative and undercover work by both the Sheriff’s Department and the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force. The charges range from possession with intent, to contraband charges.
The array of illegal substances include meth, marijuana, crack cocaine and prescription drugs.
As many as five vehicles were also seized as part of Wednesday’s drug sweep throughout the county. A recent arrest in Saltillo resulted in the seizure of four vehicles according to Sheriff Davidson.
Severe storms could return
McNairy County was lucky last Saturday. There were numerous tornado warnings for the county, but none actually touched down.
Our neighbors to the south weren’t so lucky though. Tornadoes killed 10 people in Mississippi and a tornado touched down in Decatur County causing damage to several homes. Large hail was reported in the Henderson area.
For the most part, McNairy County saw only heavy rain and high winds, which left some areas flooded and tree limbs downed.
It appears another round of rain and possible thunderstorms could return for the weekend. The combination of deep Gulf moisture, instability, wind sheer, upper level low pressure disturbances, and a stalled front will lead to several opportunities for heavy rain, possible tornadoes, damaging hail, and flooding from Friday afternoon through the weekend. Heavy rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is possible.
Keep an eye to the sky this weekend and take necessary precautions. Check out the McNairy County News facebook page for up-to-date weather reports from the National Weather Service this weekend.
Salon Elite opening in Adamsville
Photo by Tom Evans
April Waller Stults invites everyone to a grand opening celebration this Sunday of her new salon, Salon Elite, located at 103 South Magnolia Street in Adamsville.
The new salon is equipped with all the latest equipment and April, along with Jennifer Lipford and the rest of the staff, will offer all the latest hairstyles including cuts, colors, and perms.
The public is invited to a grand opening celebration from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 2.
To set up an appointment, give Salon Elite a call at 632-2650.