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The Weakley County Memorial Day Ceremony will be Monday at 11:00 at the courthouse in Dresden.
Weakley County Veterans Service Officer Rick McKenzie says the ceremony will be held at the Weakley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square.
Americans pay tribute on Memorial Day to those who have fallen in battle defending our country.
McKenzie says all Weakley County citizens are invited to pause and remember America’s fallen sons and daughters on Memorial Day.
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Marvin Borden
Patricia Wecker
Three people are facing drug charges after two separate arrest incidents this week by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s Captain Randall McGowan says Tuesday investigators executed search warrants at a residence on Highway 45 North of Martin and arrested 59-year-old Marvin Borden on a warrant from Benton County and 55-year-old Patricia Wecker on another arrest warrant.
McGowan says Borden was found with five-and-half grams of meth in his pocket and a search of the home revealed pills, digital scales, meth pipes and baggies, and a small amount of meth was recovered.
Both Borden and Wecker were out of jail on bond pending Circuit Court drug charges and are both facing Possession of Schedule Two Meth with Intent to Resale and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charges.
On Wednesday, Sheriff’s deputies were called to Edwards Road near Sharon regarding a man passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle.
54-year-old Thomas Shawn Lockhart, of Greenfield, was found with a bag of meth and was arrested for Simple Possession of Meth.
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Daniel Thomas
Jennifer Barner
A Weakley County couple previously arrested on drug charges is now facing additional child abuse charges.
Sheriff’s Captain Randall McGowan says Daniel Thomas and Jennifer Barner, both of Dresden, were arrested May 14th on multiple drug charges and two children in the home were removed by the Department of Children’s Services.
After hair follicle testing on the children, one child, who is less than a year old, tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and marijuana.
Captain McGowan says additional charges of Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect are begin brought again both Thomas and Barner, with their charges pending in General Sessions Court.
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Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill diverting tax dollars to private education.
The new law will allow participating families to receive debit cards worth up to $7,300 in state education money each year.
The freshman governor navigated a bumpy legislative path to score his most prominent policy win yet with the voucher-like proposal. President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sent supportive tweets while it was debated in the Legislature.
Eventually, the bill narrowly emerged from fights over cost estimates and provisions that could exclude families in the U.S. illegally.
Nationally, five states have passed laws allowing some sort of education savings accounts: Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Nevada.
The Nevada Supreme Court later ruled the state could not use school dollars to fund the accounts.
(AP)
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Rodney Smith
A Hickman police officer, who died in the line on duty last year, has been honored with two recent memorials.
45 year old Rodney Smith, of Boaz in Graves County, drowned after his patrol car ran into Mississippi River flood waters that had covered a portion of the Upper Bottom Road.
The accident occurred on the night of March 2nd of 2018, with a massive search and rescue effort performed by law enforcement agencies from both Kentucky and Tennessee.
Speaking with Thunderbolt News, Police Chief Tony Grogan said officer Smith’s sacrifice has now been memorialized both nationally and in the state.
Chief Grogan said he was glad the work of officer Smith was being recognized, saying his death still has an impact on their police department.
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Union City firefighters held an annual test of their aerial truck on Thursday.
During the morning testing at the fire station located on North Fifth Street, Captain Karl Ullrich explained about the large spray from the ladder unit.
Fire Chief Kelly Edmison said the use of the truck was part of the training for all staff members.
Captain Ullrich said the Union City aerial truck has the capability to spray 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
[ssba]A Union City man learned he was not in compliance with a city ordinance, when questioning his ability to hold yard sales.
During this week’s Union City Council meeting, Lonnie Seratt, of 2131 East Reelfoot Avenue, questioned board members about a letter he received pertaining to yard sales at his location.
Police Chief Perry Barfield addressed the issue of the letter, stating that regulated yard sale items were not being sold.
After additional discussion, Mayor Terry Hailey told Seratt that he was not in compliance with the yard sale statues of the city.
Chief Barfield said if the sale of the items continues, he felt Seratt would be cited with a violation.
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Much needed, and long overdue energy efficiency work, can now begin in the Union City School System.
Union City Council members voted unanimously to borrow up to $6-million dollars for an Energy Efficiency contract, with school board members also accepting the plan to update the educational facilities.
Director of School’s Wes Kennedy spoke with Thunderbolt News following the funding approval, and said the renovations come at a much needed time.
Director Kennedy explained the proposed work, saying almost half of the borrowed funds will pay for themselves with utility savings.
Director Kennedy also expressed his appreciation to the Union City Council for their vote to help with additional work at the Middle School.
Work is expected to begin almost immediately, with McCoy Heating and Air of Jackson contracted to provide the installations.
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The case against a Martin man accused of murder has been moved to Wednesday.
20-year-old Raschad L. Windham appeared in Weakley County General Sessions Court Wednesday where Judge Tommy Moore moved his case to next Wednesday morning at 9:00.
Windham was arrested last Thursday charges of First Degree Murder and Especially Aggravated Robbery in the May 11 shooting which took the life of 23-year-old Luke Greene, of Martin.
Martin Police Chief Don Teal says the incident is still under investigation and additional charges and arrests may be made.
Windham is being held in the Weakley County Jail.
[ssba]Roger L. Stevens, the father of Tennessee State Senator John Stevens, passed away Monday in Gallatin.
Funeral Mass for Mr. Stevens, age 75, will be celebrated Monday at 11:00 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Gallatin.
After Mr. Stevens retired from Turner Construction Company after 30+ years, he enjoyed driving cars for auto dealerships and donating his time to his church and helping others.
Alexander Funeral Home & Cremation Center is in charge of arrangements.
[ssba]Union City Council members have decided to allow farming to resume at the Industrial Park, after a proposed hemp facility has yielded no movement.
An announcement was recently made that a company was wanting to purchase the entire remaining property at the Industrial Park, to construct a $150-million dollar hemp fiber and seed operation.
Due to anticipated immediate movement with the hemp operation, this year’s farming lease by Ronnie Johns Farms, of South Fulton, was canceled.
But, at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Mayor Terry Hailey said he now feels the planting of the park should continue.
Mayor Hailey, along with Councilman Jim Rippy continued to discuss the issue.
City Manager Kathy Dillon spoke about the dealings with Johns Farms, and said the ground is ready to plant.
Following additional discussion, board members agreed to allow Johns Farms the opportunity to plant the ground at the industrial park.
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Government, and school officials in Union City, are celebrating their win in a lawsuit concerning liquor by the drink taxes.
The Obion County School Board, and County Government, joined counties across the state, in seeking a portion of the collected liquor by the drink taxes being dispersed to only city schools.
During Tuesday’s Union City Council meeting, City Attorney Jim Glasgow Jr. explained the decision handed down by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Glasgow said the tax statue had been in affect over 30 years, and the use of the tax money for city school systems had been backed by Attorney General opinions.
Glasgow added that the decision by the Supreme Court basically ended chances of appeals in the cases.
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