Tyson Drive, in Union City, was blocked for a period of time Wednesday morning, after a trailer became unattached from its truck.

Union City police reports said officers arrived just after 7:00, where they discovered a 53-foot trailer lying on the asphalt, with traffic blocked to the Tyson Foods Plant.

A wrecker service was called to the scene to lift the damaged trailer from the roadway.

Police reports said the driver of the truck was issued a citation for having an unsecured load.

 

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Three people were charged with felony theft following a traffic stop in Obion County.

Sheriff’s Office reports said deputies were called to a suspicious vehicle complaint on R. Calloway Road, near the city limits of Troy.

Deputies, and officers with the Troy Police Department, encountered an Arkansas pick-up truck containing two dirt bikes in the bed.

Following an investigation, officers learned the motorcycles had just been stolen from a nearby residence.

Police then arrested 40 year old Ricky Dewayne Smith of Obion, 20 year old Daniel Andrew Hallmark of Dyersburg, and 21 year old Martin Alexander Plunkett, of Dresden.

All three were charged with Class-E felony theft over $1,000.

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Eight Weakley County high school students attended the Student Congress on Policies in Education, or SCOPE, in Murfreesboro earlier this month to express their views on public education in Tennessee.

Attending were Dryver Finch and Emma Winstead from Dresden High School; Kenady Atkins and Martha Nichols from Gleason High School; Kassidy Harris and Lydia Hazlewood from Greenfield High School; and Garritt Baker and Braxton Gunter from Westview High School.

The Weakley County representatives joined 349 of their high school peers to participate in mock school board sessions, where they assumed the roles of school board members, school officials, parents, students and concerned citizens. School board members, superintendents, and educational leaders led the sessions.

Students then chose speakers to represent each of their 16 small groups who went on to take part in full-scale debates on current education issues.

This year’s four debate topics and results from the poll were:

1.     High school graduation requirements shall include several pathways/options (college and career, industry credentials, etc.) that allow students to graduate with a regular high school diploma. (Agree: 59%, Disagree: 41%)

2.     Students shall have the option of substituting club sports for physical education requirements. (Agree: 80%, Disagree: 20%)

3.     Fighting on school grounds or during school activities shall be a zero-tolerance offense. (Agree: 24%, Disagree: 76%)

4.     For purposes of honors recognition at graduation, the board shall use the Latin System (i.e. summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude) instead of selecting a valedictorian and salutatorian. (Agree: 51%, Disagree: 49%)

Now in its 37th year, SCOPE is designed to give students a voice where public education issues are concerned and to involve young people in finding solutions to the topics that are discussed.

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Despite a passionate speech about the Everett Stewart Regional Airport Board, Chairman Dr. Chris Gooch was not extended another term by the Obion County Commission on Monday.

During the monthly County Commission meeting at the Public Library in Union City, a second vote on a two year term for Dr. Gooch was defeated by an 11-to-8 vote.

Commissioner Donnie Braswell, who was one of three members of the airport study committee, submitted recommendations by the committee that included new members for the board.

Gooch then spoke to the Commission and those in attendance about the committee investigation.

Dr. Gooch defended those on the Airport Board, and said each has been the target of unfair criticism.

After 10 of the investigated items were approved by the Commission, the vote then came to accept new two year terms for Airport board members Stoney Orton and Dr. Gooch.

Mayor Benny McGuire then announced that Orton had resigned his seat, with Sammy McCollum recommended and approved by a unanimous vote.

The board then voted on the appointment of chairman Dr. Gooch, with a vote to accept for a two year term of 11-to-8.

Following discussion, Commissioner Terry Roberts, who was a member of the study committee, said he wanted to change his vote from “yes” to “no” against Gooch.

County Attorney Steve Conley then informed Commission Chairman Ralph Puckett that a vote was needed by the full Commission to approve a new vote on the board appointment.

Following a 19-0 vote to allow a second vote for Dr. Gooch, the Commission voted 11-8 not to retain him at the airport.

During the second vote, Roberts, Blake Cheatam and Eugene Hudgins all change their votes.

Mayor McGuire said he will now submit a name of replacement for Dr. Gooch at the next meeting.

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Just moments after the Obion County Commission voted to not renew Dr. Chris Gooch to the Everett-Stewart Regional Airport Board, interim-Airport Manager Tim Smith resigned his position.

Following an 11-to-8 vote, to not give board chairman Gooch another term, Smith told Thunderbolt News that he submitted his letter of retirement to the the airport board.

In his letter, Smith said in his 35 years of professional service, he had never worked for a better board.

Smith applauded the members for their commitment of time, service and dedication, saying “he only wished that others could have personally witnessed what he had during his time at Everett-Stewart”.

In the letter Smith said he felt “defeated, like the bad guys won.”

He ended his resignation letter by saying “enough is enough” adding that his termination was effective immediately.

Smith was appointed the airport interim in October of 2018.

 

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Following a strange twist at Monday morning’s Obion County Commission meeting, the Everett-Stewart Regional Airport board chairman was not retained.

Commissioner Donnie Braswell, who was one of three members of the airport study committee, submitted recommendations by the committee that included new members for the board.

After 10 of the recommended items were approved, the Commission was then tasked with accepting new two year terms for Airport board members Stoney Orton and Dr. Chris Gooch.

Mayor Benny McGuire then announced that Orton had resigned his seat, with Sammy McCollum recommended by the Mayor and approved by a unanimous vote.

The board then voted on the appointment of Dr. Gooch,who serves as the chairman, with a vote to accept for a two year term of 11-to-8.

Following discussion on another agenda item, Commissioner Terry Roberts, who was a member of the study committee, said he wanted to change his vote from “yes” to “no” against Gooch.

County Attorney Steve Conley informed Commission Chairman Ralph Puckett that a vote must be taken by the full Commission to approve a new vote on the board appointment.

Following a 19-0 vote to allow a second vote for Dr. Gooch, the Commission then voted 11-to-8 not to retain him at the airport.

During the second vote, Roberts, along with Commissioners Blake Cheatam and Eugene Hudgins all changed their votes.

Mayor McGuire said he will now submit a name of replacement for Dr. Gooch at the next board meeting.

 

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