Obion County School System staff members will soon be receiving their recently approved bonus.

Director of Schools, Tim Watkins, told Thunderbolt News that a date has been set for the bonus to be delivered to the employees. (AUDIO)

 

The bonus was negotiated by the school system and county commission, after teacher pay raises were nixed from the state’s last fiscal year budget.

Director Watkins said he was glad that some kind of financial benefit could be awarded to his instructors and staff. (AUDIO)

 

Watkins said the bonus was a one-time offering, with hopes that state legislators will reconsider the original plan to implement pay raises when they reconvene after the first of the year.

Nominations for awards for the upcoming Obion County Chamber of Commerce banquet are due on Friday.

This years banquet will be held in an on-line format on Thursday, October 22nd.

The guest speaker for the event will be Tennessee Commissioner of Health, Dr. Lisa Piercey.

Ten awards will be presented to community businesses, industries and individuals, for achievement made in the community over the past year.

The awards include Industry, Business and Small Business of the Year, Ag Business of the Year, Board Member of the Year, and the Champion of Heath Award that exemplified stellar response to COVID-19.

Nominations for awards must be submitted by Friday to the Obion County Chamber of Commerce Office in Union City.

Paducah police arrested a Tennessee man, and McCracken County juvenile, following an attempt to pass counterfeit money.

Police reports said an employee of a Paducah business called for officers, after the two individuals tried to pay for merchandise with a bogus $20 bill.

The employee used a marking pen to detect the fake money, causing the two individuals to leave the business and drive away.

Reports said officers later stopped the vehicle, which was operated by 24 year old Kaleb Walker, of Smyrna.

The passenger in the vehicle was a 17 year old juvenile, who was in possession of several counterfeit bills.

Walker was taken into custody and charged with first degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, with the juvenile issued the same charges and released into the custody of his father.

 

 

 

A Union City man has been sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison on methamphetamine charges.

Tennessee U.S. Attorney Micheal Dunavant said 37 year old Ryan Decker was sentenced to 210 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court information, in 2018, the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence on Maywood Drive in Martin.

At the scene, officers recovered a small quantity of methamphetamine, along with four firearms.

As a result of an investigation, Decker was later arrested on August 1st of 2018, when he delivered two ounces of methamphetamine to an agreed upon investigation.

Decker admitted his role as part of a drug organization involving six other individuals, with all issued charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine.

 

 

 

 

Weakley County’s mask mandate will now continue through the month of October.

Speaking with Thunderbolt News, County Mayor Jake Bynum said announcements this week by Governor Bill Lee prompted the decision for the extension. (AUDIO)

 

Mayor Bynum added that a combination of other health concerns also played a part in the continued mask mandate. (AUDIO)

 

The Mayor said he appreciates the cooperation of county residents, and believes their support has helped control the spread of the virus. (AUDIO)

 

The mask mandates began when Governor Lee issued the authority of implementation to county mayors state wide.

Weakley County began their public mandate on August 11th.

 

 

 

Weakley County farmers have been taking advantage of the recent weather to harvest both corn and soybeans.

County Agriculture Extension Director Jeff Lannom gave Thunderbolt News an update on the status of corn shelling. (AUDIO)

 

Lannom also reported strong bushel-per-acre yields from an unprecidented early soybean crop. (AUDIO)

 

Weakley County farmers average 60-to-65,000 acres of planted corn each year, along with 85-to-90,000 acres of soybeans and 20-to-25,000 acres of winter wheat.

Union City police have charged a Union City man with vandalizing business property.

Police reports said Jeff Allen, the owner of Allen Properties on 110 South First Street, reported his business had been defaced by graffiti.

Reports said Allen found the word “Satan” spelled backwards in two locations on the front of the building.

Allen told officers of attempts to remove the writing, which were unsuccessful.

An investigation revealed 25 year old Dayton Wilkey, of Cleek Echo Road, was responsible for the vandalism on August 23rd.

When located by officers, Wilkey admitted to writing the words on the building.

He was cited with vandalism over $1,000 due to the chance the entire area of the building may need repainted.

Police reports said a citation was issued instead of an arrest due to COVID-19.

Governor Bill Lee announced on Tuesday that he would extend the state of emergency in Tennessee, but would open businesses back to normal. (AUDIO)

 

During the press conference, the Governor also made announcements regarding crowd sizes, and county mask mandates. (AUDIO)

 

During the months of the pandemic, Governor Lee said he felt Tennessee has been an example of dealing with both the virus and the economy. (AUDIO)

 

Some of the provisions of Executive Order No. 63 allows a framework for safe visitation for nursing homes and long term care facilities, while also allowing the reopening of senior citizens center with limited capacity for social distancing.

Executive Order No. 60, will extend through October 28th, and will allow electronic government meetings, including the requirement of live broadcasts to the public beginning October 1st.

Those drawing unemployment benefits in Tennessee must now seek job opportunities.

The “Reemploy Tennessee” initiative began on Sunday, and requires claimants to search for work to remain eligible to receive benefits.

With the new initiative, individuals must now make at lease three potential job contacts by this Saturday, with those to be reported on their certification week.

This process will continue for all who are currently unemployed and receive benefits.

Under the program, should a claimant have a definitive return-to-work date due to a temporary layoff, or a COVID-19 related exemption, they do not need to complete this requirement.

If a claimant fails to complete work searches or activities, the system will automatically deny their benefits for that week.

Paducah police have announced the arrest of a second person in connection with a murder that occurred on August 8th.

Police reports said 24 year old Jermaine Harris, of Cairo, was arrested by Illinois State Police and U.S. Marshals in Carbondale.

The arrest comes from an ongoing investigation into the shooting death of 32 year old Keyshaun Childress, of Mounds, Illinois, and shooting injuries to four other people.

Detectives learned of an an ongoing violent feud from a group in Cairo and in Mounds, with both meeting in Paducah in August for the Emancipation Day festivities.

Harris has been charged with murder, four counts of first degree assault and wanton endangerment, along with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

Police also arrested Christopher Howard, of Cairo, last week, charging him with the identical charges issued to Harris.

Paducah police say more arrests are forthcoming in the case.

A trial date has been set for a Union City man charged with the 2019 stabbing death of a UT-Martin student.

Obion County Circuit Court Clerk records show the trial of 32 year old Tony Markee Mosley has been planned for the week of May 17th thru the 21st.

Mosley is charged with first degree murder, and abuse of a corps, for the May 11th death of 20 year old DeCora Alexander, of South Fulton.

The body of Ms. Alexander was discovered by deputies in Mosley’s home on Joe Fry Lane outside of Union City.

An autopsy performed on Ms. Alexander indicated the cause of death was due to multiple stab wounds to her hands, face, abdomen and chest.

Mosley was initially held at a Nashville facility following his preliminary hearing, but has been incarcerated at the Obion County Jail since a grand jury indictment last October.

Two longtime members of the Obion County Commission have again been chosen to lead the board.

Commissioners Ralph Puckett, of South Fulton, and Alan Nohsey, of Union City, were elected to serve as Chairman and Chairman Pro-tem for another term.

During the latest County Commission meeting, Puckett and Nohsey were unanimously voted in as the Chairman and Chairman Pro-Tem respectively.

Each began serving in the position 26 years ago, when first elected by the board during a meeting on September 19th of 1994.

County Mayor Benny McGuire said Puckett is thought to be the longest serving Commission Chairman in the state of Tennessee.