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Trustees Forum 3/31/06
The Paris Henry County Chamber of Commerce meeting room was the location for the Trustees Forum Thursday morning. Approx. 30 community members were present for the forum where candidates answered a variety of questions about their education, their qualifications for the trustee’s position and what they would change if they took office. Candidate Freddie Cole has 40 years experience in manufacturing. Don Davenport has been the manager for the Henry County Airport for the past 6 years. Molly Gallimore has worked in the county property assessor’s office for seven years and has experience in baking. Rick Moody is the owner of Nu-Look Cleaners and Laundry. Neely Owens is a native Henry Countian. David Stone was previously employed at the Farm Bureau but resigned to campaign. He was also previously employed employed in the Trustee’s office and trained by the present trustee. All the candidates present stressed that they would make customer service the number one priority. They also stressed the importance of informing the public of the tax relief available for low income and elderly citizens. All the candidates assured those present that they would keep the same staff except for Stone who explained that his wife, who presently works in the trustee’s office, would soon be leaving her position. The Trustees job pays around $55 thousand a year.
Fish
Fry Headquarters 3/31/06
HCMC
3/31/06 “There is generally good news in the report this month on Tenncare,” stated Henry County Medical Center Administrator Thomas Gee at Thursday’s Board of Trustee’s meeting. “The governor has relaxed the 'hard limits’ for Tenncare benefits that were implemented due to improving savings from the program. There will now be ‘soft limits’ which means that recipients will be able to exceed the limits with prior approval from the state based upon need.” He also told board members that it remains to be seen what Bredesen’s new plans will do.
On the Medicare front cuts proposed by President Bush have received a chilly
reception from the U.S. Senate. “Without gaining more support it is felt
that the cuts will not happen this year but would have to come in some other
areas.”
Construction on the infill of 2Tower is 50% complete, work on Hospital Circle
has begun and pre-construction meetings for the angiography suit are underway
while architects are coming up with plans for the lake EMS station on the land
donated by Security Bank at Paris Landing. The Medical Center is also
considering working with the hospital in McKenzie to become an accredited chest
pain center with the assistance of St. Thomas Hospital. “This would
allow us to make significant improvements in care for heart attacks by
implementing protocol and staff training.”
An Information Technology committee continues to meet. The plan is to have
all of HCMC’s facilities linked to the same computer system. According
to Pam Riley a final vendor should be selected and a contract signed by May.
The system will cost around 4 to 6 million dollars upfront with 18 months to 2
years for full implementation.
Project
Roundup 3/30/06 Roundup awards were announced by the Paris Board of Public Utilities. The awards were from July 1, 2004 thru June 30, 2005. The money comes from BPU customers who agree to have their monthly bill rounded up to the next dollar. The money is put in a fund and a board of 5 members review requests for funds that are submitted. “This fills a local need for local people,” stated General Manager of BPU Charles Perry. This fiscal year $83,558.18 was awarded to local groups including such groups as the Rescue Squad, Henry County Project Graduation, the Robert E Lee Academy for the Arts, the Heritage Center, the Chamber of Commerce, the Henry County Arts Council, the Henry County Band Boosters, HCHS Madrigals, local volunteer fire departments, Hoof beats of Hope, little league, the Paris Henry County Food Bank, cub scout packs, JayCee's World Biggest Fish Fry, the Family Resource Center, just to name a few. Approx. 51 local groups and organizations benefited from the Round Up in the past year.
PSSD
3/29/06 The Paris Special School District board of Education agreed Tuesday evening not to pursue adopting school uniforms after a survey was sent home to PSSD parents. “At this present time I believe the survey has spoken,” stated Chairman of the school board Richard Edwards. According to Uniform committee chairperson Kim Foster, 55 parents were against uniforms and 44 were in favor of Uniforms. Foster explained that since there were no significant problems that a uniformed dress code was trying to overcome there could be legal problems if challenged.
Principle of Inman Middle School Mike Brown reported for the technology
committee on laptop computers for 6th –8th grade
students. IBM offered a laptop for $1274 each and Dell, a comparable
model, for $1188 each. Students would take the laptops home after parents
and students understood their responsibility for the computer. The board
gave Mr. Brown the go ahead to seek firm bids. It is estimated that there
will be approx. 190 7th graders next year and 165 6th
graders. Director of PSSD schools Paul Doyle also pointed out
to the board that additional technical support would be needed to maintain all
the laptops. The board discussed the fact that the laptops were expected
to last around 3 years and would be given to all 3 grades at Inman at a cost of
around $300,000 that would come from the fund balance the 1st year.
BPU
3/29/0
The Paris Board of Public Utilities approved the bid from Universal Coatings,
located in Henry, to do crack repair on the 600,000-gallon concrete clearwell at
the water treatment plant. The tank holds treated and filtered water that
is then pumped to the elevated and ground level storage tanks. In an
inspection by the Tennessee Department of Conservation and Environment the
clearwell was cited as a violation in BPU’s latest sanitation survey. It
was discovered that there were ‘significant’ leaks from the tank for several
years, possibly as much as 20 million gallons a year had occurred.
According to General Manager of BPU Charles Perry power and chemical expense at
the water plant will be cut by fixing the leaks. Universal Coating will
provide a 5-year warranty on materials and a 2-year warranty on labor.
Adult
Establishment Board
3/29/06
The Henry County Adult Oriented Establishment review board met Tuesday afternoon
where they discussed the injunction filed by Tom Denton, owner of Club Erotica
against the enforcement of the Adult Oriented Establishment Registration Act of
1998 that was approved by the Henry County Commission.
On the advice of legal council for the county it was suggested that the
conservative approach was the best way to handle the matter and not to enforce
the act until Judge Todd makes a ruling on the injunction. “Judge Todd
has not made a ruling on the injunction or the constitutionality of the law
yet,” stated County Mayor Brent Greer.
Board member and County commissioner Randy Veazey stated, “I don’t like
having a law we can’t enforce. It creates disrespect for following the
law.”
Henry
County Coordinated Growth Committee
3/28/06 The Henry County Coordinated Growth Committee held one of their infrequent meetings Monday night to review a request from the city of McKenzie to enlarge their 20-year urban growth plan. Each municipality must have the committee’s approval to enlarge and annex the current growth areas boundaries.
According to McKenzie Mayor Walter Winchester, the building that houses Profile
Metals is located half in the city of McKenzie and half in Henry County. “We collect taxes on half of the building now and half of the personal
property tax goes to the county,” explained Winchester. “We are asking
to expand our boundaries to include all of the building.”
The 13-member committee gave their approval to move forward. McKenzie is
required to hold 2 public hearings on the matter and pass a resolution.
The matter will then come before the county commission for approval of the
annex. The land in question consists of approx. 6 acres.
Womanless
Review
3/28/06
Car Wash
3/27/06
Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will be having a car wash to
help raise funds for their annual Women’s Day event on August 13, 2006.
Grease
3/27/06
Optimist
Club Trivia Night 3/25/06
The
Optimist Club will be holding a Trivia Night Saturday March 25th at
7pm in the United Methodist Church Christian Life Center on Blythe St.
Puryear
Called Meeting
3/24/06 The city of Puryear continues to revise and update city ordinances. On Thursday morning the Mayor and board of aldermen, all except Mackie Gallimore who was taken ill Wednesday night, met and unanimously approved a revised ordinance on sexually oriented businesses.
Written for Puryear by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service, the new
ordinance covers licensing of adult oriented businesses and employees of adult
business such as adult arcades, adult bookstores, and video stores, adult
cabaret or nightclubs, adult motels and movie theaters plus adult escort
services.
The city will require an annual $500 business license and a $50 employee license
fee. The adult business may not be within 1,000 feet of a church, school
or day care, a public park or family –oriented business. The sale and
use of alcohol on the premises of any adult oriented business is also prohibited
and anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited from being on the premises.
Lion’s
Breakfast 3/24/06
The
5th Annual Puryear Lion’s Country Ham Breakfast will be Saturday,
March 25th at the Puryear Community Center from 7am to 10am.
For$5 you can enjoy an all you can eat breakfast of country ham, biscuits,
gravy. Scrambled eggs, butter, jelly, orange juice and coffee. Every one
is welcome.
County
Commission 3/23/06 The Henry County Commissioners selected members for the Tennessee River Resort Act Steering Committee at Monday evenings meeting.
At last month’s meeting the commissioners agreed that one commissioner from
each district would be on the committee. District 1, Danny Valentine,
Mitchell Evans and Don Hudson, as well as District 2, Charlie Parker, Reed
Brewer and Bobby Freeman have not yet decided who will represent their
districts.
To represent District 3 – Paul Mathenia, District 4 – James Travis, District
5 – Earl Anderson. County Mayor Brent Greer and Paris City Manager Carl
Holder will serve as Ex Offico members. Representing KY Lake Merchants
will be Wanda Williams, Downtown Paris Association, Kay Foust; Mayor David
Travis will represent City of Paris. Bob Kenworthy will represent Friends
of Paris Landing State Park. Paris Henry County Chamber of Commerce
Director Jennifer Wheatley and Chamber Tourism Committee Chairman Gary Benton
will be steering Committee members. John Taylor will represent Natural
Resources and John Ethridge will represent the Heritage Center. Mayor
Kenny Paschall will represent the City of Puryear. Staff will include
county budget director Pat Hollingsworth and City Planner Linda Holder.
Gas
Co. 3/22/06 With the bankruptcy declaration of Dana Corporation the Paris Henry County Natural Gas Utility District does not expect to collect all of the back utilities owed them by the company. According to Glen Jackson, Manager of the utility they are prepared to send a representative to New York where the bankruptcy court will be held, if necessary. The Natural Gas Utilities will begin what could be a 3-year process of mapping all the utilities meters, gas lines and valves with ESRA software. “This is the granddaddy of all mapping programs and it is the right way for us to go,” stated Jackson. Assistant Manager Don Green is currently coordinating the mapping efforts with L. I. Smith and Associates who will be digitalizing state, road and other maps, some from the 1980’s. The ESRA program was purchased on a state program at a discount. The gas company is still working on general mapping with aerial photography and hopes to include other entities such as BPU, the city and county as well as local water district in the county to help share the cost. The gas company continues to look at expanding the gas system. “We have a good main structure and good gas pressure throughout the system,” stated Jackson. Everything points to the lake area as the growth area. We need to start mapping out a growth plan for expansion.” Jackson ended the meeting by noting that due to the warmer than expected winter the utility will have to pay a penalty for all the gas they have in storage. “We will be hit with a recycling charge,” explained. “We should be at 20% of storage capacity for this time of year but we are at 40%. The price of gas in storage is higher than ever.”
Movie
Mystery
3/22/06
Louisiana
Mission Trip
3/21/06
A team from the 1st United Methodist Church will be traveling to New
Orleans and other locations in Louisiana to access Hurricane Katrina damage for
the local district and conference. They will also be taking aid to
historic St. James AME Church pastured by Otto Duncan, formerly of Quinn Chapel
AME in Paris.
They are asking for donations of supplies. The group would like to take a
huge truckload of supplies to support the efforts of those folks who are living
and working in the hurricane’s path. The group plans to leave Thursday
March 24th
and would appreciate any contributions from the community by Wednesday
March 22nd.
Otto Duncan has made a special appeal for 33-gallon heavy-duty drawstring
garbage bags, Bibles and hymnals.
Supplies, donations or contributions can be brought to the 1st United
Methodist Church on Blythe St. from 9am to 5pm.
Home
& Garden Expo
3/20/06 20 booths plus the farmer’s market pavilion was filled with exhibitors Saturday and Sunday for the 3rd annual Home & Garden Expo at the Enoch Building on the Henry County Fairgrounds. According to Chairman Andrea Lamb it was a busy weekend with a constant flow of visitors in and out. “We had wonderful weather this year which drew the public out and had them in the mood for gardening.” Over 1,000 people came to the event on Saturday and several hundred on Sunday. Kristi’s Korner, one of this years exhibitors stated, “We were once again very pleased with the number of people who came by. The turn out was great.”
City
of Henry Update
3/18/06 In a 3 hour-long regular monthly meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Henry Tuesday evening Police Chief Tim Reeves presented his letter of resignation to the board. Reaves’s lawyer read the letter to the Mayor and Board. When the board voted to accept the letter of resignation Alderman McFadden then resigned his position as alderman. In a special called meeting in February Reeves had been presented with a list of allegations that included misuse of the city patrol car, not covering school zones and filing false reports.
Relay
for Life Yard Sale
3/18/06 The First United Methodist Church and Wal-Mart will be having a yard sale Saturday March 18, 2006 in the Christian Life Center from 7am to 11am to benefit Relay For Life. Henry
County School Board 3/17/06
The
Henry County School Board approved a drug testing policy for students in the 6th
to 12th grades that are involved in identified competitive extra
curricular activities such as athletics, band, vocal music, cheerleading and
athletic team managers.
“This is a huge issue,” stated Director of Henry County Schools Rick Kriesky.
“This will create some issues that we don’t have now.” Kriesky added
that this policy was beneficial. “It has come to a point where it will
be good for our students and give them another reason to ‘just say no’.
Testing will begin in the 2006-07 school year, be performed by a certified lab
and test for 5 main street drugs, not including steroids. Consequences for
the first positive offense will range from meeting with the student,
parent/guardian and principal and could include counseling. “This is
something we have been considering for years, it’s not a knee jerk reaction to
some sort of crisis in the school system,” stated Board member Tim Brannon.
The board will be studying the financial ramifications of the testing in the
months to come.
In other business the board heard a report from Mrs. Pat Atchison on the
successful ‘Parent Day’ in February. This year’s participation was
the largest yet with 512 parents participating, up from an averaged of 300 in
the past.
The Lakewood Middle School LEO (leadership, Experience, Opportunity) Chub was
introduced to the school board members. Sponsored by the Puryear Lion’s
Club, Leo is an internatioal service organization that will be involved in the
‘adopt a grandparent’ program and the blanket drive for Damascus Rd.
shelters.
Renovation plans for Patriot stadium will be moving forward. Plans for the
new restrooms have been drawn up but the top priority will be the handicapped
ramp into the stadium. No demolition to existing restrooms will begin
until the new ones are completed and renovations may not be done by the
beginning of the 06-07 school year. New dressing rooms at Lakewood were
toured by school board members Thursday evening. They are scheduled for
completion at the end of April. Area for playground equipment and a safety
fence at Harrelson School are being prepared while the board approved the
donation of land by the city of Henry at Henry Elementary. The land will
provide more area for softball, football and soccer practice fields at the
school. The only stipulation would be the name of Hill must be used in
honor of the family donating the land.
Trustee
Candidate Stone 3/17/06 Family, friends and supporters of David Stone gathered for a ‘Meet the Candidate’ event at the Hampton Inn Convention Center Thursday evening where they were treated to a fried fish dinner with all the trimmings and listened to the music of Wire and Wood Bluegrass band. “I have worked for 2 ½ years under Judy McClanahan and she has trained me. I can go and start to work with no delay. I have already learned the job,” he stated. “I will continue to provide good customer service. I’m not a good politician I just know how to be a good public servant,” Stone told the crowd Thursday. David Stone is one of 7 candidates running for the Trustee position in the May primary.
Hoof
Beats of Hope
3/16/06
St.
Patrick’s Day Luncheon
3/16/06
Puryear
3/15/06
The
Puryear Mayor and Board of Aldermen met Tuesday evening with citizens that had
been summonsed to the meeting regarding the junk car ordinance violations and
their plans for compliance. A vehicle must be able to start and have
wheels to drive, not to be considered a ‘junk vehicle’. Property
owners A.B. Ridings, who brought his attorney, and Jimmy Gallimore, were both
present to talk to the aldermen and answer the question, when they expected to
be in compliance. Ridings owns property across the street from City Hall,
in Hazel and off of Hwy 641 past Spanky’s Restaurant told the board,
“This is a case of discrimination.” He also stated that he would wait
and see if other’s complied with the ordinance. “I don’t see what is
the safety and health hazard of the junk cars like the ordinance states.”
Gallimore said that he has been at the same place on School St. for 40 years and
asked “What about the grandfather clause.”
Parent
Teacher Conferences
3/15/06
Belew
Open House
3/15/06
County
Road Board 3/14/06 The Henry County Highway Commission went into recess at the end of Monday evenings meeting after there was some confusion on the concrete floor specifications for the equipment shed in bids that were opened Monday. In question was the type of reinforcement that the specs called for in the bid. The floor will require the strength to withstand heavy equipment being driven across it in the equipment shed that will be built to replace the one destroyed in the November, 05 tornado. Accepted and approved were low bids for two trucks Monday. The board approved the bid from Joe Mahan Ford for a 2006 Ford diesel pick-up truck for $20,848. Also approved was a low bid from Tri-State International Trucks of Murray for a tandem axel dump truck for $61,645. “I am glad to see our bids come from close to home,” stated Board Chairman Ronald Brown. The board also approved monthly expenses and the 30day work plan that will continue with work on Reynoldsburg Rd. . “We will also continue to work on our own yard,” stated Road Supervisor Ray Norwood. Crews continue to clean up tornado destruction at the Highway Department’s Cedar Street facility.
Beer
Board 3/13/06 The Paris Alcoholic Beverage Control Board met in a special called meting Friday at noon and approved a temporary beer permit for Security Bank’s Relay for Life fundraising event. The event on April 1, is April Fools Black Tie/Blue Jean Ball at the Hampton Inn Convention Center.
Relay
For Life
3/11/06
Security
Bank 3/10/06
Non-Profit
Committee 3/10/06 The Henry County Non-Profit Screening Committee met Thursday afternoon and approved a request for $$5,000 from Tim Wirgau, Treasurer for the World’s Biggest Fish Fry and President and General Manager Chris Martin.
The money will be used to build a roadway from Lone Oak across to Fairground Rd.
According to Wirgau the area has become a safety hazard for children and
pedestrians.
Candidate
Forum
3/10/06 Despite the stormy weather the Hampton Inn Convention Center was filled with Democrats for the Candidate’s Forum sponsored by the Henry County Democratic Party and the Henry County Democratic Women’s Club.
Unopposed candidate, Brent Greer told the crowd “It’s great to be a
democrat in Henry County. Jerry Bomar, unopposed County Clerk, Circuit
Court Clerk Ron Meyers and Register of Deeds Alice Webb stated that it was a
privilege to serve the citizens of Henry County and urged every one to get out
and vote. Unopposed Sheriff candidate Monty Belew, a state trooper and
TWRA officer stated, “I want to make a difference in Henry County. I
want to be your 49th sheriff.
Hansel McCadams who has no Democratic opponent in this district for the State
Attorney General told the large group, “The biggest job is getting the vote
out.” Rep. Butch Borchert was also present and said he had a democratic
agenda, address drug use, education and jobs.
Fund
Raiser 3/9/06
A
fundraiser for Matt Wermer is underway. The donations received will go
toward paying expenses for spinal cord surgery. Currently Matt cannot walk
due to injuries from a vehicle accident.
For a $5.00 donation you will have the opportunity to win a 2-night vacation
package in Pigeon Forge.
The package includes 2 nights at the Music Road Hotel in Pigeon Forge, 2 tickets
to Dollywood, and a gift certificate for 2 at the Cracker Barrel.
Candidate’s
Forum 3/8/06
Adult
Oriented Establishment Board
3/7/06 The Adult Oriented Entertainment Establishment Review board met for their monthly meeting Monday afternoon just days after the Adult Business Registration Act of 1998 went into affect and a restraining order was issued to the county, filed by Club Erotica. Due to the temporary restraining order deputies were unable to do anything about the complaint they received that the Foxy Lady was allowing nude dancing and alcohol was on the premises, 2 of the items the Act was passed to prevent. The county attorney Lee Greer stated that the constitutionality of the act would be tested in the lawsuit filed by Tom Denton of Club Erotica. Greer did not believe that the lawsuit would be very successful and if it were would only be so on a few points of the act since it has withstood the scrutiny of other lawsuits in other counties and states. “I really believe we will prevail,” stated Greer. Also approved by the board at Monday’s meeting was a permit for the adult bookstore Wild Things. The adult bookstore Sensual Pleasures has also received a permit. None of the 4 adult clubs in the county have applied for a license at this time.
All District Band Festival
3/6/06
Approximately ninety-seven
junior high students from both the city and county school systems will be
participating in the first ever All District Band Festival on Thursday, March
9th at
The four schools, Harrelson, Henry, Inman, and
This is a great opportunity for all of the students to learn from each other
and to meet other music students from around the county. It will also give
them a taste of the music program that awaits them at the high school level.
For further information on the Paris Henry County Arts Council All District
Band Festival call the Paris Henry County Arts Council office at
Relay
For Life 3/4/06
Curves
Food Drive 3/4/06
Curves of Paris, located at 318 Tyson Ave, will be participating in the 8th
Annual Cures Food Drive to benefit the local food banks. Last year the
Curves Food Drive collected 10,6 million bounds of food for local communities
all over the world. That’s almost 3million more pounds than the year
before.
To celebrate the generosity of the community, Curves is waving its normal
service fee for any new member who brings in a bag of non-perishable groceries
through March 11th. Last year more than 251,000 new members
joined Curves during the food drive. Others wishing to donate
to the food drive may drop of items at Curves of Paris Monday through Saturday
during regular business hours.
Literacy Council 3/4/06
The Henry County Literacy Council met for their monthly meeting Friday at
noon where the members discussed the larger than expected response to the Dolly
Parton Imagination Library. The program provides a book per month to
children from birth to 5years old. Due to the overwhelming response the
original funding will not last as long as first thought. Members of the
Literacy Council will be making appeals to local civic organization for
donations to cover the postage for mailing the books to registered children.
The books themselves are free.
Sue Quinn also reported that computer classes offered for Community Education
were full. Other community classes offered include Bridge, Gardening and
Cake Decorating.
County
Work Session 3/3/06 The Henry County Commission met Thursday evening for a work session to begin implementing the Tennessee River Resort District Act. The Act was designed to promote tourism in financially distressed Tennessee River area counties. The group, under the leadership of County Mayor Brent Greer, designed a steering committee to supervise the funding of the project, which will include $500,000 as required by the Act. “The lake area is our growth area,” stated Greer. “80% of the sales tax revenue is generated in Paris. If this doesn’t shift it to the lake area it will be because we haven’t done a good job in promoting this.” Proposed members of the steering committee were 1 commissioner from each district, a representative from the KY Lake Merchants, from the Chamber of Commerce, Paris Henry County Industrial Committee, Downtown Paris Association, the mayors of Cottage Grove, Henry and Puryear, the Heritage Center, Paris Planning Director, TWRA/TVA/U.S. Fish and Wildlife. The steering committee will be considering hiring an out of town or even an out of state consulting firm to design a promotional campaign for Henry County.
City
Commission
3/3/06
After
several months of discussion the Paris City Commission passed on 2nd
reading a revised version of the Vicious Dog Ordinance. The
ordinance widens the definition of attack to include intent, states the size of
the enclosure for the animal and that pit bulls must be in an enclosure, not
just chained up.
City Manager Carl Holder reviewed the status of utility extensions in the annex
area of the city. Sewers on 218 East are under contract as are water lines
on 218. Blue Bird and Mocking Bird Ln. are still being designed.
The city will be in charge of the bidding process for the new W.G. Rhea Public
Library roof, which was approved by the Henry County Commission.
In new business the commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the Paris
Police Department to participate in West Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force.
Created in 2004 the task force works with the TBI, FBI, and other agencies.
They provide training and equipment plus enable the Paris Police Department to
provide overtime payment to the officers involved. Paris Police Chief
Tommy Cooper stated, “ The number of meth labs in the city have dropped but
usage of meth is rampant.”
An interlocal agreement between Paris and Henry County was approved by the
commission regarding financial responsibility in the Mohon property purchase.
Each would assume 50% of the financial burden should ICI not meet the financial
responsibility. Mayor David Travis, due to his financial involvement with
the investment group abstained from voting. The mayor also did not vote
when the commissioners approved the long-term lease agreement with Institutional
CaseworkInc. As the mayor he is a member of the Paris Industrial
Development Board who approved the long-term lease.
Approved Thursday by the commission was an agreement between the city and the
Henry County School System for the development, usage and maintenance of the
proposed Wilson St. tennis court complex. The school will donate the land
and the city will provide maintenance. The complex will be available for
citizen’s use when not being used for school tennis matches. All of this
is contingent upon the city receiving a Local Parks and Recreation Fund grant.
County
Beer Board 3/3/06
2006
Helping Hand 3/2/06
Downtown
Paris Association 3/2/06
The
Downtown Paris Association honored Ed Reynolds, of Furniture Exchange, Tuesday
morning who was speechless with surprise at the presentation.
Mr. Reynolds has been part of the downtown business community for 60 years.
Tuesday
Helping Hand
3/1/06
Tuesday’s total was $3816 with the total to date $251,950.00 Wednesday is the last day of the 2006 Helping Hand Radio Auction. Come on out to the Enoch Building beginning at 12:45pm and help make this the best year ever. If you can’t come out then listen and bid on WTPR AM 710. Wednesday is open to anyone who would like to bring in items.
BPU
3/1/06
Paris
Board of Public Utility customers will see an increase in their electric bills
with the April 1st meter readings. The board approved a local
increase of 1% or 50 cents that will be added to the TVA rate increase of 5%.
The fifty-cent increase by BPU will cover increased fuel costs for meter
reading, tree trimming and other customer services.
According to General Manager Charles Perry, TVA was in a financial bind with
only 9 days of working capital on hand and they had to make $129 million worth
of cuts in in-house expenses. “They needed money now
to stay afloat,” stated Perry. The new rates will increase the monthly
bill for the average household by $6.30. “We are playing this thing
neutrally except for the 50 cent increase to BPU revenues,” stated Board
Chairman Bill Caldwell. “We have no alternative, these increases were
too great for us to absorb the cost.”
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