HCMC  11/30/05

     Administrator of the Henry County Medical Center Thomas Gee stated at Tuesday evenings meeting of the board of trustees that the medical center was just watching the numbers as the effects of Tenncare become more apparent.    He stated that hospitals in West Tennessee have seen an increase in uninsured patients but not a rise in charity cases.  “We are all holding our breath for January when benefits limits for those still on Tenncare kick in.”

     Bids specifications for the 2 Tower infill and the sleep lab have been given to contractors.  Bids are expected back by the December board meeting.

     Information Technology continues to be studied by administration.  They hope to have narrowed down possible choices for technology providers to 2 vendors by the end of the year.

     The board approved a new member of the Healthcare Foundation Board.   Member Jim Adams will be replaced by Josh Coleman.  The medical center’s new chief financial officer Lisa Casteel was present for Tuesday’s meeting and reviewed these months’ finances for the board.  ER visits were up by 8%, similar to last month.  She also stated that the total bad debt write off was 5.9% of the total budget.  Turnover rates of employees continue to hold steady and a management firm hired to come up with savings strategies reviewed their achievements Tuesday.

 

Declaration Issued  11/30/ 05

     Henry County has received a Disaster Declaration from the Small Business Administration which means tornado victims will be eligible for low interest loans from the SBA.  Applications are available at the Henry County Courthouse and you have until January 30 to file.

 

Christmas Celebration  11/30/05

     Citizens will be celebrating their annual tree lighting ceremony in Puryear at 6pm December 2^nd.  The evening will feature the arrival of Santa on a Puryear fire truck and the Puryear Lions club will be offering their famous chili free at the Puryear Community Center.  Each child who attends will get to visit with Santa and be entered in a drawing for a girl’s bicycle and a boy’s bicycle at 7pm.

 

Cancer Survivors Dinner  11/30/05

     The Annual Ed Roberts cancer survivor Christmas dinner will be held at Fairview Baptist Church on December 1^st.  Approx. 200 people are expected for the sit down dinner.  

 

Paris Beer Board  11/29/05

     The Paris Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved a new beer permit for Landa Jones King.  The establishment will be located at 125 N Brewer St.  The owner was granted an on and off premises permit for the King’s Brewer St. Lounge to be located in the bar that was known as Luck’s.

     A hearing followed the meeting on a violation of beer regulations.  The bar in question was the Spot located at 105 N. Brewer St. where officers testified that a 17-year-old girl had been served alcohol.  The owner of the establishment, Tom Denton, produced several witnesses who stated that the juvenile had a fake ID that looked like her although the Paris Police officers did not find the ID when they searched her vehicle after she was pulled over for driving on the wrong side of Brewer St.  Denton was offered a choice to pay a $1,000 fine or close for 15 days.  The owner has 5 days to decide which he will do.  

 

NEHUD 11/29/05

     The Northeast Henry County Utility District covered several items at their meeting Monday afternoon including leak adjustments for the month.  Also approved by the board was the appointments made by County Mayor Brent Greer.  Reappointed to the board of commissioners were Sonny Sarver and Tom Dowdy.

 

Meet the Candidate  11/29/0 5

     The public will have another chance to meet Monte Belew a candidate for Henry County Sheriff.  Belew is best known for his work as a trooper for the Tennessee Highway Patrol and a Wildlife Resources Officer.  Belew will be meeting and greeting the public with free hotdogs and hamburgers at the Hampton Inn Convention Center on December 1^st  from 4pm to 7pm.

 

Official Toll of Destruction  11/28/05

     The official toll of destruction now includes 113 structures damaged with 46 listed as destroyed from the F2 tornado that ripped through Henry County on November  15^th .  According to Ron Watkins, Henry County Emergency Management Director the injury count totaled 18 persons with 3 admitted to the hospital.   No fatalities were reported.  Four area business were also affected by the tornado that destroyed three of the four.  Four areas of Henry County sustained major destruction, Hwy 54W, Hwy 64N, Shady Grove Rd., Brown Lane and the Cypress Rd. area close to KY Lake. 

     Watkins stated that Henry County is still awaiting word from the Small Business Administration regarding disaster declarations for the county.  If a disaster declaration were issued this would make available low interest loans to victims for assistance with housing and businesses needs.  “ The SBA was here last Saturday to conduct a site survey and my office has not heard anything since,” stated Watkins    The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency has already informed County Mayor Brent Greer that federal assistance for debris clean up and utility damager will not be provided.    Although Henry County did have enough damage to qualify, statewide damage did not meet the threshold required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for assistance.  Watkins added, “Unfortunately we are going to have to absorb these costs locally.  Damage to utilities and debris cleanup is estimated at $513,000.  This plus the $330,000 cost of straight line wind damage on November 6^th         is going to be difficult to deal with.”

     The West District Baptist Association on Tyson Ave. is using resources from several local churches to address the needs of the disaster victims.  Watkins said,  “Our main concern is making sure everyone has food to eat, cloths to wear and a place to stay.”

     Donations of money, food and household items are still needed.    Clothing can be taken to the Methodist Thrift Store, The Eastwood Church of Christ Clothes Closet and the Salvation Army.   The WDBA is working with the First United Methodist Church to coordinate clean up efforts.  The WDBA is also accepting money and food donations.

 

Lupus/Fibromyalgia   11/28/05

     The Lupus/Fibromyalgia Support Group meets the 1^st Thursday of each month and their next meeting will be Thursday, December 1, at 7pm in the private dinning room of Henry County Medical Center.  The scheduled guest speaker for this month is water aerobics instructor Carol Doster who will discuss the pain relieving benefits of water aerobics.  Family and friends are encouraged to attend as well.  The meetings are conducted in a round table discussion format.

 

DBA Celebration  11/26/05

    The sun shown bright in Downtown Paris and drew families and shoppers the day after Thanksgiving to the Downtown Business Association sponsored  ‘North Pole Family Fun Day’.

     The weather was chilly but that didn’t cool the enthusiasm of the children waiting for the arrival of Santa.

     

     

     Santa showed up on a Paris Fire Truck followed by a 2^nd truck with Rudolf and an elf on its bumper.  After greeting the children Santa went into his house on the square where he listened to their list of wishers for Christmas.  When asked Santa stated that Paris and Henry County were full of good boys and girls that he would be visiting on Christmas.  Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, who doesn’t speak much, gave a big thumbs up when asked how his flight down from the North Pole went. 

     

    

     To entertain the waiting parents and children Brent and Shalustar Ramsey, Heather Townsend and Angela Mosely sang Christmas songs while just down the stet at the old train depot students from Bobbie Greer Fazinni’s Acting Studio at Lee Academy for the Arts read ‘The Polar Express’ to the delight of the young audience.  If that wasn’t enough there were picnic tables set up around the square for children to make Christmas decorations and crafts.

 

Holiday events in Paris  11/24/05

     

     Start your family’s holiday festivities with North Pole Family Fun day in historic downtown Paris on Friday, November 25. 

     Santa and Rudolf make their grand entrance on the fire engines at 10am Friday visiting with children at Santa’s house on the square from 10am to 4pm.  Project Graduation elves will photograph children with Santa for $5.  Free events abound through out the day including make and take crafts at Santa’s workshops around town, Christmas stories at the old depot, popcorn, free face painting, live music and more will be going on from 10am to 2pm with merchants open 9 to 5.

     “The day after Thanksgiving is a time when families like to get out and about,” said Kay Foust, President of the Downtown Business Association.  “During North Pole Family Fun Day  we’re offering lots of free activities and a chance for families to make special holiday memories.”

     According to Foust the overwhelming response to lest year’s event prompted the group to increase the number of activities.  “We’ve added workshops for children and parents to make crafts all day, courtesy of the 4-H clubs.  They will be readings of ‘The Polar Express’ at 11, 12 and 1 at the old depot plus live entertainment on the square between 11am and 2pm.

 

BPU  11/23/05

     The Paris Board of Public Utilities held their monthly meeting Tuesday where an update on storm and tornado damage costs to BPU was reviewed for board members.

     Revised estimates provided by Richard Edwards of the electric department were set at $125,000 to $150,000 “at this point” he stated.  “I would like to express our sincere appreciation to all the employees who worked so hard to repair the damage,” stated Chairman Bill Caldwell.  He then turned the discussion to an early warning system for Paris and Henry County.    “If this had happened at night while people were sleeping we would have many deaths,” he stated.  Although both the city and the county have talked about sirens they were thought to be too costly to purchase and install plus the cost of maintenance.  “A warming system should be installed,” stated Caldwell.  “Both the city and the county dropped the ball.”

     A bid for boring for installing water line extensions on Hwy 218 and  Hwy 77 was accepted by the board.  Rebel Construction Co. which has extensive experience and the equipment needed to bore under roads and railroad tracks will do the necessary boring and meet state and TDOT regulations at a cost of $43,700,  “They have done good work for us before,” stated Charles Perry General Manager of BPU.
  BPU will do the engineering and install the waterlines while the city of Paris will pay for the materials and provide some manpower for the work in the newly annexed area of the city.

      The board rescinded a decision made in September to go to a new governmental retirement plan.  The move will save BPU $121,000 in pension contributions this year and will not prohibit us from joining the plan next Oct.  I don’t see a down side to doing this,” stated Perry.

     Perry also told the board that the refurbishing of a transformer at one of BPUs substation will be completed before the end of December and be ready when the cold weather peak comes.  The refurbishing project of the 43year old transformer and other equipment will cost approx $522,000 but will mean less costs on energy losses throughout the system.  “This will make it as good as a new substation,” explained Perry.

 

Special Called Session  11/23/05

     The City commissioners covered several items at their special called meeting Tuesday evening including the Hospital Circle project, which due to delays by TDOT has increased in cost.  City Manager Carl Holder and County Mayor Brent Greer met with officials in Nashville in a meeting arranged by Representative Borchert.    “Where we are is where we are,” stated Holder of the road-widening project.  “We are too far along in the commitment.”   The project will be going out for bids and the city hopes the project will come in under state estimates.

     The commissioners listened to estimates on costs for sewer and water extensions into the newly annexed area of Paris along Hwy 218 and Hwy 77 as well as  the city industrial park.  The projected prices were based on using gravity flow sewer systems and grinder pump systems similar to those developer Jim Eichler is proposing for his 33, one- acre lot subdivision  along Hwy 218.  The pumps will be necessary due to the many different slopes of the land in that area.

     After listening to the various cost estimates for the sewer projects Holder stated that the use of  Community Development Block Grants for the additional utility development would be sought.  The only comment came from Vice Mayor Sam Tharpe who presided over the meeting in the Mayors absence,  “This is a big project and a lot of money.”

 

County Commission    11/22/05

     Ray Norwood told the county commissioners Monday evening, “The budget committee approved the cost of the new roof for the highway department building at Monday’s meeting and it was gone Wednesday morning.”  The highway department was one of the government buildings that was hit by last weeks tornado in Henry County.  According to County Mayor Brent Greer damage to the county was set at 6 to 7 million dollars.  “There was no federal declaration of a disaster but an FDA declaration will make the county eligible for low interest loans to rebuild,” Greer told the commission.  Commissioner Mitchell Evans stated during the Commissioners comment portion of the meeting, “I just want to thank the quick thinking of Director of Schools Rick Kriesky for keeping our children safe and for the quick response of our emergency personnel.  With all the damage there were no lives lost.”

     Commissioners approved the donation of land in the lake area off of Hwy 79 to Henry County Medical Center to be used to construct an EMS building.  EMS Director Mike Shankle told the commissioners that 4 years ago they began looking for land in the lake area for such a building.  Mr. McIntosh of Security Bank made the offer of the land beside their lake branch building that will run to the TVA property line.  Shankle said they hope to start construction next year.  The commission also approved a 10-year tax abatement agreement with Tecumseh Products Inc.  Greer said of the company, which is a large employer in the area,  “This will strengthen and expand their presence in our community.”

          During the citizens comments George Combs, representing Quinn Chapel thanked commissioners for making members of the AME church conference welcome in Paris and Henry County.  Due to their welcome here the conference, usually held in Memphis, will be held here next year again.  The 3 to 4 day long conference will bring approx 800 visitors to Paris.

 

Office on Aging  11/22/05

     The Henry County Office on Aging Committee met Monday afternoon where Director Brenda Morris told committee members that the Charles Conger Senior Citizens Center now had a new refrigerator.  Morris donated the old appliance to the Salvation Army.  Also announced at the meeting, the office on aging is accepting applications for holiday food baskets provided by area churches and that tickets for a free Thanksgiving meal at the Holy Cross Church are available through the office on aging.  The fundraising committee has finished their cookbook and it is expected to be back from the printers in time for holiday gift giving.

 

Library  11/21/05

     According to W.G. Rhea Library Director Connie McSwain patrons will soon be able to enhance their research and learning abilities by using the Tennessee Electronic Library, or TEL.  The new service can be accessed on the Paris Henry County Library computers.  The on line service also provides books that can be read for those unable to get out to the library along with magazines and newspapers.  There are currently 700 titles that the state has put on the Internet that can be downloaded free of charge.   

     The library is providing a very successful pre-school program that is drawing young readers to the library as well. McSwain stated that there have been some complaints about the noise level in the library due to the children.  “The library should be the center of the community,” stated the Director.  “We are trying to offer something for all age and interest levels.”  McSwain added that due to size limitations in the library there is no room to have a separate children’s area that would help contain the noise.  There are approx 15 to 20 preschoolers who attend the hour-long program during the week, which offers special programs by such visitors as Sheriff David Bumpus and Mary Kate Ridgeway.

     As the library continues to experience growing pains a feasibility study on building a new library is underway.  Besides the need for more room inside the need for parking space continues to grow.  Circulation is up with over 500 books checked out this month and ‘no fine’ month brought many volumes back home.  The library is also holding Bingo each Monday.  Space is limited so only 20 can play at a time.  The game will start on December 5^th from 11am until noon.

    

Heritage Center  11/21/05

     The Heritage Center will host Dr. Gerald Smith, a professor of religion at the University of the South on Monday from 2 until 3:30 and give a lector on “People and the land in the rural South.”  Dr. Smith’s lecture is sponsored by Humanities Tennessee as part of the upcoming Smithsonian Exhibit, Between Fences.  There are two other scholars scheduled to lecture at the museum, one on November 23 and one on December 9.  Each scholar will lecture on a topic related to the Smithsonian exhibit in an effort to generate interest in the community.  

 

Supper With Santa  11/21/ 05

          Rhea School is sponsoring ‘Supper with Santa’ on Friday December 5^th from 5pm until 8pm.   The evening includes food, games, photos with Santa, a silent auction, and a bake sale.  Meals are $3 for adults and $2 for children.  For more information you can call Rhea School at 642-0961.

 

Gas Co.  11/19/05

     The Paris Natural Gas Utility District will be signing another contract with Tenergy Corporation, a gas provider, which will allow the Paris gas utility to buy gas at a discount.

     “I think it is a good arrangement that has worked well the last 6 years that I have been here,” stated Glen Jackson, Manager of the Paris Henry County Natural Gas Utility District.  The gas can be bought tax free through the contract with Tenergy.

     Jackson also stated that he doesn’t look for gas prices to improve much this winter.  “The price of gas is still high and I look for it to come down some more although there will be no cheap energy this winter season,” he said.

     The gas company took gas out of storage in October and is currently at 88% total capacity.  As the weather gets colder more customers are expected to reconnect to the gas.  There are currently 5,787 customers.

 

Henry County Literacy Council  11/19/05

     At this months meeting of the Literacy Council President Bill Williams gave members an update on the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program.  The program provides a book a month to enrolled children under 5 years old through the mail.  Originally Henry County was a pilot program for West Tennessee with the program paid for by a grant received through the Press Association and the P.I., but since then a statewide program has been implemented, absorbing those original grant funds. 

     “We currently do not have enough funding left for many more months,” explained Williams.   Council member Patsy Kemp told the council, “You should see how excited some of the children become as they wait for their very own book in the mail.”

     The Literacy council will review its funds and other commitments at next months meeting to see how much money they can offer the Imagination Library.  Other fundraising possibilities are being discussed by the county and local businesses.  It is estimated that to keep the program running would cost approx. $10,000 a year.

 

Arial photos courtesy of Ron Watkins Henry County Emergency Management Director. 

    

City Beer Board  11/18/05

     The Paris Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved an application for an on premises beer permit at Thursday evenings meeting. 

     Ms. Tamara Bradley will open the Allstar Bar & Grill.  The establishment will be located in what use to be Fresh Market in the Wal-Mart Shopping area.  She told board members that she plans to be open January 1^st and will have a smaller menu than what the previous business had but expects 50% of her sales to come from food.  The bar and grill has applied for a liquor license and will feature Extreme Sports TV and of course the Super Bowl. 

 

Thanks Giving Pot Luck  11/18/05

     The Charles Conger Senior Citizen’s Center had a full house for their Thanksgiving Pot Luck luncheon on Thursday.  The pool table was full of turkey, ham, gravy along with an assortment of vegetables and most importantly desserts as the group enjoyed the traditional thanksgiving fare and socialized with friends at noontime.  The event was preceded by a speaker from Nova Counseling who talked to the seniors about depression and anxiety. 

     The center will not hold a December potluck but will have their Christmas Open House on December  5^th from 11 to 1pm featuring the Henry County High School Madrigals and the R.S.V.P. Angel Choir, a seniors’ group from Huntington.

 

Picture Submitted by Gaines Hedges

Tornado  11/17/05

     Tuesday a confirmed tornado came through Henry County leaving quite a bit of destruction in its path along with 13 injured victims.

     According to Ron Watkins, Director of Henry County Emergency Management 30 houses were destroyed and an additional 60 houses reported moderate to heavy damage.  2 business suffered considerable damage.  Mohan International Inc. reported 50% of their business-suffered damage with the new equipment they just received among the damage and 50 cars in their parking lot were damaged as well.   Mohon, who employs 200 people, estimated damage to be around $2 million.  Employees were told not to report to work Wednesday.

     Paris Industrial Service on Hwy 69N reported their losses to be 100%. 

     The Director of Tennessee Emergency Management Brassham, along with Watkins and County Mayor Brent Greer, did a fly over of the area today to view the damage.  Also in the county today was a representative of the National Weather Bureau who came to determine the strength and severity of the tornado for historical reference.

     Of the 13 injured 7 were transported by EMS and one person from Shamrock Resort area was taken to Memphis.   

      The hardest hit areas included Shady Grove Rd., which was still cleaning up from last week’s strong winds, and Cypress Rd.  These areas and other isolated pockets were still without power as of 3pm Wednesday afternoon.

     Due to the sever weather Henry County schools did not dismiss until 4:20 Tuesday.  Another place that was said to have been hit was the Henry County Jail.    Henry County Correctional Facility employees Mike Chandler and Michelle Brewer were on duty when the tornado came into view.  “We saw it coming and we were ready to take cover,” stated Michelle, “but it touched down right behind us then suddenly popped up over the top of the jail and landed on Hwy 69.”

     

      Another building that was hit was the Highway Department on Cedar Street.  “I literally was in the thick of things when our office in he Henry County Highway Department took a direct hit and lost the roof.   We were forced to relocate our emergency management headquarters,” stated Watkins. 

Hats Off  11/16/05

Art Show Update   11/15/05

     According to Paris Henry County Art Council Executive Director Mary Lodge this years Artists Show Case is a huge success with several more weeks left to go.

      “This is the first year that we have had school children from all the schools in the county and the city attend,” stated Lodge.  There have been more than a 1,000 students conducted through the display at Lee School Academy for the Arts. 

     The Council received a $3,000 matching funds grant from the Arts Builds Communities Program and the Tennessee Arts Commission.  The art work will be on display through November 23.

Christmas Open House  11/14/05

     Just like the Christmas Carol, in the air there’s a feeling of Christmas…  Downtown Paris is decorated for the season with busy sidewalks as shoppers rush home with their treasures and to add to the holiday cheer Christmas songs made a festive sound for those people attending the business open houses.  “We have been overwhelmed by the number of people we have seen in here this weekend” stated the folks at Kristi’s Korner.”

County School Board  11/12/05

     The Henry County School Board approved a BPU energy audit at Thursday’s meeting.  The audit will study several different aspects of each school in the system and report their findings, including ways to increase energy savings.  Such items as lighting, cooling and heating will be considered.  As a 3 Star Community, entities such as the school system are eligible for 0% interest loans to upgrade and improve their facilities.  One such savings could be in the form of automatic thermostat reductions after a certain time of day when the school buildings are not used for class.   

     The School Board discussed cell phone use by students at this month’s meeting.  Current policy does not ban the phones but students must have them turned off during school hours.  “We are looking for something that takes a stronger stance,” stated Director of Schools Rick Kriesky.     Assistant Director of Schools, Mr. Hinson, will present the board members with several different policies for their review at next months meeting.

Meet & Greet  11/12/05

Henry County Humane Society  11/12/05

     The Henry County Humane Society will be in the parking lot behind McDonalds today and will have dogs and cats available for adoption.  They will also have information on some of their more exotic animals such as a boa constrictor.  Come and give a pet a home for the holidays and a lifetime.  Saturday Nov 12 from 9am to 1pm.

Paris Planning Commission  11/11/05

     The Paris Municipal Regional Planning Commission discussed several issues at great length Thursday evening including the sign ordnance and the landscaping ordinance.

         Signs on utility poles and along roadways in the city limits has become an unattractive sight to many and signs that stay up past the date of the event, such as yard sales and out- of- town business signs are also a continuing problem.        The discussion ranged from fines for signs left up to fees for posting signs.  All of the ideas brought forward were seen as unenforceable or requiring too much manpower to enforce.  The suggestion to ban signs prompted Commissioner George Moore to state, “Bad idea.” Moore attributes his reelection to the city commission to political signs he posted in the community.  Unable to decide on a solution the board voted to send the matter on to the city commission for their suggestions.

     Another matter that was once again up for discussion was the landscaping ordinance.  The matter of green space and the loss of trees and grass to development were discussed with no solution found.  The commission will have City Attorney Fred McLean research other communities for landscaping enforcement options.

    The Planning Commission did approve zoning for the newly annexed area of Paris and a request to remove a property line on a lot next to McEvoy Funeral Home, combining the two was also approved. 

     A minor subdivision of land deferred last month was approved, dividing the approx. 10 acres on Hwy 641 S, owned by D.P. Paris into 2 separate lots. 

    A 33-lot subdivision for Jim Eichler Development on the 218 By-Pass was approved contingent upon cutting the grade of a road so it will not be as steep.  The sewer lines will not drain in a portion of the land due to the slope and location of Cliffty Creek.  An engineering study, approved by BPU, determined that some of the homes would require pumps to drain the sewer lines.  Each homeowner will be responsible for installation costs and maintenance on their grinder pump.  According to the developer a similar situation in the city of Henry has worked with the use of the same type of pump, making it possible for them to have a city sewer system.

     A revised site plan for Maplewood Baptist Church on Grove St. was approved.  Also approved was the addition of greenhouses for winter plant storage at Wildwood Garden Center on Memorial Drive.

Henry Town Meeting  11/11/05  Larissa Boyd 

     In the city of Henry’s monthly meeting Tuesday evening Police Chief Tim Reeves reported that there were no incidents in the city of Henry on Halloween night and thanked the fire department for their help in patrolling the areaHalloween. 

     The city is also interviewing potential interns for a position with the city recorder.  The internship would be for 2 months and would provide a Tennessee Technology student studying Business Systems with hands on experience. 

     Public Works Director Ed Bush reported that state engineers have evaluated the Henry Sewer project, made recommendations and seemed pleased with the progress of the project.

     Fire Chief Keith Qualls reported that there were two fires in Oct.  , one a structure fire and the other a brush fire.  Qualls stated that the efficacy of the fire fighters and the new brush truck was to be commended.

Talent Show ?  11/10/05

  The Guess What Talent Show will be held at the Krider Performing Arts Center on Saturday November 19^th.    

     The talent show is sponsored by the Paris City Works Department to benefit fellow employee Matt Wermer who suffered an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down.  Wermer has been told that a clinic in China that will use stem cell research may offer him a chance at a normal life once again.

     Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be County Attorney Lee Greer. This out of the ordinary talent show will feature well-known and not so well known local talent such as Paris City Manager Carl Holder, Don Ridgeway and Leon Ridgeway doing comedy – YES you read that correctly and no it’s not a typo!  Also signed up to do comedy and a little more believable, Bill Williams.  Other well known figures will include Alice Webb, Judy McClanahan. Officers Kim Hassell, Patrick Burns and Monte Belew.  The list of performers continues to grow with some unexpected talents coming to light.

     What promises to be a very entertaining evening begins at 7pm and will last until 9pm.  During the intermission 5 donated cakes will be auctioned off.  The show winner will be determined by an applause vote, with the winner eligible for the $300 prize.

     Tickets are $6 in advance and $7 at the door.  Tickets may be purchased at the Paris City Public Works Department, the PI, Courthouse Annex, Chamber of Commerce Office, W.G.

Open House  11/10/05

     The downtown Paris businesses will kick off the holiday season this weekend with their annual Holiday Open Houses. 

     Downtown business will be open until 8pm Friday and Saturday evenings and on Sunday afternoon business will be open from 1 until 5pm. 

    New this year,  Sunday afternoon will feature free old fashion wagon rides around the square from 2 until 4.

Storm Damage Update  11/09/05

     Officials with   National Weather, Memphis came to Henry County Monday and determined the damage caused by severe thunderstorms in Henry County early Sunday morning were the result of straight line winds.  Microbursts of wind of up to 100 miles per hour had caused the extreme damage. 

     According to Ron Watkins, Henry County Emergency Management Director, he, officials with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Civil Air Patrol conducted a fly over of the affected  area late Monday and did not see any evidence of a tornado. 

Puryear  11/09/05

     The city of Puryear opened Tuesday’s meeting with a public forum in which several citizens of Puryear came forward to request the city do something about the property owned by Jimmy Gallimore on School St. 

     According to neighbors the 2 lots owned by Gallimore plus his rental properties have been an eyesore for many years and have old uninhabitable house trailers on them, one trailer on his property was discovered to house a meth lab and is currently being rented out.   A number of unlicensed cars and trucks plus large work trucks, dump trucks and a semi truck litter the property.  The neighbors stated that the junk has been calculating for 20 years, some of which he has moved to the property from Hazel.  “Enough is enough”, stated Joan Burton who along with Steve James and his wife are neighbors of the Gallimore property.    “The value of out property has plummeted since Gallimore has moved in all the junk trailers,” explained Mr. James.  His wife added, “ We cant even have a nice barbeque or anything on our porch for all the junk we have to look at next-door.”    The land in question is both in the city limits and in the county behind and along the side of the old Puryear School building.  In response to the complaints Mayor Kenny Paschall said, “The city has been revising city ordinances.  The board will discuss the options and look into possible solutions.”

Blue Dog Coalition  11/08/05

    “ President George W. Bush and the current administration have now borrowed more money from foreign governments and banks than the previous 42 presidents combined,” stated Representative John Tanner.

     According to the US Treasury Department throughout the first 224 years of the nation’s history presidents have borrowed a combined $1.01 trillion from foreign countries and financial institutions.  “In the last 4 years alone the Bush Administration has borrowed a staggering $1.05 trillion.”

     “The seriousness of this rapid and increasing financial vulnerability of our county can hardly be overstated,” said Tanner who is a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition and member of the House Ways and Means Committee.  “The financial mismanagement of our county by the Bush Administration should be of concern to all Americans regardless of political persuasion.” 

     The Blue Dog Coalition has long expressed concern over mounting US debt and is particularly troubled by the growing dependence on foreign governments to finance the debt.

     According to the representative, the Blue Dog Coalition offered a 12-step plan to cure the nation’s addiction to deficit spending, which included federal agencies passing balanced budgets.  Tanner believes that no prior leadership has mortgaged the country to foreign interests in the manner that it has been in the past 4 years.

Playing For Kids  11/08/05

Sunday Morning Storm  11/07/05 Gaines Hedges

     Strong storms with sever lightening moved across the Henry County area at around 2:30 am Monday morning leaving a path of destruction in its path.  Several areas in the county were left without power for several hours and   although the National Weather Service has not confirmed any tornado activity several areas suffered structural damage to building, homes and trees.

    

     One of the hardest hit areas was on Shady Grove Rd where Frank Barnhill’s home and business suffered considerable damage.  The porch of the home was ripped off, trees and outbuildings were destroyed and a semi truck and trailer was overturned while debris was scattered on both sides of the roadway.   Also hit hard was Old Paris Murray Rd by the New Bethel Baptist Church.  Church services were canceled Sunday morning due to the amount of damage done to the church and power lines down around the church building.  Several mobile homes on McGehee Lane off of Hwy 79 were damaged, 3 mobile homes on Vaughn Rd off of Hwy 641N reported damaged as well.  According to Ron Watkins,  Director of Henry County Emergency Management, crews from BPU and Henry County Highway Department were clearing trees and debris from roadways Sunday morning.  Other areas hit included Nelson School Rd., Chandler Ln. and W. Antioch Rd.

     The Sheriff's office received  no reports of injuries  in the county.

Artist’s Honored  11/07/05

    50 local artists displayed over 125 works in watercolors  , oils, pastels as well as sculptures, carvings, stained glass and weaving at the 22^nd Annual Paris Henry County Art Council’s Artists Showcase, which opened Sunday.

     The halls of the former Lee School, now the Lee School Academy for the Arts, were bursting with friends, neighbors, community members and the artists themselves for the art show opening Sunday afternoon.

     Honored in a special tribute by Paris and Henry County was native artist Mrs. Lorraine Weston.

      Kathy Wimberley was awarded the Purchase Award and a$300 cash prize.

     Winners in the professional category were Dick Levesque for Best of Show.  1^st place Ann Stapp.  2^nd place Angie Smith.  3^rd place Gene Snowden and honorable mention John Monroe.

     Winners in the Amateur category were Shirley Broughton for best of show, 1^st place Lily VanDyck, 2^nd place Kim Renz.  3^rd place Charlotte Nielsen and honorable mention Laura Gensmer.

     Winners in the youth category were 1^st place Elizabeth Jones, 2^nd place Zeb Gensmer,  3^rd place Brittany Moore and honorable mention Greg Poteete.

Annual Artist’s Showcase  11/04/05

     The 22^nd annual Community Artist’s Showcase opens Sunday, Nov. 6^th at Lee School Academy for the Arts on Lee Street in Paris.

     Citizens will have an opportunity to meet the artists at a reception from 2 until 4pm.  This years showcase will pay special tribute to the art of Mrs. Lorraine Weston.

Admission is free and guests can register to win one of 3 paintings to be given away at the downtown Christmas Open House Nov. 11,12 and 13.  Visitors will also be asked to vote for the People’s Choice Award.  The art will be on display through November 23^rd. 

County Beer Board  11/04/05

     The Henry County Beer Board approved 4 applications for beer permits Thursday evening.

     First on the agenda was Charles Kirk Sr. who was granted an off premise beer permit for his convenience store Kirk’s Market and Deli on Hwy 79.

      The second beer permit approval was for Naomi Lockhart and her catering service BGL’s Catering, which will be located in a portion of what formerly housed the Cherokee Steak House in Buchanan.  She was granted an on premises licenses where she will offer banquet and large gathering facilities.

      The building will be divided into another business by a permanent wall on the other side of which will be Dawn Hasz and the Levi’s Guitar Bar.  The bar and grill will feature live music and can sell beer for on and off premises consumption.  Both of the businesses plan to be open in a few weeks.

     The 4^th permit was granted to

Ten Thousand Villages  11/04/05

City Commission  11/03/05

     This city commission meeting was calmer than the last few have been and the commissioners passed on second reading an ordinance amending the industrial sewer surcharge rate from $1,000 to $500.  The acceptance of the lower rate was ratified after BPU heard from the 3 dissatisfied industries the rate would affect.  “It wont’ cover the cost of monitoring the industries but BPU has agreed to it,” stated Commissioner Gayle Griffith, the city’s representative on the BPU.

     The Commission also approved a resolution authoring the issuance of capital outlay notes for the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center building, a joint venture by the county and the city. The building was destroyed in a tornado in May 2004 and with the passage of the resolution the city will issue bonds for $550,000.  “There is no question of doing it, since the building is already built,” said City Manger Carl Holder.  Although the bond issue and the sewer rate were both part of a scheduled public meeting prior to the commission meeting no citizen came forward with comments.

     The board considered security at City Hall due to several instances of vandalism.     Holder assured them that Paris Police Chief Tommy Cooper had the matter well in hand but will be looking into the cost of a surveillance system and the cost of fencing outside facilities.

     The board approved a tax cut for Tecumseh Products Inc. at Wednesday’s meeting.  The Michigan based company has brought in more equipment to expand its operations in Henry Co. and has already, according to commissioners, enlarged its work force due to the expansion with the addition of more jobs expected.  “This is good for Tecumseh and it is good for the community,” stated Mayor David Travis.

     In other business the commission approved the appointment of Reginald Caldwell to the board of zoning appeals, a certificate of compliance for retail package store Mineral Wells Package Store was granted, the Optimist Club was granted permission to use the tennis courts at Ogburn Park for their annual Christmas Tree Sales and the pastor of Quinn Chapel Otto Dunkin thanked the commission and the city of Paris for their support of the churches activities in the community, including an annual conference that will be held in Paris next year.  The only citizen to come before the commission was a resident who was asking for the alley way by Ridgeway Funeral Home to be surveyed.  Holder told him that the city has problems with many of the existing alleyways and will have it surveyed.

Pancakes  11/02/05

Neighborhood Clean Up  11/02/05

     The first annual Peden Hill neighborhood clan up day took place Saturday morning in Paris.  According to Director of Community Development Linda Holder it was a combined effort of the residents of the neighborhood, the city of Paris and a group of enthusiastic teenagers.  “The neighborhood is composed primarily of elderly citizens who could not provide the physical labor but did provide breakfast and lunch for all the workers, “ explained Holder.  The city provided tools and equipment and later picked up the trash that had been collected.

Trick or Treat?  11/01/05     Gaines Hedges

     No one at the downtown branch of Security Bank will soon forget Halloween 2005.

Downtown Ghosts & Goblins  10/31/05

     No, Downtown Paris was not invaded by masked creatures or superheroes Saturday afternoon but the Downtown Business Association was overwhelmed by the number of people who turned out for the annual Halloween Costume Contest on the courthouse lawn.  “ We can never remember having such a large crowd,” stated DBA President Kay Foust. 

     The annual event drew a record number of participants and spectators this year who were entertained by the story telling and singing of Rick Revel dressed as Davey Crockett  and the tapping of the Paris Cloggers.  Member of the DBA and MC for the event Gains Hedges said, “We thank you for attending and we appreciate everyone for being here.” 

     Costume winners for Age birth to 6 years:  Most Creative- Caden Martin as Sponge Bob Square Pants; Most Original- Cameron Hernandez as Charlie Chaplin; Scariest – Nevaeh Tharpe.

     Age 7 to 12:  Most Creative Taunja Kennedy as and old lady; Most Original Nicholas Lancaster as the UPS man; Scariest – Griff Hagen.

     The Teen/Adult winner was Gary Dubbins of Paris.

       

     Winning Pet went to the dog Ursula who won over several costumed dogs and a donkey.