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Archives
12-08-2004
Christmas Parade held in Livingston
Dewain E. Peek/OCN staff The 2004 Overton County Christmas Parade was held in Livingston on Saturday, Dec. 4 in front of thousands of spectators who lined the parade route. The parade had 142 entries. Extension Director Gene Medley, a member of the parade committee, said, "First of all I want to thank all of the individuals, businesses, youth groups, civic clubs, and churches in the area for working hard to make this a great parade." Davis Nolan and his wife, Ami, and daughter, Amanda, served as Grand Marshalls. A reception was held for them at the Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce Building before the parade. Medley said, "Davis Nolan and his family were very grateful for the folks in Overton County allowing them to be Grand Marshall. "A special thanks goes out to the Overton County 4-H Honor Club members and their parents for helping with the reception prior to the parade." Livingston Regional Hospital won the Grand Marshall's Trophy. Indigenous Intertribal Corp. won the Judges' Award. Other winners were: Business & Industry -1st place, Livingston Regional Hospital, 2nd place, Care All Home Nursing. Churches -1st place, Fairview Freewill Baptist Church, 2nd place, First Christian Church. Schools -1st place, Outlaws Cheerleaders, 2nd place, Volunteer State Community College. Fire & Rescue Departments -1st place, Hilham Volunteer Fire Department, 2nd place, Monroe Volunteer Fire Department. Scout Troops -1st place, Girl Scout Troop 1053, 2nd place, Livingston Boy Scouts Troop 354. Children Under 12 -1st place, Callie Bilbrey, Overton County 18 month-old baby contest winner, and 2nd place, Kati Heaton, Overton County Little Miss 1st Runner-Up. Children 12 & Older -1st place, Overton County Bluegrass Queen Tristan Robbins, 2nd place, Overton County Junior Princess Betsy Carr. Antique Cars (25 years and older) -1st place, Jack Davis' 1923 Ford T-bucket, 2nd place, James W. Matthews' 1938 Chevrolet 4-door sedan. Late Model Cars (less than 25 years-old) -1st place, Frankie Rich's 2004 Dodge, 2nd place, Frankie Rich's 2005 Dodge Neon. Antique Trucks (25 years and older) -1st place, Bruce Lee's 1932 Ford pickup, 2nd place, Ricky Hix's 1964 Chevrolet pickup. Late Model Trucks (less than 25 years-old) -1st place, Jamie Emerton's 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2nd place, Kurt King's 1993 Ford F250. Civic Clubs & Veterans Organizations -1st place, 4-H Honor Club, 2nd place, Upper Cumberland Shriners. Best Band -1st place, Livingston Academy Band, 2nd place, Clarkrange High School Band. Horse with Female Rider -1st place, Dominique Barlow, 2nd place, Paige Cooper. Horse with Male Rider -1st place, Brandon Savage, 2nd place, Greg Cooper. Wagons & Buggies -1st place, W.J. and Pauline Staggs, 2nd place, Brian, Samantha, and Ella McLerran. Other - 1st place, Indigenous Intertribal Corp., 2nd place, "Got Milk"/Tonya Sells. "Believe it or not, the Christmas parade committee will start working on next year's parade very soon," Medley said. "As a member of that committee, I want to say that we need more people to serve on it. Putting on a parade is very hard work and time consuming, but very rewarding also." On behalf of the parade committee, Medley noted the contributions of the Livingston Jaycees, who helped in lining up the parade, Livingston Police Department, who assisted with traffic control, Livingston Academy administration, who allowed parade participants to use the school parking lot as a staging area for all of the horses and wagons, and Livingston Rotary Club, who provided Santa and his float. "And again thanks to everyone who took the time to construct and build floats and entries in the 2004 Overton County Christmas Parade," Medley said. Anyone would like to become a member of the 2005 Christmas Parade Committee is encouraged to call the Chamber of Commerce at (931) 823-6421.
Muddy Pond teen shot by hunter Saturday By DALE WELCH, Hilltop Express with permission According to a report by Putnam Sheriff's Deputy Sam B. Lee, Jeremiah Clark, 16, of Muddy Pond Road, son of Thomas and Donna Clark, was shot once in the abdomen with a 7mm magnum ballastic tip bullet while walking in the woods. According to Deputy Lee's report, David McGhee, 34, of Lake City, the alleged shooter, and two other hunters had permission to hunt on the Hackworth Limousin cattle farm, on the corner of Muddy Pond Road and Clarkrange Highway. The three had reportedly just shot about five wild hogs and moved to another location. Deputy Lee reported that McGhee said he saw bushes moving and fired into them. Just moments later, the 16 year-old boy came out of the bushes and climbed over a fence as the hunter discovered his error. Jeremiah Clark, the deputy learned, was hiking in the woods, not hunting, and did not have a weapon. Clark was not wearing any bright hunter's orange. He was wearing a tan-colored jacket and a tan toboggan. Clark was loaded into the hunters' truck and brought out near the road as emergency workers were called. Deputy Lee said Clark was alert at the time and even apologized to the hunters for "messing up their truck". Deputy Lee and Monterey Police Detective Tim Murphy, who were helping work a wreck near the Dripping Springs Road responded as well as Putnam Ambulance Service. When Deputy Lee saw what he had, he called Putnam Sheriff David Andrews, who responded and called for additional help, including Chief Deputy Bill Parrott, and Putnam Detectives Shane Higgenbotham and Doug Burgess. Putnam County Volunteer Fire Department responded as a helicopter ambulance was called to transport the victim to University of Tennessee Hospital at Knoxville. Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Officers Tim Singleton and Tim Gothard also responded to the scene. Officer Singleton said, "Never shoot at a target until you see what it is. That's one of the ÔTen Commandments of Hunting' and is taught in all the hunter's safety classes." Clark is a junior at Monterey High School. On Monday, Dec. 6, he was still being stabilized for surgery.
Federal funds to help fight meth in area Federal funds in the amount of $500,000 have been secured by U.S. Representative Bart Gordon to help law enforcement agencies fight methamphetamine abuse in the Upper Cumberland. Approved by Congress, the money has been earmarked for Tennessee's 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, bringing the total federal funding to $1 million that Gordon has secured for the agency to fight meth abuse in the Upper Cumberland. "Meth abuse causes a variety of problems in the community," Gordon said. "Not only does it cause tremendous harm to the person who is abusing the illicit drug, but it also harms that person's family and community. "Often a meth user will make the drug in his or her home, exposing children and neighbors to the toxic chemicals used in producing the drug. Mobile meth labs have even been set up in the trunks of automobiles. "Because the chemicals used to make meth are so volatile, explosions at these clandestine labs have hurt a lot of people and destroyed a lot of properties over the years. Meth abuse is becoming a scourge not only in the Upper Cumberland, but also across the entire state," he said. Methamphetamine is an extremely addictive stimulant made from over-the-counter drugs and common household chemicals. Local law enforcement faces tremendous struggles in dealing with the meth problem because the labs producing the illicit drug are often saturated with hazardous and explosive chemicals. Also very thankful for the funding is District Attorney General Bill Gibson of the 13th Judicial District, which includes Overton, Clay, Putnam, and DeKalb counties. "We are delighted that this funding will be made available to us so that we can carry on the good progress that we began last year with the previous funding. "I believe the tide is being stemmed with this problem because we are already seeing progress being made. "This funding will allow some good follow-through so that we can continue to fight the good fight." Although progress is being made in the fight against methamphetamine abuse in the state, between April and June of 2004, the number of children entering state custody because of meth-related issues averaged 60 per month, according to Tennessee Department of Children's Services. Gordon said, "We are making some headway with the meth problem, but we still have a long way to go. That's why it is vital we pool our resources at the local, state, and federal levels so we can come up with effective strategies to combat this menace to society."
Overton County News
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