pages 1-2.indd
THE
VOL. 121, NO. 1
TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013
Christmas Calf
2012: The year in review January 4, 2012 The Lady Pioneers of Gibson County High School captured the 47th annual Martin Lions Club Christmas Tournament Girls Championship by defeating hometown favorites – the Lady Chargers of Westview by the score of 45-43. January 11, 2012 Sheriff Chuck Arnold and Chief Deputy Jeff Maitland helped burn $25,000 worth of illegal drugs last Thursday. The drugs were no longer needed for criminal cases and were destroyed to ensure they would not end up back on the streets. January 18, 2012 The Lady Pioneers played Tuesday’s game with a pink basketball for the “Pink Out” game that raised money and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. January 25, 2012 A group of DARE role models, from Gibson County High School, along with Officer Rhonda Bonds, visited Yorkville 5th graders. Seniors completed applications and were selected to represent students who have made good choices in high school. The 5th graders asked several questions including why the role models chose to be drug and alcohol-free and what to expect when they get to high school. February 1, 2012 GCHS instructors in Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepare students to be college and career ready. Almost all high school students take see page 3
DYER, TENNESSEE
County Mayor addresses audit findings
DOING FINE - William G. McFarland checks on his mama cow and new baby calf a few days after Christmas. The calf was born on Christmas Eve. First time mom and baby are doing fine. McFarland said he has had a calf born every Christmas Eve or Christmas day for as long as he can remember.
Newborn calf continues McFarland farm tradition William G. McFarland’s farm has been in his family since 1909. The farm is located on Reed Road in Dyer. McFarland, a retired school teacher, runs a cow/calf operation also called a commodity operation. He does not have his cows slaughtered but raises them and sells them at market. “I could not do this if I had to slaughter them,” he said. He currently has 64 head. McFarland said, for as long as he can remember, he and his family have always had a calf born on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. This year was no different. Keeping with the tradition, a black calf, angus and longhorn mix, was born on Christmas
Eve. The mama cow’s ancestors date back on the family farm to when McFarland was in the seventh grade in school. This was the heifer’s very first calf. “She is a brand new mama but she knows what to do. She put him in the barn and he will not come out,” said McFarland. “I don’t normally name my cows unless they are born at Christmas time. This one is Chris Kringle.” Well little Chris Kringle may not be the first Christmas cow at the McFarland farm but he may be the first with a little mystery to his birth. McFarland recounts his entry to the world below. see page 3
BY STEVE SHORT Gibson Co. Mayor Tom Witherspoon said the county has addressed recommendations by state auditors, and as a result, the county should receive better audit marks next year. Mr. Witherspoon expects his office of County Mayor to have a clean audit in 2013. For years the state has recommended that Gibson Co. adopt a central system of accounting, budgeting and purchasing. Mayor Witherspoon told county commissioners that a purchase order system has been implemented to comply with the state. He thanked the twenty-four county department heads for improving the purchasing system. “I can’t thank them enough for doing that,” said Mr. Witherspoon. “We hope to have the first clean audit in our office next year.” Auditors noted six findings for Gibson Co. in their audit ending June 30, 2012. Three findings were in the Mayor’s office. Others were in the offices of the Assessor of Property, the office of Clerk and Master, and the office of Register. Summary of audit findings: County Mayor’s Office Government-wide financial statements did not include other postemployment benefits see page 3
Mortgage assistance hotline available
Gibson Co. unemployment rate tenth highest in state Gibson County had the state’s 10th highest unemployment rate in November, with 10.3percent of its workforce being jobless. Obion County was the 2nd highest with 12.3-percent of the workforce unemployed. In the Humboldt Micropolitan area (Gibson Co.), there is a workforce of 21,220 with 19,040 employed and 2,190 unemployed. October’s rate was 11.5-percent, representing a loss of 1.2percent of jobs. The lowest rates of unemployment were in Williamson, Lincoln and Knox counties. The highest rates were in Scott, Obion and Lauderdale counties. Dyer, Perry and Weakley counties were also in the top 10 of the highest rates of joblessness. County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for November 2012, show the rate decreased in 91 counties, increased in one, and remained the same in three. see page 2
$1.00
NEW YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL – The new Gibson County Student Advisory Council held its first meeting Dec. 11 at the county courthouse. The group of student leaders from the county’s six high schools are working with Mayor Tom Witherspoon and the Workforce Development Board to assure that Gibson Co. has a quality workforce. Members of the group are (clockwise from top right) Allie Harris - Bradford High School, Adam Miller - South Gibson High School, Caleb Wray - Humboldt High School, Kayla Baier - Gibson Co. High School, Dayton Alford - Peabody High School, and Julianna McMinn - Milan High School.
Local teens form new workforce council BY STEVE SHORT There’s a new youth movement in Gibson County’s push to recruit jobs and improve the local workforce. Student leaders from the county’s high schools are teaming with Gibson Co. Mayor Tom Witherspoon to develop a better workforce and better workplaces. The Gibson Co. Student Advisory Council held its first meeting Dec. 11, 2012 at the county courthouse in Trenton. Charter members of the group are: Allie Harris Bradford High School, Adam Miller - South Gibson High School; Caleb Wray - Humboldt High School; Kayla Baier - Gibson Co. High School; Dayton Alford - Peabody High School; and Julianna McMinn -Milan High School. Mayor Witherspoon said the idea for the group
developed after he attended a state conference. “Members of the Workforce Development Board and I attended the ‘Ready by 21’ Academy sponsored by the Tennessee Cities Challenge at Montgomery Belle State Park,” said Mayor Witherspoon. “After attending the academy it became clear to me and others that a key element was missing from our workforce development efforts - our youth. Since that time I have engaged all of our local high school administrators to ask their blessing in putting together this very important council made of elected officers from our six high schools.” All six members of the council graduated from the Gibson Co. Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce. The students unanimously elected Adam Miller to chair their group and establish see page 3
Even though the housing market has rebounded in 2012, Tennesseans are still facing foreclosure throughout the state. But free help is available for distressed Tennessee homeowners through a mortgage assistance hotline, according to Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper. Atty. Gen. Cooper recently announced that Tennessee has partnered with the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) on a hotline to direct these homeowners to available mortgage relief programs. Homeowners with mortgage challenges are encouraged to call the State of Tennessee’s free Mortgage Assistance Hotline at 855876-7283 to receive reliable information and referrals to free foreclosure prevention counseling. HPF is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to helping distressed homeowners navigate financial challenges and avoid mortgage see page 3
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VOL. 121, NO. 1
TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2013
Christmas Calf
2012: The year in review January 4, 2012 The Lady Pioneers of Gibson County High School captured the 47th annual Martin Lions Club Christmas Tournament Girls Championship by defeating hometown favorites – the Lady Chargers of Westview by the score of 45-43. January 11, 2012 Sheriff Chuck Arnold and Chief Deputy Jeff Maitland helped burn $25,000 worth of illegal drugs last Thursday. The drugs were no longer needed for criminal cases and were destroyed to ensure they would not end up back on the streets. January 18, 2012 The Lady Pioneers played Tuesday’s game with a pink basketball for the “Pink Out” game that raised money and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. January 25, 2012 A group of DARE role models, from Gibson County High School, along with Officer Rhonda Bonds, visited Yorkville 5th graders. Seniors completed applications and were selected to represent students who have made good choices in high school. The 5th graders asked several questions including why the role models chose to be drug and alcohol-free and what to expect when they get to high school. February 1, 2012 GCHS instructors in Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepare students to be college and career ready. Almost all high school students take see page 3
DYER, TENNESSEE
County Mayor addresses audit findings
DOING FINE - William G. McFarland checks on his mama cow and new baby calf a few days after Christmas. The calf was born on Christmas Eve. First time mom and baby are doing fine. McFarland said he has had a calf born every Christmas Eve or Christmas day for as long as he can remember.
Newborn calf continues McFarland farm tradition William G. McFarland’s farm has been in his family since 1909. The farm is located on Reed Road in Dyer. McFarland, a retired school teacher, runs a cow/calf operation also called a commodity operation. He does not have his cows slaughtered but raises them and sells them at market. “I could not do this if I had to slaughter them,” he said. He currently has 64 head. McFarland said, for as long as he can remember, he and his family have always had a calf born on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. This year was no different. Keeping with the tradition, a black calf, angus and longhorn mix, was born on Christmas
Eve. The mama cow’s ancestors date back on the family farm to when McFarland was in the seventh grade in school. This was the heifer’s very first calf. “She is a brand new mama but she knows what to do. She put him in the barn and he will not come out,” said McFarland. “I don’t normally name my cows unless they are born at Christmas time. This one is Chris Kringle.” Well little Chris Kringle may not be the first Christmas cow at the McFarland farm but he may be the first with a little mystery to his birth. McFarland recounts his entry to the world below. see page 3
BY STEVE SHORT Gibson Co. Mayor Tom Witherspoon said the county has addressed recommendations by state auditors, and as a result, the county should receive better audit marks next year. Mr. Witherspoon expects his office of County Mayor to have a clean audit in 2013. For years the state has recommended that Gibson Co. adopt a central system of accounting, budgeting and purchasing. Mayor Witherspoon told county commissioners that a purchase order system has been implemented to comply with the state. He thanked the twenty-four county department heads for improving the purchasing system. “I can’t thank them enough for doing that,” said Mr. Witherspoon. “We hope to have the first clean audit in our office next year.” Auditors noted six findings for Gibson Co. in their audit ending June 30, 2012. Three findings were in the Mayor’s office. Others were in the offices of the Assessor of Property, the office of Clerk and Master, and the office of Register. Summary of audit findings: County Mayor’s Office Government-wide financial statements did not include other postemployment benefits see page 3
Mortgage assistance hotline available
Gibson Co. unemployment rate tenth highest in state Gibson County had the state’s 10th highest unemployment rate in November, with 10.3percent of its workforce being jobless. Obion County was the 2nd highest with 12.3-percent of the workforce unemployed. In the Humboldt Micropolitan area (Gibson Co.), there is a workforce of 21,220 with 19,040 employed and 2,190 unemployed. October’s rate was 11.5-percent, representing a loss of 1.2percent of jobs. The lowest rates of unemployment were in Williamson, Lincoln and Knox counties. The highest rates were in Scott, Obion and Lauderdale counties. Dyer, Perry and Weakley counties were also in the top 10 of the highest rates of joblessness. County non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rates for November 2012, show the rate decreased in 91 counties, increased in one, and remained the same in three. see page 2
$1.00
NEW YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL – The new Gibson County Student Advisory Council held its first meeting Dec. 11 at the county courthouse. The group of student leaders from the county’s six high schools are working with Mayor Tom Witherspoon and the Workforce Development Board to assure that Gibson Co. has a quality workforce. Members of the group are (clockwise from top right) Allie Harris - Bradford High School, Adam Miller - South Gibson High School, Caleb Wray - Humboldt High School, Kayla Baier - Gibson Co. High School, Dayton Alford - Peabody High School, and Julianna McMinn - Milan High School.
Local teens form new workforce council BY STEVE SHORT There’s a new youth movement in Gibson County’s push to recruit jobs and improve the local workforce. Student leaders from the county’s high schools are teaming with Gibson Co. Mayor Tom Witherspoon to develop a better workforce and better workplaces. The Gibson Co. Student Advisory Council held its first meeting Dec. 11, 2012 at the county courthouse in Trenton. Charter members of the group are: Allie Harris Bradford High School, Adam Miller - South Gibson High School; Caleb Wray - Humboldt High School; Kayla Baier - Gibson Co. High School; Dayton Alford - Peabody High School; and Julianna McMinn -Milan High School. Mayor Witherspoon said the idea for the group
developed after he attended a state conference. “Members of the Workforce Development Board and I attended the ‘Ready by 21’ Academy sponsored by the Tennessee Cities Challenge at Montgomery Belle State Park,” said Mayor Witherspoon. “After attending the academy it became clear to me and others that a key element was missing from our workforce development efforts - our youth. Since that time I have engaged all of our local high school administrators to ask their blessing in putting together this very important council made of elected officers from our six high schools.” All six members of the council graduated from the Gibson Co. Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the Chambers of Commerce. The students unanimously elected Adam Miller to chair their group and establish see page 3
Even though the housing market has rebounded in 2012, Tennesseans are still facing foreclosure throughout the state. But free help is available for distressed Tennessee homeowners through a mortgage assistance hotline, according to Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper. Atty. Gen. Cooper recently announced that Tennessee has partnered with the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) on a hotline to direct these homeowners to available mortgage relief programs. Homeowners with mortgage challenges are encouraged to call the State of Tennessee’s free Mortgage Assistance Hotline at 855876-7283 to receive reliable information and referrals to free foreclosure prevention counseling. HPF is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to helping distressed homeowners navigate financial challenges and avoid mortgage see page 3
You Can’t Beat These Local Trade-Ins!
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