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VOL. 121, NO. 24
County leaders to vote on budget
TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013
DYER, TENNESSEE
Beating the Odds
$21.6 million budget will not increase tax rate BY STEVE SHORT Gibson County commissioners will meet in special session June 24 to vote on a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 that has $21.6 million in total expenditures, including $14.6 million in General Fund spending and $5.5 million for highways and public works. The called meeting is open to the public and begins at 9 a.m. at the Ed Jones agriculture complex building on Manufacturers Row in Trenton. The budget would keep the current property tax rate of 94 cents per $100 of taxable property and would provide pay raises only for elected officials as mandated by the state at 4.7 percent. Overall expenses in the proposed 2013-14 budget would increase by about $2.44 million, or 12.7 percent compared to estimated spending this year, 2012-13. General Fund spending in the coming year would increase by 11.6 percent over estimated spending for the current 2012-13 Fiscal Year and would total $14,630,877. The new budget would also pay about 91 percent more see page 3
Play about life of Davy Crockett planned During the first full week in October, Rutherford is always a busy scene. This year will be no exception. Davy Crockett Days will have a new event to add to the already full calendar. ‘Davy Crockett: A Tennessee Titan’ is a play about the life of this famous folk hero. Volunteer Insurance Agency is making this possible. They were able to obtain the rights to the play and are making plans to have auditions in a few weeks. They will promote and produce the play during the weeklong festival. Rhonda Poore ofVolunteer Insurance has wanted ‘Davy Days’ to showcase this play since her youngest son was in fourth grade. Several years ago she went as a chaperone with her son’s class to the Renaissance Theater in Dickson. While there, the class attended the play ‘Davy Crockett: A Tennessee Titan.’ Rhonda thought this would be a great play for the Rutherford community. For many years it was just a nice thought. Then a few years ago she set about trying to find out who authored the play to see page 2
HOPPER FAMILY - Easton Hopper, with parents Josh and Jamie, has proven his doctors wrong by not only walking but running and playing t-ball. The four-year old, diagnosed with cerebral palsy before the age of two, has inspired many with his love for the game and big, bright smile. Whether his makes a hit or not, he is always smiling when he steps onto the field ready to play ball. (photo by Lori Cathey)
Little boy inspires community both on the field and off BY LORI CATHEY A little boy with a huge smile and a passion for baseball has become an inspiration to many here! Four-year-old Easton Hopper lives with his parents, Jamie and Josh Hopper, in Rutherford. He was born with cerebral palsy, which affects the communication between the brain and the muscles, causing the muscles in Easton’s legs to receive constant messages to tighten and contract. Easton’s parents first feared there could be something wrong with him when he couldn’t sit up by age nine months, but the doctors said
there was nothing to worry about, he was born prematurely. At one year old they knew something was wrong and started the journey to find out what. Five months later Easton was diagnosis with cerebral palsy. Doctors told Jamie and Josh their son Easton would never walk. “It was difficult to be told he would never walk because we wanted Easton to be able to do the same things that other kids could do,” said Jamie. Then the Hoppers received a phone call from Jamie’s childhood friend, Ashley (Bearden) see page 3
$1.00
Fourth generation continues family tradition For four generations, members of the Abbott family have placed flags on the graves of Rutherford veterans buried in the Rutherford Cemetery for Memorial Day. The tradition began when Roy Raines was caretaker of the Rutherford Cemetery. He was very dedicated to his responsibilities. He had a hand written list of all veterans buried there. Each year, he added to the list as necessary. With the American Legion Post #218 providing the flags, he would annually place a flag on each veteran’s grave for the Memorial Day weekend. In 1968, one year after Ann Abbott began working as City Recorder, she began helping Raines with this project. His list consisted of 107 names at that time. Raines retired because of his health soon thereafter. After his retirement, Ann’s children began helping her erect the flags. Each year the list was extended as additional veterans were interred in the cemetery. As pre-teens and teens, the children continued this practice. Soon jobs interfered and that source of assistance went by the way. At times, other city hall employees offered their assistance erecting the flags. No matter how hot or cold, how hard the ground or how wet the ground, the flags must go up. Grandchildren see page 3
DSC Toy Run a big success
SURVIVOR SHIRTS - Chris Sims, a Yorkville native, was the after dinner guest speaker for the Survivor Celebration Dinner held June 6th. His humorous anecdotes about his life brought a ‘laughing atmosphere’ to all who attended. Tears shed were tears from laughter brought about by Chris. All cancer survivors present were given their 2013 cancer survivor shirts which will be worn proudly by the survivors. Cancer survivors Lisa Duck and Sherry Turner were happy to receive their shirts.
Gibson - North hosts survivor dinner BY WILLIAM G. MCFARLAND So, if you missed the Survivor Celebration Dinner hosted by the Gibson – North Relay for Life teams, you missed an exciting evening June 6 at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dyer. It was certainly a night of celebration as almost 100 people gathered to celebrate cancer survival. Guests enjoyed bar-b-que and all the trimmings donated by Joe N Deana’s and Toot N Tell
It of Dyer. Desserts were furnished by Relay team members. Team members served the survivors and their guests who were treated as “Royalty” throughout the evening. All survivors were given their survivor tshirts to wear June 21, the night of the Gibson – North Relay at Gibson County High School. In addition, many of them went home with door prizes. see page 12
Subscribe to The Tri-City Reporter & save 25% off the newsstand price! (Newsstand price is $52.00 for a year)
Call 692-3506 to start your home subscription. Only $38.50 - Gibson, Obion & Dyer Counties
BY LORI CATHEY The 2nd Annual Dyer Station Celebration Toy Run was held on June 8th beginning at the Presbyterian Church manse in Dyer. This fundraiser is designated for use with the Dyer Station ‘Giving Tree,’ which provides toys, clothes and other needed items for area children whose families are enduring difficult financial times. Beverly Laughlin event coordinator said they had 58 motorcycles and over 100 riders and raised over $1,200 for the ‘Giving Tree.’ Bobby and Mitzi Brooks, owners of Jus’ Bike Me of Bradford, had a booth set up to purchase bike related items. Merchandise sold was earrings, bracelets, bags, helmets, bike items and a variety of leather. The Gibson County Sheriff’s Department volunteered to escort the riders for the entire route. Over 100 bike riders were led by Sheriff’s Department Captain Rogar Gray over the see page 3
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VOL. 121, NO. 24
County leaders to vote on budget
TRI-CITY REPORTER WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013
DYER, TENNESSEE
Beating the Odds
$21.6 million budget will not increase tax rate BY STEVE SHORT Gibson County commissioners will meet in special session June 24 to vote on a proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 that has $21.6 million in total expenditures, including $14.6 million in General Fund spending and $5.5 million for highways and public works. The called meeting is open to the public and begins at 9 a.m. at the Ed Jones agriculture complex building on Manufacturers Row in Trenton. The budget would keep the current property tax rate of 94 cents per $100 of taxable property and would provide pay raises only for elected officials as mandated by the state at 4.7 percent. Overall expenses in the proposed 2013-14 budget would increase by about $2.44 million, or 12.7 percent compared to estimated spending this year, 2012-13. General Fund spending in the coming year would increase by 11.6 percent over estimated spending for the current 2012-13 Fiscal Year and would total $14,630,877. The new budget would also pay about 91 percent more see page 3
Play about life of Davy Crockett planned During the first full week in October, Rutherford is always a busy scene. This year will be no exception. Davy Crockett Days will have a new event to add to the already full calendar. ‘Davy Crockett: A Tennessee Titan’ is a play about the life of this famous folk hero. Volunteer Insurance Agency is making this possible. They were able to obtain the rights to the play and are making plans to have auditions in a few weeks. They will promote and produce the play during the weeklong festival. Rhonda Poore ofVolunteer Insurance has wanted ‘Davy Days’ to showcase this play since her youngest son was in fourth grade. Several years ago she went as a chaperone with her son’s class to the Renaissance Theater in Dickson. While there, the class attended the play ‘Davy Crockett: A Tennessee Titan.’ Rhonda thought this would be a great play for the Rutherford community. For many years it was just a nice thought. Then a few years ago she set about trying to find out who authored the play to see page 2
HOPPER FAMILY - Easton Hopper, with parents Josh and Jamie, has proven his doctors wrong by not only walking but running and playing t-ball. The four-year old, diagnosed with cerebral palsy before the age of two, has inspired many with his love for the game and big, bright smile. Whether his makes a hit or not, he is always smiling when he steps onto the field ready to play ball. (photo by Lori Cathey)
Little boy inspires community both on the field and off BY LORI CATHEY A little boy with a huge smile and a passion for baseball has become an inspiration to many here! Four-year-old Easton Hopper lives with his parents, Jamie and Josh Hopper, in Rutherford. He was born with cerebral palsy, which affects the communication between the brain and the muscles, causing the muscles in Easton’s legs to receive constant messages to tighten and contract. Easton’s parents first feared there could be something wrong with him when he couldn’t sit up by age nine months, but the doctors said
there was nothing to worry about, he was born prematurely. At one year old they knew something was wrong and started the journey to find out what. Five months later Easton was diagnosis with cerebral palsy. Doctors told Jamie and Josh their son Easton would never walk. “It was difficult to be told he would never walk because we wanted Easton to be able to do the same things that other kids could do,” said Jamie. Then the Hoppers received a phone call from Jamie’s childhood friend, Ashley (Bearden) see page 3
$1.00
Fourth generation continues family tradition For four generations, members of the Abbott family have placed flags on the graves of Rutherford veterans buried in the Rutherford Cemetery for Memorial Day. The tradition began when Roy Raines was caretaker of the Rutherford Cemetery. He was very dedicated to his responsibilities. He had a hand written list of all veterans buried there. Each year, he added to the list as necessary. With the American Legion Post #218 providing the flags, he would annually place a flag on each veteran’s grave for the Memorial Day weekend. In 1968, one year after Ann Abbott began working as City Recorder, she began helping Raines with this project. His list consisted of 107 names at that time. Raines retired because of his health soon thereafter. After his retirement, Ann’s children began helping her erect the flags. Each year the list was extended as additional veterans were interred in the cemetery. As pre-teens and teens, the children continued this practice. Soon jobs interfered and that source of assistance went by the way. At times, other city hall employees offered their assistance erecting the flags. No matter how hot or cold, how hard the ground or how wet the ground, the flags must go up. Grandchildren see page 3
DSC Toy Run a big success
SURVIVOR SHIRTS - Chris Sims, a Yorkville native, was the after dinner guest speaker for the Survivor Celebration Dinner held June 6th. His humorous anecdotes about his life brought a ‘laughing atmosphere’ to all who attended. Tears shed were tears from laughter brought about by Chris. All cancer survivors present were given their 2013 cancer survivor shirts which will be worn proudly by the survivors. Cancer survivors Lisa Duck and Sherry Turner were happy to receive their shirts.
Gibson - North hosts survivor dinner BY WILLIAM G. MCFARLAND So, if you missed the Survivor Celebration Dinner hosted by the Gibson – North Relay for Life teams, you missed an exciting evening June 6 at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Dyer. It was certainly a night of celebration as almost 100 people gathered to celebrate cancer survival. Guests enjoyed bar-b-que and all the trimmings donated by Joe N Deana’s and Toot N Tell
It of Dyer. Desserts were furnished by Relay team members. Team members served the survivors and their guests who were treated as “Royalty” throughout the evening. All survivors were given their survivor tshirts to wear June 21, the night of the Gibson – North Relay at Gibson County High School. In addition, many of them went home with door prizes. see page 12
Subscribe to The Tri-City Reporter & save 25% off the newsstand price! (Newsstand price is $52.00 for a year)
Call 692-3506 to start your home subscription. Only $38.50 - Gibson, Obion & Dyer Counties
BY LORI CATHEY The 2nd Annual Dyer Station Celebration Toy Run was held on June 8th beginning at the Presbyterian Church manse in Dyer. This fundraiser is designated for use with the Dyer Station ‘Giving Tree,’ which provides toys, clothes and other needed items for area children whose families are enduring difficult financial times. Beverly Laughlin event coordinator said they had 58 motorcycles and over 100 riders and raised over $1,200 for the ‘Giving Tree.’ Bobby and Mitzi Brooks, owners of Jus’ Bike Me of Bradford, had a booth set up to purchase bike related items. Merchandise sold was earrings, bracelets, bags, helmets, bike items and a variety of leather. The Gibson County Sheriff’s Department volunteered to escort the riders for the entire route. Over 100 bike riders were led by Sheriff’s Department Captain Rogar Gray over the see page 3
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