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Wednesday, February 9, 2005
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Dresden mayor dispels rumors about new clock |
By David Fisher
david@dresdenenterprise.com |
In an interview on Friday, Dresden Mayor Danny Forrester
talked about the new decorative clock soon to be installed
in downtown Dresden, and discussed some of the rumors and
misconceptions about the project that have erupted as of
late.
“I just wanted to bring the citizens of Dresden up to date
about the clock on the courtsquare,” said Dresden Mayor
Danny Forrester. “I have some information that might be
helpful to them.”
Forrester stated that a committee dealing with the
procurement and placement of the decorative clock is
composed of several United States veterans, including: Bill
McClain, a retired military man and veterans affairs
officer; Charles Robertson, of the Dresden Rotary Club, who
is also retired from the military; Attorney General Tommy
Thomas, who serves as president of the Dresden Rotary Club,
and whose father served in the military during WWII; Weakley
County General Sessions Judge Tommy Moore, whose father was
in the military; and Mayor Forrester, who father served in
the Marine Corps.
“I want the citizens and veterans of Weakley County to know
that in no way would anyone do anything that would be a
detriment to the monument on the courthouse square,”
Forrester said. “This group will get together and make sure
that it’s strategically located where it not only honors the
100 years of service of the Rotary Club, but also to make
sure that proper homage is offered to our heroes and fallen
heroes of all the previous wars, and wars in the future.
“We want to make citizens aware that some of the information
that’s being floated is just not accurate. And, if they have
any questions whatsoever to contact any of theses
individuals or myself and we’ll be glad to clarify anything
about the Rotary clock, which also honors people who have
served.
Mayor Forrester explained that the new decorative clock was
never to have been located close to the Weakley County War
Memorial (on county property), as some rumors have
incorrectly indicated. And, the location has not yet been
determined.
“It will not block the view of turning cars,” Forrester
said. “It will be out of the way . . . and it will beautify
that corner and honor everyone who served.
“The Rotary Club is not going to do anything that is not
good for the city of Dresden,” Forrester said. “It’s not
going to do anything that would cause embarrassment or a
problem for the veterans. It will be used in a manner that
will honor all (veterans) and not block the view (of the
monument).”
As for rumors that other clubs in Dresden might be jealous
of the Rotary Club having a clock placed on the courtsquare,
Forrester stated that any club is welcome to approach the
Dresden Board with a proposal for a project to help beautify
the downtown area. And he commented that clubs wanting to
help with city beautification projects is a good kind of
problem to have.
“We were hoping from day-one that other civic clubs adopt
certain corners and for everyone to do a project,” Forrester
said. “We’ve had citizens step forward wanting to donate
benches. We have areas at the park where citizens and
companies stepped forward and did the beautification project
there. “I just don’t want people to get upset over rumors
that are not true, (being spread by) people who do not have
the facts.”
Members of the Dresden Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved
the clock project during a January 21 called meeting as part
of its city beautification program.
The city will purchase the clock and accept donations from
the Dresden Rotary Club in the amount of $1,000 per year for
a maximum donation of $7,000, The end result will be that
the city will not be out any money for the clock and the
Dresden Rotary Club will have completed a worthwhile
centennial project.
The advantage of this agreement will be that the city will
not have to pay the tax on it. The actual cost of the clock
is $6,268.64, but the figure of $7,000 was used to include
the installation costs.
The 14-foot high, two-sided clock, which will face east to
west on Main Street, will have the word “Dresden” across the
top and “Rotary Club” along with the Rotary Club logo
printed on the face. The huge timepiece, which can be
mechanically reset, is designed to match the light poles
located around the square.
The project will be enhanced even more by the installation
of park benches at each corner of the clock, which will be
donated by the family of late board member and vice mayor
Richard Shannon.
An order was placed for the clock on Monday, Jan. 23 and the
delivery should arrive from Illinois during the month of
February.
News Flash!
Just before the Dresden Enterprise went to press, we
received word that the Dresden Rotary Club voted Tuesday to
recomend installing the new decorative town clock on the
southwest corner of the courtsquare, instead of the
southeast corner (near the Weakley County War Memorial
Monument) as previously planned. It is scheduled to be
shipped to Dresden next week.
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Greenfield man pleads guilty in car-jacking case |
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A Greenfield man accused of car-jacking pled guilty to
assorted charges in Henry County Circuit Court last week.
During his January 31 court appearance, Nathan Morris
Freeman, 32, of Greenfield, pleaded guilty to theft of
property, the amended charge of criminal attempt to commit
car-jacking and the amended charge of aggravated assault.
Freeman was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in Henry
County jail for theft, four years for car-jacking and four
years for assault. All sentences will be served
concurrently, with 300 days served in confinement and the
rest on supervised probation.
(Read the rest in this week's edition of the Dresden
Enterprise)
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Dresden board proceeds with park projects |
By David Fisher
david@dresdenenterprise.com |
Members of the Dresden Board of Mayor and Alderpersons
voted Monday night to proceed with proposed improvements at
Wilson Park, as well as other city improvements.
Under committee reports, Alderman Mile Forchione, who serves
as chairman of the Park Advisory Board, stated that the
committee recommends building three basketball courts to
replace the demolished tennis courts. However, the committee
recommended not proceeding with the pavilion project as
currently proposed. Forchione stated that the scale of the
project should to be looked at in reducing costs for this
project.
As discussion about the basketball courts and pavilion got
underway, Mayor Forrester began by providing board members
and members of the audience with an overview of the city’s
park program, as it relates to these proposed improvements.
“Approximately four years ago, the city began discussing the
removal of the tennis courts and the pool,” Forrester said.
“Soon after I became mayor, we started demolishing the pool.
And, the city received information from PARTAS (Park &
Recreation Technical Advisrory Service) that the city could
not remove the pool and tennis courts until a plan of action
was laid out for maintaining these active areas. The cause
of the restriction was a grant that the city had received
several years ago.
(Read the rest of this story in this week's Dresden
Enterprise.) |
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Martin Police report assorted arrests this week |
By David Fisher
david@dresdenenterprise.com |
Members of the Martin Police Department responded to
various acts of violence, as well as a burglary this past
week.
Aggravated Assault
at Pathways
Martin Police Department officers were dispatched to
Pathways Diagnostic and Evaluation at 406 Jackson Street,
Sunday night at 11:15 p.m. after receiving a report of a
disorderly juvenile.
When Patrol Officers Tom Pollock and Eric Reed arrived, they
found the 16 year-old juvenile holding three sharpened
pencils in his hand and threatening anyone who came near
him. Program Manager David Keeling was trying to persuade
the juvenile to disarm. When the juvenile gestured toward
Keeling as if he was going stab him, the two officers
intervened and took the juvenile into custody.
Aggravated Burglary on Olive Street
A Martin woman called police Sunday night at 10:35 p.m. to
report that someone had entered her home on Olive Street and
stole her computer.
The woman said she last saw the computer, which is a Toshiba
Satellite A15 notebook style, on February 5, 2005. The
computer is valued at $1,500.
If anyone has information on this crime they are asked to
call Crime Stoppers at 587-2611.
(Read the rest of this story in this week's Dresden
Enterprise)
Much
more news in our print edition! |
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