Dresden Enterprise - Covering Weakley County Like the Dew from Heaven for 118 Years

Weakley County Sheriff Mike Wilson, known for being a fair minded and even-tempered person with a good sense of humor, was honored by being named Tennessee’s Sheriff of the Year, during an award’s ceremony at this year’s Tennessee Sheriff’s Association convention, which was held on Thursday, July 26, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Sheriff Wilson, who has served 25 years in his current position, is tied with Wilson County Sheriff Terry Ash for being the longest continuously serving sheriff currently on the job. Wilson stated that he was surprised and very honored by being chosen for the award. He also noted that former Fayette County Sheriff Bill Kelly, who did not run for office during the last election, had around 30 years or so of service before his retirement.

Wilson stated that the Sheriff’s Association meets every other month in Nashville and has its banquet once each year – usually in Gatlinburg. “It’s good for their families,” he said, explaining that the sheriffs bring their families along, and they get to take in the local sights while the Sheriff’s Association conducts its meetings.

“I had no idea. It’s not my goal to do that sort of thing. I like to fly underneath the radar,” Wilson said. “I don’t like a lot of attention. I was surprised when they announced it and I appreciate it very much. But now it’s back to business. It’s not like I was elected president of the United States or anything,” Wilson laughed, downplaying the notoriety he has received since receiving the prestigious award.

“These kind of things are nice, but they’re not what’s important to me,” Wilson said. “This job, right here, is what’s important to me. The award was just icing on the cake. As far as this award goes, there are a lot of sheriffs across the state who are just as deserving as me, if not more. Thursday night, it just happened to be me. It’s an honor. I appreciate it. But it doesn’t make me a bit better than anybody else. I’m not a bit better today than I was last week.”

(Read the rest of this story, plus much more in this week's print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

Weakley County Commission approves 20-cent tax increase

By David Fisher

Staff Reporter

Members of the Weakley County Commission approved a 20-cent tax hike in the county’s property taxes, during Tuesday evening’s meeting, which reconvened after recessing last Monday night.

The Commission meeting fell on the heels of a public hearing on the 2007-2008 budget held Monday afternoon, during which time, members of the Finance, Ways and Means Committee were on hand to hear comments and answer any questions from the audience concerning the need for a tax increase. However, there was not a single citizen present at the public hearing to ask why the tax was needed or to protest the tax increase, and the meeting adjourned shortly it started.

2007-’08 Budget

On the recommendation of the Finance, Ways and Means Committee, the Weakley County Commission approved a resolution making appropriations for various funds, departments, institutions, offices and agencies of Weakley County, by a vote of 16 to 2 with commissioners James Barner and Jack Vincent, both of Martin, casting the only “No” votes.

A second resolution fixing the tax levy for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008, was approved by a vote of 15 to 3 with commissioners James Barner, Mac Buckley and Joe Farmer casting the only dissenting votes.

The budget, as approved by the Weakley County Commission, increases the county’s property tax rate from $2.17 to $2.37 for an increase of 20 cents per $100 of assessed value.

(Read the rest of this story in the August 1st print edition of the Dresden Enterprise!)

Martin toddler drowns in pool

The sad news of the drowning death of a young Martin girl was reported this past week by Weakley County law enforcement and emergency officials.

According to the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department, at approximately 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 25, Weakley County 911 dispatch received a call regarding a two-year old child that had fallen into a neighbor’s above ground swimming pool and was not breathing.

The child, identified as MaKenzie Joyce Moss, was discovered shortly after she and her twin sister, Makayla, were found to be missing from their home by their mother.

Emergency personnel responding to the scene of the accident, which took place on Rushing Road just outside of Martin, included: two Weakley County Ambulance Service units, three patrol cars from the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department, and a rescue unit from the Martin Fire Department. The first ambulance was on the scene in less than five minutes, and emergency personnel performed CPR on the child for almost two hours.

Attempts to resuscitate the toddler were made on the scene and continued at the Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin.

(Read the rest of this story in this week's print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)