The quick thinking of a Martin man was responsible for rescuing a victim from being crushed in a freak accident last week.

     According to a Union City Police Department report, at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, police and ambulance personnel were called to National Car Wash located on West Reelfoot Avenue, after receiving a report of a woman being pinned against her car. When officers arrived, they observed a white 2005 Ford Mustang sitting angled partly in a drive-through bay, with a woman pinned between the door of the car and the body of the car. The car's passenger side door was also open and had struck the right side of the bay entrance.

     The report states that 43-year-old Mary Cathleen Hopper of 3368 Chestnut Glade Road in South Fulton was injured when she exited her 2005 Ford Mustang to get change out of the change machine because the car wash’s bill slot was not working. Apparently, Hopper left the transmission in gear and the car began to roll forward. When she attempted to reenter and stop the rolling vehicle, she was pinned between the door and the car’s body, after it came to rest against the car wash wall.

     Fortunately, Led Symmes of 140 Bizzle Lane in Martin, who had been mowing in the area, saw the trapped woman and entered the vehicle on the passenger’s side door. He then backed the car up enough to free the victim from the vehicle. Simms told police that he didn’t see the accident take place and he didn’t know how long the woman had been trapped against her car.

(Read the rest of this story in the May 30th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise!)

    During a meeting at the University of Tennessee at Martin, members of the Weakley County Economic Development Board discussed options for bringing a call center to Weakley County and heard a presentation from a representative of Frontier Communications Solutions about how this could be achieved. Board members also heard from Tennessee State Representative Matt Kisber, who serves as Commissioner of the State Department of Economic & Community Development, concerning economic development strategies for the area using a regional approach to attracting industry. Additionally, the status of the county’s new spec building was also discussed.

Committee Reports

     After Weakley County Commissioner James Westbrook, who chairs the board, called the meeting to order, he called on each committee to give a report.

    Industrial Property Committee Chairman Wendell Alexander informed the board that the spec building project is on time, under budget, and should be completed by mid June.

    Industrial Development Board Chairman Junior Moore gave an update on the spec building, saying, “The building is in the finishing stages. They’re putting the glass and dock doors in it now. They have to level the dirt inside. The foreman indicated to me that they’d probably be out of there in 10 days. If you haven’t seen the building, it’s very impressive. Drive by and take a look. It really looks good.”

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

     Members of the City of Dresden Industrial Development board met Tuesday morning to discuss the clean up of the Quebecor property, which is soon to be transferred to another industry that will be opening in the area.

     During the meeting, Chairman Wendell Alexander addressed the board regarding unfinished business. He stated that the transfer of property between Quebecor and Frogg Properties is scheduled for Friday, May 31.

     According to Dresden Industrial Development Board Attorney Jeff Washburn, there has been some negotiations as to the mowing and clean up of land located at the southeast corner of the Quebecor building.

     Chairman Alexander requested the opinion of the board as to the part the Industrial Board wanted to play in facilitating the clean up of the designated area. It was noted that a qualified estimate of clean up would cost no more than $5,000.

     Various options were discussed as to the role of the City of Dresden Industrial Board would have in overseeing the mowing and clean up from start to finish.

     Finally, Jimmy Westbrook made a motion that the City of Dresden Industrial Board would accept $5,000 from Quebecor on the closing date of May 31, and negotiate with Frogg Properties/Calpaco to clean up the designated area for the same money. The motion was seconded by Bob Page and passed.

     Chairman Alexander appointed a committee to oversee the clean up from beginning to end with Bob Page as chairman of the committee and Jimmy Westbrook and Tom Call as serving members.

(Read the rest of this story in the May 30th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise!)