By David Fisher Staff Reporter

   

    Under new business, Dresden Police Chief Jerry Wilson informed the board that the City of Dresden has been approved for a 50/50 Governor’s Highway Safety Grant in the amount of  $23,385, and that his department could use drug fund money to cover the city’s part of the matching grant. However, Wilson stated that it was up to the board if they wanted to accept the grant money.

    Chief Wilson gave a breakdown of how the money would be spent, saying that $13,500 of the funds would be used for purchasing three digital video recording cameras, which cost $4,500 each. Approximately $2,985 would go to purchase a computer workstation to use with the cameras. A total of $5,400 would be spent to cover additional hours for officers, which would allow them to continue conducting safety check stops for seatbelts and child restraining devices, as well as directing traffic in the mornings and evenings at Dresden K-8 School. And $1,500 would be used to cover the cost of supplies, postage, printing and advertising. He added that, if the actual cost for the video equipment were less than estimated, the city would only have to pay for what is needed and won’t have to spend the entire $23,385. Once the city spends the money for equipment and additional police hours, etc. the state will reimburse the city for 50 percent of the cost of all expenditures itemized in the grant.

    Chief Wilson stated that the current analog recording devices can only record two hours per tape, so they are turned on only when officers respond to calls. The digital cameras, on the other hand, are capable of recording an officer’s entire shift and can therefore be left on all the time.

    Dresden Mayor Danny Forrester stressed the need for officer to have their cameras turned on at all times and failure to do so has already led to officers being written up. He stated that continued failure to use the recording devices could even lead to dismissal of officers. He pointed out that court cases have been lost because there were no videotapes to be used in evidence.

(Read the rest of this story in the October 3rd print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

   Large numbers of area citizens came out to enjoy the many events at the 18th annual Big Cypress Tree Fall Festival, held over the weekend at Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area, located approximately seven miles northwest of Greenfield off Hwy. 445.

    Big Cypress Tree State Natural Area Park Manager Bill McCall said of the event, “We had a really good weekend at the 2007 Big Cypress Fall Festival.  Close to 2,000 visitors attended the two-day event, a healthy increase over last year, which had an attendance of 1,200.  I am really pleased with how everything went.  The weather was perfect.  Many of the visitors attending the festival were visiting the park for the first time.”

    This year’s festival, which was free to the public, featured wildlife programs, civil war re-enactors, live country and gospel music, arts and crafts, plenty of food, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) and Geocaching presentation by GOWT (Geocachers of West Tennessee) and JAG (Jackson Area Geocachers). Joe Stout also had a booth set up on behalf of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

    Park Manager Bill McCall’s wish for good weather came true, which translated into good attendance at the two-day event.

    The festival kicked off Saturday with plenty of arts and crafts for the visitors to browse through.

    The first program was about the highly popular activity of geo-caching, during which time, area geocachers were available to demonstrate Global Positioning Systems and escort patrons to the four geocaches located within the park.

    This was followed by a “Birds of Prey” program presented by Reelfoot Lake State Park, which featured animals native to West Tennessee, such as the magnificent Bald Eagle, owls and Red Tailed Hawks.  Visitors were able to see and photograph these animals from only a few feet away.

    After the Birds of Prey program concluded, the local Boy Scouts raised the United States flag and led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

    U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Bob Corker (R-TN) joined U.S. Representative John Tanner (D-TN-08) this week in applauding $212,000 in grant funding for community development projects in the City of Gleason and $209,839 to the City of Dresden under the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) Federal Grant Program. 

    The grants awarded to the cities of Gleason and Dresden will be used to improve sanitation and water systems and promote economic development in the area. 

    “This grant means jobs and growth in Weakley County,” said Alexander, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which sets funding levels for the program. “I’m pleased to see the Delta Regional Authority is continuing to invest in improvements to water and sanitation systems, as well as economic development in the Volunteer State.”

    "This grant will ensure citizens in Dresden and Gleason continue to receive essential sewer services," said Corker. “I appreciate the Delta Regional Authority’s efforts to improve water infrastructure and encourage economic growth in Tennessee communities.”

    “One of the most important investments we can make for the security and prosperity of our communities is quality infrastructure around which private industry can continue to thrive,” said Tanner.  “I am proud of the economic progress we are making and know that with programs such as these, we will continue making Northwest Tennessee a great place for our families.”

    The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) helps economically distressed communities in eight states to improve their basic infrastructure, transportation, business development and job training services through additional federal and state dollars.  The federal DRA co-chairman determines eligibility for submitted pre-applications, and the governor of each state selects funding recipients in accordance with the state’s DRA economic plan.

    Congress annually appropriates funding for DRA operations and its federal grant program, which is allocated between eight states including Tennessee.  

(Read the rest of this story in the October 3rd print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)