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

During a meeting the Weakley County Commission on Monday, March 24, commissioners approved a resolution to bring the county’s beer regulations into compliance with state law.

During discussion, Commissioner Kevin McAlpin, who is also an attorney, stated that the beer regulations that the county has been operating under for the past three years or so specify that beer cannot be sold from 1 a.m. until 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 a.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. on Monday.

However, Commissioner McAlpin said that under Tennessee law now on the books, when Martin passed liquor by the drink, state law placed all establishments selling beer out in the county that are not inside of a municipality to fall under the “ABC Rules” which states that these establishments are prohibited selling beer during the early morning hours between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday between the hours of 3 a.m. until 10 a.m. He added these establishments could also sell beer on Christmas and Thanksgiving, if they wish.

“This is what everyone is doing now,” Commission McAlpin said. “We’ve just never updated our rules. And keep in mind, this only affects establishments that are out in the county selling beer – five or six of them. It doesn’t affect anything in the city limits.”

The net effect of the change in the beer regulations is that the hours that beer may not be sold Monday through Saturday has been reduced from six hours to three hours, and on Sunday, it is reduced from 30 hours to seven hours.

“I guess my question is, can we be any stricter?” Commissioner David Rook asked.

“No,” Commissioner McAlpin replied.

Addressing the need to change the county’s beer regulations to come into alignment with state law, Commissioner McAlpin said, “It’s kind of hard to prosecute somebody for not violating the law.”

The resolution passed by a vote of 16 for, 1 against, with Commissioner Sam Sinclair being absent. Commissioner Roger Stewart cast the only vote against adopting the resolution.

New Beer Regulations

With the amendment to Weakley County’s beer regulations, as approved on Monday, the regulations read as follows:

1. Sales Not Allowed – Beer will not be sold on the following days and times:

a. No beer or like beverage will be sold between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

b. No beer or like beverage will be sold between the hours of 3:00 and 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

No alcoholic beverage shall be consumed or opened for consumption, on or about any premises licensed hereunder, in either bottle, glass, or other container, after 3:15 a.m. each day.

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

Six arrested in major drug bust

Six individuals were arrested over the weekend in a major drug sting operation.

According press release, at approximately 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, members of the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department and the Judicial District Special Response Team served a search warrant at 7586 Highway 45 in Martin, Tennessee.

While executing the search warrant, officers discovered two pounds of crystal methamphetamine, along with digital scales inside the residence. The drugs have an uncut street value of about $90,000. Also, approximately $3,000 and three vehicles were seized.

The five Hispanic males and one black female arrested in the drug bust are: Alfredo Diaz Mora, 37; Louis Montes, 20; Angel Josefino Montes, 34; Rufino Montes, 24; Jose Ascencion Lopez, 47; and Charlene Mays, 46.

Officers involved in the search included Weakley County investigators Candice Winstead, Marty Plunk and Eric Smith.

(Read the rest of this story in the March 26th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

Union City woman charged in stabbing incident

A Union City woman has been charged in connection with a stabbing incident in Martin last week.

According to a police report, at approx. 5:18 a.m. on Friday, March 21, Ptl. Aaron Carter and Ptl. Terry W. Guthrie were dispatched to 155 Brooks Drive in Martin in reference to an assault. Upon arrival at the scene, Ptl. Carter spoke to the victim, Kelly Carlson, 29, who stated that the defendant, Diane Young, 40, of 613 North 4th Street in Union City, pulled in Carlson’s driveway, got out of her vehicle, walked up to James Young, 42, and started a verbal argument.

Carlson stated that the defendant then walked up to James Young’s 1994 Ford Ranger and punctured the back-left tire with a knife.

Carlson said that Diane Young then walked up to her and stabbed her in the chest with a knife, while she was holding her two-year-old daughter, and then proceeded to stab her again. At that time, James Young grabbed the defendant’s hand and took the knife.

Carlson stated that the defendant then hit her two-year-old child, while she was in her arms. Ptl. Carter states that he observed a mark and a small scratch on the victim’s chest. However, Ptl. Carter did not observe marks of any sort on the two-year-old.

Ptl. Carter had the victims fill out a written statement.

James Young signed and was provided a copy of the domestic violence victim’s rights form.

(Read the rest of this story in the March 26th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

Pillowville home gutted by late night blaze

By David Fisher

Staff Reporter

A rural Weakley County home was a total loss after a fire that erupted late last Wednesday evening.

According to Pillowville Fire Chief Lynn Scarbrough, a fire call came in at approximately 10:20 p.m. for the home of Craig Hendrix located on Highway 124.

Chief Scarbrough said that when firefighters arrived, smoke was escaping the kitchen window of the 1 ½ story wood-frame home.

Chief Scarbrough stated that there were no injuries involved in the blaze. He explained Mr. Hendrix, who drives a truck for Milan Express, was in North Carolina at the time, and that no one else was at home when the fire erupted. He added that none of the firefighters was injured battling the flames.

When asked how bad the home was damaged, Chief Scarbrough said, “The house is still standing.” He stated that the south end of the house was severely damaged by fire, while the north end of the home had mostly smoke and water damage. But overall, he said, “It would probably be classified as a total loss.” As for the occupant’s belongings, Chief Scarbrough said, “They will have to replace everything they have.”

A total of approximately 25 firefighters, including those from Gleason and Greenfield, provided mutual aid in assisting the Pillowville Fire Department, extinguish the blaze. These firefighters utilized two engines and three tankers in fighting the fire, which was extinguished at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Thursday.

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