By David Fisher Staff Reporter

   

    As Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Weakley County Commission got underway, Pro Tem Mac Buckley, who was filling in for Chairman Richard Phebus, asked that a moment of silence be given in memory of recently departed Commissioner Don Malone.

    During the meeting, commissioners also approved several resolutions and made several committee appointments. Two of the top items on the agenda were resolutions calling for billing inmates for booking fees, and items issued during their incarceration. These resolutions were approved by a unanimous vote of 15 for, two absent, and one deceased.

 

Resolutions

 

    The commission approved a resolution authorizing the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department to charge fees for booking and processing of persons subject to arrest or summons at the Weakley County Jail. The resolution notes that Tennessee Code Annotated § 40-7-122 authorizes county legislative bodies to vote to impose an additional fee of not more than $10 for the booking and processing of each person subject to arrest or summons. It stipulates that the fee shall be collected at the same time and in the same manner as other fees are collected by a Sheriff in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated § 8-21-9. However, this fee shall not be charged to any person determined by the court to be indigent.

    Another resolution approved by the commission authorizes inmates to be charged for issued items at the Weakley County Detention Center in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 41-4-142(a), which authorizes county legislative bodies to pass a resolution to establish and implement a plan authorizing the jail or workhouse administrator to charge an inmate committed to the county jail or workhouse a fee, not to exceed the actual cost, for items issued to the inmate upon each new admission to the jail or workhouse. The jail or workhouse administrator is also authorized to deduct the amount of the fee from an inmate’s jail trust account or any other account or fund established by or for the benefit of such inmate while incarcerated. This resolution shall not be construed as authorizing the county to deny necessary clothing or hygiene items to an inmate based on the inmate’s inability to pay the fee authorized by this resolution.

    The commission approved a resolution authorizing budget amendments to the Weakley County General Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, which budgets the reimbursement of the expense of the Presidential Preference Primary election in the amount of $36,725.22, as requested by the Weakley County Election Commission. Due to the fact that the election preparation for the August 2008 election must be performed during the current fiscal year, and these funds need to be placed in the appropriate line items, this budget amendment does just that. Also, budgeted are insurance funds that have been received to make the necessary repairs to the Weakley County Courthouse third floor Clerk and Master’s office, which was damaged during a recent storm. Additionally, the Weakley County Office on Aging has received a $1,000 Wal-Mart Foundation grant and is placing these funds in the current fiscal year budget.

    A resolution authorizing budget amendments to the Weakley County Highway Fund for the current fiscal year was also approved. The resolution transfers funds in the Highway Department among various line items, due to price increases of products and more expenditures than anticipated as necessary. It also places the excess $65,000 in the Highway Fund’s undesignated fund balance line item, as recommended by the Finance, Ways, & Means Committee.

(Read the rest of this story in the May 21st print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

By Linda Bolton Linda@mckenziebanner.com

 

    A 30-year-old Weakley County man is charged with second degree murder, a Class A Felony, following a domestic incident Thursday evening that turned deadly, according to Investigator Randall McGowan of the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department.

    Thomas Randall “Randy” Pruitt was taken into custody shortly after the fatal shooting at the family home at 2570 East Grove Road, between Gleason and McKenzie. He was arraigned Saturday and is being held in the Weakley County Detention Center without bond.

    The Weakley County Public Defenders Office was appointed to represent Pruitt. Public Defender Joe Atnip and Assistant Public Defender Colin Johnson represent that office.

    The Weakley County 911 Center received a call at 8:20 p.m. Thursday, reporting a shooting at the home Randall Pruitt shared with his parents and his 12-year-old daughter. When deputies arrived, they found 61-year-old James Thomas “Doodle” Pruitt dead from a gunshot wound.

    McGowan stated investigation revealed Randy Pruitt was involved in a domestic dispute with his mother, Deborah Pruitt, in the living room of the home. Randy reportedly had been drinking, became angry, and kicked furniture around inside the home. He kicked out the front door and assaulted his mother by pushing her down onto the floor, the investigator said.  Pruitt’s father, James, attempted to intervene by getting him out of the house. While attempting to get out the front door, a .32 caliber handgun was discharged, striking James Pruitt in the forehead. McGowan was unsure who owned the gun.

    Deborah Pruitt made the 911 call following the shooting, McGowan said. Randall’s young daughter was also present in the home when the shooting occurred. He noted Randall Pruitt had gained custody of his daughter recently in Benton County court system and the two were residing with Randall’s parents.

    McGowan stated Pruitt was charged with second-degree murder, after determining that he had a history of domestic violence.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the May 21st print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

By David Fisher Staff Reporter

  

    Following a two-day temporary injunction hearing last week concerning school mold problems at Westview High School and Martin Middle School, 27th Judicial District Circuit Court Judge William Acree handed down his decision about how to proceed with the mold remediation at Westview High School and Martin Middle School.

    Attorneys on hand during the two-day hearing representing the two families in the case, who filed suit against the Weakley County School Board, were Memphis Attorney Amber Griffin and Larry Parrish of Memphis, as well as Bruce Connley of Union City.  Attorneys representing the Weakley County School Board were Jason Panu and Sam Jackson both of Nashville.

 

Court Orders Continued Mold Remediation

 

    After hearing testimony from expert witnesses, as well as arguments by attorneys for the plaintiffs and defense, Judge Acree stood by an order he issued in February calling for extensive mold cleanup to continue at Westview High School. Acree also directed the Weakley County School Board to move forward with its plan to continue mold remediation during the summer break. But with only one week left in the 2007-2008 school year, Acree ruled against plaintiff’s motion to close Westview and Martin Middle School until mold remediation could be completed.

    Although the School Board has not yet submitted a formal written plan to the court concerning mold eradication, the board has acknowledged the presence of mold and has agreed to correct the problem.

    Judge Acree ordered that the School Board submit a written plan outlining steps to be taken to eradicate mold at Westview. School Board attorney Jason Pannu told Acree that he would submit a written plan, as ordered, and go through the proper channels to let out bids for the remedial work to be done during summer break.

    Since Martin Middle School has not yet been fully examined and evaluated by specialists, more testing is needed before it will be known the full extent of the problem. However, acting on current recommendations put forth by the School Board’s own expert witness, remediation at Martin Middle School will involve general housekeeping such as removing dust from some areas that could be potential sources of mold.

 

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