One of the top items on the agenda during the Thursday, March 5 meeting of the Weakley County School Board was filling the director of schools position when Richard Barber retires June 30.  There are five school professionals who are seeking the job.

    Other topics of discussion included the school calendar for 2009-2010, a teachers contract, the hiring of volunteer coaches, and other business.

 

Director of Schools

 

    The five candidates for the director of schools position include: State Representative Mark Maddox (D), technology director for the school system; Jeff Kelley, assistant director of schools; Marvin Flatt, attendance and career education director; Debbie Doster, instructional supervisor for grades six through 12; and Randy Frazier, principal and coach of Gleason School.

    During a called meeting of the school board Monday, March 16, board members will examine the resumes submitted by these candidates for the position and schedule interviews with them.

    Although there was time set aside for any comments from local citizens concerning the qualifications for the new director of schools, who will soon be appointed to serve that position beginning in the 2009-2010 school year, no one came forward to express their views on the matter.  However, several citizens did offer their opinions about the kind of person needed for the job during last month's school board meeting.  At that time, citizens suggested hiring a local person for the job if possible.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the March 11th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

    A 28-year-old Martin woman was arrested last week on assorted charges following an alleged alcohol-related accident involving someone else’s vehicle.

    Cheri Lynn Leyhue of 8086 Hwy. 45, Martin, is charged with theft of property; driving under the influence (1^st offense); leaving the scene of an accident (damage to vehicle involved); and driving on revoked, suspended or canceled driver’s license.

    At approximately 5:54 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, Ptl. Guy T. Pryor was dispatched to the corner of McGill and Todd streets to investigate an automobile accident. When the officer arrived at the scene, he noticed a white 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe, with damage to the front of the vehicle, lodged in a tree off the roadway. However, there were no occupants in the area.

    Lt. Dean Brooks responded to 130 Fulton Street, which was the address that the car was registered to, and noticed that there were keys in the sidewalk area in front of the house. Ptl. Pryor determined these were the keys to the vehicle in question.

    The report states the victim, Keith Edwards, was awakened by his brother, who told him the police were outside of his residence, because his vehicle had been involved in an accident. Edwards told Lt. Brooks he did not know his vehicle was gone. After Edwards learned Leyhue had wrecked his vehicle, he told the officer he did not give Leyhue permission to drive the vehicle, and that he had never done so in the past.

    When Pt. Pryor spoke with Leyhue, who was inside Edward’s residence, the officer states he could detect the odor typical of an alcoholic type beverage about her breath as she spoke. During questioning, Leyhue allegedly admitted to taking the vehicle while the victim was asleep. She stated she was the only one in the vehicle at the time of the crash and that she left because she was scared.

(Read the rest of this story in the March 11th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)

    Two individuals are in custody after allegedly attempting to cash fraudulent checks at a Martin department store.

    Jethro Leoll Richardson, 30, and 31-year-old Larry Darn Dye, both of 2016 Ledford Road, Greensboro, N.C., are charged with forgery, identity theft and criminal impersonation.

    According to a Martin police report, at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, investigators Thomas D. Erwin and Robbie Hatler were dispatched to Wal-Mart store 107, located at 134 Courtright Road, concerning two individuals attempting to pass a payroll check at the store. Loss prevention personnel Chad Richards told investigators the people who attempted to pass the checks were inside a vehicle at the store.

    Upon arrival at the scene, investigators Erwin and Hatler observed two men sitting in a silver Pontiac passenger car bearing Florida license plates.

    When the officers approached the vehicle, Inv. Erwin asked Richardson, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, to produce his identification. At that time, Inv. Erwin observed Richardson making a movement with his left hand in a manner, which led the officer to believe that the suspect was attempting to conceal an item. Also, Richardson’s action caused Inv. Erwin to fear for his safety. For these reasons, the defendant was asked to exit the vehicle.

    After receiving consent to search the area underneath the defendant’s vehicle seat, Inv. Erwin observed what appeared to be to be driver’s licenses in plain view inside the driver’s side door panel. The driver’s licenses depicted the defendant’s images, however, the licenses had different names.

    After placing Richardson into custody, and conducting a search of the vehicle incidental to his arrest, Inv. Erwin located 28 payroll checks issued to the names found on the Georgia driver’s licenses, which were in the defendant’s possession. Some of these documents had been endorsed with the names found on the Georgia licenses.

    A further search of the vehicle and the defendant resulted in the discovery of $6,945.26 on the defendant’s person. When Richardson was questioned about the recovered funds, the defendant admitted the money was his.

 

(Read the rest of this story in the March 11th print edition of the Dresden Enterprise.)