144th Year • No. 56 Haywood County, Tennessee $1.00One Section, 18 pages

Brownsville

StateS-GraphicThursday, November 18, 2010

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The immense mix of residents and veterans last Thursday, Nov. 11, for the annual Veterans Day program left the Haywood County Courthouse crowded.

In a place normally reserved for county commission meetings, some were lucky if they even managed to find a seat.

Some even had no choice but to experience the program from just outside the courtroom doors.

Still, considering that this was a large crowd gathered to remember and honor veterans both local and nationwide, the crowded room could have been seen as a good problem.

The program, hosted by VFW Post 4838, the David Craig Chapter DAR and the Brownsville Exchange Club, opened with welcomes from Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith and Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne, and a presentation of colors from the Haywood High School AFJROTC Color Guard.

“Please thank a

veteran for all that they do,” Matherne said to the crowd.

A pledge to the flag was lead by Daniel Thornton, Malcolm Wright Post 4838 Commander, followed with the National Anthem sung by the Haywood High School Show Choir.

William King talked a bit about helping with veteran programs, urging residents to help.

Ray Dixon, Quartermaster of VFW Post 4338, did a roll call of all veterans who served from WWII to Iraqi Freedom, veterans that served during times of peace, Gold Star Mothers, police, fire, EMT, and public servants of the community.

Field of Flags was also discussed during the program, revealing the success the event has had so far this year.

“Not only is it a great memorial honor, but it also helps the Carl Perkins Center,” Brownsville Exchange Club member Larry Banks said. “We’ve

netted over $7,000 to go to the center and the club from Field of Flags.”

Guest speaker, Col. Brad Bishop, currently of the National Guard, then spoke, touching on the importance of

honoring all of our veterans.

“America is a great nation. I think we all know that,” Bishop said. “It has a lot of heritage, including the heritage of freedom. We honor that heritage

by remembering our veterans.”

Bishop also noted the common link between the veterans of the present and past.

“Love for country and demand to fight for freedom are the bridges

between the veterans of today and yesterday.”

When Bishop’s speech concluded, the event moved outside, where Col. Bishop and Col. Stark Davis presented a wreath at the Fallen Heroes Monument.

Veterans Day program attracts large crowd

Col. Brad Bishop and Col. Stark Davis present a wreath to the Fallen Heroes Monument outside the Haywood County Courthouse.

The Haywood County Commission met during its regular monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 15, in the Haywood County Courthouse.

The items discussed included news on determining the boundaries of the Pauper Cemetery at the County Farm.

Local and noted genealogist Debbie

Sterbinsky started the search for any evidence of graves on the site last Thursday, Nov. 11, stemming from the Pauper Cemetery, an area that contained the remains of poor residents, Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith said.

There have apparently been burials at the site since 1868, Smith said.

Thursday’s search

didn’t produce any findings, but Smith noted that Friday, evidence of 12 caskets have been found in an area west of the jail.

Even during his time as a county employee in the ‘70s, Smith stated that this is the first he has heard of the Pauper Cemetery being on the County Farm property, and that this is the first he has heard of the graves possibly either

Evidence of Pauper Cemetery found at County Farm; County and Haywood County schools to hold joint meeting

Two males were arrested Wednesday, afternoon, Nov. 17 outside the Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant located at 27 South Lafayette Avenue.

Two white males, described to be in their early 30’s were initially stopped by the Brownsville Police Department in the area on a seat-belt

violation. When authorities ran

a background check on the two suspects, they discovered that one of them had federal indictments relating to methamphetamine-related charges.

The suspect arrested due to the federal indictments was Haywood County resident Steven Brooks

Baucom.Baucom will

be transported to authorities in Jackson.

Haywood County resident Jake Moore was the other suspect arrested on driving with a suspended license.

Check the next issue of The Brownsville States-Graphic for further developments.

Seatbelt violation yields major arrest

The Town of Stanton held its Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday evening, Nov. 16, at the Stanton Town Hall.

Prior to the regular meeting, elected officials were sworn in by Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith.

Dr. Alan Sterbinsky was elected as Stanton Mayor unopposed, while Emma Delk, Frank Fawcett, Ruffie Jones and

A.D. Miller were elected as aldermen.

Emma Delk was also selected by the board to serve as Vice Mayor for the town.

Following the swearing in portion of the meeting, the board discussed repairs to the bridge on Pond St. Mayor Sterbinsky said that he has discussed the project with the engineers at TLM. TLM gave him two costs. The maximum cost would be between $175,000 to $200,000. The least expensive option would cost approximately $100,000, the mayor said.

Stanton had originally been looking for a price close to $30,000.

The sale of beer in Stanton was also discussed, as the Big E Convenience Store located on Highway 70 would like to attract more business and possibly venture into other commercial expansions like a shopping center.

The board will look at Brownsville’s Ordinance on the sell of beer, and base their ordinance around it.

The second reading of a water ordinance, which will increase the rates

charged to Brownsville Utilities for water, passed with the board. The rate will be $1.40 per 1,000 gallons, which is the same as Brownsville’s rate.

The possibility of an animal control ordinance was discussed by the board, concluding with allowing County Attorney Michael Banks to draft an ordinance and present it later to the board. The general aim of the ordinance, would be to confine any animals or pets listed as dangerous by the town.

There was also discussion on a $100,000 energy grant that will pay for solar panels on the Town Hall, Garage and Cannery, plus upgrade the town’s HVAC system. The town will still receive the grant; however, the state has not officially signed for approval yet or given the funds to the town. The delay is related to the recent election and change in administration, Mayor Sterbinsky said.

And finally, so far in the past 12 months, Stanton has received $1.2 million in grants. Mayor Sterbinsky is still aiming to bring that total to $2 million.

Stanton officials sworn in during meeting

Stanton Mayor Alan Sterbinsky is sworn in by Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith.

being moved or built around.

“I certainly, as County Mayor, do apologize for the desecration of any graves out there,” he said. “But there won’t be anymore. This won’t happen again.”

It’s believed that there are more graves in the area.

Following on what was reported at the meeting, Sterbinsky has noted that although she would still need to further examine her findings so far, she believes she’s found evidence of anywhere from 12 to 15 caskets.

On Tuesday, Nov. 16, Sam Smith and Ben Mance from the Tennessee Division of Archaeology stopped by Haywood County and met with Sterbinsky and Smith to offer a little guidance on finding out more about the cemetery. Sterbinsky has stopped digging as of now. She is seeking land maps from the Tennessee Division of Archaeology that detail the area.

In other commission news, a joint meeting

between the commission and Haywood County School board is being planned. The meeting is meant to seek out a solution for renovations reportedly needed for Haywood High School. According to the school board, the cost of renovations would be $2.4 million. During a Nov. 10 budget meeting, the school board sent a proposal to the County Budget Committee recommending how to pay for the renovations.

Last month’s county commission meeting included discussion on a possible Energy Efficient Loan from the state worth $1 million, to be paid in increments of $100,000 over a 10-year period. The deadline for application on that loan has been extended to Dec. 15. The commission is aiming to hold the joint meeting before deadline.

The commission passed a motion on Resolution #11101 and #11102, which would basically rezone some property for the Solar Farm project. The land is 198 acres of former

farmland located on the edge of Albright Lane and U.S. Interstate 40. This was the second reading of the two resolutions.

A motion was also passed by the commission for the county to support the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Legislative Agenda. The Legislative Agenda is planned to be presented to “elected State Representation at a Legislative Event in West Tennessee,” the resolution said.

Finally, the commission gave authorization to County Mayor Franklin Smith to sign a contract with Ameresco Inc. to perform renovations to the lighting of 11 county buildings. This will cost $189,081. The county will receive a grant of $100,000 from the Tennessee Department of Economic Development. It was noted by commissioner Allan King that the county will save $21,000 by accepting this contract, and should take the county four years to pay it off.