Local unemployment rate increases slightly in
January
The Tennessee Department of
Labor and Workforce Development released the
unemployment figures on March 6, and the Haywood
County rate increased from 7.7 percent in December
to 8.1 percent in January. The local rate was 6.8
percent in January 2007.In
surrounding counties, all but one also saw an
increase in unemployment rates. Lauderdale County
went from 7.7 percent in December to 8.7 in January.
Tipton County also saw an increase to 6.5 percent
from 5.7 percent in December. Crockett County’s rate
increased from 7.0 to 8.4 in January, and only
Fayette County saw a decrease from 7.7 in December
to 7.5 percent in January.
The
state and national rates, both 5.0 percent in
December, decreased to 4.9 percent in January. The
unemployment rates increased in 89 Tennessee
counties, decreased in four counties and remained
the same in two counties.
Landfill open on Saturday mornings
Clinton Neal of the Haywood County Solid Waste
Department announced that the county Landfill will
begin opening on Saturday mornings from 8 to 11:30
a.m. Saturday, March 8. There will be no cost to
Haywood County citizens for any waste from yard
clean-up. For more specific information, call
772-7975.
Chamber sponsors small business seminar
Richard Carraway, Director of Retail Development
with the Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of
Commerce; She’rri McClellan, Director of SMOB; and
Sharon Taylor McKinney, West Tennessee Enterprise
Specialist, welcome early participants to the small
business seminar sponsored by the chamber.
The
Brownsville/Haywood County Chamber of Commerce
sponsored a Small and Minority-Owned Business
Assistance Program (SMOB) seminar Wednesday,
February 27, at the chamber office.
SMOB Director She’irri McClellan led the seminar.
Other state officials present were Sharon Taylor
McKinney, West Tennessee Enterprise Specialist with
the Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO), and
Ron Acree, Tennessee Small Business Development
Centers (TSBDC) Director whose office is in Jackson.
According to Director McClellan, “Entrepreneur and
small business development is a critical piece to
the state’s overall economic development strategy.
The initiative was developed by Governor Phil
Bredesen and the state legislature and is designed
to help small- and minority-owned businesses that do
not have access to regular bank loans. The State of
Tennessee is taking additional steps to increase the
number of small businesses and ensure their
success.” The SMOB will target Tennessee businesses
with annual gross receipts of less than four million
dollars.
SMOB is a multi-faceted business assistance program,
offering technical assistance and financing
opportunities to qualified businesses in the 95
counties of Tennessee. Business loans are capped at
$125,000.
According to Richard Carraway, Director of Business
Development with the local chamber, SMOB has been
well received. “This is truly an exciting program
for small business,” he said. Carraway added that
about 20 applicants are in the process of applying
for SMOB loans and requesting technical assistance.
He is hopeful that the program will start issuing
loans within the next several months.
Director McClellan said “All applications are
reviewed to determine what level the business should
enter the program and may result in some businesses
being able to qualify for loans sooner than others.”
Anyone interested in learning more or signing up
with the SMOB program may contact Richard Carraway
at the Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of
Commerce at (731) 772-2193 and set up an
appointment. “I’ll be glad to assist any small
business,” he said.
”The first step is to fill out the one-page
application and begin work on the business plan.”
City loses former alderman, newspaperman,
businessman
Herman Doyle Burroughs
Brownsville is mourning the loss of one of its
former alderman, Doyle Burroughs, 79, who died early
Tuesday morning, March 4, 2008. He was also a
long-time Brownsville States-Graphic employee, a
businessman and a farmer.
Burroughs, who served as alderman for Ward 2 for 10
years, was first elected in 1992. During his tenure
as an alderman, under the leadership of Mayor Webb
Banks, the city saw a growth of budget from about
$2.5 million to $5.2 million. The city also
experienced growth in industry and city services.
“I
have known Mr. Doyle for more than 30 years, and I
don’t think I have ever met a man who was more
genuine, sincere and honest,” said Brownsville Mayor
Webb Banks. “He always wanted to do what he thought
was best for the city of Brownsville. We should all
appreciate his contribution to this community; he
was a great city servant.”
Possibly his greatest contribution to the community
was his part in providing Brownsville with a
newspaper as an employee of the Brownsville
States-Graphic for 47 years. He started part-time at
the age of 13, and at the age of 20 went full-time
and learned to use the Linotyper that was the
technology of the day. In 1971, the technology went
to off-set printing, and in 1987, Burroughs was
there to make the transition from phototypesetting
to computer typesetting.
After retirement, Burroughs continued his farming
operation, which he had done for many years “on the
side” and later opened a printing business, Quick
Printers. He retired again, then several years ago
opened A & B Printing with his grandson, Matthew
Alexander, and granddaughter-in-law, Kristy.
Burroughs was a veteran of the U. S. Army, serving
in France and in Germany during his 21-month tour of
duty in the early 1950s. He was a charter member of
the Brownsville Moose Lodge.
The
widower of the late Ann Burroughs, Burroughs is
survived by his daughter, Lynn Burroughs Forshea and
her husband Ronnie; a grandson, Matthew and his wife
Kristy; and a granddaughter, Amy Forshea.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society
or the Brownsville-Haywood County Humane Society.
Castellaw elected to serve as WTIA officer
Regie Castellaw, manager of the City of Brownsville
Utility Department, is the new secretary/treasurer
of the West Tennessee Industrial Association (WTIA).
Danny Wheeler, CEO of the Jackson Energy Authority,
is the new president and Karl Dudley, General
Manager of the Pickwick Electric Cooperative is the
association’s vice president.
The
Association, with offices in Jackson, is in its 52nd
year of providing industrial and economic
development assistance to the 21-county region in
West Tennessee.
The
officers will lead the association’s efforts to
attract and retain jobs in the region. At the WTIA
Annual Meeting, 2007 President Robert Hagewood
reported six new plants and 61 expansions in 2007,
accounting for 2,315 jobs.
Justice Complex hot topic at County Commission
meeting
Haywood County commissioners spent a lot of time
Monday night, February 18, discussing the criminal
justice complex — then they voted to continue
research that can better determine the cost of the
project.
Commissioners voted unanimously to support the
recommendation of the jail committee – and that is
to take another step – called programming.
The
programming session takes about a week and requires
county officials and architects to determine the
space to be included in the complex with the
ultimate goal of determining the actual cost.
As
it stands right now, it appears the complex will
almost surely cost more than the $15 million dollars
approved by the commission – but probably less than
the $16.5 million most recently discussed. That will
likely change once the programming phase is
completed.
Still most controversial is the
question of location.
County Mayor Franklin Smith allowed a number of
people in Monday night’s large audience to speak.
Merchants near Wal-Mart, a city alderman, the
chairman of the school board and residents who live
near the proposed sites along Dupree all spoke in
opposition of the locations along the bypass.
So
what happens next? On March 10 planners and county
officials will begin their weeklong programming
session. Shortly after that officials will have new
numbers that should more accurately tell us all what
the building will cost.
Grant for two new parks
County Commissioners approved an application for a
grant to build the Park of Dreams and a new proposed
skating park. Earlier this month the city board
passed a similar measure. If the grant is approved,
city and county government will have to provide
about $276,000 – or half – of the total grant. Some
funding will come from private contributions. Right
now the project has about $15,000 in the bank from
private contributions and a promise of $15,000 worth
of concrete from B. T. Redi-Mix.
No to EPA proposals
The
county will go on record as opposing Environmental
Protection Agency proposals that could strengthen
air quality requirements. Haywood County Mayor
Franklin Smith said if the new EPA standards pass,
Haywood County would be in violation of air quality
standards, as will 36 other counties in the state.
Smith said the National Association of Manufacturers
says the new rules will cost the state jobs and that
there is no “scientific evidence” supporting EPA’s
position.
Fees should stay in county
Haywood County is joining with other counties in the
state lobbying for new legislation that could keep a
few dollars that have been going to the state at
home.
Register of Deeds Steve Smith said this week his
office collects a 5 percent fee for recording
certain transactions and half of that money is sent
to the state to fund select county government
retirement accounts. Smith said the retirement
accounts are fully funded and the state is now
keeping the cash in its general fund. The
legislation would stop the flow to the state. Smith
says it amounts only to about $7,000 annually.
City board presents new animals ordinance
Pit
Bull dogs and “other dogs declared vicious” could be
on the way out in Brownsville. City aldermen passed
on first reading a revised version of the rules that
allow animals in Brownsville when the city board met
in regular session Tuesday, February 12.
Center to the new rules is the focus on vicious dogs
and, specifically, pit bull dogs. Under the
ordinance pit bulls should become extinct within the
city limits after the current generation.
The
new rules require that pit bull owners – who plan to
keep their animals – follow a number of rules. Among
them, owners must purchase a permit that includes a
$45 annual fee. The new rules, which are pretty
stringent, state how the dog must be confined and
restrained when not in confinement. Owners must
submit photos of their dogs to city hall and carry a
liability insurance policy with a $100,000 limit.
These dogs may not be sold or transferred.
If
a pit bull gives birth, the puppies must be taken
from the city limits within 6 weeks. And no new pit
bulls can be brought in. As previously mentioned,
the current generation ends pit bull residency in
Brownsville.
What is absent from the new rules is any limitation
on how many pets a Brownsville resident may own. As
you know, city fathers have discussed limiting the
number of dogs and cats, but the new rules
introduced last night ignore that discussion.
The
animal ordinance doesn’t become law until a second
reading – when a public hearing will also be held at
the meeting in March. To read the entire ordinance,
go to haywoodcountybrownsville.com, click on the
City of Brownsville, then “Ordinances.”
New
parks in the city’s future
The
Park of Dreams and a new skating park got a shot in
the arm when city fathers agreed to apply for a
state grant and commit lots of matching money to the
project. The board’s action allows the
Brownsville-Haywood County Parks and Recreation
Department to apply for a $276,00 state grant. But
city and county government, who plan to split the
match, must provide the same amount.
The
two parks – the Park of Dreams in the Industrial
Park – and the skating park near East Side School –
will cost nearly $553,000.
Door-to-door solicitation ordinance needs amending
A
Nashville door-to-door book-selling company has
challenged the city’s door-to-door solicitation
ordinance, and city attorney Michael Banks and MTAS
lawyers say if we fight – we lose. Banks told
alderman and the mayor that the ordinance “is broad
and vague and unconstitutional.” The city board
didn’t say how they might deal with the current
challenge, but Lawyer Banks said he and MTAS lawyers
would rewrite the rules for the board’s
consideration.
Police cars
The
city is getting two new cars and at Tuesday night’s
city board meeting, aldermen accepted the low bid
for two new Chevys.
New
mowers for the city
Aldermen and the mayor say they’ll be sending a
thank-you note to Cub Cadet. The local manufacturer
is supplying the city with six new lawn mowers. It’s
the third time the Cincinnati-based company has
provided a fleet of mowers. Cub Cadet also supplies
mowers, all free of charge, to county government and
to the parks and recreation department.
In
other business, aldermen passed on a second reading
the adoption of the 2006 International Building
Codes, and on first reading an ordinance to consider
new flood control regulations.
Leadership Class project to “mark” history
Leadership class members have taken as their community project to begin an
effort to put historical markers in the county’s
outlying communities. This sign, erected in 2000 by
Friends of Wellwood and the Haywood County
Historical Society, will serve as a model for the
signs in other communities.
The
2008 Leadership Haywood County Class is on a
historical mission. They want to put historical
markers in outlying Haywood County communities. The
project is quite costly, about $1,500 per sign, but
their idea is to start the initiative, then
encourage citizens and other groups and
organizations to join in to eventually help complete
the project.
Using the Wellwood Community sign as a model,
Leadership Class members will begin a fund-raising
effort to erect as many signs as they can this year.
Part of the equation will be to spark an interest in
the communities so that families may want to
contribute to a sign. The Leadership class will
partner with Brownsville-Haywood County Historical
Society members, who will participate by writing the
information for the signs and ordering them.
“We
know that many people who live in our rural areas
are the second, third, fourth generation in that
community, and they hold this part of their history
dear,” said Leadership class member Rita Hathcock.
“This county has such a rich, colorful history, and
it all began in the outlying communities that
surround what became downtown Brownsville. We want
to help acknowledge the importance of these
communities in the historical development of this
county.” Any community residents who would like to
participate in the project may call Hathcock at
772-3700, or any other class members.
Members of the 2008 Leadership Haywood Class and who
they represent are Kim Anthony, Haywood Park; Mae
Bufford, Dynametal; Rita Hathcock, Brownsville
Radio; Diane Hooper, Sugar Creek Retirement;
Katherine Horn, Elma Ross Public Library; Natalie
Lane, Insouth Bank; Steve McCool, Haywood Company;
Harrell Nation, First United Methodist Church; Nick
Nichols, First State Bank; Becky M. Overton, First
South Bank; Janice Reed, Reed Real Estate; Chad
Ross, MTD Products; and Bob Scifres, Lasco.
Leadership Haywood County is a Brownsville-Haywood
County Chamber of Commerce- sponsored organization
that informs and trains future leaders of the
community. Members attend 10 sessions that help them
gain knowledge and awareness of Brownsville-Haywood
County in areas of education, law enforcement,
economic development, local government and
infrastructure, quality of life and state
government. The program is managed by a Leadership
Alumni Board of Directors.
Obama/Huckabee are county winners
The
unofficial results of the Tennessee Presidential
Preference Primary in Haywood County are in but will
not be certified until after February 15, which is
the deadline for military ballots. The total number
of votes is 2,996, more than double the number of
votes in the 2004 primary.
Barack Obama is the unofficial winner among
Democrats voters in the county, while Mike Huckabee
carried the most votes among Republican candidates.
Locally, Democrats Obama received 1,279 votes;
Hillary Clinton finished with 768 votes, and John
Edwards received 38 votes. Republicans Mike Huckabee
received 431 votes, John McCain finished second with
265 votes, and Mitt Romney finished third with 101
votes.
Administrator of Elections Andrea Smothers reported
that a total of 687 people voted early. This number
included nursing home residents’ votes, absentee
ballots and people who voted at the courthouse. The
number of Democratic ballots requested in early
voting were 462 while the number of Republican
ballots requested was 225.
These numbers are high compared to early voting
figures in the 2004 primary. Only 141 people voted
early in that year, and the total vote count,
including those who voted at the precincts on
Election Day that year, was only 1,208.
Unemployment up slightly in December
Haywood County’s unemployment rate is up slightly,
from 7.8 percent in November to 7.9 percent in
December. In comparison to other surrounding
counties, three others were up, one remained the
same, and only one county experienced a decrease in
the unemployment rate.
Crockett County’s rate is 6.9, up from 6.0 in
November. Fayette County’s rate remained the same at
7.9 percent, and Hardeman County’s rate dropped from
8.1 percent in November to 7.7 in December. Both
Lauderdale and Tipton counties experienced
increases, from 7.5 to 8.0 percent in Lauderdale,
and from 5.1 to 5.7 percent in Tipton.
The
rates increased in 76 counties, decreased in 10
counties, and remained the same in nine counties.
The state’s rate also saw an increase from 4.7
percent in November to 5.0 percent in December. The
nation’s unemployment rate is 4.8 percent, up from
4.5 percent in November.