A petition objecting to the use of cameras to ticket speeders has been circulated by businesses in McKenzie, Tennessee, claiming they have been affected by them. You hear of many people now avoiding going to McKenzie due to these cameras…they will take their business elsewhere if possible.

McKenzie City Attorney Laura Keeton has backed up the city’s officials by deeming the use of speed and red light cameras as being legal.

The controversial cameras are located on Highland Drive, which runs through the city on Hwy. 79S, and were installed in April. The speed limit along Highland was adjusted from 45 mph to 35 mph, and violators are issued $50 citations in the mail. The city has stopped issuing right on red citations at the intersections of Highland and Cedar and Cherrywood.

We wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July! There are three fireworks displays scheduled for the weekend. One was last night at Paris Country Club, there is one tonight at Paris Landing State Park, and one tomorrow night at the annual Cottage Grove Freedom Festival. There will most likely be several sobriety check points set up throughout the county, so be safe, not sorry. Officers will be conducting a driver’s license checkpoint on Highway 79 northeast of Paris Sunday night. Many businesses are scheduled to be closed on Monday, July 5th, so you may want to call before heading out to make sure they are open.

We are only a little over a month away from summer vacation being over with county schools scheduled to start back up on August 4, 2010, which will be a half day. Schools will resume full time starting August 6, 2010. School supply lists can be found here for those who want to get a jump on it or if you want you can wait for the tax exempt period. The state sales tax holiday is set to begin at 12:01 a.m on Friday, August 6th and end Sunday, August 8th at 11:59 p.m. The list of exempt items can be found here.

Thomas Brewer, former English and Journalism teacher at Grove, was indicted on February 12, 2010 for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography by a federal grand jury.  He was originally reportedly charged with several counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and for drug possession.

The state of Tennessee dismissed their charges at the state level, and let federal prosecution pick him up. Brewer will likely remain in federal custody in Jackson until his next court date.

On As I’m sure some of you have already noticed, it is nearly winter break. Winter Break officially starts on Friday afternoon, December 19th. Some high schoolers are already out due to exemption from exams. School resumes January 6, 2009.

In other news, Captain D’s has officially reopened in Paris as of December 15th. Also this past Friday, the Madrigals hosted a Christmas concert at Krider Performing Arts Center. In addition on December 6 the  Shop with a Cop fundraiser gave 487 kids $50.00 each to spend at Walmart with the assistance of Henry County marketing and business students as well as Henry County correctional officers.

On a more crucial note:

~A Grove 9th Grade center student was arrested after he allegedly threatened to ignite 2 crude bombs outside of Henry County High School on Wednesday afternoon.

~3 Grove 9th Grade students were charged with several accounts of possession of stolen drugs from a former nursing home. The drugs included four different pain killers: morphine tablets, fentanyl tablets, Darvocet tablets, and hydrocodone tablets.

Hello everyone, it’s been a long time since the last time post and I apologize for the delay; we were undergoing technical difficulties. But as you can see the problem has been resolved and posts can be made yet again!

So, as i know everyone has been waiting for, it’s time for a MAJOR update on what’s going on in the area. To begin with the new members of the National Honor Society have been announced at Henry County High School and the induction is on November 6, 2008 at KPAC (inductees need to be there by 6:30).

Also, October 29-31 all Henry County students are on fall break! REMINDER!! Tomorrow night at the 3rd Floor is concert night. It is $8 to get in the door and it is costume night so wear them! And leave your drama at home.

Coming up at KPAC: SPOOKTACULAR in Paris square 12:00-4:00; Winter Children’s Theater registration Nov. 1st auditions Nov. 3rd

Today was the last day for all Henry County seniors, if they are exempt from their finals. And due to this, today was the day for mass senior pranks. The all time pranks of this year thus far are:

~Parking Principle McFarren’s car inside the school in front of the office.

~Lubing the handrails of all the stairwells as well as the hill between E building and C building.

~Fire drills during the lunch shifts.

~ Having Sheriff Bleue deliver 3 large pizzas and 2 2-liters of soda to the school in his squad car with his drug dog Buddy.

More pranks still to come. At the end of the year we will recap the pranks and list some of the most memorable.

Just recently at Henry County High School, the school’s administration has been giving out in-school suspensions to all students who were seen kissing at prom. They are being given two days of ISS. Administration states that the students were in the wrong due to they were at a school related event. Students state that since it was prom, that rule should be an exception as long as it didn’t escalate to anything more than a kiss.

Aside from the professional side of this we would like our reader’s opinions on this matter. Do you agree with the administration? Or the student body? Is it or is it not fair that students are receiving suspension for kissing their dates at prom?

Recently in Paris, Arby’s has reopened finally! Meanwhile Burger King is almost done with their upgrade and are suppose to open before summer. Also, Long John Silvers has closed down and has been bought out by supposedly Popeye’s. Other new features in town include Servall’s exterior upgrade and some of the roads heading towards Henry have been repaved. Other than that, Paris is still the same old small town as ever.

This summer’s hottest concert has been recently released. Rumble in the Jungle on June 7th at the 3rd Floor Skate Park, 205 East Washington Street. Bands playing are: The Gone, Perry Vincent, Giddy Up Gangsta, Tomb of Kings, An Oceans End, James the Great, and Set the Chariots Afire. Show starts at 6:00. Concessions will be sold; drinks for $1.00, snacks for $.50. Admission of $8.00 at the door.

Recently here in Henry County at about mid spring break  3 high school students were involved in a serious car wreck. This wreck was on Hobby road going up a steep hill. Cody Hodge, the driver of the car, was speeding and  lost control of the car sending it into the trees, killing him and sending Bryan Younger into critical condition. The third passenger, Chaz Lee, kicked out the window and ran to a near by house to get help.

Currently Bryan Younger is at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville being treated for brain damage, a broken arm, as well as two broken ribs. One of which punctured his lung and the other was by his heart. Chaz only has a broken hand.