144th Year • No. 56 Haywood County, Tennessee $1.00Two Sections, 22 pages

Brownsville

STATES-GRAPHICThursday, December 23, 2010

See recipe on page A5

See weather on page B16

Homeowner Venus Lewis is handed a bible by Habitat for Humanity of Haywood County President Albert Harris. Photos by Calvin Carter

Habitat for Humanity of Haywood County members, church members, friends and family gather in front of Lewis’ new home.

By Calvin CarterStaff Writer

While many people in the state are focused on whether they’re going to receive that brand new loaded iPad or Android Phone, there are others more concerned on some of the basic needs of mankind, which include food, clean water and shelter.

It was in San Antonio in 1976, that one man named Millard Fuller began satisfying some people’s need of shelter.

Continuing his previous ministerial global efforts, Fuller and his wife Linda founded Habitat for Humanity, their nonprofi t Christian housing ministry. Five years later after their fi rst project, Habitat managed to gain affi liates in 14 states and seven foreign countries. A few years after that,

the organization gained one of its most popular volunteers, President Jimmy Carter.

Today, the organization has managed to build 350,000 houses around the world.

Included in this number is the Habitat for Humanity of Haywood County, which just held another home dedication last Saturday, December 18.

Haywood Habitat has been working this year to provide a home for Bells resident, Venus Lewis.

Numerous members of Haywood Habitat could not stop saying “It’s a long way from the other home right?”

Considering what Lewis has now compared to her previous house, it’s understandable why Habitat members were consistently uttering the phrase.

Lewis’ former residence was a house littered with dilapidation in the form of worn out fl oors and walls.

Now as both an early Christmas and birthday present, Lewis is now the proud owner of a two bedroom one bathroom, one story home at 3838 Cherryville Road. The house comes equipped with a kitchen and laundry closet.

The dedication kicked off with an invocation from Pastor Malcolm Bray and welcome from Habitat for Humanity of Haywood County President Albert Harris. Habitat for Humanity Treasurer and Brownsville Mayor Jo Matherne presented Lewis

with the traditional gifts of blessing for the home, which included a loaf of bread for hunger, salt for being the salt of the earth and sparkling grape juice for celebration.

Along with Bray, Habitat Board Members continued the dedication ceremony by reading Bible passages and prayers dedicated to one’s home.

Finally, Harris and Project Manager Freddy Smith presented Lewis with a Bible and keys to the home.

Lewis could not express enough thanks to everyone for the new home.

“It’s a great and beautiful home. This is just fantastic,” she said. “I just want to say God Bless everyone for helping me in building this house.”

Habitat brings an early Christmas present to Haywood County resident

Superintendent Marlon King recently announced that Coach Slade Calhoun has accepted the position of Director of Football Operations for Haywood County Schools. Formerly assistant coach at Brighton High School, in his new leadership role, Coach Calhoun will be responsible for the total football program (varsity, freshman, junior high and middle). The new coach brings a wealth of playing, coaching, and teaching experience and impressive a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s , including winning numerous football games.

“We are excited to have Coach Calhoun as a part of Haywood County Schools and are confi dent, considering his background and experience, that he will add great value to our rich football tradition in Haywood County,” King said. Calhoun received

a Bachelor of Arts in History from Eastern Kentucky University, did some graduate studies at the University of the Cumberlands, and is currently pursing graduate studies toward a Masters of Educational Theory and Practice at Arkansas State University.

As a teacher, Calhoun is qualifi ed to teach High School level history and elementary to junior high-level social studies.

Calhoun’s playing experience includes playing for his high school football team at Rockcastle County High School, located in Kentucky, where he was inducted into their Football Hall of Fame in 2008. He also played as a defensive tackle for Campbellsville University, when his team was also Mid-South Conference Co-Champions 1997-1998.

Calhoun has coached for his former high school

and at Southwestern High School in Somerset Kentucky.

His latest coaching job, prior to Haywood County has been for Brighton High School where he has served as defensive coordinator, receivers coach and strength coach. Since his time at Brighton, the team has scored 350 points each of the last three years while fi nishing no worse than third in the Shelby Metro in Total Defense, The school has also complied at 26-7 record, which could be considered a vast improvement considering that fi ve years prior to Calhoun’s arrival, the record was 24-26.

Calhoun wrote on his vita provided to Haywood County Schools: “I know that I can make the same or an even larger turnaround at Haywood County High School. “With the spread offensive and attacking defense I will implement,

we will see both an infl ux of players and fans.”

“Many more student athletes will have the opportunity to touch the ball on offense, and contribute on defense,”

Calhoun continued. “I know that I can put a product on the fi eld that will be exciting for both the players and the fans as well as bring in a high level success.”

A press conference is scheduled for Thursday, January 6 at 6:00 p.m. at First South Bank Community Room. The community is invited to come.

Slade Calhoun to coach Tomcat football program

Coach Slade Calhoun

By Calvin CarterStaff Writer

The Brownsville City Board of Mayor and Aldermen met last week at city hall, during their regularly scheduled meeting.

Among the items discussed at the meeting included Resolution No. 799 which would allow the city start a Cash Management Services Master Agreement with Insouth Bank. This action will allow the city to pay

it’s employes with direct deposit.

The move is an effort to establish a more effi cient payroll system for the city, that would also lessen threats of theft or fraud Mayor Matherne said.

The board made a motion to pass the resolution.

The board also voted to allow Bob Moses to serve as Commissioner of the Brownsville Housing Authority for another term. Moses has

served on the Housing Authority since 2006 and his current term was set to expire on January 10, 2011.

Moses will now serve until January 10, 2016.

The board also approved of a write-off of taxes on uncollectible personal property.

A list of personal property and public utilities that needed to be written off were shown to the board. Most included on the list consisted of former businesses that

had shut down.The total to be written

off will be $13,549.19. This breaks down to be $8,934.34 in taxes and $4,637.79 in penalty and interest.

The board approved Christmas bonuses for city employees. Full time employees with a full year’s service will receive $240.76 while full time employees with less than one year service will receive $20.06 multiplied by the number of months

City employee payroll to move to direct deposit

See Payroll Page A3

NASHVILLE --- In conjunction with the National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be cranking up its enforcement effort throughout the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations to fi nd and remove impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways. State Troopers will be

conducting more than 100 sobriety and driver license checkpoints with a clear message to motorists – “Don’t Wreck the Holidays.” THP is also participating in the national campaign, “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.”

“The Highway Patrol will be working with law enforcement offi cers from hundreds of

THP reminds celebrants: Don’t wreck the holidays with

too much cheer on the roadways

See THP Page A3