Carthage Courier News

Four-wheeler wreck claims woman's life

By Eddie West
Staff Writer

Funeral services were held Thursday for a Defeated woman critically injured in a four-wheeler accident two weeks ago. Elizabeth Bray, 26, was critically injured when she was thrown from a four-wheeler which she was driving along Beasley Hollow Road on April 29. Bray passed away at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Monday afternoon of last week. The former Red Boiling Springs resident lived on Willowbrook Lane which is off Beasley Hollow Lane and located in the Defeated/McClure’s Bend area. According to sheriff’s department Deputy Steven Myers, who investigated the accident, the victim’s head struck the pavement which resulted in the fatal injuries. Bray’s two-year-old daughter, Asia Fann, was riding on the four-wheeler (seated in front of her mother) and was thrown into a yard, receiving non-life threatening injuries. The two were airlifted from the scene by LifeFlight helicopter and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “The two were traveling east on Beasley Hollow Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the driver to be ejected off the vehicle and striking the roadway. A passenger was ejected into a yard opposite of the driver,” according to the investigating officer’s report. Myers said he believes the vehicle got into some loose gravels and the driver was attempting to straighten the vehicle, causing it to tip over, ejecting the two from the four wheeler. Funeral services were conducted from the Red Boiling Springs chapel of Phillip Anderson and Son Funeral Home. Bray was born in Smith County and was the daughter of Evelyn Young Bray of Red Boiling Springs. The victim was a homemaker and a member of the Bakerton Church of Christ.

Car, Cash, & Trips - Kirby knows about winning

By Eddie West
Staff Writer

Few people have the expectations of winning an automobile. Turkey Creek resident Greta Kirby knew it was only a matter of time before she pulled into her driveway in a new car, courtesy of a company sponsored sweepstakes. “I knew I would win a car. It was only a matter of time,” says Kirby, who has perfected the art of winning to a science, turning slim odds into almost a sure thing. As one of four grand prize winners in the 2007 GMAC SmartEdge Get the Edge Instant Win and Sweepstakes, Kirby picked up her 2008 Pontiac G6 with a sticker price of $25,000 at Premier Pontiac-GMC Cadillac in Lebanon, Tuesday. Kirby is a “sweeper”, the term used for individuals who turn entering sweepstakes into a part-time or even a full-time occupation. Though Kirby can’t recall all the prizes she has won to date, the “sweeper” can recall winning the most valuable one which now sits in her driveway. After reading an e-mail from GM, Kirby, spontaneously hoisting her arms skyward with clinched fists and yelled, “Yes. Yes.” But no one was around to hear her jubilant outcry. “My husband was mowing the yard. I stood at the end of the driveway waving my hands and he didn’t see me. I had to go to the front porch where I finally got his attention,” recalls Kirby. “There were $1.8 million entries to win the car,” says Kirby. “I don’t know how many times I entered the contest. You were allowed to enter it everyday and I tried to. The contest began on May 8 of last year. I estimated my chances at winning the grand prize was 3.8 percent. The second place prize was another car. They couldn’t get the person who won the fourth place prize to claim their winnings. They e-mailed him and called him. He didn’t believe it was valid (after entering the contest). So they picked another winner.” A Greenfield, Indiana woman won a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and a St. Louis Park, Minnesota woman won a Chevrolet HHR and a Connecticut woman won $10,000, according to GM officials. The sweepstakes was sponsored by GMAC SmartEdge—GMAC’s comprehensive financial education program which aims to improve people’s understanding of budgeting, credit, banking, vehicle and home financing and insurance. The program promotes financial literacy through its Web site and local seminars across the country. “I was surprised how fast they selected the winners in the sweepstakes. I received my notice two days after the contest shutdown,” said Kirby. In addition to the automobile, GM gave Kirby $6,000 to pay for taxes on her winnings and $1,000 in Exxon gas cards.
A Hobby With Rewards
Winning free prizes has become a three-hour per day hobby for Kirby and that’s all right with her husband, Glenn, who shares in her winnings. “My husband told me, ‘I want an HD TV. I told him if you just wait and have patience, I’ll win you a television,” the retired nurse said. Last spring, Kirby was manning a booth at the construction site for the Kid Central playground at Crump Paris Park in South Carthage with Matilda Graves when her husband rushed up to the tent telling her she had received a telephone call from Sony. “He came up to us and said ‘you’ve got to call this number. You’ve won something. You got to call it right now’. I didn’t have a cell phone but Matilda loaned me her’s. It was Sony of Nashville. I had won a television,” Kirby tells. Last year, the sweeper won two television sets including the 32 inch, Sony, flat-screen television (from Sony in Nashville) and a 52 inch Sharp, flat-screen television valued at $4,000.” Living in Florida in 2000, Kirby began her unusual hobby eight years ago when she retired after a 17-year nursing career. Certain web sites which have nothing but giveaways, samples, promotions and sweepstakes, the sweeper explains. “When I first started this, I had some people laugh at me. Let me tell you, they’re not laughing now,” the Smith County native says. Sitting at a table lined with examples of free products she has received in recent weeks, Kirby receives a free sample or receives a coupon for a reduced cost of an item on an almost daily basis. “I can’t tell you how many T-shirts and caps I’ve won. There are companies having giveaways all the time. A lot of the stuff I win I donate to my FCE Club to use as door prizes. I keep myself in cosmetics with giveaways. There’s free toothpaste, hand lotions, razors. You name it,” says Kirby, reaching for a bottle of perfume valued at $75. Next she points to a $50 gift card and then to a bottle of expensive skin care product. Picking up an array of DVD’s she comments, “I don’t even have a VCR or DVD player. I wouldn’t give you a nickel for these. I’ll use these as door prizes or sell them and put them in my Pay Pal Account which I use to pay for items I purchase over the Internet.” Kirby keeps a journal of all of her winnings. Scanning the entries, there are prizes such as cash awards of $5,000, $1,500, $3,000 and a trip to New York valued at $3,200. In April of 2005, Kirby and her husband took a trip to northern France, staying at a five-star, resort hotel overlooking the English Channel. It didn’t cost them a dime. The sweeper hit the jack pot again! “After you win a few things you also begin getting e-mails asking you to register for giveaway. My friends ask, ‘don’t you get a lot of spam?’ I do but that’s part of it,” Kirby explains. “Big name companies like Proctor and Gamble and GM are always having giveaways for new products. A car is the granddaddy of all prizes,” notes Kirby, although while exploring the Internet for a new sweepstakes to enter she comes across one with a grand prize of $100,000. When asked if she will enter that sweepstakes she replies, “You betcha!” And she does while being interviewed. It takes only moderate computer skills to enter web site sweepstakes, says Kirby who keeps a list of sweepstakes and promotionals she is participating in. The list fills up much of three to four, eight by ten inch sheets of paper. Each entry notes whether she can enter the contest more than once. If so she enters the contest as many times as rules will allow. For contests with multiple entries, she bookmarks them on her computer, saving her the time to look them up each day. Kirby often has to keep an official record of her winnings, requiring a notarization. For that she goes to Citizens Bank in Carthage where associate Carol Wilmore knows all about her unusual hobby. “The last time I went in Carol asked me, ‘what have you won now?’ I said a car. She threw her ink pen down (in an amazed reaction),” recalls Kirby, who relocated to her native Smith County with her husband, Glen, in December of 2004. The most difficult contests to win prizes are recipe contests, says Kirby, who has tried her luck at that and even won. She received a $500 cash prize for her authentic Special Salad recipe which was published in Cooking Light magazine. To date, Kirby has calculated her sweepstakes and other prize winnings at $43,000 and has never been out more than the cost of an occasional postal stamp. The Turkey Creek resident doesn’t attribute her winnings to luck, rather having a good system, and, therefore, doesn’t play the lottery. “No (I don’t play the lottery). Absolutely not. I don’t spend money to do what I’m doing. Maybe just a stamp. I’ll pay for that. Your chances of winning the lottery are one in 14 million. It’s like they say ‘the lottery is a poor man’s game’ ”, relates Kirby. “Odds are with you on sweepstakes because you can enter so many things and so many times. If you can just enter it once, you’re not going to win. It’s all a matter of odds.” In addition to sweepstakes, Kirby is often a thrifty shopper, noting there are all sorts of coupons available on the Internet which can add up to big savings. Kirby cites an example. For an FCE Club fund-raising event, the homemaker was able to obtain $133 worth of coupons to purchase 96 cans of Don Francis coffee. The 96 cans of coffee cost her only $13.50, enabling the club to turn a larger profit for its fund-raising campaign. To date she has saved $6,643 from coupons from 1982 through 2007, she has noted in a journal. I do all of this for fun. It’s kind of a supplemental income,” says Kirby. While pointing out a web site with promotional giveaways and sweepstakes, Kirby finds another sweepstakes with the grand prize being a Volkswagon car. Whether the sweeper will be as lucky in this sweepstakes as she was with the GM promotional we’ll find out sometime after July 31 when the contest ends.

Apple Named Smith County HS Basketball Coach

By Terry Collins
Courier Sports

There will be a familiar face roaming the sideline as the Smith County High School Owls head basketball coach. Former player and seven-year assistant coach Scott Apple has been named the program’s new head coach, replacing Stacy Angel who resigned this spring. A 1989 graduate of Smith County High School, Apple was a starter on the Owls basketball team under Dirk Ash. During Apple’s senior season, the team reached the state tournament for the first time in 28 years. That season, Apple’s senior year, the Owls compiled a 27-6 record before losing to Memphis Treadwell High School in the state tournament. Treadwell’s team featured NBA all-star guard Anfernee Hardaway. While at Smith County High School, Apple was an all-district and all-midstate performer in basketball. He also played football. After graduating from high school, Apple enrolled at Tennessee Tech, graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business. Apple also earned his Masters of Arts in Instructional Leadership in 2002 from Tech. Apple began his teaching career in Wilson County where he taught from 1999 to the summer of 2001. Since 2001, Apple has been employed with the Smith County school system. The new head coach was an assistant to former Owls head coach Trey Sanders for six seasons and to former Owl head coach Stacy Angel for one year. Apple was named Teacher of the Year for grades 9-12 this year. Dustin Whitaker will remain as an assistant coach in the same role as this past season. “Dusty and I are proud to get this opportunity at Smith County High School,” commented Apple. “We both believe young men need good role models and we will always strive to provide both discipline and leadership. Athletics and physical activity provide these student athletes with an opportunity to create a sense of pride within the community. Our goals include teaching these young men how to achieve success and become a positive influence for Smith County.” “Scott has paid his dues the past seven seasons as an assistant and I felt like he deserved an opportunity to lead our program,” commented Principal Jimmy Maynord. “We will do all we can to support him and his program to be successful.” The Owls were 9-16 this past season and finished sixth in the District 7AA race as they lost four seniors from the previous season. The team loses their top two scorers from this past season, Will Wakefield and Josh Bane, to graduation. The 36-year-old Apple resides in the Chestnut Mound community where he was raised. He and wife, Barbie, have three children, Brittany, age 10, and a fifth grader at Smith County Middle School, Maggie Jo, age 5, a kindergarten student at Carthage Elementary School and eight-month-old Marshall Douglas. Both of Apple’s parents, Jimmy and Judith Apple, graduated from Smith County High School, as did sisters Kim Apple Gregory and Denise Apple Hackett. Apple attends Liberty Church of Christ in Jackson County’s Granville community.

THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON IN SMITH COUNTY

DON'T MISS A SINGLE STORY!

PICK UP A COPY OF THIS WEEKS CARTHAGE COURIER

ON SALE NOW!

Previous headlines from The Carthage Courier

05-08-08 Task force infiltrates drug network By Eddie West•Staff Writer

The Fifteenth Judicial Drug Task Force managed to infiltrate a widespread drug network, leading to an undercover drug sting in Gordonsville last week. Operation House Call Hits The Streets lasted for only about three hours last Tuesday night but is expected to result in the arrests of more than 10 people on multiple charges for either purchasing or selling prescription medication illegally. Also, six vehicles were seized during the sting. “We anticipate more arrests and more seizures from the investigation,” said Fifteenth Judicial District Drug Task Force Director Mike Thompson. “The investigation began in Trousdale County and then went to Macon County and then to Smith County.” Most of those expected to be charged live in other counties, traveling to Gordonsville to either sell or purchase drugs, according to Thompson. Only three of those expected to be charged in the investigation are Smith County residents. The local undercover drug sting spawned from the task force’s Operation House Call which was conducted in Macon County, resulting in 50 indictments in that county in February. The undercover operation began around 4 p.m., Tuesday, and took place in the parking lot of Keystop Convenience Market. Thompson stressed the location of operation had nothing to do with the business or any of its employees. The location was random and may have taken place anywhere in Smith County. Individuals came to Gordonsville from Cookeville, Nashville and Gainesboro to either buy or sell drugs during the sting. “This was like a spider web network. Each individual trusted another,” Thompson said. Individuals from Tuesday’s sting are expected to be charged with possession of a schedule II drug or sale of a schedule II drug. Drugs involved mainly painkillers. Thompson said investigators feel ‘some people attempted to warn others in the circle” about Tuesday’s sting and could face charges. In addition to the anticipated arrests on drug-related charges, Thompson said there was an ongoing investigation which is expected to result in the arrests of individuals in local copper and aluminum thefts. Several thousand dollars in copper has been stolen from cellular telephone towers located on Bradford Hill Road and in the Grant community in recent months. Also, the investigation is expected to result in the arrest of individuals in the theft of around 1,000 pounds of aluminum from Dana, a company located in the county’s industrial park in Gordonsville. The aluminum was valued at around $700. “Two independent investigations (drug network and copper thefts) merged into one investigation,” said Thompson. Ten people were processed (information taken) by the task force and released as a result of Tuesday night’s sting. Thompson said the cases will be presented to the county’s grand jury for formal charges but he was not sure when. The grand jury meets next in August and cases related to the operation could still be under investigation. After August, the grand jury next meets in December. Also, charges against at least two individuals are expected to be elevated to the federal level when the drug network/theft investigation has been completed. Individuals processed by the task force were not formally charged or booked through the county. The Courier obtained a list of the individuals and will publish the names when they are formally charged/indicted. The investigation included the Carthage Police Department, sheriff’s department, TVA police and Office of Inspector General for TVA.

05-08-08 Defeated woman critical after four-wheeler wreck By Eddie West•Staff Writer

A Defeated resident was critically injured in a four-wheeler accident last week. The accident occurred around 6:43 p.m., Tuesday, on Beasley Hollow Road. Elizabeth Bray, 26, a Willowbrook Lane resident, was thrown from the vehicle and critically injured, according to sheriff’s department Deputy Steven Myers who investigated the accident. Bray’s head struck the pavement which resulted in the critical injuries, the deputy said. Bray’s two-year-old daughter, Asia Fann, was riding on the four-wheeler (seated in front of her mother) and was thrown into a yard and received non-life threatening injuries. The two were airlifted from the scene by LifeFlight helicopter and flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. “The two were traveling east on Beasley Hollow Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing the driver to be ejected off the vehicle and striking the roadway. A passenger was ejected into a yard opposite of the driver,” according to the investigating officer’s report. Myers said he believes the vehicle got into some loose gravels and the driver was attempting to straighten the vehicle causing it to tip over, ejecting the two from the four wheeler. The two were not wearing helmets which would have protected against injuries. Also, four wheelers are only to be used as off road vehicles. Myers said deputies from the sheriff’s department are frequently called to reports where individuals are riding the vehicles on the roadway. The Defeated Fire Department was dispatched to the scene to set up a landing zone for LifeFlight near the accident. Willow Brook Lane is located off Beasley Hollow Road, which is off McClure’s Bend Road.

05-08-08 Williams new elementary principal By Eddie West•Staff Writer

Gordonsville Elementary School Assistant Principal Angel Williams has been appointed as the school’s new principal for the 2008-2009 school year, according to Director of School’s Roger Lewis. Williams was appointed to the position last week. “Having been assistant principal under Principal Mark Medley for the past year and knowing her character, qualifications and demeanor, I feel like she was the one to step in and fill some really big shoes,” commented Director Lewis. “She has been an intricate part of that school this past year. I believe she is ready to carry on and keep the school at the level it already is.” Principal Mark Medley will be moving to Gordonsville High School as principal beginning with the 2008-2009 school year. “I went to school here and I knew this is where I wanted to spend most of my years teaching. Many of the teachers here, I had when I went to school here,” said Williams. “I have learned a lot this year under Mr. Medley. He has such a high standard of integrity, work ethic. He treats everyone the same and has high expectations for all stake holders. The best thing about him is how he deals with people, whether it be a parent, student or teacher. He teaches you that if you give someone respect, you’re going to get respect. It’s very rewarding to have this opportunity to be principal. I feel very fortunate that Mr. Lewis would give me this opportunity.” In 2001, Williams graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science degree in multidisciplinary studies. The 1997 graduate of Gordonsville High School holds a Masters degree in instructional leadership from Tennessee Tech. A Gordonsville resident, Williams began her teaching career in 2001 as a reading instructor for the seventh and eighth grades at Gordonsville High School. Williams continued teaching reading at the seventh and eighth grade levels until 2004 when she was named seventh and eighth grade English teacher. This past year, Williams has been assistant principal and literacy leader at Gordonsville Elementary School. The newly named principal is married to Greg Williams and the couple has a three-year-old son, Andrew.

05-01-08 New coach former player for Tigers By Eddie West•Staff Writer

A veteran coach of 26 years will head Gordonsville High School’s football program this fall. Ron “Moose” Marshall, a 1976 graduate of Gordonsville High School, was named the school’s new head football coach last week. “This is home to me. I’m glad to be back home,” commented Marshall, who reported to the school Monday. “Football has always been important to this community. I’m honored they’ve allowed me to come in and be a part of it. I’m looking forward to working with the coaches and administration.” Marshall returns to Gordonsville from the Class 4-A Oakland Patriot program where he was a defensive co-ordinator and defensive line coach. Marshall has been with the Rutherford County school’s program for the past six years (2002 until 2007). “I’m looking forward to being a head football coach again,” said Marshall, who formerly headed the Lebanon Blue Devil program. “I look forward to the challenge of coaching here. I went to school here. I know the importance of the program to the community,” commented Marshall. “I’m glad to be wearing the royal blue again.” As for the pressure of becoming a head coach at one of the mid-state’s premiere programs, Marshall says the commitment of the coaching staff and the players made his job easier. Marshall played for the Tigers from 1972 through 1975 as nose guard and tackle on defense and guard on offensive, earning a scholarship at Middle Tennessee State University. At Middle Tennessee State, Marshall played defensive tackle his freshman, sophomore and junior years. While the 50-year-old coach did not play football his senior year, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education, secondary education and coaching, later becoming certified to teach math and biology. Marshall began his coaching career at Murfreesboro’s Riverdale High School where he was mainly a defensive line coach and in charge of the freshman program. Marshall has coached at Central Middle School in Rutherford County, under well-known mid-state high school football coach Roger Perry at Westmoreland and in Lebanon under then head coach Mark Medley. “In seven years as a defensive coach with Lebanon in 82 ball games we had 29 shutouts and we held opponents to an average 7.6 points per game,” said Marshall, who got his own shot at being the Blue Devils head coach from 1998-2001. Marshall was also a defensive line coach at Smyrna High School for two years, before going to Oakland. In 1970, Marshall’s family relocated to Smith County as his father took a position with the zinc mine. The new head football coach was a sixth grader and played under former head coach Turney Ford. Spring practice will begin Monday for the Tigers, said Marshall. (Marshall resides in Rutherford County with wife, Deborah, a Rutherford County school teacher. The couple has a son, David, 27, and a daughter Christy.)

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

SMITH COUNTY
ELECTED OFFICIALS

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

SMITH COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS

SMITH COUNTY
ELECTED OFFICIALS