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Join The Dunlap Tribune as we take a look back at the headlines impacting Dunlap and Sequatchie County in 2009.
JANUARY
•China eyes local education - In an attempt to better their country’s educational system, several Chinese officials traveled to Dunlap. The foreign officials were given a tour of the schools by Superintendent Johnny G. Cordell.
•Burned man in custody - After being burned in a meth lab explosion and sent for medical treatment, Stanley Stewart was taken into custody with two others, Juanita K. Gray and Cynthia L. Morgan, concerning charges of manufacturing methamphetamines and the initiation of the process of manufacturing meth.
•Water project costs more - An engineering report presented to the Dunlap City Commission, detailed the city would need over $500,000 to finish Phase 1 of the East Valley Water Project.
•Workers lose Seymour job - As the national economy declines, and the automobile industry looked for funding from the government’s bailout plan, Seymour Tubing, an automotive supplier, dismissed 20 employees.
•Drug suspects bound over - Three people connected to a meth lab explosion in Sequatchie County were bound over to the Grand Jury. The trio included Stanley Stewart and two alleged accomplices, Juanita K. Gray and Cynthia L. Morgan.
FEBRUARY
•Suspect shot by deputies - After a shoot out and long search, Alvin Johnson was arrested on Cagle Mountain. Johnson was wanted in Alabama for alleged drug store robberies and was found at Savage Gulf Market. Officers from Sequatchie County and Van Buren County, along with U.S. Marshals, took action. The suspect reportedly suffered a wound from bullet fragments in his upper torso.
•Health Department back to work - After a short moving process, the Sequatchie County Health Department settled into its new location behind North Valley Medical Plaza off U.S. Highway 127.
•Officer loses life in wreck – Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Department Lieutenant David Charles Gann died Tuesday, February 17 in a wreck on Highway 111 involving an 18-wheeler. Gann was a Student Resource Officer (SRO) in the Sequatchie County School System. A memorial service was held at the school a few days after the wreck.
•Rapists arrested in county - Two alleged rapists, Anthony Trotter, 22, of Hixson, for raping a child (age 13) and aggravated stalking; and Brandon Pickett, 20, from Signal Mountain, on four charges of statutory rape of a 15-year-old.
MARCH
•Library faces struggles - Industries of all kinds received help through the economic bailout plan established in Congress. But other services in need have been left out, reported Librarian Betty Worley of the Sequatchie County Public Library. According to her, libraries were included in the bailout when the idea was conceived, but were cut from the plan before it finally passed.
•City prepares for liquor - After discussing the new liquor ordinances, the Dunlap City Commission could be passing a finalized resolution by early April.
•Mantria begins building - The new planned community on Cagle and Fredonia Mountain, Mantria Place, is on its way. Crews have begun clearing land to start construction on the community soon.
•Snyder flown from wreck - After a two-vehicle wreck on U.S. Highway 127 which brought traffic to a standstill, one driver, Joyce Snyder of Graysville, was extricated from her vehicle and flown by emergency helicopter to seek medical attention.
APRIL
•Abandoned children found - Officers discovered two abandoned children, charging their mother, Nichole Manery with two counts of child abuse, neglect and endangerment, one count each of simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
•Students assault teachers – Two students reportedly assaulted a Sequatchie County High School teacher. A 13-year-old male student was charged with two counts of assault and a 16-year-old male was charged with three counts.
•Tornado rips through area - An EF2 tornado, intense rain and wind made its way through Sequatchie County on Good Friday, April 10, ripping up trees, damaging homes and destroying vehicles. A total of 97 calls came in to the E-911 Center Friday and Saturday, according to Director Mike Twitty.
•Seymour to close - With slowing sales and production, Seymour Tubing, Inc. prepares for full shutdown sometime this summer.
•Liquor law finalized - Liquor permits for on premises consumption and packaged liquor sales can be applied for by city business beginning Wednesday, May 13. Dunlap officials gave their final approval of the two liquor ordinances making sales within city limits legal.
MAY
•City gets new officials - Dwain Land was elected mayor by a narrow margin of 21 votes over former commissioner Rachel Hixson. Voted into office as commissioners were newcomers Jeff Harmon and Judy Layne.
•Wagner says farewell - During a Dunlap City Commission meeting, Mayor George Wagner said his last goodbyes to city government.
•Collision in downtown - A wreck on Rankin Avenue involving four juveniles occurred Friday, May 15. Both drivers were injured in the wreck and transported to the local hospital for treatment for minor injuries.
•Bradford honored for work - After 30 years of service to the Sequatchie County Election Commission, David Bradford, 80, was recognized for his services with a reception and certificate of appreciation.
JUNE
•Rape cases are indicted - Two separate rape cases were among the 27 indictments returned by the Sequatchie County Grand Jury last week. A 21-year-old man, whose name is being withheld to protect the victim’s identity, was indicted on four counts of child rape and two counts of incest. Chad Lowe was indicted for two counts of rape against a mentally disabled victim.
•GM tells Gentry to close - As a result of receiving federal government funding, General Motors (GM) has to close some dealerships including Gentry Chevrolet. However, the dealership plans to continue operations in Dunlap.
•Four arrested after chase – A dangerous “joyride” by four individuals resulted in one officer injured. Those arrested included 20-year-old Ozzie Lee Odom, 19-year-old Randy Paul Mayhan and two juveniles.
•Solicitation arrest made - Christopher Gregory Kling, 22, from Signal Mountain, was arrested for multiple charges of attempted rape of a child. Kling was arrested at the Sequatchie County High School running track after the department posed as the 12-year-old girl by texting.
JULY
•Horse show raises $12K - With over 160 entries and a huge crowd, the John Griswold Recreation Park was filled for the O.K. Hege Memorial Horse Show. Dunlap Lions’ Club Representative Wayne Reynolds said, the show was one of the biggest since it started 46 years ago.
•Chief back from service - Almost one year after being sent to Afghanistan on a mission with the United States Navy, Clint Huth returned to Dunlap to resume his position as Dunlap Police Chief.
•Rigsby dies in accident - Charles Richard Rigsby, 59, was working on a Bobcat on Cagle Mountain when the roll cage held above him fell on top of his body, killing him.
•Mantria to cut ribbon - In the midst of questions and opposition, Mantria CEO Troy Wragg led a ribbon-cutting ceremony for his company’s newest facility on Fredonia Mountain. The facility, a carbonization center, features a new technology which converts woodchips and other natural resources into bio-char through a carbon-diversion process.
AUGUST
•Hatcher plans his retirement - Sequatchie County-Dunlap Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Howard Hatcher announced his retirement after ten years.
•Blaze damages Clyde’s - During the early morning hours of Saturday, August 1, a fire broke out inside Clyde’s Gas & More on Rankin Avenue.
•Fly-over reveals drugs - A helicopter fly-over Sequatchie County led authorities to harvest over 250 marijuana plants. Officials cut the marijuana and transported it to the Justice Center where it was destroyed.
•Five cases bound over - Five cases at Sequatchie County General Sessions Court were bound over to the Grand Jury. These cases included Terry L. Keener for second offense driving under the influence (DUI) and implied consent; Amanda Laymon for a charge of DUI; Kristin Gail Johnson for failing to appear in court and two counts of theft under $500; Charles Joel Boston, Jr. for theft under $500 and failing to appear in court; and Mary Michelle Flippo for her charge of accessory after the fact.
SEPTEMBER
•Building past the ashes - Construction officially began on the new Sequatchie County Highway Department, being built on the same site as the one which burned down in late 2008, injuring one employee.
•Three arrested in sting - A trio of suspects from Chattanooga were arrested for felonious marijuana and gun possession charges during a sting operation held on Signal Mountain. Leon Harris, Deangelo Bowman and Edward Williams were arrested by the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Department with the assistance of the Dunlap Police Department.
•Meth labs are discovered - After investigating a possible meth lab, the Sequatchie County Sheriff’s Department uncovered multiple labs in a wooded area behind a local resident’s home on West Valley Road.
•Fire damages local home - A fire broke out inside a home on Vandergriff Road Friday, September 18. Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire, cause unkown.
OCTOBER
•Roundup nets 60 suspects - A year-long investigation came to a close in early October when law enforcement agencies teamed together and presented approximately 230 charges for indictment in the Sequatchie County Grand Jury on Monday, September 28. The investigation was dubbed “Operation Prescription: they wrote it, we filled it” due to the high number of charges related to the illegal sale and delivery of prescription pills.
•Woman assaults child - An eyewitness contacted authorities, and a local woman was arrested for assaulting a two-year old child on Sunday, October 11. The woman allegedly kicked the child off of the porch of her apartment, claiming to have mistaken it for a dog. Officers reported the woman had been drinking alcohol.
•School buys 23.41 acres - The Sequatchie County School Board approved an executive action to purchase 23.41 acres adjacent to school property. The purchase totals $333,501 for the entire property with the intention to construct a new school.
•Three arrested by officers - After pulling over a vehicle for failing to stop at a stop sign, three males from Dunlap were arrested for a probation violation and meth charges. The three included Bruce Newman, 47; John F. Bain, III, 44; Timothy J. Johnson, 42.
NOVEMBER
•Arson fires in Cartwright - While kids were out getting treats for Halloween, some individuals were out pulling tricks. Southend fire fighters fought three structure fires and several tire burnings on roadways October 30 and 31. The structure fires were reported as arson.
•Two killed in fatal wreck - Otto Seals, 71, of Dunlap, and his three-year old great-grandson, Randy Lynn Rothwell, of Spring City, lost their lives in a wreck on U.S. Highway 111 on Friday, November 6. Officials from the Tennessee Highway Patrol said the two died after colliding with a log truck for unknown reasons.
•Mantria charged as fraud - After months of building and preparing a facility for “biochar” production on Fredonia Mountain, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged four individuals tied with the facility for what the Commission calls a $30 million Ponzi scheme.
•Woman held at knife-point - Bennie Lee Curtis, 31, of Pikeville, was arrested after a kidnapping incident. He allegedly held a 24-year-old female from Dunlap at knife-point.
DECEMBER
•Glider dies in accident - Christopher S. Thale, 55, of Greenwood, Indiana, lost his life after taking off at the Lewis Chapel hanggliding ramp in Sequatchie. Authorities said, most likely Thale was caught by wind shortly after take-off, pushing him back into the side of the bluff.
•Welch arrested after chase - Jared Welch, 21 of Dunlap, was found hiding under a bed at a local residence. He had fled on foot from officers since he was wanted for theft and failing to appear in court.
•Fries completes bike tour - Local bike riding enthusiast and cancer patient David Fries ended his cross country ride from California to Florida in approximately 25 days. Fries was diagnosed with stage four colorectal cancer two years ago, and, in the face of adversity, completed a 2,650 mile journey across the United States on his bike.
•Vandals flee on foot - A short foot chase by deputies ended in the arrest of Eric Thomas Luckey, 25, of Dunlap, who was accompanied by two juveniles. He allegedly vandalized a Wal-Mart cash register after being denied the right to purchase alcohol for the juveniles.
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