January unemployment rate drops to 9.7 percent WASHINGTON (AP) — The outlook for jobs became a bit less bleak with January’s unexpected decline in the unemployment rate, which fell to 9.7 percent from 10 percent as more people said they had jobs. Read More ...

Water storage tank fee approved by city council By DONNA RYDER Associate Editor Union City residents who wish to listen to the proceedings or voice any concerns at the Union City Council should be at the meetings early. Published in The Messenger 2.4.10 Read More ... Donna Ryder Messenger Associate Editor

It’s all downhill: Wet weather spawns Tennessee rockslides By RANDALL DICKERSON Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — The prolonged wet weather that eased Tennessee out of drought has spawned a bumper crop of rockslides. Published in The Messenger 2.4.10 Read More ... AP

House faces tough vote on $1.9T more debt From AP, staff reports WASHINGTON — Fa-cing a politically excruciating vote, House Democratic leaders are counting on new budget deficit curbs to help smooth the way for a bill allowing the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper into debt over the next year — or about $6,000 more for every U.S. resident. Published in The Messenger 2.4.10 Read More ... AP, staff reports

First-time jobless claims rise By CHRIS RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week, evidence that layoffs are continuing and jobs remain scarce. Published in The Messenger 2.4.10 Read More ... AP

Haiti quakes draw renewed attention to New Madrid zone By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter Given the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti on Jan. 12, should we be nervous about the New Madrid seismic zone? Published in The Messenger 2.4.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

House agrees to $1.9T more debt By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday voted to allow the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt — an increase of about $6,000 more for every U.S. resident that provided a vivid election-year reminder of the nation’s perilous financial condition. Read More ...

Matthew Edmaiston Union City seventh-grader calmly has a winning spell By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Union City Middle School seventh-grader Matthew Edmaiston didn’t get hysterical. He just calmly stepped to the microphone and spelled his final word, “hysterical,” to claim the championship in the annual Obion County Spelling Bee Thursday afternoon at the Union City Municipal Building. Read More ...

County fair wins two state awards The Obion County Fair was recently recognized on the state level. The local fair won first runner-up in Division AA behind Lincoln County Fair in Fayetteville for its 2009 edition. It also placed third for its Web site. Read More ...

Matthew Clark UC man thankful for a new heart Matthew Clark, 51, had a broken heart. In 2008, he began experiencing breathing problems while attending a college football game with friends. After a week of tests, doctors told Clark a virus had attacked his heart and he was suffering from congestive heart failure.  Read More ...

Signing the dotted line: Local stars make college choices By MIKE HUTCHENS Sports Editor The Ohio Valley Confer-ence apparently has a dir-ect pipeline into Obion County’s prep football ranks. Four players from the county’s three high schools were set to sign scholarship papers today to continue their respective gridiron careers with OVC schools on the FCS level. Published in The Messenger 2.3.10 Read More ... Mike Hutchens Messenger Sports Writer

I-69 legislation hits wall of opposition from lawmakers Here’s a novel approach to opposing a public project: Pass a law that makes it a felony for state employees to work on it. That’s what state Rep. Matthew Hill of East Tennessee did recently when he filed a bill in the state House of Representatives that would make it a felony for state Department of Transportation employees to work on the proposed Interstate 69. Published in The Messenger2.3.10 Read More ...

‘Interim’ designation removed as Barnes named library director By GLENDA CAUDLE Special Features Editor Michele Barnes has proven herself equal to the job of managing one of Obion County’s major sources of community pride. Recently the board of directors of the Obion County Public Library changed her status from interim to active director, effective Jan. 1, in recognition of her ability and commitment. Published in The Messenger 2.3.10 Read More ... Glenda H. Caudle Special Features Editor

Goodyear’s union members accept contract By SABRINA BATES Special to The Messenger After rejecting the first tentative agreement two weeks ago, USW Local 878 and Goodyear-Union City officials went back to the bargaining table and composed a new contract that was accepted by union members last week. Published in The Messenger 2.3.10 Read More ... Sabrina Bates, Special to the Messenger

Grand jury indicts 3 on murder charges By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Three local men have been indicted by a grand jury on charges stemming from the October 2009 beating death of a South Fulton man. Published in The Messenger 2.3.10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — The groundhog has spoken. And it’s bad news. Punxsutawney Phil has emerged to see his shadow before chilly revelers in Pennsylvania, meaning winter will last another six weeks. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ... AP

Gates demurs on question of New York terrorism trial WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates declined to say today whether he thinks it’s appropriate to try self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a New York civilian court, not far from the site of the attack. Prodded by Sen. John McCain to say if he agreed with Attorney General Eric Holder’s choice on prosecution strategy, Gates replied that he thought Holder was better suited than he to make that decision. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ... AP

Stig Rossen ‘Les Misérables’ performer to appear at civic auditorium Best known for his per-formances in “Les Misér-ables,” Stig Rossen will perform here Saturday as part of the Community Concert Association of Union City/Obion County concert series. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Union City Civic Auditorium. Mem-berships are still available for Rossen’s performance and for the April 22 return performance of Jim Whitter. Individual tickets may also be purchased for $20 each on a first-come basis, beginning at 7 p.m. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ...

Recent accidents put spotlight on Troy fire department rules By DONNA RYDER Associate Editor Troy’s fire department may soon have new rules to follow. Mayor Jimmie Hart said incidents outside the city limits this week and last year have made him come to the conclusion that the fire department needs rules and regulations about who can drive the trucks. “It needs to be a trained, responsible person,” he said. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ... Donna Ryder Messenger Associate Editor

Shooting death: Arraignment scheduled for Thursday By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter An Obion County teen-ager is scheduled to make an initial appearance in juvenile court Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of his father last Thursday night. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

Bredesen says to use reserves to take edge off Tennessee cuts By LUCAS JOHNSON II Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen said Monday night he plans to use the state’s reserves to spare some state jobs and key services but he stressed that painful cuts will be unavoidable and hundreds of state employees may be laid off. Published in The Messenger 2.2.10 Read More ... AP

Bredesen to give final speech to lawmakers NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers are awaiting Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan for overcoming the state’s severe budget problems. Published in The Messenger 2.1.10 Read More ... AP

Teenager dies after sledding underneath car KNOXVILLE (AP) — A Knoxville teenager has been killed while sledding. Knoxville police said in a news release 15-year-old Aaron May slid under a car Sunday afternoon and was dragged for a short distance. Published in The Messenger 2.1.10 Read More ... AP

Snow blankets area, but ice stays away By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter Northwest Tennessee dodged the proverbial bullet over the weekend when a giant winter storm passed through on a northeasterly direction, blanketing the area with an average of six inches of snow. Snow, but no ice. No freezing rain. And that’s a good thing, says Obion County Emergency Management director Danny Jowers of Kenton. Published in The Messenger 2.1.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Police: Enjoy Super Bowl, but be careful Fans don’t let fans drive drunk. That’s the message Union City police will be sending when they team up with the National Football League, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other state and local highway safety and law enforcement officials to remind everyone to designate a sober driver if they plan to drink alcohol on Super Bowl Sunday. Published in The Messenger 2.1.10 Read More ...

Investigation into shooting continues By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter The investigation is con-tinuing and charges are being pursued in juvenile court following a shooting in which an Obion County man was fatally shot by his teenage son. published in The Messenger 2.1.10 Read More ... By CHRIS MENEES

Menu labeling veto rejected By ERIK SCHELZIG Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — The Senate on Thursday voted to override Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen’s veto of a bill to limit who can establish requirements for calorie counts to be posted on restaurant menus. Read More ...

UC man chains self to chair at unemployment office By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter A Union City man who chained himself to a chair on public property as a form of protest won’t be prosecuted by the State of Tennessee. But he faces a disorderly conduct charge filed by the City of Union City. Read More ...

Hornbeak author publishes new book By DONNA RYDER Associate Editor Children will learn a lesson about not making fun of other people in Robbie Lamb Riley’s newest book, “Little White Pony.” Read More ...

Domestic leads to shooting death By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter What apparently started out as a family dispute turned deadly late Thursday night on Wade Wiley Road near Union City. Read More ...

Weather related news 1.29.10 Read More ...

Local students collect Health Kits for Haiti By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Students at Lake Road Elementary School are taking a hands-on approach in learning Character Counts. This week, they have been collecting items for Health Kits for Haiti — which will be shipped out next week to help victims of the recent earthquake in the Caribbean country. Published in The Messenger 1.28.,10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

Ferry closed by high water, possibly until next week The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is closed again due to high water on the Mississippi River. The ferry halted operations about 11 a.m. Wednesday when floodwaters interfered with docking and loading of vehicles at the Kentucky landing at Hickman (Ky.) Harbor. Published in The Messenger 1.28.10 Read More ...

Sheriff: Meth use, arrests on the rise in Obion County, northwest Tennessee By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter Bad news from Obion County Sheriff Jerry Vastbinder: Manufacture and trafficking in methamphetamine or “meth” is back. “Meth problems in 2009 in the county were up,” he told The Messenger. “There were six active labs that we reported and put out of business.” Published in The Messenger 1.28.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Obion County native experiences Haiti relief efforts first-hand By DONNA RYDER Associate Editor On Wednesday, Dr. Kelly Mann boarded a plane for New York. It was a trip she didn’t want to make. Dr. Mann, 30, formerly of Obion County, is a pediatrician at Mount Sinai in New York. She had just spent one week in Haiti tending to the youngest victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake and she felt her job had not been completed, according to her mother, Patty (Higgs) Mann. Published in The Messenger 1.28.10 Read More ...

Weather related news 1.28.10 The Union City Afterschool 4-H Club meeting set for 4 p.m. today has been canceled. - - - The Obion County School Board meeting scheduled for Monday night has been postponed one week and rescheduled for Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Obion County Central High School. Read More ...

Ex-marine appears in court By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter So much trouble in so short a time for a young man. Since mid-November, James R. Stewart of Union City, formerly of Hickman, Ky., has seen authorities file a mountain of felony and misdemeanor charges against him — at least seven Class D felonies and one Class A misdemeanor — in addition to four charges of violation of the Tennessee check law and five charges of misrepresentation of military decorations. Published in The Messenger 1.27.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Discovery Park back on track as architects, others chart course By GLENDA H. CAUDLE Special Features Editor They are telling their story. And their audience is all they could hope for and more. Members of the long-standing theme committees for Discovery Park of America have been bringing some new friends up to date on the place they call home — that place they hope to celebrate and share with guests from across the nation and even around the world. The folks eager to assist them in that adventurous project include architects, exhibit designers and exhibit builders, along with an economic resources expert who claims an impressive history of assisting small regional museums make the most of their assets. Published in The Messenger 1.27.10 Read More ... Glenda H. Caudle Special Features Editor

Wintry forecast sparks memories of last year’s storm By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter It’s almost like déja vu. Freezing rain, sleet and snow were in the forecast one year ago — when Obion County was slammed Jan. 26-27, 2009, by an ice storm that left downed trees and widespread power outages. Wintry weather is in the forecast again today — but it doesn’t appear to be anything of the same magnitude as last year’s event. Published in The Messenger 1.27.10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

CDS benefits from telethon donations; deadline Sunday This is the final week for anyone in the community who wishes to make a donation or honor a pledge to the 53rd annual Lions Club/Local 6 Telethon of Stars — which benefits Martin-based Community Developmental Services on the local level. The telethon was staged in November 2009 at the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center in downtown Paducah, Ky. Contributions to the telethon will be accepted through Sunday. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ...

Hard drives theft costs insurer $7M CHATTANOOGA (AP) — BlueCross Blue-Shield of Tennessee says the theft of computer hard drives containing personal information on hundreds of thousands of members has already cost the insurer more than $7 million. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the theft has become one of the city’s most expensive property crimes of the year. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ... AP

‘Skinhead’ transferred from OC jail to Jackson By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter One of two young men accused in a Neo-Nazi “skinhead” plot to launch a killing spree that included a plot to assassinate President Obama prior to his election was transferred Friday from the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex to federal custody in Jackson. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ...

IRS deductions may be claimed People who give to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti can claim these donations on the tax return they are completing this season, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ...

OCCHS students coming to aid of Haiti By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Obion Countians are showing their true volunteer spirit in seeking ways to help those in need in the Caribbean country of Haiti, which was devastated by a Jan. 12 earthquake. Several local businesses are serving as collection points for supplies, while students who are members of Obion County Central High School’s Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) club are conducting a unique project to help the quake victims. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ... chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

CBO projects federal deficit at $1.35 trillion By ANDREW TAYLOR Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest congressional budget estimates out today predict a $1.35 trillion deficit for this year as the economy continues to slowly recover from the recession. Published in The Messenger 1.26.10 Read More ... AP

Obama to announce aid for middle class By JULIE PACE Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Previewing key elements of his State of the Union address, President Obama is announcing today a series of initiatives aimed at calming some of the economic fears of struggling middle class families. Read More ...

‘Electric eyes’ help Memphis law officers MEMPHIS (AP) — Electronic readers are getting positive reviews by law enforcement agencies in Memphis and Shelby County. Read More ...

Thousands of vets could get benefits upgrade By KIMBERLY HEFLING Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The military has agreed to expedite a review the records of thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans discharged with post-traumatic stress disorder to determine whether they were improperly denied benefits. Read More ...

Blood infections higher in state NASHVILLE (AP) — A state report shows bacterial blood infections among the sickest patients in Tennessee hospitals was 20 percent higher than the national average in 2008. Read More ...

Inmate dies at local jail By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter An inmate death at the Obion County Law Enforcement Complex was reported today by Obion County Sheriff Jerry Vastbinder. Read More ...

Two die in house fire Two people died in a fire over the weekend in Martin. According to Martin Fire Chief Russell Schwahn, the adult who died in a mobile home fire Friday was 41-year-old Clyde Edgeston of Martin. Darius Edwards, 23 months, also died. There was no information on the relationship between the victims. Read More ...

Roof work approved for SF building By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Much-needed roof repairs will soon be made at the South Fulton Municipal Complex, where city commissioners accepted a low bid for the work during their session Thursday evening. Read More ...

Local man gets call to respond to Haiti By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter Bobby Wyatt of Union City was put on alert for duty in Haiti Thursday. Read More ...

New grant to help fund GEDs for young adults By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Young adult GED teacher Beth Wright hopes business will be picking up soon in her classroom. Read More ...

Lawmakers pass higher ed proposal By LUCAS JOHNSON II and ERIK SCHELZIG Associated Press Writers NASHVILLE (AP) — Lawmakers on Thursday overwhelmingly passed Gov. Phil Bredesen’s plan for overhauling the state’s higher education system in an effort to improve Tennessee’s poor college graduation rates. Read More ...

Tennessee lawmakers near vote on higher education funding By LUCAS JOHNSON II Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen’s special session on education could wrap up this week. A proposal to change the higher education funding formula was to go before the full Senate today and may also be taken up by the full House. Published in The Messenger 1.21.10 Read More ... AP

Local union members to review agreement United Steelworkers Local 878 and Goodyear-Union City plant have come to another tentative local agreement. Published in The Messenger 1.21.10 Read More ...

Jury’s verdict: Union City man guilty of sexual battery, unlawful photographing A Union City man has been found guilty on several charges relating to the alleged filming of women without their consent. Richard Herrera appeared for trial Wednesday in Obion County Circuit Court on multiple charges after being indicted by a grand jury in October 2009. Published in The Messenger 1.21.10 Read More ...

Reelfoot Lake resort owners lose Round 2 of legal battle By JOHN BRANNON Messenger Staff Reporter Tennessee wildlife agencies won another legal victory Tuesday when a federal appeals court in Cincinnati ruled against the owners of a Reelfoot Lake resort. Published in The Messenger 1.21.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Economic report on county shared By JOHN BRANNON Messenger Staff Reporter The unemployment rate in Obion County is the lowest — 9.7 percent — of seven counties in northwest Tennessee. This fact was included in an economic report by Jim Rippy, a member of the Obion County Joint Economic Development Council, to the Obion County Commission Tues-day. Published in The Messenger 1.21.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Tornado watch in effect until 5 p.m. today ... With temperatures reaching near 62 degrees this afternoon, the National Weather Service of Memphis has issued a tornado watch for Northwest Tennessee. Counties included in the tornado watch are: Chester, Crockett, Fayette, Haywood, Henderson, Humphreys, Madison, Perry, Weakley, Benton, Decatur, Gibson, Hardeman, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, McNairy, Stewart, Tipton, Carroll, Dickson, Dyer, Hardin, Hickman, Houston, Lewis, Lawrence, Montgomery, Obion and Wayne. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are popping up mainly over the northern sections of the Mid South. The activity is reportedly light and moving rapidly to the east-northeast. Occasional lightning can be expected with any storms that develop. Read More ...

Phillip Pinion not running for Congress By JOHN BRANNON Staff Reporter Will there be a congressman Phillip Pinion in your future? No. The retired state legislator and Union City native son put all speculation to rest Tuesday with a formal statement to that effect. Published in The Messenger 1.20.10 Read More ... John Brannon Messenger Staff Reporter

Pair of UC men face church burglary charges Two local men — including an ex-Marine who already faced charges of misrepresentation of decorations — have been charged in connection with a burglary at Sunswept Baptist Church in Union City. Published in The Messenger 1.20.10 Read More ...

Union City Council approves lease of former school to Boys & Girls Club By DONNA RYDER Associate Editor The Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Tennessee will soon be getting a new home. Union City Council members Tuesday night unanimously approved a lease with the organization for the former Central Elementary School. Published in The Messenger 1.20.10 Read More ... Donna Ryder Messenger Associate Editor

Young cancer survivor and parents look ‘Upward’ while keeping the faith By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter Things are definitely looking “up” these days for 6-year-old Braylin Pate. Published in The Messenger 1.20.10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter

Contract approved for school additions By CHRIS MENEES Staff Reporter The Obion County School Board has cleared the way for construction to begin on career technology facility additions at Obion County Central and South Fulton high schools. Published in The Messenger 1.20.10 Read More ... Chris Menees Messenger Staff Reporter