Local life, issues unfold in 2019 Current’s pages

The pages of The Current reflected life in Fulton, South Fulton, Hickman and the surrounding area in 2019.

The stories, the reports, the interviews, the meetings, the photographs, the positive, the promising, the disappointments and the devastation unfolded each week, just like the massive rolls of newsprint on a journey through the twists and turns of a printing press.

A number of stories which impacted the community most, played out over the course of a year. Some were comparable to a quick snapshot, a moment in time.

This first edition of The Current, for 2020, spotlights some of those stories and photos from 2019, in no particular order of significance.

CITY MANAGER SWITCH

Following what was the only interview conducted by South Fulton officials Jan. 15, to replace City Manager Jeff Gabbert, James Gray, who was Hickman’s City Manger, was hired for that post in South Fulton. As reported in the Jan. 23 edition of The Current, Gray served for two years as Hickman’s City Manager and functioned there as the Chief Financial and Executive Officer, managing the $3.6 million annual city budget.

In the Feb. 13 Current, it was reported Hickman’s City Commission voted on Feb. 11 to hire Cubb Stokes as Interim City Manager. Stokes had previously served as Fulton’s City Manager, and retired from that position in June, 2018.

Former Hickman City Manager Larry Myatt was hired in April as a permanent replacement for that position after Gray’s resignation, however his tenure was short lived, after Myatt resigned within a week of being on the job.

Stokes returned as Interim City Manager, until David Gallagher was hired as a permanent replacement as Hickman’s City Manager.

At their June 10 meeting, as reported in the June 12 Current, Hickman’s City Commission hired former Fulton County Judge-Executive David Gallagher as their new city manager, effective June 17.

In the Feb. 27 edition of The Current, it was reported an arrest report was completed referencing incidents on Feb. 23-24, in Union City, Tenn., which involved attempts by James Gray to use a counterfeit $100 bill. Gray was arrested Feb. 25.

As reported in the March 6, 2019 edition of the Current, Gray was suspended with pay, under the advicement of South Fulton City Attorney Kirk Moore.

In the March 20 Current, reporting from the March 14 South Fulton City Commission meeting, it was stated Johnny Bacon was hired as Interim South Fulton City Manager “to work at the will of the commission, to temporarily fill the vacancy in that position, pending the future status of current City Manager James Gray”, at that time on paid administrative leave.

Gray’s hearing in Obion County General Sessions was first set for March 12 and then rescheduled for March 28.

Gray entered a best interest plea to misdemeanor charges of attempted criminal simulation March 28 before Obion County General Sessions Judge Jimmy Smith, as reported in the April 3 Current, and in the April 10 edition of The Current, it was reported with the passing of an April 5 deadline to request a public hearing, Gray was officially terminated from the South Fulton City Manager’s position, as according to city charter, if a city manager is relieved of duty by the commission prior to fulfilling a one year term, the city manager may request a public hearing regarding the reason resulting in the termination. If no notice is requested, the termination stands.

Bacon was hired by the South Fulton City Commission for the permanent City Manager’s position on June 20.

STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS IN PLACE

On Sept. 30, among items listed on the agenda for the Hickman City Commissioners and Mayor was the consideration and discussion of a resolution to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Fulton County School District to create and fund a School Resource Officer for the Fulton County School System. The move was reported in the Oct. 2 edition of The Current, as was Fulton Independent School District’s approval of the institution of an SRO for that district, in partnership with the City of Fulton in the Aug. 28 Current, and in the Sept. 11 edition of the Current, it was reported all seven school campuses in the Obion County Schools’ system would be provided with a School Resource Officer on duty.

OFFICER SUSPENDED, KSP INVESTIGATES FOOTAGE

In August, following the discovery of security camera footage from The Keg restaurant on Lake Street in Fulton, the Kentucky State Police began an investigation into allegations a Fulton Police Officer, off duty, had appeared on the footage, to have exited a vehicle and shot a cat or cats.

The FPD officer was placed on paid administrative leave.

A large group of Fulton and South Fulton citizens attended the Aug. 12 Fulton City Commission meeting, voicing their concerns, and outrage regarding the allegations, and questioning the intentions of the officials relating to the officer on paid leave.

Among those addressing the commission was Gary (Bubba) Grooms, Jr., a Fulton business owner, property owner in, and resident of South Fulton. Grooms indicated he had been made aware of cats found on his family’s East State Line property, appearing to have been shot and had notified the South Fulton Police Department of the incident. At that site, a make-shift memorial was erected, with a number of items placed along a fence, in the area where the cats were discovered.

Fulton Mayor David Prater stated the Kentucky State Police would continue with the investigation and all allegations associated with the case would be investigated and were “out of our hands.”

City Attorney Allison Whitledge stated she had advised the commission to take no further action associated with the officer placed on leave, pending the receipt of a report from the Kentucky State Police, however the employment status of the police officer and an alleged crime were two separate issues.

A Kentucky State Police Officer, earlier that week, had confirmed the KSP involvement with the incident and investigation, however he stated he was not aware of a Fulton Police officer’s suspension, explaining each department has different policies and he could not confirm as to whether the suspension was related to the case under investigation.

Typically, the responsibility of hiring and or firing a city employee, with certain exceptions, falls under the duties of the City Manager.

In the Sept. 25 edition of The Current, following a Public Records request, Fulton City Manager Mike Gunn provided a copy of the “Last Chance Agreement” executed by himself and FPD Officer Juan Guzman. Gunn stated “the officer that was on paid administrative leave has now been placed on unpaid administrative leave, subject to the terms of a document dealing with the employment issue between the City of Fulton and an employee, and does not reflect on the KSP investigation, which as of this date, the City has been told, is still an open investigation.”

The “Last Chance Agreement” included conditions of the officer’s employment, such as a one year probationary period, and among other stipulations, if he is ultimately charged with a felony, or convicted of a misdemeanor, wherein he must serve jail time for his conduct in relation to an incident which occurred on or around Aug. 5, 2019, he will be subject to immediate termination with no right to a hearing. According to the agreement, the officer was to return to the Fulton Police Department on Oct. 16.

As of the morning of Dec. 31, according to James B. Luckett with the Kentucky State Police, the case was still open, to his knowledge, the Detective assigned to the case was to advise as the case closes and a media notification would be made, as discussed before.

However, following further inquiry by Luckett, whose final day in his position with the KSP was Dec. 31, it was determined by his replacement, Trooper Adam M. Jones, that the Detective on the case, referred to as “Pervine”, had advised Trooper Jones that the case had been closed, with prosecution declined by the Commonwealth.

NO VERDICT REACHED

A former Fulton Code Enforcement Officer’s jury trial ended with the members of the Fulton County jury unable to reach a verdict during the two day trial July 30-31. As reported in the Aug. 7 Current, multiple charges had been brought against former Code Enforcement Officer Keith Curlin, associated with a fire which occurred on Walnut Street in Fulton June 13, 2018. Curlin was first suspended and then officially terminated from the position. A new trial date has been set for April 20, 2020 in Fulton County.

100 YEARS AND COUNTING

Two local businesses marked a century of providing services to the area, as featured in the Oct. 23 edition of The Current, Evans Drug Company and in the Dec. 4 Current, Hornbeak Funeral Home, both located in Fulton.

GOLD RECORD FAMILY

Fulton County’s Corey Smith Jr. became the third in his family to earn a Gold medal in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s State Track and Field competition championship. As reported in the June 12 Current, Smith Jr. joined his father, Corey Smith Sr., and sister Sharika Smith in that winner’s circle, after Smith Jr. won the Class A state honor in the triple jump. Corey Smith Sr. won the long jump 29 years before his son, and daughter Sharika Smith won 14 gold records, still holding state records in the 200 meter run and triple jump. Corey Smith Sr. holds the state record, as of June 12, in the state long jump.

CHANGES COMING TO TRANSFORM HOSPITAL

First anticipated to be in operation by Summer’s end, a story included in the March 13 edition of The Current announced plans in the works for Changes Rehabilitation to occupy the former Parkway Regional Hospital facility on Holiday Lane in Fulton. In that report, Shirley Jankowski, Program Director for Changes, was quoted as saying the “beautiful campus will now be utilized to treat people in crisis,” and a key factor in choosing the Fulton location was the “kindness in people here.” Planned was major interior renovations to include the 12 Detox beds and 60 residential beds, to accommodate separate male and female patients, as well as dining and activities centers, exercise and laundry facilities. A Clinical Director was hired as well as a Staff Doctor, a Director of Nursing, Maintenance and Security staff. A job fair was held March 26 to gather candidates for other positions. As facility upgrades and renovations occurred throughout Spring and Summer months, Jankowski experienced delays in acquiring mandated certifications from the state, one in particular which was mandated at the end of 2018. In July, when contacted by The Current, Jankowski indicated by late December 2019 to early January 2020, she hoped to have all the required paperwork in place to move forward with the facility’s opening.

STREET RENAMED FOR REV.

On Oct. 12, as reported in the Oct. 16 edition, Rev. James Roberson of Hickman was honored for his years of dedication to his community, with the gathering of family, friends and neighbors at the corner of Fourth Street and Ivey Street, part of the unveiling of a new street sign, renaming the roadway to Rev. James Roberson Way. Roberson was also honored that day with a Kentucky Colonel certification and official recognition from the Hickman Chamber of Commerce and the Hickman City Commission.

HICKMAN’S LANDSLIDE

A house and church facility became perched atop the Hickman bluff, following a landslide which occurred Feb. 20. Hickman’s City Commission met in special called session Feb. 22, to authorize the Interim City Manager, Cubb Stokes, to obtain certain Federal financial assistance under the Disaster Relief Act or funds available from the President’s Disaster Relief Fund. In the Feb. 27 Current, it was reported precautionary measures were installed Feb. 21, including a barrier and the public was urged to observe caution in the area, where ropes and barriers were installed to divert rain in another direction away from the slide. One house was vacant and it was reported the family living in the other dwelling vacated the property.

SCHOOLS’ NON-RESIDENT CONTRACTS

In the Feb. 6 edition of The Current, it was reported an Appeal to the Kentucky Department of Education, Dr. Wayne Lewis, Commissioner, had been submitted by Fulton County Schools’ Superintendent Aaron Collins. The document, dated Jan. 31, 2019, referenced the “Appeal of Dispute of Nonresident Student Agreement for the 2019-2020 school year between Fulton County Schools and Fulton Independent School District.”

In it, the Fulton County Board of Education made a request to Dr. Lewis, to issue a decision allowing all nonresident students enrolled in Fulton County Schools, to attend Fulton Independent Schools, and conversely, all nonresident students enrolled in Fulton Independent’s district to attend Fulton County Schools.

Although not addressed in the document, at stake in addition to the matter of public school choice, was thousands of dollars in funding which could be lost by both school districts, should no agreement be reached as to the nonresident contracts.

Those contracts addressed funds provided for the education of students, and whether respective school districts would authorize the release of those funds to another school district, if a student resides in one district, but chooses to attend school in another district.

In the Feb. 27 Current, Kentucky State Representative Steven Rudy introduced House Bill 460, reportedly on Feb. 20, the bill seeking to amend KRS 160.020, to require a merger of a county school district and an independent school district in the same county when the combined enrollment is less than 1,000 students, requiring the merged district to levy the lower general tax rate of the two districts, and the school board of the two districts to determine the treatment of other taxes.

In the March 20 edition of The Current, Fulton County Schools Superintendent Aaron Collins recommended a Fulton Independent Schools Non-Resident Contract for “Any and All, as well as $30,000 in cash to be paid to FIS from Fulton County Schools for the 2019-2020 school year. That recommendation was agreed upon by both the Fulton County Board of Education and the Fulton Independent Board of Education, with the funds to be utilized for added staff.

In the final edition of the Current for 2019, Dec. 25, Non-Resident Contracts approved by both the Fulton Independent and Fulton County School districts were reported, following meetings of each board Dec. 17 and Dec. 19, respectively.

Dr. DeAnna Miller, Superintendent of FIS submitted to board members her recommendation to provide that the daily attendance, ADA of the pupil who resides in Fulton, but attends Fulton County Schools, is to be counted in the district where the pupil attends school, however the number of students is to be set at 46, a figure derived from a listing of students as of October, 2019, who live in the city of Fulton, but attend Fulton County Schools. The proposed contract also contends that as any of those specific students graduate or withdraw from the Fulton County School district, that spot will not be replaced with a new student, who resides in Fulton and wants to attend Fulton County Schools.

As a result, the number designated, 46, would gradually decrease until the number reaches 25, or then be designated as One for One, between the two districts, whichever may occur. Dr. Miller’s recommendation was approved with the contract to be forwarded for consideration to the Fulton County Board of Education, for their review the following Thursday. At that meeting of the Fulton County Board of Education Dec. 19, the contract from FIS was rejected by the Fulton County School Board, with a counter proposal requested, for Fulton Independent to accept an Any/All Non-Resident contract.

NEW HOME FOR SENIORS

In the Fulton County Senior Citizens’ Board meeting held Feb. 21, it was reported in the March 6 Current that the organization and participants in the program for senior citizens would relocate to the North College Street Community Center in Fulton, from their Fulton location on Commercial Avenue. The Commercial Avenue property, owned by the City of Fulton, had been home to the Fulton Senior Citizens Center for many years, was ultimately sold by the city to The Meadows Hotel owner Jeff Campbell, who planned an expansion of his business, adjacent to the senior center location.