Friday Herald-Citizen The Daily Newspaper of the Upper Cumberland 114th Year — No. 54 Cookeville, Tennessee, March 4, 2016 20 Pages — 2 Sections • 50¢ Weather Discrimination suit against CRMC settled Tonight Tomorrow By LAURA MILITANA “Both plaintiffs, Robert But- dated Feb. 2, said. “The parties the Americans with Disabilities Buttrum reportedly experi- HERALD-CITIZEN Staff trum and Michael Hill, and de- are in the process of completing Act. enced frustration and embarrass- fendant, Cookeville Regional and finalizing the settlement Both men claim that during ment due to the failure to COOKEVILLE — A lawsuit Medical Center Authority, by documents.” multiple visits to CRMC, begin- provide effective communica- alleging discriminatory activities and through their respective Buttrum and Hill, who are deaf, ning in November 2012, the hos- tion. 32º 58º against Cookeville Regional counsel, and hereby give notice both claimed that CRMC dis- pital did not provide adequate “Due to CRMC’s discrimina- Medical Center filed in late 2014 to the court that the parties have criminated against them by fail- communication services, namely tory patterns, procedures, prac- Complete forecast, Page 2 has been settled. reached a proposed settlement of ing to promptly provide them a qualified sign language inter- tices and conduct, both Buttrum Details of the settlement have all the claims at controversy in with a qualified sign language preter, a service Buttrum report- not been made public. this matter,” court documents, interpreter, therefore violating edly requested during the visits. See CRMC, Page 3 Sports Sheriff Opens today looks at farm 4-AA title watch Upperman wins region 4-AA title in By LINDSAY McREYNOLDS victory over York /B1 HERALD-CITIZEN Staff PUTNAM COUNTY — More than 20 Putnam County farmers Living and law enforcement officials gathered last night to discuss the potential to help combat a nation- wide issue — farm crime. Putnam Sheriff’s Deputy Fred Parker told farmers that of the bil- lions of dollars stolen in live- stock, crops and farm equipment, Tennessee is ranked number six in the country for the most thefts, and few of those crimes are re- ported. Of the farmers present last night, when asked if they had been vic- Pancake Day tims of theft or crime on their farms, many raised their hands. Eat pancakes, help Teen One of them was Cookeville Challenge /A7 Ty Kernea | Herald-Citizen High School teacher and assistant Mason Young, left, vice president of Haller’s Landscaping and Lawncare, and Patrick Haller, president, set up an football coach Steve Medlin, who outdoor exhibit near the entrance of this year’s Home Show, which kicks off today at 4 p.m. The show continues raises hay and cattle on his Put- until 8 p.m. tonight, then resumes Saturday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. at the Hyder-Burks nam County farm. A couple of Nation Pavilion. Admission is $5. years ago, some chain saws, weed eaters and tools were stolen from his barn, but no one was ever ar- rested. Putnam Sheriff Eddie Farris MHS may open to students April 18 contacted Medlin and other farm- ers prior to last night’s meeting By AMY DAVIS progress. we can hit, we will certainly begin commu- about the possibility of establish- HERALD-CITIZEN Staff “We really hope that’s the date students nicating that very loudly and excitedly.” ing a partnership-type program start their school week at the new building,” Boyd said the plan depends upon substan- between law enforcement and MONTEREY — April 18 could be a sig- Director of Schools Jerry Boyd told school tial completion being achieved by April 15, farmers similar to the neighbor- nificant day in Monterey. board members at last night’s meeting. “So which is the Friday before the anticipated hood watch programs where citi- That’s the target date for opening the doors we’re going to continue to monitor that. opening date. zens work with police to report of the new Monterey High School, provided When it gets closer to the time and starts Heat wave the final stages of construction continue to looking like that is absolutely a milestone See MHS, Page 2 See FARM, Page 2 Winter in Phoenix is look- ing a lot like summer /A7 Habitat starting work on new housing development By MEGAN TROTTER Index HERALD-CITIZEN Staff Abby............................A7 COOKEVILLE — The groundwork is finally underway for Calendar......................A6 Putnam County Habitat for Humanity’s newest development, Crossword .................A13 West End Place in Cookeville. When completely finished, the area will house 52 affordable homes for low income families. Living ..........................A7 The land originally belonged to Jere Whitson, and his grand- Obituaries ...................A5 daughter and her husband, Jean and Larry Hester, who donated Leon Hurt it to the TTU Foundation. Habitat later purchased it from the TTU Foundation. Diane Gowen “I think Mr. Whitson would be proud to know that his former Robert Gist property is going to be a place for affordable housing in the heart of town,” Pam Ealey, Putnam County Habitat director, Ward York said. “And affordable housing is a critical component for a Calvin Chastain healthy community.” Robert Staves Sr. Right now, Habitat is beginning phase 1 of the four-phase plan: clearing the land and preparing seven lots for construc- Martha Duncan tion. Phase 2, which is scheduled for this summer, will include Opinion.......................A4 the construction of a new road and nine more buildable lots. Sports ..........................B1 Phase 3 and 4 will be fleshed out in 2017. The work is being done by contractor Lori Neal & Associates Sudoku ......................A13 out of Crossville. Construction on the first home is planned for Weather ......................A2 April 14-22 during the Home Builders Blitz, led by Andy Ham- mock of Andy Hammock Construction. Volunteers who are sub- contractors, other builders or those with donation supplies are Ty Kernea | Herald-Citizen being sought out. Anyone interested can call Hammock for de- Looking over the plans of the new development of West End Place are, from left, Freddie tails at 261-3641. McClennon, West End Steering Committee; Lanette Hill, Habitat family services coordi- nator; Pam Ealey, Habitat executive director; and Charles D. Carr, West End Steering See HABITAT, Page 2 Committee. (931)528-0474 Insurance at the lowest possible cost! • Why not make us prove it? A-2 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Friday, March 4, 2016 LOCAL READER Council addresses planning, economic and water issues SERVICES By TRACEY HACKETT mixed commercial and industrial to light Finance Director Brenda Imel presented manager be approved to enter into an HERALD-CITIZEN Staff manufacturing on Blackwell Park. the city’s financials for the current fiscal agreement to retain Hall and Associates for And the closure and abandonment in- year, showing the council that the city’s advice on the repair fees for Center Hill Contact us: COOKEVILLE — Planning, economic volves a portion of East 2nd Street, Poplar budget is operating as projected. Dam. Address: development, and water department issues Avenue and a portion of an undeveloped Cookeville Water and Sewer Director In addition, the council approved a meas- topped the list of topics at Thursday’s right-of-way of Craighead Drive. Ronnie Kelly requested an engineering ure for the purchase of electric department 1300 Neal St. Cookeville City Council meeting. Economic Development Coordinator contract amendment for Project Victor uniforms. Cookeville, Tenn. Cookeville Planning Director James Melinda Keifer presented revised water and sewer improvements. Public Works Director Greg Brown re- Mills presented proposed ordinances for a covenants for the Highlands Business He also requested that the council ap- quested that the council approve the pur- Mailing Address: rezoning, a road closure and abandonment Park. prove the city manager to enter into a chase of 200 tons of salt. and amending the official city street map. The revisions were approved for adoption water line agreement with Nashville and “We used 800 tons of salt on roads this P.O. Box 2729 First readings of all were approved unan- by the council and will be considered for Eastern Railroad on Ridgedale Drive that year,” Brown said. More than a million Cookeville TN 38502 imously by the council. approval by the Putnam County Commis- will replace a six-inch waterline with a 10- pounds was used in three days in the last The rezoning concerns a change from sion later this month. inch waterline, and requested that the city ice storm, city officials pointed out. Phone: 931-526-9715 Fax: 931-526-1209 HABITAT: Email: News [email protected] Work begins Sports [email protected] on new Advertising [email protected] Living development [email protected] Circulation project [email protected] Business News From Page 1 [email protected] Church News [email protected] Current estimates say that this School News development will cost $1.3 mil- [email protected] lion for infrastructure such as Classified Ads roads, utilities and water reten- [email protected] tion plans. “And that’s not including building the homes,” Ealey Letter Guidelines said. “More than ever we need our All letters to the editor must generous community to join us be signed and include the in this endeavor. We’ve broken writer’s name, address and it down to four phases, but will phone number. Letters are need to raise funds for each subject to editing and/or re- phase and every single home.” jection. A strict 400-word limit will be enforced. Send letters Anyone wanting to get in- to the mailing address listed volved through donations of above, or email to time, money or skills can con- [email protected].