AUTHOR GETS INSPIRATION from toddler. A8 Herald-CitizenFRIDAY,Herald-Citizen MAY 3, 2019 | COOKEVILLE, TENNESSEE 117TH YEAR | NO. 88 75 CENTS Eight charged in human traff icking sting BY PAIGE STANAGE Sam Barrera, 20, of Gaines- of Cookeville was charged anyone being exploited into see Bureau of Investigation, HERALD-CITIZEN boro; Timothy Howell, 52, of with prostitution, a class the sex trade.” Tennessee is one of the best Jamestown; Bobby McGill, B misdemeanor, the CPD The CPD asks anyone with states to combat human traf- Eight people were charged 20, of Robbins; Matthew Ker- states. information about potential fi cking. Thursday following a human ney, 45, of Byrdstown; and “Undercover detectives and human traffi cking situations “Our state has consistently traffi cking investigation by Michael Custer, 59, of Leba- offi cers posed as patrons who to call the non-emergency been ranked among the best the Cookeville Police Depart- non were all charged with pa- were willing to solicit or hire number at 526-2125. in the nation for its approach ment’s Criminal Investiga- tronizing prostitution, which other individuals with the Victims of human traf- to this crime, as a growing tion Division. is a class A misdemeanor, intent to engage in sexual ac- fi cking can call the CPD or number of advocates—from Joshua Tyler Meadows, according to the Cookeville tivity,” according to the CPD. a 24-hour toll free hotline at law enforcement to nonprof- 33, of Cookeville; Kevin Police Department. “The goal of this investiga- 1-888-373-7888. its to government agencies,” Lael Arber, 58, of Nashville; Amanda Marie Conley, 38, tion was to attempt to locate According to the Tennes- the TBI website states. Crossing guard struck in school zone BY PAIGE STANAGE HERALD-CITIZEN A crossing guard suffered injuries after being struck by a vehicle at Northeast Elementary Thursday afternoon. Jennifer Priester, 41, of Cookeville, suffered non-life threatening injuries after being struck by a 2006 Ford Ranger, driven by Raymond E. Chambers, 75, of Baxter, according to the Tennessee High- H-C FILE | LINDSAY MCREYNOLDS way Patrol report. The city council has approved a settlement agreement in the lawsuit filed by a neighbor of the Heart “Vehicle one (driven by Chambers) of the City Playground at Dogwood Park. failed to maintain its lane of travel, and began to travel in the turn lane. Vehicle one then struck the crossing guard with the front end of the vehicle, and came to rest in the roadway,” the report states. Settlement approved on 3-2 vote Priester was transported to Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Chambers is charged with failing to Cookeville BZA expected to consider wall maintain lane and due care, according to the report. BY LINDSAY MCREYNOLDS ‘FOR THREE YEARS, I’VE BEEN CLEARLY (to Welch),” Walker said. “If the Trooper Brandon Jackson investigated HERALD-CITIZEN Board of Zoning Appeals does not the incident. OPPOSED TO USING ANY AMOUNT OF THE CITY approve the wall, the settlement is The Cookeville City Council ap- OF COOKEVILLE’S MONIES TO SETTLE THIS null and void and the case is set for proved a settlement agreement in trial July 29, 2019.” a 3-2 vote Thursday for an unusual LAWSUIT.’ The city also agrees to remove lawsuit regarding the playground four walnut trees from Welch’s at Dogwood Park, but it may not be Mayor Ricky Shelton backyard and plant additional Elmore Town a done deal. Voted against the settlement Leyland cypress trees between the In 2016, Woody Welch fi led a playground and Welch’s property, lawsuit against the city, contending of Zoning Appeals for a variance as part of the settlement. that the Heart of the City play- to build a 20-foot sound wall at Council members did not discuss Road bridge ground which opened behind his Welch’s expense between his prop- the agreement during Thursday 1st Street home in December 2015 erty and the playground property, night’s meeting, and neither Welch is a nuisance. He sought $200,000 in according to the settlement agree- nor his attorney, Shea Callahan, closes Monday damages. ment, Walker told council members was present. Nashville attorney Bob Walker during Thursday’s meeting. Vice Mayor Laurin Wheaton and has been representing the city in “If the city (BZA) grants that, council members Eric Walker and the suit. The city will cooperate then we agree to dismiss the law- for repairs with Welch to apply to the Board suit, and the city will pay $20,000 SEE SETTLE, PAGE A2 BY PAIGE STANAGE HERALD-CITIZEN The Elmore Town Road bridge will be closed Monday until the bridge is repaired. BOE approves budget with $8.8 M gap Putnam County Road Supervisor Randy Jones said he does not know how long the BY JIM HERRIN that happen.” Boyd said. “It’s my raise for employees in the bud- bridge will be closed or how long the project HERALD-CITIZEN responsibility and my team’s re- get. at a cost of $2.5 million, and will take to complete just yet. sponsibility (to) identify the needs said the system will need nearly “We just now got the bridge back after Putnam County Director of ... and what we think we need to $600,000 to purchase textbooks Baxter deannexed it, so we are now just Schools Jerry Boyd presented do to best serve the students of and instructional materials. getting started on the project,” Jones said. Draft 1 of the school system’s pro- Putnam County.” “We have really scraped, “Right now, we are looking at the engi- posed 2019-2020 fi scal year budget Boyd said those needs next year begged, borrowed and done ev- neering reports, and making sure we have to the school board Thursday — a will include 10 new classroom erything we could over the last the money in the state aid account for the spending plan that contains an teachers, fi ve additional English (several years),” he said. “I’ve been project. $8,847,124 million gap between pro- language learner (ELL) teachers in the district role since January “I’m not sure how long the bridge will jected expenditures and anticipat- and three new special education 2006, and our textbook budget has be closed for, it just depends on how long it ed revenues. teachers. He is also proposing that been very minimal.” takes us to fi x it.” “We try not to surprise anybody, the county hire fi ve elementary Boyd is also proposing a new Barriers will go up Monday to prevent but it is a surprise when we have art or STEM teachers to be shared assistant principal at Cookeville drivers from traveling over the bridge. such a diff erence between what among the county’s 11 elementary High School and a full-time assis- “I wanted to have the barriers put up we think and know we need, and schools. what resources we have to make Boyd included a four-percent SEE BOE, PAGE A2 SEE BRIDGE, PAGE A2 herald-citizen.com INDEX 2 sections | 18 pages OBITUARIES Page A5 HOW TO REACH US Herald-Citizen DEAR ABBY A7 COMICS A11 OPINION A4 Ernest Eldridge, Alpine Call us: 931-526-9715 CALENDAR A6 CROSSWORD A11 SPORTS B1 Robert Henley, Cookeville Come on in: 1300 Neal St, Cookeville TN 38501 CLASSIFIED B3 LIVING A7 SUDOKU A11 Myron Fox, Bloomington Springs On the web: www.herald-citizen.com We Can Help... Call Melanie Today! A2 HERALD-CITIZEN FROM PAGE 1 FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 herald-citizen.com 0LOTTERY0 Registration underway for Thursday Cash 3 Evening 4-2-1, Lucky LEAPs summer camp Sum: 7 Midday 5-7-6, Lucky Sum: 18 The Putnam County School Ex- $25 because some students may be Morning 3-0-7, Lucky tended Learning Programs will hold enrolled in half-day programs like Sum: 10 a LEAPs Summer Camp May 28- Read to Be Ready at Prescott South June 21 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Elementary School or 3rd Grade Cash 4 at Algood Middle School. Summer School at Jere Whitson Ele- Evening 2-9-1-2, Lucky Applications for currently enrolled mentary School. Transportation will Sum: 14 LEAPs students can be found at all be provided from these programs to Midday 0-0-8-3, Lucky elementary and middle schools and Algood Middle. Sum: 11 are due Friday, May 10, with the fi rst Breakfast, lunch, and super snack Morning 0-3-1-4, Lucky PAIGE STANAGE | HERALD-CITIZEN Sum: 8 week’s fee. will be included. The Elmore Town Road bridge will be closed Activity/Supply Fees vary. A full For more information, call Brenda Cash4Life beginning Monday for an indefinite amount of week is $50 and a half day week is Hughett at 528-1847, ext. 1219. 06-10-16-36-45, Cash time. Ball: 2 BRIDGE: Work begins Monday 0READER SERVICES0 FROM PAGE A1 Critical need for O blood Address: yesterday (Thursday) but it didn’t work out,” Jones BLOOD ASSURANCE — Blood drawing this summer that includes 1300 Neal St. said. “So we will put them up Monday. That bridge Assurance is in critical need of blood donors who give between now and Cookeville, TN 38501 will be closed, and drivers will have to use the by- donations and is asking for communi- Sept. 30. Five prizes will be given away pass that was built to go around the area.” ty members to give as soon as possible. including a $1,000 Carnival Cruise Mailing Address: Baxter Mayor John Martin said the buses can There have been several traumas Line gift card, a $500 gift certifi cate P.O.