Thursday Herald-Citizen The Daily Newspaper of the Upper Cumberland 114th Year — No. 90 Cookeville, Tennessee, May 5, 2016 16 Pages — 2 Sections • 50¢ Weather Putnam looks for solutions to EMT shortage Tonight Tomorrow By LINdSaY McrEYNOLdS “We’re kind of in an odd position,” Put- elsewhere, according to Copeland. The less desirable. HERALD-CITIZEN Staff nam Emergency Medical Services Direc- county currently has 94 employees in Those interested in starting a career in tor Tommy Copeland told the EMS. emergency medical services must begin at PUTNAM COUNTY — An increase in Herald-Citizen. “We’re asking for eight “The pay is decent, but you can go other the lowest level, or “Basic” EMT, which the cost of training. Extreme demands of people (this year), but we also have a places and get similar compensation,” requires a semester-long training consist- 45º 71º the job. High volume of calls. shortage of people.” Copeland said. ing of four hours of classes, three nights a Those are all reasons Putnam emergency Putnam EMS usually hires 10 to 15 part- Putnam pays full-time EMTs beginning week. Complete forecast, Page 2 medical officials give for a decrease in the time emergency medical technicians or at $26,500 and full-time paramedics at The next level is advanced EMT, which number of people interested in joining the EMTs in a year, but within this past year, $32,500, but the increased cost of training requires four hours a night, four nights a emergency medical services field, and the the department has hired only five, and in recent years is one of the reasons emer- shortage appears to be getting worse. five employees have left for employment gency medical employment has become See EMT, Page 2 Sports TTU set to WATER WORKS confer 1,400 degrees Saturday Victorious TTU — More than 1,400 Tennessee Tech Univer- Cavaliers close out regular sity students will receive degrees at spring com- season play with win over mencement ceremonies Saturday in the Hooper Warren County /B1 Eblen Center. This is the final event for the year-long Tennessee Tech Centennial Celebration, which began with the 100th anniversary of the university’s charter date. In lieu of a spe- Living cial guest speaker, there will be a centennial-themed video shown. Many students from the class of 2016 enrolled during President Phil Oldham’s first year in office, and the Saturday commencement is his last chance to address them. “I was a freshman president when this class began its journey at Tennessee Tech,” said President Phil Oldham. “We’ve shared several experiences and faced a lot of change together. My first four years will always to be linked to their time here.” The graduates are from 79 counties in Tennessee, Strawberries See TTU, Page 2 Celebrate strawberry season by making this cake /A8 Man charged with Nation attempted murder By LINdSaY McrEYNOLdS HERALD-CITIZEN Staff COOKEVILLE — A Cookeville man has been ar- rested for attempted first degree murder in an incident that al- legedly happened on Sunday at a Cookeville apartment. Frank Peake of 324 E. 12th Street in Cookeville was charged with attempted first de- The outside southbound lane of South Jefferson avenue was closed temporarily Wednesday gree murder and is being held Vaping morning as cookeville department of Water Quality control employees John Ford and Todd in the Putnam County Jail on Peake GOP would curb Yount put new water lines under the road to bring water service to the new Krispy Kreme, regulation which is currently under construction. See chargEd, Page 2 of e-cigarettes /A5 Index 75th May Day at Upperman Abby............................A8 Calendar......................A6 School celebrates 75 years Crossword ...................A8 Living ..........................A8 of May Day tradition Obituaries ...................A7 Johnie Swack By aMY daVIS facilitator Donna Sherrell, said. James Monday HERALD-CITIZEN Staff “It introduces them and high- lights their high school accom- Ruby Maxwell BAXTER — It’ll be the 75th plishments and plans for the Nathan Smith time they’ve wound ribbons future.” Hudson Walker around the maypole, crowned a The tradition goes back to the Upperman Barbara Moss May queen and waltzed with days of UHS’s predecessor, high School’s Opinion.......................A4 classmates. Baxter Seminary, a Methodist May Queen, And it’ll happen tomorrow coeducational school that was Sarah Eldridge, Sports ..........................B1 night at Upperman High open from 1910 to 1959 and led prepares floral Sudoku ........................A8 School. by Dr. Harry Upperman as pres- decorations for Weather ......................A2 “It’s kind of a farewell to our ident for 34 years. tomorrow’s seniors,” human services “Dr. and Mrs. Upperman May day festiv- teacher Bridget Looney, who started it, and we just felt like it ities. coordinates the school’s May was a cool way to honor our Day festivities along with Ty Kernea | teacher Judy Delk and VITAL See 75, Page 2 Herald-Citizen A-2 — HERALD-CITIZEN, Cookeville, Tenn. — www.herald-citizen.com — Thursday, May 5, 2016 LOCAL READER Brothers charged in meth lab investigation SERVICES By LINDSAY McREYNOLDS Putnam Sheriff’s Department this morn- ment on Wednesday morning. HERALD-CITIZEN Staff ing, the Maynards’ Plunk Whitson home “Under my administration, we will not Contact us: had been the site of prior public distur- tolerate drug activity anywhere in the Address: PUTNAM COUNTY — Two Putnam bance complaints, and deputies also found county,” Putnam Sheriff Eddie Farris said County brothers are facing serious charges debris blocking the creek behind the house in a press release this morning. “The good 1300 Neal St. after deputies of the Putnam County Sher- creating a potential public health hazard. citizens of Putnam County don’t deserve Cookeville, Tenn. iff’s Office Drug Task Force and members After obtaining the search warrant, law this type of activity and the negative im- of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation enforcement discovered a meth lab in the pact, environmental as well as many oth- Mailing Address: and the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force outbuilding of the Maynard residence con- ers, that the production, use and sale of conducted a search warrant Wednesday taining a crystal drain opener, bi-layer liq- illegal drugs brings. If you are going to be P.O. Box 2729 morning and discovered substances used Jeffery Maynard Gregory Maynard uids, acids, a hot plate, coffee filters, involved in operating and/or conducting Cookeville TN 38502 in the manufacture of methamphetamine funnel and packaging material to include illegal drug activity, we will eventually as well as illegal firearms at a residence Gregory Thomas Maynard, 37, was finished product methamphetamine. find you and arrest you.” on Plunk Whitson Road. charged with intent to manufacture, de- According to arrest warrants for Jeffery Sheriff Farris expressed his appreciation Phone: 931-526-9715 Jeffery Richard Maynard, 40, was liver, sell or possess a controlled sub- Maynard, he had 6.5 grams of “Ice” to Putnam County citizens who provide Fax: 931-526-1209 charged with violation of the Meth Free stance. methamphetamine in a clear plastic con- information that leads to arrests. Tennessee Act, two counts of intent to Both men are being held in the Putnam tainer in his pocket as well as 5 grams of Anyone will information about illegal Email: manufacture, deliver, sell or possess a County Jail, with Jeffery Maynard’s bond marijuana in a plastic bag in the top drug activity should call the Putnam News controlled substance, possession of a set at $50,500, and Gregory Maynard’s drawer of a dresser in the home. Jeffery County Sheriff’s Department at (931) [email protected] firearm during the commission or attempt bond set at $25,000. also admitted to shooting a weapon, an 528-8484 or the Drug Tip Hotline at (931) Sports to commit a dangerous felony. According to information released by the AR 15, prior to the arrival of law enforce- 525-6384. [email protected] Advertising [email protected] Living [email protected] EMT: Circulation County looking for solutions to shortage [email protected] Business News From Page A1 coverage, that will put us in the [email protected] neighborhood of 2,400 calls per Church News week for a semester. truck,” Copeland said. [email protected] And the cost for those courses Apparently, the shortage of School News has increased significantly. EMTs and paramedics is not [email protected] “It was about $1,200 to get the unique to Putnam County. Classified Ads EMT advanced,” Copeland said In a survey conducted of 118 [email protected] of the program when it was of- emergency medical services de- fered through extended education partments in Tennessee, 68 per- at Tennessee Tech. “Now at Vol cent said they have fewer EMT Letter Guidelines State, you’re looking at $4,500.” applications, and 76 percent said Putnam EMS Assistant Director they had fewer paramedic appli- All letters to the editor must Darren Ford said, “It’s the cost of cations. be signed and include the going to school versus the pay As far as possible solutions to writer’s name, address and when you get out.” the EMT shortage, Copeland said phone number. Letters are Copeland said, “The economy he’s planning to talk with Vol subject to editing and/or re- seems to be getting better. You see State and Tennessee College of jection. A strict 400-word limit Lindsay McReynolds | Herald-Citizen hiring signs everywhere, and their Applied Technology or TCAT will be enforced. Send letters Putnam Emergency Medical Services Director Tommy Copeland, left, talks with critical to the mailing address listed pay in some cases is not much dif- about the shortage next week.