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See recipe on page 5 A foundation of bricks lay at the entrance of the Park of Dreams, mim- icking the foundation laid by commu- nity members as they banded together to support and serve our kids. “Today is a happy day,” Hayden Hooper announced Friday before she cut the ribbon for the long anticipated Park of Dreams playground. “It’s not a project anymore, it’s now become a reality. This park is for everyone, not just for kids with disabilities, this is really something to clap for.” The claps could only be matched by the innocent sounds of children’s laughter in the background, as they ran, climbed, taking turns on the slides and swings, all in the name of good ole fashioned fun. Sporting smiles from ear-to-ear as they realized it was a day for them. “This park is really nice,” said Sunny Hill student Deedra Jarrett, “and I can- not wait to play in our new park.” Hooper, who spearheaded the play- ground project three years ago, said she was reading an article in a newspaper concerning Gabriel’s Garden, a handi- cap accessible playground in Jackson, when she felt compelled to organize a similar project in Haywood County. “When I saw this, it struck me,” she said, “no child should not be able to play.” Reading about Gabriel’s story and the playground, Hooper said she never knew playgrounds like Gabriel’s Garden existed, so she embarked on a mission. “For me personally, it has always been a mission of mine to take care of God’s children,” added Hooper. “I demonstrated power points about all- inclusive playgrounds everywhere in this town to try to pitch this idea. This was a concept no on had ever heard of, myself included.” The 8,000 square foot mega-play- ground was constructed by Mid-South Recreation and features rubber turf for wheel-chair purposes instead of grass, and inclined ramps take the place of what would be ladders and steps allowing all kids of all sizes one area to play together. “We didn’t want to separate the spe- cial needs children, we want this play- ground to be a space where all kids can play together,” explained Hooper. “The slight differences in how this playground was made is what makes all the difference.” The Park of Dreams project received state funds from an LPRF grant to cover the majority of the playground costs and matched by the local govern- ment. The Park of Dreams committee raised approximately $50,000 in local fundraising efforts. Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith gave praise Friday to the com- munity and the project members for a job well done. “This is what happens when a group of concerned people bring an energy to government and want something done,” said Smith. Hooper said she hopes the Park of Dreams in Brownsville will inspire other communities to recognize the impor- tance of serving children’s needs. “If Brownsville can pull this off, any- one can do it,” she said. “The greatest reward is knowing that although this project is completed, it’s not over, it’s just the beginning. Our work will pay us back for years and years to come.” Mission Accomplished: A dream slides into reality Brownsville and Haywood County introduces Park of Dreams By Calvin Carter Staff Writer Preliminary reports from the National Weather Service Memphis are showing that Brownsville may have broken its own record for rainfall thanks to last weekend’s sur- prise flood. Reports so far are show- ing that Brownsville received 18.5 inches of rainfall, Mid South Weather Service Data Acquisition Program Manager Zwemer Ingram said. Although he didn’t have the exact numbers, Ingram believes that the last high number of rain- fall Brownsville received was around “eight to ten inches.” So far, Brownsville may have accumu- lated the most rainfall across West Tennessee. Humboldt acquired 16.14 inches while Milan received 15.13, he said. It will still be awhile before the data is com- pared with the rest of the state, and a final report is produced. “It’s a tedious process to have to review all of this data,” Ingram said. “It has been entered into the National Climate Data Center, but it could be three or four months before final readings are produced. This is such a very significant event, but getting the data together will be very meticulous.” While the readings are preliminary, Ingram was still surprised by how much rain West Tennessee received. “I’ve never seen any- thing like that in West Tennessee,” he said. “The rainfall was something that rivaled a tropical- rainfall system. It was just incredible.” Storm Aftermath Meanwhile, Haywood County is still placing itself on the path of healing. There are still a number of residents without homes. Beginning at 3 a.m. Saturday April 30, EMA Director Bob Parks start- ed receiving calls from flood victims. According to data, that City Mayor Webb Banks released, approxi- mately 200 people were evacuated, with one- fourth of the victims coming from the Tibbs Road area. Besides res- cue efforts in the county, there were also victims from South Washington, Bond, Hatchie and South Grand. There were 26 people that stayed in a tempo- rary shelter set up by the Red Cross at the Haywood Junior High School. That following Sunday, 220 people were placed in 60 motel rooms sup- plied by the city and the county. Monday May 10, the Red Cross, at the National Guard Armory, set up another shelter. Damages from the city were estimated at $4,500,000. Officially, the county was declared a disaster area last Thursday May, 6. Efforts are being made to provide assistance to flood victims. FEMA has set up at the Haywood County Parks And Recreation building, and will stay there until everyone has been helped. They will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Haywood County was declared by FEMA as eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. People unem- ployed as a direct result of the severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds, and tornadoes must file their claim for DUA benefits within 30 days of this announce- ment. There are also various ways for local residents to help. For example, LIFELINE recently revealed that there is a serious need for O Positive and O Negative blood in West Tennessee. They will be at Relay For Life this Friday, May 14, at the Brownsville Football Stadium from 6 to 11 p.m. Brownsville sets mid-south rainfall record of 18.5 inches Brownsville Teen Missing Authorities and the Gibb family are on the lookout for a runaway teenager. Nickolas Gibb, 17, was last seen by his par- ents Friday, April 30 at their home before he ran away. “I don’t know what’s going on,” Gibb’s father, James said. “He would have graduated this month, We don’t know where he’s at.” According to James and his wife Jennifer, Gibb ran away from home after “getting into some trouble at school,” they said. The family moved to Brownsville last November from Shreveport, Louisiana. Apparently, this isn’t the first time Gibb has run away from home. Gibb left home a week approx- imately three weeks ago, but was quickly found at a friend’s house a few days later. Gibb’s parents have continued to ask their sons’ friends, who haven’t really provided any concrete locations, only speculated answers. SEE MISSING PAGE A3 Dorothy Bond named Haywood High School Principal Months after announc- ing the impending retire- ment of Haywood High School Principal Robert Mitchell, a new principal has been named. The Haywood County School Superintendent Marlon King has named current Haywood Junior High School Principal Dorothy Bond as the one to take Mitchell’s place. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve in the finest high school in West Tennessee,” Mrs. Bond said. “I am humbled by the appoint- ment, and I am grateful to Superintendent King for the confidence he’s placed in me. I come to SEE PRINCIPAL PAGE A2 The Haywood County Relay For Life Rally for the American Cancer Society will take place this Friday night, May 14, starting at 5 p.m. at the Football Stadium on East Main and Boyd Avenue. The opening ceremonies will be held at 7 pm and the luminaries ceremony is scheduled for 10 pm This year’s event will feature 40 plus vendors and teams that have already signed up. Haywood County’s own Blair Simpson will bring her Nashville band to town for a great per- formance featuring songs that are a part of her pre-CD pack- age. Joining her on stage will be her producer, Rick Holt. Headlining the show will be 70s and 80s interna- tional star Freddie Weller. Weller’s recording career started while he was playing guitar for Paul Revere and the Raiders in 1969. He charted more than 30 hits during his career including “Games People Play,” “Indian lake,” “The Promised Land,” and “Down In The Boondocks.” Rounding out the entertain- ment is a great list of local and area talent such as The Singing Fireman David Smith, Shawn Williams, Women of Purpose, Christ Church Praise Band, Jeffrey Vaulx Group, the Jimmy Craig Dancers, Ricky McCory Band, a special performance by local talent spotlighting Tina Turner and the late Michael Jackson and the Hispanic Sound of La Nueba Vanda Corrol. This year’s Relay For Life goal is $100,000. The event represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be sup- ported and that one day cancer will be eliminated. The Relay for Life Survivors Luncheon will take place May 13, 11:30 a.m. at the First State Bank Community Center., For more information regard- ing Friday night’s event, contact Carolyn Flagg at (731) 772-0245. Relay For Life set for this Friday Blair Simpson Freddy Weller Nickolas Gibb Dorothy Bond Nickolas Gibb A dream became a reality last week when Brownsville and Haywood County snipped the ribbon for the Park of Dreams, an all-inclusive playground at Volunteer Park. Hayden Hooper, center, who spearheaded the project, stands with kids of all ages who will benefit from the play area. Park of Dreams Committee Chairman-Hayden Hooper Treasurer- Goldie Harwell Harvey and Darlene Walden Nancy Cates Wendy Hopper Nadean Lee Denise Pearson Marcia Neal Lisa Dennis Ana Williams Maxine Coleman Broderick and Aneadra Pearson Jackie Clark Kaye Taylor 144th Year • No. 52 Haywood County, Tennessee $1.00 Two Sections, 20 pages Brownsville STATES-GRAPHIC 88/68 Overcast. Warm. High 88F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Sunrise Sunset 5:54 AM 7:53 PM 76/61 Showers, maybe a rumble of thunder. Sunrise Sunset 5:53 AM 7:54 PM 80/64 Scattered thunder- storms possible. Sunrise Sunset 5:52 AM 7:55 PM Thursday May 13, 2010
