News from February 3, 2005 issue


Attempted murder charge dropped
An attempted murder charge against a Tennessee man was dismissed Tuesday by a Crittenden Grand Jury.

The grand jury dismissed the case after hearing testimony in private court proceedings.

Thomas M. George, 56, formerly of Salem, was charged Dec. 3 with attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a friend with a hunting knife.
According to Crittenden County Sheriff's Department reports, the altercation took place while the two were sharing a camper on Emmaus Church Road in Crittenden County Dec. 2.

Police say George and Brandon L. Rowe, 26, of Mississippi, got into an altercation and George stabbed Rowe one time in the chest.

George's girlfriend, Amber Brock of Memphis, transported Rowe to Crittenden Hospital, where he originally told doctors the wound was self-inflicted.

Following further investigation, George was arrested then released Dec. 8 on a $75,000 bond from the Crittenden County Jail.

Grand jury deliberations are secret and no further reason was given for the charge being dropped.


Big veterans luncheon planned
Crittenden County veterans will be honored during a special luncheon and ceremony at noon Saturday, April 9.

Marion Church of God and Rev. Lucy Tedrick are heading up the effort to honor Crittenden County veterans and their spouses of all branches of military service from all periods.

"This is to pay a long overdue homage and show our appreciation to all our wonderful service personnel who have sacrificed time out of their lives and suffered in many ways, and the memory of those who gave the ultimate for our freedom," Tedrick said in a news release about the project.

Last spring, the Marion church held a luncheon to honor World War II veterans from the county because there were so many who were unable to attend the opening of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. They accommodated 144 people that day.

The church is anticipating a much larger number this time since it is open to all veterans of military service from all periods and their spouses.

The luncheon will be held at either the high school multi-purpose room or Marion Baptist Church's Family Life Center. Information regarding the place will be announced later.

"We wanted to start letting people know about it now so those who can attend will begin to call me immediately so we can get a head count to make proper facility and food arrangements," Tedrick said.

This invitation is to all veterans who were inducted into service from Crittenden County and all who now live here that were inducted into service from other places.

No personal invitations will be sent. Tedrick asks that local individuals please help get the word to veterans who have moved away. Reservations need to be made as soon as possible. There is no cost to the veterans attending the event. For reservations or more information, call Tedrick at 965-3269.

Jury deadlocks in coach's trial
A six-member jury could not reach a verdict last Wednesday after the one-day trial of Crittenden County football coach Curtis Payne.

Payne is accused of harassment for slapping a senior football player who was cursing on the team bus last September after practice.

The jury deliberated more than four hours before telling Crittenden District Court Judge Charles Ehlschide that it was deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. Jurors who spoke on the condition of anonymity say the vote was hung at 5-1 favoring acquittal. The jury included three men and three women, all white.

A verdict of guilt or innocence requires a unanimous decision by the jury. Special prosecutor Brucie Moore of Union County said she didn't know if the case would be retried, but that is within the discretion of the court.

"We're still considering our options," she said Tuesday.

Payne, 31, and his accuser Shawnte Moss, 18, both testified as did head high school football coach Al Starnes and three high school football players. Other witnesses were subpoenaed but were not called to the stand because Moore and Payne's attorney Raymond McGee of Smithland agreed that further testimony would have been redundant.

Many of the facts in the case were not disputed. At issue, however, was the intent and whether the coach's actions met the statutory definition of harassment.

Judge Ehlschide told the jury in his instructions following the nearly four-hour trial that it should find Payne guilty if evidence proved the coach had meant to harass, annoy or alarm Moss when he slapped him.