2016 Year in Review Issue

January 7 – Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain told a group of elected officials that 2016 would be a year of bold decisions and asked for the support for the future of Hardeman County. The guest speaker at the event was Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris. He addressed the crowd about ongoing state issues and issues Tennessee would be facing in 2016. Photo: Sain defended the principles of faith-guided leadership and traced its history back to George Washington.
January 14 - Hardeman County Assessor of Property Josh Pulse was awarded the 2015 Leadership Award before the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers during the winter meeting on December 3, 2015. The award was presented on behalf of the Tennessee Association of Assessing Officers by the 2015 President, Scott Buckingham.
January 21 – Donald McTizic (photo left) resigned January 20 with a letter sent to members of the County Commission through Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain. McTizic served District 2, Position 2 for 28 months taking over for his father Junious McTizic, who passed away in August of 2013.
A heated debate, a failed vote, and a successful revote ended with the county commission sending a request to the State of Tennessee for a private act to be introduced to Hardeman County that will add landfill fees to property taxes collected from property owners. The measure was approved at the state level, and sent back to the commission, who approved it as policy in Hardeman County beginning in fiscal year 2016-2017.
February 4 – The Bolivar General Hospital Foundation hosted the 10th annual Snowflake Ball to raise money for a new cause: the 100 Mile club. This club benefits third graders in the Hardeman County School System by encouraging them to walk 100 miles over the course of the school year.
February 11 – Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain was notified by Tennessee ThreeStar Administrator Jody Sliger that Hardeman County had improved its composite score in Public Safety, Health and Welfare, and Education & Workforce Development. This accomplishment made the county eligible for an additional $25,000 ThreeStar Competitive Enhancement Grant.
March 10 – The Hardeman County Democratic Party picked Johnny Weems of Bolivar as their candidate for District 2, Position 2 on the Hardeman County Commission. Weems would go on to win the seat in August. Photo left: Hardeman County Democratic Party President Randall Rice, Johnny Weems, Secretary Meryl Rice, and Treasurer Anne Wallace Crighton

The Middleton Lady Tiger basketball team saw their 67-game winning streak come to an end in the semi-finals of the TSSAA State Class A Girls Basketball Championships. See section B for more.
Gary Barber of Bolivar received 10 votes from the Hardeman County Commission and was sworn in by Judge Charles M. Cary on March 15, officially replacing Donald McTizic, who resigned in January.
March 24 - Hardeman County Mayor Jimmy Sain asked the County Commission to approve the recommendation of the Hardeman County Budget Committee to spend $50,000 to hire an attorney to spearhead the Hardeman County Lake Project. The attorney came highly recommended by Bill Dance Signature Lakes.  Laura Benz was unanimously retained to bring a recreational lake to Hardeman County in the hopes of bringing in 400,000 visitors and visitor expenditures of more than $22,000,000.
April 7 – Firefighters from Bolivar, Hornsby, Toone, Whiteville, and other agencies fought all night and into the next day as fire engulfed and destroyed two of three facilities at Hooper Sawmill in Toone.
The Hardeman County Criminal Justice Center had a gathering and ceremony to designate a parking space at the facility for Circuit Court Clerk Linda Fulghum, who has served at that capacity since 1968. Photo: Pat Kirk, Brittany Tibodeau, Dorothy Gatewood, Linda Fulghum, Rhonda Sipes, Micheele Johnson, and Crystal Pannell.

 

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