Citizen Tribune

5 / 17

From contributed reports
Will Sullivan, an Eagle
Scout candidate with Boy
Scout Troop 91 and the son
of Sheri and Robin Sullivan,
decided to focus his Eagle
Scout project on the park
close to home… the park he
loves...Panther Creek.
Will’s Eagle Scout proj-
ect consisted of enhancing
the bird aviary next to the
park’s visitor center (cur-
rently a Barred Owl known
as Theodore “Teddy” Roo-
sevelt’s habitat) at Panther
Creek State Park. The avi-
ary was already in place,
but there was no easy way
to view Teddy.
Will relocated two trees
(he chose to replant the
trees rather than cut them
down), rebuilt and stained
the bench (enhancing the
view of the aviary), con-
structed a drainage system
and retaining wall (reduc-
ing the amount of standing
water around the aviary and
making it more accessible
for visitors and park rang-
ers), created a sidewalk to
the aviary (making it ADA
compliant as well as making
it easy for all park visitors to
access) , and installed a do-
nation tube so that visitors
can easily make donations
towards the maintenance of
Teddy and the Birds of Prey
Program. There was an
overwhelming sense of ac-
complishment and relief as
he headed off to Philmont
Scout Ranch in New Mex-
ico for 10 days of adventure
just two days after finishing
the work on his project.
Will’s dad, Robin Sul-
livan (an Eagle Scout him-
self, and Assistant Scout
Master with Troop 91),
was his mentor and helped
Will understand how to
break down a project of this
magnitude into manageable
pieces, utilize the wonder-
ful volunteers to work on
different aspects of the
project at the same time and
make big changes to the
project as it was in progress.
Will was able to com-
plete his project with the
help of many volunteers
and donors. Most of the
volunteers came from other
scouts within Troop 91.
Donors for his project came
from a combination of lo-
cal businesses, friends and
family. Will is very appre-
ciative of all of the donors
(too many to mention them
all), and lists the corporate
donors on a sign attached to
the new bench at the park.
A special thank you to Tony
Bledsoe of Bledsoe Con-
crete Services and Tony
Buell of Concrete Materi-
als for their generous do-
nations of time, expertise
and materials when laying
the sidewalk to the aviary.
Due to the many donations
(both individual and corpo-
rate), Will is able to present
a check for over $300 to the
park as a donation to help
the Birds of Prey program.
Will hopes to be ap-
proved for the rank of Eagle
Scout soon and plans to
celebrate the the achieve-
ment in a ceremony on
Boy Scout Sunday at First
United Methodist Church
in February 2018.
CITIZEN TRIBUNE For the Record Tuesday, October 24, 2017 A-5
Lakeway Area Deaths
Crimebeat
HAMBLEN
Brandon M. Haines, 26,
Sulphur Springs Road,
was charged with domes-
tic assault by intimidation
and simple possession of
marijuana Tuesday after an
alleged menacing confron-
tation with his girlfriend, a
woman whose last name is
Cuellar.
Haines allegedly told Cuellar
that if she left with their
baby, he would end her life,
according to officer David
Klein. The defendant also
activated a stun gun close
to her midsection, accord-
ing to a warrant.
He discarded the stun gun
close to his home before
police arrived, but later led
officers to the device. He
voluntarily surrendered the
small quantity of marijuana
he was carrying, according
to a warrant.
Corey Tyler Hoard, 22, Al-
gonquin Street, has been
charged with statutory
rape.
Hoard allegedly admitted
to having a sex with a
17-year-old girl, according
to Detective Lt. Vicki Arnold
with the Morristown Police
Department.
The investigation began when
the girl’s parents came
to police and presented
evidence of a sexual
relationship, according to a
warrant.
Two Hamblen County Jail
inmates, Candice Wilson,
33, and Veronica Raines,
32, were charged with
simple possession of
crystal meth following as a
result of a shakedown on
Sunday.
Wilson allegedly had the
meth hidden beneath her
sleeping mat, according to
Deputy Sean Beach, who
reported Wilson appeared
to be under the influence of
a narcotic when the search
began.
Deputies allegedly found
Raines’ meth hidden
amongst her belongings.
Josh Stout, 39, Bullard Drive,
Newport, a Hamblen
County Jail inmate, has
been charged with escape.
Stout allegedly escaped from
the low-security workhouse
on Saturday. He was taken
into custody on Monday at
a Cocke County residence.
Deputy Logan Starritt said
he and agents with the
federal Alcohol, Tobacco
and Firearms agency went
to a home on Epley Road
at 4:44 p.m.
Officers searched the home
and found Joshua Stout
hiding in a bathroom closet.
The following charges are on
file at the sheriff’s depart-
ment:
Samuel Franklin Henry, 42,
Brown Avenue, violation of
probation and violation of
community corrections.
Ronnie Lynn Dugger, 30,
Coffey Road, violation of
probation.
Daniel Dwaine Sampson, 22,
violation of probation.
Christopher Lee Abney, 25,
Walter Road, Corryton,
violation of probation.
HAWKINS
A Hawkins County man re-
ported the theft of a pistol
after having shown it to two
people who were spending
the night at his residence
Thursday night.
Two witnesses were home
when the theft occurred
and saw it happen, accord-
ing to a police report. A
safe and a title were also
reported stolen.
It is believed the suspects are
traveling to South Carolina.
Tammy L. Seaver, 36, Light
Road, Rogersville, was
arrested Friday for identity
theft, fraudulent use of
debit card and theft of
property under $1,000.
Seaver was wanted for these
charges in Sullivan County
and was transported to the
county line where King-
sport Police Department
took custody.
A Hawkins County woman re-
ported the theft of $6,170,
several pieces of jewelry
worth $1,800 and other
various items worth $205
Saturday.
The complainant stated the
items were taken between
4 p.m. and 9 p.m. from her
residence.
Police observed a broken
window which had been
taped over.
The complainant told police
she believed the items
were taken by her daughter
and another man. She said
her daughter had been
staying with her occasion-
ally and was at the resi-
dence earlier that day.
The following charges are on
file at the sheriff’s depart-
ment:
Stephanie Michelle Bailey, 26,
Main Street, Surgoinsville,
violation of probation.
Andrew Justin Baldwin, 25,
Hickory Drive, Jonesbor-
ough, failure to appear.
Jerry Micheal Davidson, 48,
Ford Lane, Church Hill,
violation of community cor-
rections.
Logan William Foster, 27,
Sulphur Springs Road,
Rogersville, violation of
order of protection.
Jamie Garland, 31, Gramby
Road, Kingsport, violation
of probation.
Paul Timothy Rector, 24, Fork
Branch Road, Rogersville,
failure to appear.
Anthony Scott Barker, 26,
Brummitt Street, Rogers-
ville, driving on a revoked
license and violation of
seatbelt law.
Key-Shon Noland Robin-
son, 31, Bebber Street,
Morristown, failure to
appear and violation of
probation.
PAUL H.
BECKMAN, SR.
Paul H. Beckman, Sr.,
82, of Talbott, passed away
Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at
Lakeway Regional Hospi-
tal.
Arrangements are in-
complete and will be an-
nounced later by West-
side Chapel Funeral
Home.
KENNETH
LAWRENCE
BROGAN
Kenneth Lawrence Bro-
gan, 75, of Morristown,
passed away Sunday, Oct.
22, 2017 at his residence.
He was a member of
Westview Baptist Church
where he served as a dea-
con, treasurer, and Sunday
School Superintendent for
many years and he retired
from NCR after 37 years
of service. He was a loving
husband, father, and grand-
father and will be dearly
missed.
He was preceded in
death by his parents, Hugh
and Elva Brogan; brothers,
James, Chet, Curtis, Hugh
“Junior”, Estel, and Hearl
Brogan; sister, Bethel Law-
son; and infant brother,
L.T. Brogan.
Brogan
He is survived by his
loving wife of 54 years,
Rebecca “Becky” Brogan;
daughter and son-in-law,
Angie and Tim Jones;
granddaughter that he
loved and was very proud
of, Allison Jones (Jarrett
Ramsey); sister, Shirley
Blanton of Middletown,
Ohio; and several nieces
and nephews that he loved
dearly.
Special thanks to Dr.
R. David Shumaker, Beth
Clayton, FNP, and the staff
of Tennessee Cancer Spe-
cialists and to the staff of
Amedisys Hospice.
The family will receive
friends from 5 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 25 at
Westside Chapel Funeral
Home. Funeral services
will be at 1 p.m. Thursday,
Oct. 26 at Westview Bap-
tist Church with the Revs.
Randy Epps, Travis Webb,
Harold Noe, and Tim Jones
officiating. The body will
lie in state one hour prior to
the service. Interment will
follow at Hamblen Memo-
ry Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Rick
Brogan, Willie Brogan,
Richard Brogan, Brian
Rhodes, Ed Hodge, Bobby
May, and Jarrett Ramsey.
Honorary pallbearers will
be the deacons of Westview
Baptist Church.
Arrangements by:
BOBBIE W.
CANTRELL
Bobbie W. Cantrell, 80,
of Morristown, passed
away Sunday, Oct. 22,
2017 at Physicians Re-
gional Medical Center in
Knoxville.
Arrangements are in-
complete and will be an-
nounced later by West-
side Chapel Funeral
Home.
ROBBIE ALLEN
DRINNON
Robbie Allen Drinnon,
48, of Mooresburg, went
to be with Jesus on Satur-
day Oct. 21, 2017. He was
a member of Big Hill Bap-
tist Church. He loved his
family with all of his heart.
Robbie made friends wher-
ever he went and will be
missed by them all.
He was preceded in
death by his infant son, J.R.
Drinnon; and his brother-
in-law, Ricky Bowlin.
He is survived by his
wife, Jan Drinnon; son,
Adam Drinnon; daughter,
Emily Drinnon; parents,
Stanley and Joy Drinnon;
brother, Ricky (Sheila)
Drinnon; sister, Renee
Bowlin; nieces, Heather
(Josh) Loop, Cheyenne
Bowlin, Kaitlyn, Abigail
and Megan Reed; nephews,
Jesse and Cody Bowlin; fa-
ther-in-law, Homer (Glad-
ys) Collins; sister-in-law,
Lisa (David) Reed.
The family will receive
friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
Tuesday Oct. 24, at Chris-
tian-Sells Funeral Home.
Funeral services will fol-
low at 7 p.m. with the Rev.
Willard Wilder and Jim
Seals officiating. Grave-
side services will be held
11 a.m. on Wednesday Oct.
25 at Big Hill Cemetery.
Arrangements by:
ORA MAE
EPPERSON
Ora Mae Epperson, 89,
of Morristown, passed
away early Monday, Oct.
23, 2017 at Morristown
Hamblen Healthcare Sys-
tem.
She was preceded in
death by her husband of
51 years, James J. Epper-
son; parents, Robert and
Jamima Quinton; brothers,
Bill, Harry, Paul, Glenn,
Robert, Lon, Jack, Johnny
and Charles Quinton; sis-
ter, Carrie Bell Broyles.
She is survived by her
sister, Bobbie Jane Gregg;
niece, Cora Mae Cullip;
nephew, Gene Cullip; great
nephew and family, Eugene
(Carla) Cullip and chil-
dren, Samuel and Daniel;
several other nieces, neph-
ews and family members
and friends.
The family would like to
thank Dr. John Horner and
the staff of Life Care Cen-
ter of Morristown for their
kindness and compassion
during Ora Mae’s illness.
The family will receive
friends 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday,
Oct. 24, in the East Chapel
of Allen Funeral Home,
prior to the service at 7
p.m. with the Reverend Da-
vid Rutherford officiating.
Graveside services will be
10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct.
25, in McBride Church
Cemetery.
Arrangements by:
HOWARD FOY
WELCH
Howard Foy Welch, 80,
of Talbott, passed away
Monday, Oct. 23, 2017
at Fort Sanders Regional
Medical Center in Knox-
ville.
Arrangements are in-
complete and will be an-
nounced later by West-
side Chapel Funeral
Home.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The man
accused of fatally shooting a woman and
wounding six other people at a Tennessee
church last month told police he heard
voices and had visions, including an im-
age of that particular church, a detective
testified in court Monday.
Nashville Police Detective Steve Jol-
ley said 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega
Samson wouldn't say much else about
his vision of Burnette Chapel Church of
Christ, when pressed by police during an
interview.
"He was just very vague and he didn't
really elaborate on anything," Jolley said
at a hearing in Davidson County General
Sessions Court.
A judge sent Samson's case to a grand
jury Monday. Samson didn't appear for
the hearing.
Jolley also acknowledged that a note
found in Samson's car made reference to
a white supremacist's 2015 massacre at a
South Carolina black church, a detail that
The Associated Press first reported.
The note found on the dashboard read
something like, "Dylann Roof was less
than nothing," Jolley said.
"It was really kind of just vague," Jol-
ley said.
All of the victims in Nashville were
white, but it's still not clear whether Sam-
son, who is black, specifically targeted
them based on their race.
Jolley said Samson downplayed the
role of race to detectives.
"I asked him specifically and he said
that he didn't give much thought to race,"
Jolley said. "I think he also said the same
thing about religion. So he didn't indicate
to me any particular thing for motiva-
tion."
Samson said nothing in the interview
about the fact that he had attended the
church previously, only commenting that
he might have delivered pizzas there, Jol-
ley said. Samson also told Jolley he was
just tired of driving on the day of the
shooting, the detective added.
Though he was otherwise mostly stoic,
Samson broke down in tears at one point
when another detective asked him about
hurt and pain, according to the detective.
Samson said he remembered shoot-
ing outside the church, but didn't recall
shooting inside and wasn't shooting at
anyone in particular, Jolley said.
Samson is charged with murder in the
Sept. 24 attack at the Nashville church.
The Sunday shooting rampage killed
38-year-old Melanie L. Crow of Smyrna,
Tennessee.
The FBI and U.S. attorney's office in
Nashville quickly opened a civil rights
investigation into the shooting.
The judge also heard testimony from
Robert Caleb Engle, the 22-year-old
church member hailed as a hero in the
attack.
During the shooting, Engle said he
twice confronted the gunman, who was
wearing a tactical vest and a motorcy-
cle-style mask with a clown smile on it.
Engle said he grabbed the shooter's arm,
at which point he pistol whipped the
churchgoer three times in the head.
Later, Engle said he stood up in front
of the shooter, whose gun then turned to
target him. Engle said he pushed the gun
back onto the shooter and a shot fired,
striking the gunman and sending him to
the ground.
Engle said his father kicked the gun
away, stood on the shooter's hand and
told Engle to go get his gun out of his
truck.
Engle came back with his weapon, put
his foot on the shooter's back and stood
guard until first responders arrived.
According to police records, Samson
struggled to hold a job and had a vola-
tile relationship with a woman that twice
involved police this year, and also had
expressed suicidal thoughts in June.
Authorities have said Samson came to
the United States from Sudan as a child
in 1996 and is a U.S. citizen.
Additional charges are expected. Sam-
son is being held without bond.
Police: Church shooting
suspect noted
'visions,' 'voices'
Local Eagle Scout
candidate makes Panther
Creek his project
Special to the Citizen Tribune
Will Sullivan standing in front of the bird
enclosure he refurbished.