Motorists dodge cattle on busy city streets

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

From left, cattle owner Jimmy Womack, John Clark and David Mason Simpson corral a steer, one of five animals that got loose Wednesday. The steer was lassoed at the corner of Clark Boulevard and North Chancery Street. (Amy Satterwhite photo)

Two steers and three heifers scattered throughout McMinnville’s business district Wednesday after getting loose from the Warren County Livestock Barn.

The event caused some concern among motorists and bystanders as police and livestock barn employees attempted to round up the cattle, some of which traveled as far as Main Street.

As police stood by, one armed with a rifle, cattle owner Jimmy Womack along with John Clark, David Mason Simpson and others attempted to corral one of the steers at Cleaners Express on North Chancery Street.

The steer, which is a castrated bull, bucked and ran around an empty lot next to the business, but was eventually lassoed. After some nudging and strategic roping, it was successfully placed in a cattle trailer.

Womack said the animals got loose around 7:30 a.m. when they were being unloaded.

“They got out at the sale barn,” Womack said. “Five got out and we’ve recovered two. We don’t know where the others are. We’re going to hunt them up.”

Cleaners Express employee Anita Biles was among several employees who wondered what was going on when she saw a police officer with a rifle.

“I thought maybe somebody escaped and then I saw the cows,” she said shortly after the steer was captured and placed in a trailer with another cow.

McMinnville Police Department Lt. Chuck Taylor said based on reports from police officers, there was cause for concern.

“One was a big black bull that weighed about 1,600 pounds. He charged the guys a couple of times and ran around the cars,” Taylor said, adding one of the cows also nudged a truck.

One of the cows was still loose at press time.

“They spotted it around the courthouse but the boys on nights couldn’t find it,” Taylor said.

Incidents of farm animals getting loose are common in Warren County, law enforcement officials said. The odd part about Wednesday’s incident was the distance the animals traveled from the stock barn, which is on Old Smithville Highway, and the fact one cow was running down the middle of Smithville Highway by Sonic and Bi-Lo. That cow was eventually caught at Northgate Shopping Center after it was lassoed by Clark from the back of a pickup.

“We catch cows all the time,” said Clark. “But it’s more difficult to get them in town. People driving by don’t know what to think.”

Added Womack, “It’s tough, but it happens.”