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St. John signs with JU
Gunner St. John plans to keep "gunning" threes. The Campbell Cougar signed Thursday morning at CCHS to play college basketball for Johnson University of Knoxville.
Back row (L - R) grandparents, Howard and
Heidi St. John, parents Shannon & Joey St. John, brother Spencer.
Front row (L-R) CCHS Coach Matt Housley, Gunner, and JU coach Kevin
Hall.
Board's back to budget talks Monday
The Campbell County Board
of Education meets in a budget workshop session on Tuesday, May 14 at
5:00 p.m., at the courthouse at Jacksboro. The purpose of the
workshop is to continue discussion from the April 23 meeting regarding
the 2013-2014 school year budget.
ounty loses two educators this week
Faculty, students, and staff at the La Follette Middle School are mourning the loss of one of their teachers this week.
Kathryn Gunter, who had battled cancer for some time, passed away on Monday. Miranda Stanfill taught with Gunter for the past seven-years, and tells WLAF that Kathryn was a wonderful inspiration to all of us, and she was a great friend and coworker, someone you could confide in for anything. She says that her classroom was at the end of the hall, and they would wave hello to each other every morning before school started. Stanfill recalls school trips and many lunches she shared with her, and that she was the first smiling face the students would see as they entered the LMS. Stanfill says, “We miss her terribly as we have lost a very dear friend.” Kathryn Gunter was 53-years old.
Wayne Tidwell, a retired teacher and
principal of more than 41-years, died Tuesday night. Director of Schools Donnie Poston
describes Tidwell as a well respected educator and administrator, and
that he had a good teaching career. Poston goes on to say that he
served as a teacher and principal at several schools including Valley
View,
Russell is first woman to lead La Follette
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Billie Russell brings
a wealth of knowledge to her new role as LaFollette City Administrator.
A 1982 graduate of Campbell County High School and a 2009 graduate of
the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in business
marketing, she has worked the past four years in the Campbell County
Mayor’s Office as an industrial, economic and community developer.
Prior to that, Russell worked 20 years at Oak Ridge National
Laboratories, where she began as a part-time clerical assistant and
climbed the ranks
as a business development associate.
The youngest of seven children, Russell said she
came from humble beginnings and never believed she would actually be
able to afford and attend college until ORNL made it possible for her to
do so.
She is the first woman to serve LaFollette as City
Administrator.
“I look forward to this job. I am committed to the
City of LaFollette. My job is to work with the city council,” said
Russell.
Her goals include downtown revitalization as well
as recruitment of business to the downtown area.
“My experience with grants and economic development
and my contacts will be a big help,” Russell said.
She has been married nearly 32 years to Tim
Russell, who works at ORNL and also pastors Elm Grove Baptist Church.
The couple has three daughters: Hannah, 20, Emily, 14, and Eva, 8.
La Follette hires two new police officers
The LaFollette City Council chose its first-ever
female city administrator Tuesday night. Billie Russell received four
out of five votes for the position after being nominated by councilman
Joe Bolinger. Those voting for her included Bolinger, Stephanie Grimm,
Mayor Mike Stanfield and Bob Fannon, who passed the first time around
but then asked to change his vote to “yes” to reflect the majority of
council.
Hansford Hatmaker cast the only “no” vote against
Russell. Hatmaker’s son, Tom, was the only other candidate nominated for
the city administrator position. He was nominated by his father, who
cast the only “yes” vote for him.
Hatmaker was voted on first, followed by Russell.
In other business Tuesday, the council:
*Approved an invoice payment to Dixie Roofing.
*Approved the advertising of bids for the roofing
of city hall as a whole or as two sections.
*Appointed Chris Hill to the beautification board.
*Approved the hiring of Jeff Courtney and Leslie
Bruce as full-time police officers.
*Approved bids for turnout gear for the fire
department.
*Approved, on first and second reading, three
zoning ordinances as discussed in last week’s workshop.
*Agreed to apply
for a grant to repair the Beech Street Bridge.
During a subsequent meeting of the LaFollette Beer
Board, a permit was issued to The Bread Box #60.
La Follette City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 7, 2013
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LUB truck dodges driving dog
While out in the Alder Springs area Monday morning, a La Follette Utility Board serviceman nearly ran his pick-up truck out of the road to avoid an oncoming truck. As soon as he dodged the truck, he watched the other truck go into a ditch and overturn. The LUB serviceman ran back to check on the other driver, and found that it was a dog driving the truck.
The
truck and dog belong to a man who left his truck running while he was
working in a nearby field. He was quick to tell the serviceman how
smart his dog is, and the LUB worker said he must not be that smart or
the dog would’ve used the brakes. There were no injuries and
Scruffy, the dog, is just fine.
Logger does not survive Friday morning
injuries
The story WLAF has
covered from start until finish today concerning a logging accident ends
on a very sad note. A 62-year old man, Calvin Daugherty, thought
early-on to hail from Caryville, but not confirmed, died from head
injuries sustained in a morning logging mishap. Reports from the
scene are that Daugherty was cutting a tree when it “kicked back” on him
just after 9:00 a.m. leaving him with serious head trauma. After
being flown out by Lifestar, Daugherty died at the UT Medical Center at
Lifestar flies injured logger to trauma unit
A Caryville
man clings to life at this hour at the University of Tennessee Medical
Center. Officials tell WLAF News that 62-year old Calvin Daugherty
of Caryville was flown by Lifestar about an hour-and-a-half ago.
The hospital is yet to release a condition for Daugherty.
Lifestar on way to pick up injured Caryville logger
Details continue trickling in to the WLAF News Room about a Friday logging accident near Caryville.
Reports from the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department are that a man working with James Madison Shop, a Caryville logging crew, sustained serious head injuries just after 9:00 this morning. First responders brought the logger out of a heavily wooded area by way of a four-wheeler, and are awaiting Lifestar's arrival.
The accident site is on the west side of
Interstate 75 near
Logger taken out by Lifestar
A logger is seriously injured this morning near Caryville and will soon
be flown by LIfestar to the University of Tennessee Medical Center at
Knoxville. WLAF News will follow this story for you through the
day as more details become available.
A big night for the 2013 Senior Class of Campbell County High School
Thursday night. Countless awards and scholarships were presented
totaling thousands and thousands of dollars. In fact, 66 CCHS
seniors have their tuition completely paid for at
Nathan Orick is presented the Woodson Scholarship by Katherine Ayers
This is the first
year that the State of
Niki Ward receives the PNB Scholarship from Logan Hickman with Peoples Bank of the South
Those “Graduating with Honors” are Jamie Allen, Josh Bullman, A.J. Cutsinger, Laurissa Douglas, Lindsey Hutson, Brady Kennedy, Gates McCarty, Kara McLain, and Autumn Reynolds. A student graduates “with distinction” if certain requirements are met including a 31 or higher composite score on the ACT, a score of 3 or higher on two separate Advanced Placement Exams, and 12 or more hours of dual enrollment at a community college or technical school. Those Graduating with Distinction are Haley Adkins, Robert Adkins, Ashley Benge, Westin Brown, Emily Byrge, Myranda Carmany, Molly Cowart, Madison Griffith, Tara Griffith, Rachel Harris, Chelsea King, Amber McKillip, Ethan Miller, Ethan Morton, Dalton Phillips, Kevin Ruan, Ryan Rutter, Gunner St. John, and Stephanie Wilson.
Haley Adkins is awarded a scholarship
Some very special
Campbell High Seniors
qualify to graduate
“With Honors and
Distinction.” They
are Sam Arnold, Tanner
Carson, Adriann Evans,
Helen Garren, Lauren
Heatherly, Brandon Lee,
Nathan Orick, Sara
O’Rourke, and Ethan
Simpson.
Forstner is Jacksboro's vice-mayor
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
June Forstner is the new
vice mayor on the
Jacksboro Board of Mayor
and Aldermen. She was
unanimously approved
Thursday night during
the regular monthly
meeting of the board.
Ray Green previously
served as vice mayor for
Jacksboro. In other
business conducted
during Thursday's
meeting, the board
approved the advertising
of bids for the purchase
of a fire truck and two
sets of turnout gear for
the fire department. The
board also approved a
donation to the
Jacksboro Cemetery
Committee and voted to
apply for a COPS Grant
to possibly hire an
additional police
officer.
Representative
Powers Passes Lynn’s Law
In Tennessee Legislature
(
Soon after this
fact came to light,
State Representative
Dennis Powers
(R–Jacksboro), working
in conjunction with Lori
Phillips Jones of the
8th Judicial District
DA's office and Senator
Ken Yager, began
drafting Lynn's Law
which was passed out of
the House of
Representatives last
week. As passed,
"What was most
infuriating is that this
mother was allowed to
skip ahead of
Tennesseans who were
waiting on services for
their disabled children.
She not only got to skip
ahead of those waiting,
but left
Powers worked with the
Department of
Intellectual and
Developmental
Disabilities and other
agencies in drafting the
language of the
legislation. It passed
out of the House on
April 16th with 92 ayes
and 0 nays.(UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013,
5:00 PM)
Local Law Enforcement Honor Jerri Starrett with their officers Heroism Awards for taking action on a burning vehicle of an I-75 motorist a few weeks ago. Jerri's actions and act of heroism, attributed to the saving of a female motorist, Sandra McGregor of Ohio, and her pet, whose vehicle burst into flames along I-75 north near the Caryville exit.
(pictured L to R) Jacksboro Police Chief Danny Chapman, Jerri Starrett and Campbell County Sheriff Robbie K. Goins. (UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Deputy
survives dog bite, knife scuffle, and
broken finger
Deputies
diffuse a potentially deadly situation.
A Friday evening incident at Grantsboro
proved to be rather unique for Campbell
County Deputies Ty Daugherty and Cody
Chapman. In the report filed by
Daugherty, 51-year old Dale Wilson was
standing in his yard at
Dale Wilson
In the process,
La Follette's list of CA candidates is 12 heading into next week's vote
Story and pictures by: Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Members of LaFollette City Council will vote on hiring a new city administrator next Tuesday night. That much is certain. However, the actual process of nominating candidates remains up in the air.
A “preferred” list of 12 candidates recently went through the interview process, and it was left up to each council member to submit their top choices. During Monday’s workshop, council members couldn’t agree on how to nominate the candidates to be voted on.
Councilman Hansford Hatmaker (Hatmaker is pictured above, Council member Joe Bolinger is on the left) wanted to whittle it down from 12 to 2 prior to next week’s meeting, but could get no support. Whoever gets the nod will be making $83,400 in salary and benefits.
Other items discussed during Monday’s workshop included:
*Paying an invoice of $12,944 to Dixie Roofing.
*Bidding out replacement of the entire roof of city hall.
*Appointing Chris Hill to an advisory position on the Beautification Board.
*A couple of zoning ordinances, one of which would take in a section of Independence Lane that includes the Children’s Center.
*Hiring two police officers, one of which (Jeff Courtney) would be sent to police academy training. Wesley Bruce would be the other officer.
*Purchasing turnout gear for the fire department.
E.L. Morton (pictured above), director of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce, also came before council to announce application for a $200,000 federal recreation trails grant for the Ivydell Trailhead.
The grant would provide paving for a parking lot, lighting and restrooms. The grant requires a $50,000 local match, but LaFollette could provide in-kind services such as police patrols, garbage pick-up, etc. for its part.
“We want to connect visitors on the trail to (cash) registers in LaFollette,” said Morton. “Connecting those visitors to downtown is the key.”
Morton also announced that Campbell County has been invited by neighboring Kentucky to participate in the Hwy. 25W Yard Sale the weekend of June 6-8.
“We’re going to try and grow it to have the economic impact of the Hwy. 127 Yard Sale, at some point,” said Morton. (UPDATED TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013, 4:00 AM)
Campbell crime continues creeping downward in Goins era
TBI Crime Report: Violent
Crime against persons, property & society down in
Campbell County
Campbell County Sheriff Robbie K. Goins is able to announce this week
that the 2012 TBI crime results show a decrease in crime in Campbell
County.
We are more than pleased that the 2012 TBI Crime Report reflects the
hard work and dedication of our entire office. Overall with our office,
violent crime is at a reported lower rate than last year. Essentially,
that means our people are doing their jobs efficiently and effectively.
Murder, kidnapping, forcible rape, sex crimes, aggravated assaults are
down. One substantial decline we have seen over the past year is the
decrease in burglary and thefts. But, we still have work to do. Any
number is too many. The decrease in these crimes are a direct reflection
of the hard work of our patrol and investigative staff, combined with
excelled leadership and a strong work ethic that I demand and the
citizens of Campbell County deserve. Comparable to surrounding counties
and others of our population we are near the very top in performance and
results. I’m proud of all of our people who work 24/7 and deal with
unsavory people and situations. We have had an increase in juvenile
arrests this year and a record year in DUI arrest and enforcement. We
can attribute an increase for DUI’s to our working relationship and
partnerships with the Governor’s Highway Safety Office and the grant
monies we have been awarded to combat drugged and drunk driving. We have
also initiated, for the first time ever, a DUI Task Force to pursue
drugged and drunk drivers and take them directly to jail and save
innocent lives from being lost. Our methamphetamine problem has seen a
decline in labs seized but we still see the prescription drug abuse
problem rise. We are still competing with bad or weak law and we
struggle with competing with pain pill clinics or pill mills. We all
have to work together, from the billion dollar pharmaceutical companies
to doctors. People that are addicted to these deadly habits and struggle
with pill problems need more than jail, laws and more prescriptions,
they need prayer, as well as, the families it victimizes, all of us in
law enforcement who see and deal with it every day when we go to work,
and most importantly, the children it affects daily.
Love is the latest WLAF-ISG 60th
Trivia winner
Claudette Love correctly answered “First Baptist Church and La Follette
High" in the latest trivia fun from WLAF and ISG Insurance.
Claudette wins free food from Little Caesar's Pizza and a family four-pack of movie tickets from Carmike
Movies 2. For your chance to win movie tickets, or Little Caesar’s
Pizza, or free gasoline from Woodson Shell, or free food from Wendy’s,
simply watch WLAF-TV’s Green Screen for each week’s question and answer.
Once you know the answer to the trivia question and the ad page where
the answer is found, call 423.562.1450, and you will be eligible to win.
Big Josh Etter announces each week’s winner Monday mornings over 1450
WLAF Radio, WLAF-TV 12, and
www.1450wlaf.com. WLAF-ISG
Insurance 60th
Trivia is year-long fun from your friends at the old radio station, 1450
WLAF and Randy Heatherly and the folks at ISG Insurance.
State Representative Dennis Powers "End of Session 2013 Wrap Up"
'Preferred' list of applicants interviewed for City Administrator position in LaFollette
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Interviews were conducted
Wednesday and Thursday of a "preferred" list of 12 applicants for the
position of City Administrator of LaFollette. A total of 21 people
applied for the job when it became available in February. Jack Miller of
Crossville is the only out-of-towner among the 12 applicants interviewed
this week. The others are all local and include Shane Burris, Tom
Hatmaker, Billie Russell, David King, Bill Comer, Mark A. Wells, Andy
Wallace, Travis Davis, Gabrielle Byrge, Greg Brackett and Darryl
Roberts. "The interviews went well, and the council will discuss it at
the next workshop (on April 29)," said LaFollette Police Chief Jimmy
Jeffries, who has been serving as interim city administrator since the
resignation of Cade Sexton in January. LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield
said each member of the council may submit their top picks to be voted
on during the May 7 council meeting.
MARCH 2013 COUNTY
UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
RATES
DECREASE IN MAJORITY OF
TENNESSEE COUNTIES
NASHVILLE
– County unemployment rates for March 2013, released today, show the
rate decreased in 58 counties, increased in 24, and stayed the same in
13. Specific county information is available on the Internet; enter
http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/labor_figures/LaborMarch13.pdf.
Knox County had the state’s lowest major metropolitan rate of 6.2 percent, down from 6.4 percent in February. Davidson County rate of 6.3 percent was unchanged from February. Hamilton County was 7.7 percent, up from 7.6 percent in the previous month. Shelby County was 9.5 percent, up from 9.3 percent in February.
Tennessee’s unemployment rate for March was 7.9 percent, which increased one tenth of one percentage point from the February revised rate of 7.8 percent. The national unemployment rate for March 2013 was 7.6 percent, decreasing by one tenth of one percentage point from the previous month.
The
state unemployment rate is seasonally adjusted while the
county unemployment rates
are not. Seasonal adjustment is a statistical technique that eliminates
the influences of weather, holidays, the opening and closing of schools,
and other recurring seasonal events from economic time series.
167 inmates housed at the Campbell County
Jail
There were 167 inmates housed in the county jail as of this morning.
However, that number is subject to change almost hourly. In a
report to WLAF from the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, there are
41 females and 126 males being housed at the Jacksboro facility.
With the exception of one African-American, the other 166 inmates are
Caucasian. There 18 people with at least a minimum bond of
$100,000. Jeffery Thomas Sills has the highest bond at $230,000.
Sills is facing multiple charges including the rape of a child.
James Marlow is charged with first degree murder and is being held on a
$200,000 bond. Marlow is the longest tenured inmate being at the
jail since June 2010.
Soccer is coming to CCHS...maybe
There could be
Boomer's Corner is now open
Insurance, Wall Street and air travel a
tangled web, but the Internet rules
I’m a big enough man (understatement) to admit when
I’m wrong. I received some bad information a couple of weeks back that
lawyer Terry Basista had stated that had received the controversial
video of apparent animal abuse at the shelter and put it out over the
Internet.
Terry tells me that the video was already on U-tube
before he ever saw it, so my information was wrong. The column seems to
have stirred up things on R.L.’s program the other night when one caller
claimed I accused Terry of creating said video. I never did, and someone
else on the program corrected the record.
Some animal right
crusaders in
One commissioner has suggested that the county wash
its hands completely, turn the shelter over to the Humane Society to
operate and divert the $140,000 annual appropriation to other needs. So
the problem of a shelter with not enough money to operate efficiently
will be solved by taking away what money it does have.
That lets the county off the hook, at least until
voters start complaining about stray dogs and cats running loose because
there is no animal control program to pick them up. I can’t wait
to see what comes next.
One thing I am not
wrong about. After being abused in a couple of airport security lines
after 911, I swore off flying to anywhere within a two-day’s drive of
Now comes the
sequester, and the FAA has furloughed air traffic controllers, causing
major delays at most of the nation’s major airports. I can now honestly
say that I can drive to
I can avoid air travel, but like everyone else, one
thing I can’t avoid is the insurance industry. I just received the
renewal notice on my homeowner’s policy this week and was amazed to see
a 50 percent rate increase over last year. Predictably, I called my
agent immediately to question a few things on the declaration sheet.
“You’ve got the replacement cost of my home set at
$115,000. I built it three years ago for $66,000 and home values are
down. No way could I get $115,000 out of that home!”
“But we don’t insure based on home values. We
insure based on replacement cost and our analysis indicates that
building costs are up in your zip code by that degree.”
“What about this estimate of $80,000 for personal
property? I donated my million-dollar art collection to the Campbell
County Animal Shelter. I could replace everything I own for half that
much!”
“Our company follows industry standards of setting
the value of contents at 75 percent of the replacement cost.”
“OK, what about this – loss of use of home, valued
at $42,000? Do you think I would spend three months living in the
penthouse suite at the Hyatt Regency while my home is rebuilt?”
“Sir, that is the standard equation, blah, blah,
blah.”
“I think I’ll shop around a bit before I renew this
policy.”
“Feel free (snicker)”
What I discovered is that everybody’s home
insurance rates are through the roof this year. The insurance companies
will have a million different explanations for why costs are up, risk
assessment is higher, etc. etc. ad nauseum. They don’t want to tell
customers the truth, which is that we’re all paying the cost of climate
change.
You know, that thing
that conservatives in Congress deny is happening – “climate change.” In
the past few years, the insurance industry has taken its licks –
hurricanes on the
So those of us in relatively untouched parts of the
country have to pay higher premiums to help the insurance industry
offset their losses. It would be nice if the companies would just tell
us the truth instead of feeding us unbelievable gobblygook.
It wouldn’t make the increased costs any less
painful, but at least the companies would show customers enough respect
to tell them the truth, instead of trying to confuse everyone with
double talk.
Of course, even if the insurance industry was not
suffering from hefty weather-related losses, they would still have to
worry about their other risk factor, which is loss of the value of their
investments. The insurance industry makes much of their profits by
investing our premium dollars, so when the economy and Wall Street go in
the tank, profits are down and rates go up.
That is not reassuring, based on the sell-off panic
that Wall Street experienced just this week when somebody hacked into
the Associated Press website and put out a fake news flash that the
White House had been bombed and the President injured.
Investments tied to computers went into automatic
“sell off” mode before anyone could verify the accuracy of the report
and the Dow Jones dipped a couple of hundred points in a matter of
minutes, all caused by a bogus Internet report. Gives one a rosy, warm
feeling inside about our nation’s future, doesn’t it?
No boom in the room
It's a false alarm.
In the end, it's not dynamite after all in a room of a Whitman Hollow
woman's out building. Once deputies were able to get a good look
at what was reported to be dynamite, they quickly discovered that is was
road flairs stored under a lot of blasting wire. Related story below.
Dynamite discovered - homes evacuated
Homes on
Ginnie Lane and in portions of Whitman Hollow are being evacuated at
this hour. A woman called E-911 just moments ago saying she found
a lot dynamite and caps in her out building on Jenny Lane. Chief
Aaron Evans with the Campbell County Sheriff's Department tells WLAF
News that 20-something year old dynamite is what the woman found, and
that they've evacuated the immediate area. The Ginnie Lane
turn-off is near the Whitman Hollow Bible Church. Evans says the
Knox County Bomb Squad is on its way, and its team will safely transport
and do away with the old dynamite.
Dixie Roofing fire biggest ever
for
It took nearly 12-hours for firefighters to contain what they’re calling
the biggest fire in the history of
Collier is the latest WLAF-ISG 60th
Trivia winner
Michael Collier correctly answered “J.C. Rutherford, 1962" in the latest
trivia fun from WLAF and ISG Insurance. Mike wins free gas from
Woodson Shell and a family four-pack of movie tickets from Carmike
Movies 2. For your chance to win movie tickets, or Little Caesar’s
Pizza, or free gasoline from Woodson Shell, or free food from Wendy’s,
simply watch WLAF-TV’s Green Screen for each week’s question and answer.
Once you know the answer to the trivia question and the ad page where
the answer is found, call 423.562.1450, and you will be eligible to win.
Big Josh Etter announces each week’s winner Monday mornings over 1450
WLAF Radio, WLAF-TV 12, and
www.1450wlaf.com.
WLAF-ISG Insurance 60th
Trivia is year-long fun from your friends at the old radio station, 1450
WLAF and Randy Heatherly and the folks at ISG Insurance.
25-year THP veteran dies
“You knew it was going to be a good day when Sergeant Brian Boshears was
on your shift.” That’s how Campbell County Chief Deputy (and
former trooper) Aaron Evans sums up working with the THP veteran.
Boshears died this afternoon at the
Evans says he loved
him like a brother. The sergeant worked
Well known merchant and businessman dies
Floyd Burris, who was a
fixture in the business community for years, died Sunday. Burris
was co-owner of the Western Auto, general manager of Shelby Petroleum,
and dispatcher at Hoskins Oil. Walters Funeral Home of La Follette
is handling the arrangements. Floyd Burris was 77-years old.(UPDATED
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2013, 11:30 AM)
Caryville City Recorder fired
It’s been confirmed that
Mayor Chris Stanley fired Caryville’s City Recorder this morning.
A source close to the city tells WLAF News that nine-year employee and
City Recorder Cheryl Ivey was let go. Back in March, it was Stanley who
demoted longtime Caryville Police Chief Johnny Jones. WLAF News is
waiting for return phone calls from the mayor and Ivey.(UPDATED
MON, APRIL 22, 2013, NOON)
Campbell County Sheriff Robbie K. Goins
congratulates Sergeant Ken Daugherty for his recent certification by the
International Association for Property and Evidence Specialist.APRIL
22, 2013, 10:15 AM
Jones flown out by Lifestar
A car forces a Caryville Police patrol car off the road injuring a
police officer. Officials with the Tennessee Highway Patrol say
they believe it was a black Mustang that forced Officer Johnny Jones and
his patrol car off the road late Friday night. The mishap took
place on
The first Session of the 108th General Assembly
adjourned Friday afternoon, April 19, until January 14, 2014, when it
reconvenes at noon. It has been many years since the legislature
adjourned this early. By getting our job done early, we saved
taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
One of the final acts
of the General Assembly is to pass the completed budget for the fiscal
year beginning July 1, 2013, and lasting through June 30 of 2014.
In fact, the only responsibility of the legislature mentioned in the
Constitution is the passage of a balanced
budget. The new budged meets basic needs of the state, reduces
taxes and adds to the rainy day fund.
There is very little
borrowed money in this budget. In fact,
The budget process
starts almost immediately after the General Assembly convenes in
January. The Governor makes his budget address in early February.
The different state departments make presentations to specific
committees (State and Local Government, which I chair, hears fourteen
departmental budgets) which make recommendations to the Finance, Ways
and Means Committee. Finance hears all these recommendations and
makes the final recommendation to the legislature which usually approves
as it did this year. In
The total budget for this fiscal year is $32.7
billion and reduces taxes by $43 million (sales tax on food, Hall income
tax, death tax). The largest single percentage (about 37%) of general
fund spending is health and welfare (largely TennCare). The second
largest spending category is education (34%). All state employees
will get an across the board raise of 1.5%.
Money for grades K-12
is calculated by a formula called the BEP formula. This year the
formula is fully funded. K-12 also receives additional funds to pay for
technology upgrades and $34 million to address capital needs, including
school security. Higher education -
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Deborah Pemberton: phone 423-494-6411
Friends of
The ASPCA grant will be used
to obtain low cost spay/neuter services for low income families, through
FCCA’s “Rock N Roll” Spay/Neuter Program, in
We are appreciative of the support of ASPCA for our
program, in the efforts in saving lives of animals across our county.
Susan Sharp vs. the La Follette Press
Susan Sharp wants the La Follette Press to put her back to work or pay up. And she wants a jury to decide. Until yesterday, Press readers followed Sharp through her stories, pictures, and opinions for more than ten-years. However, since Sharp was fired last week, you won’t be seeing a Susan Sharp byline in next week’s Press.
Susan Sharp
In a civil action suit
filed last Friday in Campbell County Circuit Court by Sharp's attorney,
David H. Dunaway, Sharp is the plaintiff while Landmark Community
Newspapers of Tennessee, LLC, Landmark Community Newspapers, LLC, and
Brent Shanding are the defendants. Shanding was introduced as the
paper's new Editor less than a month ago, and according to the lawsuit,
began cursing and belittling Sharp within days. The suit outlines
that Sharp went to human resources expressing her concerns of a hostile
work environment, and within five-days, much to her surprise, was
terminated from her employment. Also listed in the suit is that
the 42-year old Sharp was discriminated against and terminated in part,
among other things, because of gender and age, and that she was paid
substantially less as a female employee, while her male counterparts
were paid more for the same type work that Sharp was performing.
During her career at the La Follette Press, Sharp worked her way up from
reporter to Editor. Last June, Sharp was demoted back to reporter.
The lawsuit reads that a younger male was then placed in the position of
Editor. Among the items listed that Sharp demands is that she be
restored her employment, and if that is impractical to restore her to
her employment, Sharp be awarded such compensatory damages not to exceed
two-hundred thousand dollars. On Wednesday, Shanding told WLAF
that he was unfamiliar with the lawsuit, and therefore, could not offer
a comment. He went on to say that he would look into it and might
be able to respond on Thursday. Shanding has not returned
Thursday’s phone calls as of publishing time this morning. A La
Follette Press employee tells WLAF News that the staff was told that
Sharp is not to be allowed back in the Press offices on
Mandatory gun ownership? Could be a
blessing in disguise
Boomer's Corner - By Charles "Boomer" Winfrey
So much going on, I hardly know where to start. The
animal shelter hubbub has calmed down a bit, with Mayor William Baird
closing the shelter and placing employees on administrative leave while
the TBI investigates accusations of animal abuse.
I predict that the investigation will uncover some
shoddy procedures, but no criminal wrongdoing. Shelter director Betty
Crumley, however, has become a political liability and may not return.
Betty’s case is sad, in a way. Active in the Humane
Society, she championed establishment of the shelter, along with
namesake Adrion Baird. I don’t see her as being the type of person who
would willfully be cruel to animals.
Her people skills, however, are another matter. Her
inability to work with local animal lovers and her resistance to
accepting criticism have combined to make too many enemies when what she
needs are supporters.
Alas, the shelter’s problems come down to that root
of all evil – money. The shelter as planned was to be funded by a
combination of county taxpayer dollars and animal registration fees. A
previous county commission, facing criticism from dog owners, eliminated
the registration requirement. Budget constraints have kept the shelter’s
appropriations flat for several years now while costs continue to go up.
The result was predictable. A shelter that is too
cool in winter and too warm in summer, that sells cat carcasses to a
biological supply company to raise funds and skimps on drug costs by
failing to sedate animals before administering lethal injections.
You get what you pay
for.
The gun control debate
in
They did nothing. The next test will come in
election year, when we see if the NRA bully has the clout to defeat some
of the senators, such as Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey, who dared
to support expanded background checks. Until gun control advocates are
willing to organize, raise large amounts of money and fight the NRA in
the trenches of American politics, future gun control debates will go
the same way.
There may yet be hope
for those of us who seek a silver lining behind every cloud, however. A
Farragut city councilman intends to propose that Farragut go the way of
some small
Seems the Second Amendment protects every
American’s right to own and keep a firearm, but does not protect our
right not to own one. The good news is that once every gun-happy
Farragut homeowner is packing, along with every Farragut homeowner who
has never owned, handled or fired a gun in their lives, the potential
for slaughter will be high.
State Senator Stacy Campfield lives out that way,
along with the voters who keep returning him to office, so a stray
bullet or two could be a blessing to the rest of us.
Of course I don’t know how Farragut will deal with
situations where the head of household is a convicted felon. I’m
guessing the city will have to round up any convicted felons living
inside the corporate limits and send ‘em packing since they can’t
legally possess firearms.
Commissioner Thomas Hatmaker proposed a little
ordinance Monday might that would have sent convicted felons packing
from county employment, or at least prevented the county from employing
said felons in the future.
Vice Mayor David Young, who is a convicted felon,
made an impassioned plea to commissioners to remember that many people
who made mistakes in their youth have gone on to lead useful,
law-abiding lives and should not be forced to pay for their mistakes
over and over. He asked how many of us can honestly say that we’ve never
done anything that could have landed us in the same boat.
I can relate to that. Like all red-blooded American
males, I can think of numerous felonies I may have committed in my
reckless youth, usually in the name of wooing women. In addition,
“Contempt of Congress” is considered a serious offense and I confess
that I have been in utter contempt of Congress ever since I was old
enough to vote.
Grandpappy Winfrey
once spent a year in a
On the other side of
the family tree, Great-Grandpappy Sharp was a coal miner who had to
leave the state for a time after the Coal Creek War back in the 1890s.
Granny used to tell of how her daddy would load a coffee can full of
bullets and climb Walden’s Ridge to his position, where he would spend
the day shooting at any Tennessee State Militia soldier who popped his
head up behind the walls of
His shift over, Grandpappy Sharp would come back
down for a good night’s rest before spending the next day shooting at
soldiers again, He was one of several thousand area coal miners who were
never convicted of their felonies.
The commissioners seem to have taken David Young’s
pleas to heart, as they voted 14-1 to, as Steve Rutherford said, “Not
kick a man while he’s down.” Poor Thomas cast the only vote for his
proposal. Marie Ayers seconded his motion “to bring it up for
discussion” and then voted against it.
On a more positive note, my science enrichment
students at Valley View got to go on their field trip on April 1 to the
Gatlinburg Aquarium. The vice principal had to cancel out at the last
minute due to a family emergency, the head count and the check to the
aquarium were off because some parents counted teenagers as “other
children” while the aquarium counts them as adults, and the bus had a
flat tire on the way home.
The principal
cancelled personal travel plans to bravely accompany the trip, the
aquarium worked with us to make the check come out even and we limped
home on one of the two dual wheels on the bus. The 50 kids were
blissfully ignorant of all the little problems, had a great time and
hopefully learned a little something as well – and we didn’t lose a
single chaperone. All in all a successful field trip!
(UPDATED THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013, 4:00 PM)
TBI to investigate animal shelter allegations
April 16, 2013
Press Release
Campbell County Mayor’s Office - Mayor William Baird
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office - Sheriff Robbie Goins
District Attorney General’s Office - Lori Phillips-Jones
Jointly, the aforementioned representatives met today, April 16th, 2013, in the office of the Campbell
County Mayor William Baird. We are all seriously concerned, about the allegations involving the Adrion
W. Baird Animal Center, and we will not tolerate anything less than a thorough inquiry and investigation.
All agencies have been contacted with the various allegations and have been on a fact finding mission
into those claims. At this present time, none of those allegations has been substantiated. However, we
are all cognizant of the fact and agree together, that an investigation by outside source would be
beneficial for all agencies involved, as well as, Campbell County citizens. Therefore, a TBI investigation
has been jointly requested by all agencies involved. The Veterinary Medical Board is already conducting a regulatory investigation and we await its conclusion. All employees of the Adrion W. Baird Animal Center have been placed on administrative leave until further notice and no one outside of the Campbell County Mayor’s Office currently has access to the facility. All those wishing to be interviewed by the TBI in an official investigation and to present their evidence, should contact the Campbell County Mayor’s Office at 423-562-2526 and provide their personal phone number and contact information. We appreciate all of the concerned citizens who have been calling and emailing our offices. We would appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while the investigation is proceeding in a professional and correct manner that we all deserve.
We ask together, due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and the allegations, that the public be
respectful and discontinue the personal contact, harassment, and/or intimidation of Betty Crumley or
any other present or former animal center employee. Any influence by outside or out of state inquires
could result in the hindrance of the official investigation and it is our hope that it will move forward
correctly and fluidly. We believe together, Campbell County citizens and taxpayers deserve a complete
and thorough investigation.
(UPDATED TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013, 2:00 PM)
'Preferred' list of applicants interviewed for City Administrator position in LaFollette
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Interviews were conducted
Wednesday and Thursday of a "preferred" list of 12 applicants for the
position of City Administrator of LaFollette. A total of 21 people
applied for the job when it became available in February. Jack Miller of
Crossville is the only out-of-towner among the 12 applicants interviewed
this week. The others are all local and include Shane Burris, Tom
Hatmaker, Billie Russell, David King, Bill Comer, Mark A. Wells, Andy
Wallace, Travis Davis, Gabrielle Byrge, Greg Brackett and Darryl
Roberts. "The interviews went well, and the council will discuss it at
the next workshop (on April 29)," said LaFollette Police Chief Jimmy
Jeffries, who has been serving as interim city administrator since the
resignation of Cade Sexton in January. LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield
said each member of the council may submit their top picks to be voted
on during the May 7 council meeting.
New convenience center
hours
ALL hours of operation 8:00 a.m.
until 6:00 p.m.
Stony Fork OPEN Monday and
Saturday
ALL other locations OPEN Monday,
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Pearl was...well...a pearl
It was the biggest crowd yet. Around 200 people were on hand
Wednesday to hear the wit and wisdom of former
Bruce Pearl speaks before a packed house (VIC KING PIX 04/17.2013)
Andy Tillman sworn in as new chancellor - story below
Strong to severe storm potential again today
Campbell County was right on
the border line of strong to severe storms Tuesday and is again today.
Storms stayed just over the state line north into Kentucky Tuesday.
However, the threat of nasty storms returns today. Isolated strong
to marginally severe storms are possible mainly during the peak heating
of the afternoon from 3:00 until sunset. Damaging wind and large
hail are the main threats with locally heavy rainfall in the stronger
storms. Should storms
become strong to severe, we will track those for you right here.
Remember. You will hear watches and warnings first from WLAF. (UPDATED WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2013,
6:00 AM)
HASLAM APPOINTS TILLMAN TO
EIGHTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT CHANCERY COURT
Tillman replaces late
Chancellor Billy Joe White who passed away in November 2012
Tillman replaces late Chancellor Billy Joe White
who passed away in November 2012 after serving on the bench for 35
years. The Eighth Judicial District includes Campbell, Claiborne,
Fentress, Scott and Union counties.
Tillman, with wife Claudia, at his side is sworn in by Susano
“The Eight District is gaining an experienced legal
mind with Chancellor Tillman,” Haslam said. “His career has been spent
in both the public and private sectors, and I appreciate his willingness
to serve.”
Since 2009, Tillman
has worked as the senior law clerk for Judge Charles Susano, Jr. of the
Tennessee Court of Appeals, preparing opinions for cases from all
counties in the eastern section and all courts of record, including
chancery court. He worked at the
“I want to thank Gov. Haslam for this unique
opportunity, and I look forward to serving as chancellor of the Eighth
Judicial District,” Tillman said.
Tillman is a 1974
graduate of
Tillman, 61, also has
practical skills as a mechanic, welder, carpenter, millwright and heavy
equipment operator. He attends
Campbell County Commission Meeting 4/15/13
<>
TBI to investigate animal shelter allegations
April 16, 2013
Press Release
Campbell County Mayor’s Office - Mayor William Baird
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office - Sheriff Robbie Goins
District Attorney General’s Office - Lori Phillips-Jones
Jointly, the aforementioned representatives met today, April 16th, 2013, in the office of the Campbell
County Mayor William Baird. We are all seriously concerned, about the allegations involving the Adrion
W. Baird Animal Center, and we will not tolerate anything less than a thorough inquiry and investigation.
All agencies have been contacted with the various allegations and have been on a fact finding mission
into those claims. At this present time, none of those allegations has been substantiated. However, we
are all cognizant of the fact and agree together, that an investigation by outside source would be
beneficial for all agencies involved, as well as, Campbell County citizens. Therefore, a TBI investigation
has been jointly requested by all agencies involved. The Veterinary Medical Board is already conducting a regulatory investigation and we await its conclusion. All employees of the Adrion W. Baird Animal Center have been placed on administrative leave until further notice and no one outside of the Campbell County Mayor’s Office currently has access to the facility. All those wishing to be interviewed by the TBI in an official investigation and to present their evidence, should contact the Campbell County Mayor’s Office at 423-562-2526 and provide their personal phone number and contact information. We appreciate all of the concerned citizens who have been calling and emailing our offices. We would appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation while the investigation is proceeding in a professional and correct manner that we all deserve.
We ask together, due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and the allegations, that the public be
respectful and discontinue the personal contact, harassment, and/or intimidation of Betty Crumley or
any other present or former animal center employee. Any influence by outside or out of state inquires
could result in the hindrance of the official investigation and it is our hope that it will move forward
correctly and fluidly. We believe together, Campbell County citizens and taxpayers deserve a complete
and thorough investigation.
(UPDATED TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013,
2:00 PM)
One of the big Owls of the '60s passes
Carl Rutherford made his living delivering the mail and creating trophies with his son David. However, his calling card was his abilities on the basketball court and beyond as a coach and a referee. The former La Follette Owl battled cancer to his death last night around 11:30 at his home.
Coach Jerry Dagley says he and Rutherford
were arch rivals during their playing days at Jacksboro and La Follette
High Schools respectfully. Dagley, who later successfully coached
the La Follette Owls, recalls the night when the Eagles and Owls were
playing, and he and
During his playing
days,
Ashley Whited, one of Carl’s granddaughters, is carrying forward the
family tradition and was a member of this past season’s undefeated Lady
Cougar JV team. Carl was able to attend Ashely’s last game that
secured the unbeaten season. Carl Rutherford was 69-years old.
While rumors circulated about an expected crowd of
animal lovers descending on the courthouse for Monday’s commission
meeting, only three members of the local Friends of Animals group were
in the audience when less than a minute was devoted to the topic of the
Campbell County animal shelter.
After Beverly Hall moved to suspend the rules in
order to discuss the shelter, Mayor William Baird promptly reported that
the shelter remains closed while a state investigation continues. He
added that all shelter employees remain on paid administrative leave
until their future status can be determined.
When Hall asked if the District Attorney General
has been contacted, Baird replied, “I’m meeting with the DA’s office
tomorrow.”
Thomas Hatmaker arrived late for the meeting, but
in time to bring up a resolution he had requested that would ban the
county from hiring convicted felons in the future.
“All other county employees are at the discretion
of the department heads and elected officials over those departments.
The commission can send a message of intent but those officials
determine employment requirements over their own employees,” Coker
advised.
Vice Mayor David Young asked to be recognized on
the subject and reminded commissioners that he is a convicted felon.
“Although Thomas’ resolution would not be retroactive and won’t affect
me or the other three county employees who have felony records, I want
to go on record as opposing such a resolution,” Young stated.
He then pointed out that many people who make
mistakes when they are young that result in felony convictions go on to
lead useful lives, work hard and raise families despite the obstacles
that a felony record can place in their paths. He urged commissioners to
vote against the resolution and allow people with felony records to be
judged on their individual merits.
Commissioner Steve Rutherford referred to the
proposed resolution as “kicking a man when he’s down, with Hatmaker
responding that his proposal is “not meant to hurt anybody.”
Marie Ayers seconded the resolution “for the
purpose of bringing it to a vote, then joined thirteen other
commissioners in voting “no.” The resolution failed 14-1 with Hatmaker
casting the only vote in favor of his motion.
Another motion by Hatmaker fared little better, as
he proposed naming one of the senior courthouse janitors as interim
supervisor over courthouse maintenance. Supervisor Don Dilbeck is on
extended medical leave and is expected to retire when his leave is
exhausted.
Several commissioners questioned the need to
appoint an interim director when the senior assistants are already
taking responsibility for Dilbeck’s duties and there is no money in the
budget to give an interim director a raise. The motion failed 10-5.
The commission was more united on other topics,
voting unanimously to instruct Clerk & Master Bill Archer that the
county should not bid on six properties that have been quarantined as
meth houses when those properties are included in the delinquent tax
sale is May.
By not bidding, the county will leave the property
in the ownership of the original owners if nobody bids on them at the
sale. If the county takes ownership of the quarantined properties, it
would be responsible for cleaning them up, Coker pointed out.
The commission also
voted unanimously to authorize Environmental Services Director T. Don
Boshears to pursue legal action against Ft. Loudon Metals, a recycling
firm that owes
Evans the latest WLAF-ISG 60th
Trivia winner
Debbie Evans correctly answered “Jacksboro 14 at La Follette 00 on
September 13, 1974" in the latest trivia fun from WLAF and ISG
Insurance. Debbie wins free food from Wendy's and a family
four-pack of movie tickets from Carmike Movies 2. For your chance
to win movie tickets, or Little Caesar’s Pizza, or free gasoline from
Woodson Shell, or free food from Wendy’s, simply watch WLAF-TV’s Green
Screen for each week’s question and answer. Once you know the
answer to the trivia question and the ad page where the answer is found,
call 423.562.1450, and you will be eligible to win. Big Josh Etter
announces each week’s winner Monday mornings over 1450 WLAF Radio,
WLAF-TV 12, and
www.1450wlaf.com. WLAF-ISG
Insurance 60th
Trivia is year-long fun from your friends at the old radio station, 1450
WLAF and Randy Heatherly and the folks at ISG Insurance.
'Preferred' list of applicants interviewed for City Administrator position in LaFollette
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Interviews were conducted
Wednesday and Thursday of a "preferred" list of 12 applicants for the
position of City Administrator of LaFollette. A total of 21 people
applied for the job when it became available in February. Jack Miller of
Crossville is the only out-of-towner among the 12 applicants interviewed
this week. The others are all local and include Shane Burris, Tom
Hatmaker, Billie Russell, David King, Bill Comer, Mark A. Wells, Andy
Wallace, Travis Davis, Gabrielle Byrge, Greg Brackett and Darryl
Roberts. "The interviews went well, and the council will discuss it at
the next workshop (on April 29)," said LaFollette Police Chief Jimmy
Jeffries, who has been serving as interim city administrator since the
resignation of Cade Sexton in January. LaFollette Mayor Mike Stanfield
said each member of the council may submit their top picks to be voted
on during the May 7 council meeting.
Being part of the
Last week was one of those weeks. First came the
pride, as the community’s outpouring of love and caring for a
14-year-old girl’s courageous fight against cancer made national news.
The schoolmates of Katelyn Norman led the way as an
entire community exerted every effort to help Katelyn realize her
“bucket list” dream of attending her high school prom. An entire
community reached out to let her know she was loved, and her story
touched millions through the attention of national news media.
While Campbell Countians could hold their heads
high with pride over the national attention gained by Katelyn’s story,
another kind of attention placed our county in an unkind light the same
week.
Video leaked over the Internet appeared to expose
the folks at the Adrion Baird Animal Shelter of abusing animals and
treating them inhumanely. To prove the point that there are few zealots
more zealous than animal lovers, shelter director Betty Crumley was
bombarded by death threats to the point of being given police
protection, while courthouse offices were inundated by angry calls from
all over the country.
“People were even
calling our office,” County Clerk Debbie Wilson said last week. “We told
them we had nothing whatsoever to do with the animal shelter but they
just wanted to let us know what low life human beings we people in
Vice Mayor David Young told me Friday that he spent
the entire week responding to telephone complaints over the shelter
rhubarb. “I started out being nice and patient. By the end the phone
calls were so abusive and threatening that I just hung up on some of
them before I would say something I would regret,” David recalled.
County Mayor William Baird, showing uncommonly good
sense, found that he had urgent business to attend to down in Nashville
last week and left his Vice Mayor in charge of the office.
As it turns out, lawyer Terry Basista, formerly a
member of the animal control board, ‘fessed up last week to putting the
incriminating video out over the web. It was sent to him by a former
shelter employee and appears to have been doctored considerably, if not
completely fabricated.
“PETA actually came to our defense,” Young pointed
out. “They said that they had inspected our facility and found no
evidence of the kinds of abuse the video purported to show.”
PETA did take shelter personnel to task for using
the same dosage of an euthanasia chemical on larger dogs that is used
for smaller dogs, resulting in a longer delay before the animals’ hearts
stop. Accusations that dogs were placed in the freezer while still alive
or suffered pain during the euthanasia process are totally unfounded,
Young stated.
The shelter also fails to follow another PETA
recommendation, that animals be given a dose of sedative before being
injected with the fatal chemical. Young claims that budget restraints
have made it impossible to sedate all of the animals first, but that the
euthanasia injection does not cause pain or discomfort.
Whether any of the criticisms aimed at the shelter
are justified might just come down to who you believe, but it does
underscore the fact that hubris seldom ends well. Director Crumley may
be a dedicated individual, but she comes off in public meetings as being
arrogant and stubborn, especially when faced with criticism from the
county’s animal lovers.
Betty simply wants nothing to do with the folks
with Campbell County Friends of Animals, an outspoken group that has
been pushing for more adoption-friendly policies such as allowing
volunteers to place photos of adoptable animals on Facebook or other
online venues.
She has resisted offers for free volunteer help
from people who she sees as critical of her performance and has made a
poor impression with many county commissioners. The result is
predictable. Just because you are paranoid, the old saying goes, does
not mean people are not out to get you.
If part of the shelter’s problem involves budget
restraints. If the shelter cannot afford the cost of sedating every
animal that must be put down, a good way to encourage donations to
offset the costs would be by making friends and not enemies.
While the shelter controversy has given our county
a black eye to go with our Katelyn halo, county commissioners got a
preview of more trouble on the horizon at Monday night’s workshop.
Can you spell E-911? Perhaps not, unless it’s
spelled “b-r-o-k-e.” That appears to be the way our 911 system is
heading, with revenues from the public down about 50 percent in recent
years.
The problem is cell phones, and the fact that
telephone landlines are going the way of 8-track tapes, movies on VHS
and the U. S. Postal Service – consigned to the obsolete scrap heap of
history.
The E-911 system, so ballyhooed when set up as the
answer to all our prayers for prompt response in emergencies, is funded
partially by an appropriation in the county budget and partially from a
surcharge on telephone bills. Problem is, the surcharge is on stationary
landlines. When 911 was established, cell phones were still an
occasional luxury.
Not so anymore. The
number of business and residential landlines in the county has declined
by nearly half in the past few years, and monthly revenues have declined
right along with them. The state did set up a system for assessing cell
phones, at the rate of a dollar a month, but the State of
“Not enough,” 911 Director Charlie Hutson told the
squires Monday, A bill to increase the cell phone surcharge went nowhere
in this year’s legislature, as the majority GOP lawmakers obviously
viewed it as a “tax increase.” They, of course, would much rather do
nothing and leave it up to local governments to increase taxes to help
E-911 survive.
Without more revenue from telephone subscribers or
a hefty increase in county funding paid for by property taxpayers, E-911
will still function, Hutson explained, but more than likely without
dispatchers. Instead, an automated system would direct incoming calls
from the 911 call center to the appropriate emergency service based on
the location of the call.
Callers would then be transferred to the Campbell
County Sheriff’s Department, police and fire departments in the various
towns or other appropriate agencies. He did not explain how a
location-based relay system could separate police calls from fire calls
or requests for an ambulance, and it seems likely that the absence of
911 dispatchers would mean a delay in response time, perhaps a fatal
delay in some cases.
While commissioners mull over how to deal with the
looming 911 crisis, one crisis seems to be resolved. The commission’s
EMS Committee took a vote Monday night that will finally put the
embattled Pinecrest Volunteer Fire Department out of its misery once and
for all.
Pinecrest VFD, you
might recall, became insolvent last year under a mountain of debt
approaching $200,000. How such a thing might happen can only be guessed
at, but the fact that former Pinecrest Chief Jerry Moat was arrested
last week on an indictment from
At any rate, the Pinecrest board disbanded the
department and tried to start off from scratch with a new Norris Ridge
Volunteer Fire Department. They declined to declare bankruptcy, however,
choosing to salvage the department’s station houses by assuming and
consolidating the Pinecrest debt.
The commission pledged 15 grand to the new fire
department, once Norris Ridge had applied for its tax exempt status from
the IRS. Fast forward nearly six months and the Pinecrest area is still
being covered from afar by Campbell County Rural Fire Service and
Jacksboro Fire Department.
Norris Ridge Chief McCullah admitted Monday night
that his department still hasn’t applied for the 501(c) (3) tax exempt
status because they can’t afford the $850 filing fee. Naturally, not a
penny of the county appropriation has been spent and now the folks at
Campbell County Rural Fire Service would like the share of the money
that would have gone to Norris Ridge for the past five months.
The EMS Committee
voted unanimously to recommend that the county funds be divided between
the Rural Fire Service and Jacksboro, with Campbell County Rural Fire
Service assuming permanent responsibility for most of Pinecrest while
Jacksboro covers the
If this plan works, folks in Pinecrest might
eventually see their insurance rates fall back to normal levels, all
areas of the county will again have fire protection and the commission
won’t have to spend more money than they have already appropriated. The
only losers will be the creditors for Pinecrest/Norris Ridge VFD and all
of the dedicated volunteer firefighters who put their hearts and souls
into their community fire department and their trust in the wrong man.
Dear WLAF,
We hope this message
finds you well. We're writing to clarify certain misinformation
included in WLAF's April 10 report regarding PETA's involvement with the
Campbell County Adrion Baird Animal Shelter. We understand that the
information is being shared by others via social media, such as on this
Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=315639751898437&id=395292177235646#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=398542250243972&id=395292177235646.
Please be assured that PETA has not visited the county shelter and is
therefore unable to offer any firsthand information in that regard. We
contacted county officials in writing and by phone to urge them to
ensure that the shelter follows humane euthanasia recommendations from
national experts and in accordance with state laws. Additionally, PETA
provided them with recommended guidelines for operation and standards of
care<http://www.sheltervet.org/about/shelter-standards/>
from sheltering experts the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, and
we've urged them to follow the guidelines closely.
Regarding pre-euthanasia sedation, PETA concurs that this is not always
in the best interests of the animal. Whenever possible, a cooperative
animal should be held and comforted and given an intravenous (IV)
injection of sodium pentobarbital (or in the case of some cats, kittens,
and puppies, intraperitoneal, or IP injection, using the proper
recommended dosage, may be more appropriate). Fractious and hyperactive
animals must always be handled cautiously, and unfortunately, two
animals of the same breed and size may react differently to the drug
(and in some, the drug may actually exacerbate fractious behavior).
There is an unacceptable inherent risk in having a policy of
administering the same drug to a number of animals and hoping or
assuming that their responses will be uniform. Each animal must be
individually evaluated to determine if sedation is necessary.
Thank you for your time and attention. I can be contacted at
443-320-1277 and TeresaC@peta.org<mailto:TeresaC@peta.org>.
Sincerely yours,
Teresa Lynn Chagrin
Animal Care and Control Specialist
Cruelty Investigations Department
cc: The Honorable David Young,
Deputy Mayor of
Shelter closed until further notice
Mayor William Baird closed
the Campbell County Animal Shelter this afternoon until further notice.
The mayor phoned WLAF News just moments ago to announce his decision.
Baird says the shelter remains closed until such time the investigation,
that began Tuesday, by the
Tennessee Veterinarian Board is complete.
Once the findings are released, Baird says he will then take the
appropriate action to reopen the animal shelter.
* Gatlinburg cabin rental – weekend rental
* Lots 30, 31, 32 and 35 located at Kensington
Place Subdivision in LaFollette
* Orangery Gift Certificate value $1,000.00
* Autographed basketball – Bruce Pearl
* $300.00 photo shoot package
* Plane ride for 3 piloted by Lynn Prater
* 2 UT game box seats
* Pontoon boat 1 day rental
* 1 Session to treat
varicose veins – Dr. George Pliagas,
Crumley is still the shelter director
The Campbell County Animal
Shelter is closed. For the rest of today. Mayor William
Baird tells WLAF News that he made the decision to close the shelter,
because it’s been like a circus trying to conduct business at the Towe
String shelter with all the news reporters, visitors, and such.
Baird says the shelter will open for business as usual on Friday, but he
quickly adds that that is subject to change. He goes on to say
that a decision will be made within the next 24-hours to either
temporarily close the animal shelter or open it and operate as usual.
All the animals that were in the shelter have either been rescued or
adopted leaving the shelter empty for the time being. Baird says
that Betty Crumley is still the director, and that the state
investigation that began on Tuesday continues. Chief Aaron Evans
confirms for WLAF that a Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputy was called to
the shelter this morning initially on what was described to dispatchers
as “a disgruntled employee” call. Once the officer arrived, all
was quiet. However, Crumley was taking up keys from some employees
and asked the officer to sign as a witness that she took up the keys.
The officer obliged.
News release from the Friends of Campbell County Animals
Friends of Campbell County Animals is a 501c Organization: And
here is OUR story: Some kind ladies were already helping the
animals of Campbell County, by going to the shelter, taking photos and
cross posting them on social media outlets, they were also already
helping others pay for spay/neuter services and helping others re home
pets they could no longer keep. In July/August of 2012, these
ladies, out of their own pockets, helped to sponsor some of the
adoptions from the shelter, and within two months, between the photos on
social media, and assistance with the adoption costs, lowered the EU of
this shelter by 20%. By September, they were no longer allowed to
take photos, were not allowed to sponsor adoptions, nothing, were told
to stop all this activity by the director of the shelter. These
same ladies attended the September County Commission meeting and were
told: In order to make photos, you are going to need to get a 501c
status and insurance, once you do that, you will be allowed to take all
the photos you want! After several informal meetings, and
research as to what would be needed to organize into a 501c and the
cost, we discussed the issue of the cost, which was considerable, just
to take photos? If we are going to organize and have to spend this
considerable amount of money for the 501c application, and the liability
insurance to cover the group, we need to do more than just take photos!
That was when we approached the commissioners, again, wanting to arrange
rescue, etc, to save as many animals as humanly possible! And
again, the commission appeared to be in full agreement to this concept
and the ideals associated with it. In October 2012, these same
ladies, now with several other ladies and men asking to be included,
formed the organization known as Friends of Campbell County Animals, we
applied for our 501c and received it in January 2013, and promptly
obtained the required liability insurance for the group. Again,
these ladies approached the
Campbell County School Board Meeting 4/09/13
<>
Animal shelter investigated Tuesday
An investigator from the Tennessee Veterinarian Board spent a lot of
time in
She went on to tell
the mayor that after hearing all the allegations prior to her visit that
she was very “surprised” when she saw the facility saying that she’s
visited many, many shelters over the years, and that she’s not seen many
shelters cleaner and nicer than the Campbell County Animal Shelter.
At issue are complaints from employees and others that Shelter Director
Betty Crumley is operating the facility under abusive conditions.
Crumley, who has run the shelter since 2009, has received threatening
calls and emails. Baird says it’s been very difficult to conduct
county business with all the phone calls and emails especially when
you’re averaging one to two emails a minute like the office was last
week. The mayor notes that it’s business as usual until the
investigation is complete. It will be up to the state veterinarian
board to determine if there has been any wrong doing.
Trio of teens does damage with dozer
Three teens wreak havoc in a gated community on
Stanford
According to Evans, around the first of March, the two eighteen year olds broke into a home that is under construction on Prestige Ridge and stole property totaling more than one-thousand dollars. The items were found at the home of Marvin Stanford on Old Long Hollow Road. Both Jonathan Stanford and Dylan Thompson admitted to selling the property to Stanford’s father, Marvin, for $120.
Logan Thompson
About a week later, in
the same gated community, The Villages, this time on Rainbow View Road,
Stanford, Thompson, and Thompson’s older brother, Logan, tell deputies
that they “hot wired” a piece of heavy equipment and drove it into a
semi-trailer turning it on its side, destroying its contents, and then
turned the heavy equipment on its side. Damage caused is estimated
at more than $10,000. Near the end of March, Stanford and Dylan
Thompson struck again this time burglarizing and vandalizing an
unfinished home on
Dylan Thompson
Damages in this case
are in excess of $10,000. The pair admits to running the victim’s
D-5 dozer into the unfinished residence and knocking the porch off of
the foundation. They then turned a Jayco camper on its side
totaling the camper. The trio’s total number of victims, all
out-of-towners, is five. All three teens are free on bond.
Being part of the
Last week was one of those weeks. First came the
pride, as the community’s outpouring of love and caring for a
14-year-old girl’s courageous fight against cancer made national news.
The schoolmates of Katelyn Norman led the way as an
entire community exerted every effort to help Katelyn realize her
“bucket list” dream of attending her high school prom. An entire
community reached out to let her know she was loved, and her story
touched millions through the attention of national news media.
While Campbell Countians could hold their heads
high with pride over the national attention gained by Katelyn’s story,
another kind of attention placed our county in an unkind light the same
week.
Video leaked over the Internet appeared to expose
the folks at the Adrion Baird Animal Shelter of abusing animals and
treating them inhumanely. To prove the point that there are few zealots
more zealous than animal lovers, shelter director Betty Crumley was
bombarded by death threats to the point of being given police
protection, while courthouse offices were inundated by angry calls from
all over the country.
“People were even
calling our office,” County Clerk Debbie Wilson said last week. “We told
them we had nothing whatsoever to do with the animal shelter but they
just wanted to let us know what low life human beings we people in
Vice Mayor David Young told me Friday that he spent
the entire week responding to telephone complaints over the shelter
rhubarb. “I started out being nice and patient. By the end the phone
calls were so abusive and threatening that I just hung up on some of
them before I would say something I would regret,” David recalled.
County Mayor William Baird, showing uncommonly good
sense, found that he had urgent business to attend to down in Nashville
last week and left his Vice Mayor in charge of the office.
As it turns out, lawyer Terry Basista, formerly a
member of the animal control board, ‘fessed up last week to putting the
incriminating video out over the web. It was sent to him by a former
shelter employee and appears to have been doctored considerably, if not
completely fabricated.
“PETA actually came to our defense,” Young pointed
out. “They said that they had inspected our facility and found no
evidence of the kinds of abuse the video purported to show.”
PETA did take shelter personnel to task for using
the same dosage of an euthanasia chemical on larger dogs that is used
for smaller dogs, resulting in a longer delay before the animals’ hearts
stop. Accusations that dogs were placed in the freezer while still alive
or suffered pain during the euthanasia process are totally unfounded,
Young stated.
The shelter also fails to follow another PETA
recommendation, that animals be given a dose of sedative before being
injected with the fatal chemical. Young claims that budget restraints
have made it impossible to sedate all of the animals first, but that the
euthanasia injection does not cause pain or discomfort.
Whether any of the criticisms aimed at the shelter
are justified might just come down to who you believe, but it does
underscore the fact that hubris seldom ends well. Director Crumley may
be a dedicated individual, but she comes off in public meetings as being
arrogant and stubborn, especially when faced with criticism from the
county’s animal lovers.
Betty simply wants nothing to do with the folks
with Campbell County Friends of Animals, an outspoken group that has
been pushing for more adoption-friendly policies such as allowing
volunteers to place photos of adoptable animals on Facebook or other
online venues.
She has resisted offers for free volunteer help
from people who she sees as critical of her performance and has made a
poor impression with many county commissioners. The result is
predictable. Just because you are paranoid, the old saying goes, does
not mean people are not out to get you.
If part of the shelter’s problem involves budget
restraints. If the shelter cannot afford the cost of sedating every
animal that must be put down, a good way to encourage donations to
offset the costs would be by making friends and not enemies.
While the shelter controversy has given our county
a black eye to go with our Katelyn halo, county commissioners got a
preview of more trouble on the horizon at Monday night’s workshop.
Can you spell E-911? Perhaps not, unless it’s
spelled “b-r-o-k-e.” That appears to be the way our 911 system is
heading, with revenues from the public down about 50 percent in recent
years.
The problem is cell phones, and the fact that
telephone landlines are going the way of 8-track tapes, movies on VHS
and the U. S. Postal Service – consigned to the obsolete scrap heap of
history.
The E-911 system, so ballyhooed when set up as the
answer to all our prayers for prompt response in emergencies, is funded
partially by an appropriation in the county budget and partially from a
surcharge on telephone bills. Problem is, the surcharge is on stationary
landlines. When 911 was established, cell phones were still an
occasional luxury.
Not so anymore. The
number of business and residential landlines in the county has declined
by nearly half in the past few years, and monthly revenues have declined
right along with them. The state did set up a system for assessing cell
phones, at the rate of a dollar a month, but the State of
“Not enough,” 911 Director Charlie Hutson told the
squires Monday, A bill to increase the cell phone surcharge went nowhere
in this year’s legislature, as the majority GOP lawmakers obviously
viewed it as a “tax increase.” They, of course, would much rather do
nothing and leave it up to local governments to increase taxes to help
E-911 survive.
Without more revenue from telephone subscribers or
a hefty increase in county funding paid for by property taxpayers, E-911
will still function, Hutson explained, but more than likely without
dispatchers. Instead, an automated system would direct incoming calls
from the 911 call center to the appropriate emergency service based on
the location of the call.
Callers would then be transferred to the Campbell
County Sheriff’s Department, police and fire departments in the various
towns or other appropriate agencies. He did not explain how a
location-based relay system could separate police calls from fire calls
or requests for an ambulance, and it seems likely that the absence of
911 dispatchers would mean a delay in response time, perhaps a fatal
delay in some cases.
While commissioners mull over how to deal with the
looming 911 crisis, one crisis seems to be resolved. The commission’s
EMS Committee took a vote Monday night that will finally put the
embattled Pinecrest Volunteer Fire Department out of its misery once and
for all.
Pinecrest VFD, you
might recall, became insolvent last year under a mountain of debt
approaching $200,000. How such a thing might happen can only be guessed
at, but the fact that former Pinecrest Chief Jerry Moat was arrested
last week on an indictment from
At any rate, the Pinecrest board disbanded the
department and tried to start off from scratch with a new Norris Ridge
Volunteer Fire Department. They declined to declare bankruptcy, however,
choosing to salvage the department’s station houses by assuming and
consolidating the Pinecrest debt.
The commission pledged 15 grand to the new fire
department, once Norris Ridge had applied for its tax exempt status from
the IRS. Fast forward nearly six months and the Pinecrest area is still
being covered from afar by Campbell County Rural Fire Service and
Jacksboro Fire Department.
Norris Ridge Chief McCullah admitted Monday night
that his department still hasn’t applied for the 501(c) (3) tax exempt
status because they can’t afford the $850 filing fee. Naturally, not a
penny of the county appropriation has been spent and now the folks at
Campbell County Rural Fire Service would like the share of the money
that would have gone to Norris Ridge for the past five months.
The EMS Committee
voted unanimously to recommend that the county funds be divided between
the Rural Fire Service and Jacksboro, with Campbell County Rural Fire
Service assuming permanent responsibility for most of Pinecrest while
Jacksboro covers the
If this plan works, folks in Pinecrest might
eventually see their insurance rates fall back to normal levels, all
areas of the county will again have fire protection and the commission
won’t have to spend more money than they have already appropriated. The
only losers will be the creditors for Pinecrest/Norris Ridge VFD and all
of the dedicated volunteer firefighters who put their hearts and souls
into their community fire department and their trust in the wrong man.
Schools likely facing another decrease in students
The Campbell County Board of Education will begin
the delicate process of producing a budget for the upcoming school year
with a budget workshop session on April 23. If Director Donnie Poston’s
estimates are correct, that task will be made more complicated by a
continuing drop in enrollment.
“We can possibly face another decrease of around 70
children next year,” Poston told the board. He did not have to point out
that losing that many students will mean additional cuts in state
dollars that are calculated on the number of students enrolled.
“I want to encourage us all to be bold with our
budget requests,” Chairman Josh Parker said. “Nothing is more important
to this county than education.”
With money promising to be tighter than ever, the
board spent some time discussing a growing shortfall in the food
services fund, caused by students who fail to pay for cafeteria meals
that they have charged.
“We need a process to accept credit cards,” Scott
Hill suggested. “That would make it more convenient for parents to pay
off mounting cafeteria charges.”
“Do we have an upper limit on charges?” Eugene
Lawson added. “If a student’s family can’t afford to pay for meals they
need to be on the free lunch program. If they can afford to pay, we need
to be collecting those charges.”
Attorney Dail Cantrell
told the board that in
“They can call in their credit card number and add
money to the account,” Cantrell added.
“If it reaches zero and they don’t renew it, what
do you do?” Lawson asked.
Cantrell admitted that students are not turned away
from eating if their account balance has been exhausted. “It’s not
really been a problem, it’s an incentive based program,” Cantrell
concluded.
Sheriff’s Deputy Shane Wolfenbarger appeared before
the board to report on the “Text A Tip” program, where students are
given a hotline number to text security officers if they observe
problems.
“The program has led to preventing numerous fights,
along with drug and tobacco violations,” Wolfenbarger explained. “We
also had one bomb threat that was reported and led to an evacuation.”
He was asked if students who level false
accusations or call in hoax tips has been a problem.
“We’ve only had one or two incidents of false
accusations. If someone makes a habit of it, we can block their number
from the line,” Wolfenbarger explained, adding, “It’s a good program.
Students are more likely to report problems when their tips are
anonymous.”
The board also approved an increase in travel
reimbursement rates for staff and teachers who must travel to
conferences or state-sponsored training programs, to a maximum of $250
per day for either in-state or out-of-state travel.
AFT spokesperson
Sharon Marlow explained after the meeting that the Tennessee Department
of Education commonly schedules mandatory events at expensive venues
such as the Opryland Hotel in
“They book these things where rooms and meals are
really expensive, then leave it up to local school systems to pay their
own way,” Marlow pointed out.
Caryville Council Meeting 4/8/13
<>
90-day activity report is out from CCSD
It was a busy first
90 days of 2013 for the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies made more than 500 traffic stops while the jail averaged 172
inmates a day. The complete 90-day activity report is found
further down this page.
Memorandum
TO:
Campbell County Commission
FR:
Sheriff Robbie K. Goins
RE:
DATE:
April 8, 2013
As committed in the last 90 day report, you will
find in the attached materials and information below, the progress,
activity and updates from our office for the months of January, February
and March. I have instructed my staff to prepare and produce this
information on a 90 day basis to better serve and inform you thoroughly.
We hope this information will provide you all with valuable insight of
the hard work, dedication and the progress of our office that I mandate
and expect. Our new mission statement “It is the mission of the
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office to safeguard the lives and property of
the people we serve, to reduce the incidence of fear of crime and to
enhance public safety, while working with every community to improve
their quality of life. Our mandate is to do so with professionalism and
integrity, while at all times conducting ourselves with the highest
ethical standards, to renew and maintain public confidence. Our values
will evolve around and with Leadership, Service, Performance and
Discipline.” This mission statement is something we take very seriously
and expect every employee to abide by wholeheartedly. As you will notice
in the below information, our office is very busy and we strive every
day to make sure the public and taxpayer gets what they demand and
deserve. We hope this information will help reflect the dedication of
our office and the fine people we have leading it. Your attention to
this matter is greatly appreciated. Thank you all for everything you do
and the service you provide for our county daily.
Memorandum
TO:
Captain J .Brandon Elkins
Captain Eric Jones
Lieutenant Jeremy Goins
FR:
Chief Deputy Aaron A. Evans
RE:
90 Day Progress/Activity Reporting
DATE:
April 8, 2013
We have committed to doing an information update or 90 day progress/activity report to the Campbell County Commission and other avenues. I am requesting, in detail, a list of the activity and progress that has occurred in the last 90 days with your respective divisions. Include everything, regardless how minor you perceive it to be. Include arrests for different or specific violations, investigations solved, jail issues, escape thwarts, training, special assignments, board bill projections, inmate housing information and anything you believe to be pertinent to the operations of your respective division. I will retrieve the data from 911 Communication Center and provide those statistics.
Memorandum
TO:
Sheriff Robbie K. Goins
FR:
Chief Deputy Aaron A. Evans
RE:
DATE:
April 8, 2013
Per your request for
the activity and information update for the previous 90 days you will
find activity and information from the entire command staff, as listed.
Below is the total number of calls for service and the specific 10-Code
calls they were, that was entered by the 911 Center. As an office, we
responded to 3,268
calls for service that have been entered, in the previous 90 days.
Calls for Service
Animal Calls
75
Attempted Suicide
11
Escorts
245
Suicide
2
Civil Process
905
Harassment/Threats
71
Noise Complaints
20
Trespassing
33
Vandalism
63
ATV Complaints
4
Wanted Checks
144
B&E Business
4
Child Custody
18
B&E Residence
72
Neighbor/Property Disputes
19
B&E Vehicle
7
Shootings
10
Shoplifter
5
Runaway Juveniles
5
Fraud/Forgery
24
Missing Persons
5
Fire
17
Alarms
68
Stolen/Lost Property
129
Reporting at Station
1
Message Delivery
0
Stolen Vehicles
30
Juvenile Problem
14
Property Damage Crashes
29
Traffic Stops
547
Crashes w/ Injury
11
Officer Assistance Calls
25
Drunk/Drugged Driving
11
Domestic Dispute
102
Armed Robbery
1
Drug Traffic
35
Hit and Run
8
Disturbance
32
Prowler
40
Assault
78
Welfare Check
79
Sick/Injured Person
79
Public Drunk
11
Child Abuse
2
Fight Calls
11
Indecent Exposure
1
Suspicious Person/Vehicle
329
Dead Body
10
Haz-Mat Situation
0
Mental Person
7
Property Check
31
911 Hang Up
6
Extra Patrol Calls
69
There are an unspecified number of other
miscellaneous calls for service
The total number of arrest for the months of:
Jan: 106
Feb: 93
March: 159
90 day total: 358
Total Civil Process Served for the 90 day period:
905
I would like to commend Detective Sergeant John
Long leading CID with 33 total arrests for the 90 time period. Also
would like to commend with the Patrol Division Deputy Franklin Ayers for
leading the patrol division with 26 arrests, Deputy Cody Chapman with 22
arrests and Deputy Gary Jeffers with 20 arrests.
Per your request, in the last page of this report
you will find valuable information from the previous 90 days on the
actions and operations of our office.
Memorandum
TO:
Chief Deputy Aaron A. Evans
FR:
Captain J. Brandon Elkins
RE:
90 Day Progress/Activity Reporting for CID
DATE:
April 8, 2013
Criminal Investigation Division and Drug
Investigation Division
Statistics for the Last
90 Days
The last 90 days (January 1st-March 31st, 2012)
have been challenging yet proving for the Criminal Investigation
Division and Drug Investigation Division. As a department, CCSO
has seen an overall decrease in burglaries, thefts, violent crime, and
narcotic trafficking during this quarter. During the last 90 days, CID
has handled 154 cases. Overall case assignment has decreased -16% this
quarter. We have seen a 22% increase in arrests within the
divisions during this time period. The Drug Investigation unit has
completed 10 undercover drug buys. CID and DID has also participated in
three search warrants inside of the county, which led to the county
seizure of approximately $40,000.00 in assets. The focus of DID this
quarter has been to see the indictment of individuals for various
narcotic related crimes over the past year and the arrest of those
individuals. Nine active meth labs were also worked during
this time period, resulting in 8 arrests for the manufacture of
methamphetamine. We have seen an increase in the number of clandestine
methamphetamine labs in our county this quarter. The prescription
pill problem continues to be on the rise and we are also starting to see
the use of inhalants in teens at our local community schools. The Search
and Rescue team has responded to 2 call outs in which both individuals
were eventually located. The Units are also responsible for
responding to some 71 calls for service. Departmental efforts have also
seen the indictment of more than 50 individuals through Grand Jury.
Further, the divisions have solved many cases resulting in the arrest of
100 individuals for various criminal offenses. Most of the offenses
charged by our investigators have been felony charges and have been
after the long, hard work of solving a case. Some of the notable
offenses include: 8 Aggravated Burglaries, 5 Burglaries, 10 Thefts under
$500.00, 2 Thefts over $500.00, 19 Thefts over $1000.00, 1 Arson, 3
Theft over $10,000.00, 2 Forgeries, 4 Aggravated Child Abuse and
Neglect, and 1 Rape of a Child. Our divisions’ arrests account for 32%
of the total departmental arrests. With seven detectives, we account for
16% of the department. Clearly, our divisions account for more than
their number.
This quarter has been an eventful time for members
of CID and DID. I would like to especially recognize Detective Sergeant
John Long for his work in the drug investigation division. Detective
Sergeant Long arrested 33 individuals this quarter and saw many cases
that he has worked over the past year come to fruition. It is because of
his dedication that many members of our great county can rest knowing
that we have arrested drug dealers targeting young people within the
community.
Memorandum
TO:
Chief Deputy Aaron A. Evans
FR:
Captain Eric Jones
RE:
90 Day Progress/Activity Reporting for Jail Operations
DATE:
April 8, 2013
Board Bill Projections: Dec: $90,021
Jan: $88,282
Feb: $79,920
White Male Inmates: 123 Black Male Inmates: 1 Other Male Inmates: 1 Total: 125
White Female Inmates: 43
none
none
Total: 43
Male Inmates: 74.25%
Females: 25.75% White: 99.4%
Black: 0.10% Other: 0.1%
Total Inmates: 168
Average Age Male: 37 Average Age
Female: 34
Average Number of days in Jail: 121
Total Inmates that have been in jail prior: 156
90 Days Evaluated for this average and purpose:
Average daily inmate count:
172
Highest Daily count in 92 days:
191
Lowest
Average Inmate meal cost for the months of July,
August, and September
October:
16,037 meals served- .77 cents/meal- $.95 with bread and milk
November:
14,217 meals served- .93 cents/meal- $1.12 with bread and milk
December:
16,157
meals served- .81 cents/meal- $.97 with bread and milk
Memorandum
TO:
Chief Deputy Aaron A. Evans
FR:
Lieutenant Jeremy Goins
RE:
90 Day Progress/Activity Reporting for Road Operations
DATE:
April 8, 2013
From January 1st 2013 to March 31st 2013 The
Campbell County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division has answered 3,268
calls for services and have made approximately 358 arrests in the last
three months. The following explains in detail some of the arrests
and citations that have been made and given: Driving while revoked
license 18, Driving on suspended license 20, HMVO 5, Reckless Driving 5,
Seat belt Violations 21, Light Law 9, Violation of registration 8,
Violation of Tennessee Financial Responsibility Law 10, Speeding 14,
Driving under the influence 26, Violation of Implied consent 8, Open
Container 3, Public intoxication 16, Possession of drug Para. 22,
Possession of Schedule II 19, Possession of Schedule III 12, Possession
of Schedule VI 9 , Evading arrest 5, Resisting arrest 14, Reckless
endangerment 7, Assault on a police officer 1, Capias warrant 27,
Violation of Probations warrant 16, Criminal trespassing 10,
Domestic Violence by assault 22, Assault 8, Aggravated Assault 9,
Vandalism 9, Disorderly conduct 6, Vehicular Assault 1.
Also during the last three months the Patrol Division has participated
in Governor’s Highway Safety Office Campaign S.M.I.L.E., attempting to
reduce traffic crashes, traffic fatalities and to make the
Highlights of additional
progress and activities for the Sheriff’s Office in the previous 90 days
Deputy Joshua Humphrey has completed his third phase of the
Phase 3 - Field Certification after successfully
completing the field certification phase. These requirements were
completed: A minimum of 12 drug influence evaluations while under
supervision of a DRE instructor; identifying subjects under the
influence of four of the seven drug categories; and attaining a 75%
toxicological confirmation rate. In addition, the student maintained a
progress log, a rolling log and submitted written curriculum vitae.
Sergeant Kenneth Daugherty who is assigned to the
Criminal Investigation Division as a Crime Scene Investigator completed
three vital parts of his training in the past three months. It consisted
of classes in Forensic Entomology, Property and Evidence Specialist and
Managing Property and Evidence in Law Enforcement.
Deputy Josh Humphrey and Gary Jeffers who are
members of the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office DUI Task Force completed
the GHSO Advanced Road Side Impairment Class on January 6-7 2013.
Deputy Shane Wolfenbarger and Sergeant Brian Osborn
attended and completed the Safe Kids child seat passenger safety course
hosted by Children’s Hospital.
Detective Matt Wasson
attended and completed Clandestine Laboratory Investigation / Safety
Program in Bell Buckle,
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“CAN-IT PROJECT” ONLINE
AUCTION
Tuesday, April 9th-Friday,
April 12th
SPONSORED
BY TDOT LITTER GRANT PROGRAM
Student artists recently
competed in an anti-litter campaign by painting slogans and scenery on
garbage cans. These artists did an amazing job & now you can own
one of these cans through the auction.
The projects may be viewed AND
you can place your bid on the web at:
Click on Can-It Project @ the
left of the screen.
Daily Bid Updates will be posted.
All funds generated from
the auction benefit
Tax hike to keep E-911 dispatchers?
The county commission’s EMS Committee may have
driven the final nail into the coffin of the struggling Norris Ridge
Volunteer Fire Department on Monday night, voting to recommend that the
county funds appropriated for Norris Ridge be instead divided between
Campbell County Rural Fire Service and Jacksboro Fire Department.
Those two fire departments have been providing
coverage for the area once served by the defunct Pinecrest VFD while
volunteers worked to establish Norris Ridge to replace debt-ridden
Pinecrest. Norris Ridge VFD Chief McKay McCullah told commissioners that
he has two trucks and a tanker truck ready for service, eight volunteers
who are certified and ready to fight fires and enough turnout gear for
20 firefighters.
“I can call E-911 dispatch and start service
tomorrow,” McCullah claimed. He then admitted that Norris Ridge has only
around $500 in the bank and has not yet been able to afford the $850 fee
that must accompany an application to the IRS for tax-exempt status.
Without the IRS 501(c) (3) application, Norris
Ridge cannot receive any of the $15,000 that the county pledged five
months ago to keep the department alive.
Campbell County RFS Chief Don Maguire first told
commissioners that he is not interested in taking on responsibility for
the Pinecrest area on a permanent basis, then made a convincing argument
for why Norris Ridge has no chance of surviving to protect the area.
Maguire instead
suggested that his service could assume responsibility for the former
Pinecrest station at Cumberland View while Jacksboro and Caryville fire
departments can serve the areas within the town’s urban growth plan,
such as
“The board of Pinecrest VFD was advised to declare
bankruptcy and start over with a clean slate, but they ignored that good
advice and assumed all of the debt for Pinecrest on Norris Ridge.
They’re too burdened with debt to survive,” Maguire added.
Commissioner Marie Ayers, who lives in the
Pinecrest area, pointed out that insurance rates have already risen by
as much as 50 percent on many homes in the area due to uncertain fire
protection. Maguire said that if the area is assigned to Campbell County
RFS, he will designate it as Station # 5 and his service’s ISO rating
will bring insurance rates back down.
Thomas Hatmaker offered to front the Norris Ridge
group the difference between their current cash reserve and the amount
needed to apply for tax exempt status, but enthusiasm for saving the
department was lacking among other committee members. A motion by
Bob Walden to allow Campbell County VFS and Jacksboro to take over the
area and share the $15,000 in county funds passed unanimously.
During the commission workshop, commissioners faced
another potential financial crisis involving emergency services, this
time a shortfall in operating funds for E-911. E-911 Director Charlie
Hutson explained that the surcharge on commercial and residential
telephone lines is no longer adequate to fund the call center due to the
growth of cell phones.
“The legislature was considering a bill to increase
the fees assessed on cell phone bills, but it was withdrawn. Next year
is an election year and it will go nowhere,” Hutson told commissioners.
Jacksboro 911 board member Jack Cannon pointed out
that three years ago, E-911 received $22,000 a month from the phone bill
surcharge on land lines. “That is down to $12,000 to $13,000 now and
going down,” he pointed out.
The county’s small towns, Caryville, Jacksboro and
Jellico, cannot afford to pay for dispatching services, Cannon argued,
and Hutson told commissioners that the county’s current payment of
$198,000 a year must be increased by as much as $150,000 to keep
services at current levels.
“What can you get by with?” Rusty Orick asked.
“Two cents on the tax rate,” Hutson replied.
“That’s $88,000.”
The alternative, commissioners were told, would be
to eliminate dispatchers at the E-911 center, simply using the hardware
to automatically transfer calls depending on location to other agencies
such as the ambulance service, fire departments or police.
Predictably, commissioners moved on to other topics
without indicating whether they would be willing to raise taxes to keep
dispatchers on duty at the call center.
Commissioners also
offered few answers to another group of citizens, representing several
families who claim that the caretakers at Bakers’
“The county commission has no legal authority over
a private cemetery, County Attorney Joe Coker pointed out, advising the
group to seek legal representation. Complaints to the Sheriff’s
Department resulted in an investigation, but Sheriff Robbie Goins told
commissioners that he could do nothing about the alleged desecration of
old graves.
“Any violations took place too long ago and the
statute of limitations has expired,” Goins explained.
Bakers’ Forge was established by TVA when graves had to be moved from land due to be flooded by Norris Dam. Three community churches originally shared responsibility for perpetual care of the cemetery, but interest waned and an independent board finally assumed control.
County commission's regular monthly meeting for
April is scheduled for Monday, April 15 at 6:00 at the courthouse.
(UPDATED TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Crawford is sworn in as Caryville alderman
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
There was no shortage of candidates Monday night to
fill the seat of former Caryville alderman Michael F. Miller. Two people
were nominated for the position, while a third offered to serve the
remainder of Miller’s term.
Miller, who had not attended a board meeting since
the November election, finally resigned a few weeks ago. Board member
Vickie Heatherly first made a motion for Mack Rains to replace Miller.
However, the motion died for lack of a second.
Later in Monday’s meeting, Eric Smith, who ran against Miller during the last election, came before the board to ask for the seat. Mayor Chris Stanley said another name was getting ready to come up on the agenda, and if that didn’t work out he would consider Smith as a possible replacement. That set the stage for Lisa Crawford to step into the role. Mark Stanley made a motion for Crawford to fill Miller’s seat on the board. Allen Smith seconded the motion, which passed by a 5-0-2 vote. Glenn Smith and Vickie Heatherly abstained from voting. Glenn Smith cited a conflict of interest as a reason for not voting.
Town Recorder Cheryl Ivey then swore Crawford into
office. (DWANE
WILDER PIX)
In other business conducted Monday night:
*The board approved a
payment of $5,500 for engineering prep work and plans for a project to
alleviate a drainage issue at the ProImage Sign Company in the J. Wales
Smith Industrial Park. Caryville board members then approved a
resolution submitting the project to the state for a Fast Track Grant.
The Town of
*Caryville’s board
also approved the final reading of an ordinance abandoning
*The board approved a motion for the purchase of a
mower arm for $15,500 from Chambers American.
*The board approved
Copeland Brothers to repair lights at the
*The board approved
the advertising of bids for paving projects on
The board also
discussed future audit contracts and fielded concerns from a citizen
over unreported proceeds from baseball tournaments at
Board member Mark Stanley commented that $3,200 had
been raised during a recent baseball tournament for local cancer patient
Katelyn Norman.
The board also set aside April 25 for a budget
workshop at 6 p.m.(UPDATED
TUE, APRIL 9, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Campbell County Park opens
By David Graham - WLAF Sports
It was a great night for Dixie Youth Baseball as it played the first
game ever at
Opening night and the new park kicked off with a bang as "Chaos" of Beacon Finance played "Legals" of the Dave Dunaway team.
Christian Marlow had the first ever hit at CCP and also scored the first run for 'Chaos'. Hunter Dotson was the first player to use the tee. CCP is on Demory Road between the bridge and the cutoff to High Knob Baptist Church.
The complete
story and more pictures are coming in David Graham's Wednesday Sports
Report right here.
Copeland is the latest WLAF-ISG 60th
Trivia winner
Mike Copeland correctly answered “Billie Ann Evans age 50” in the latest
trivia fun from WLAF and ISG Insurance. Mike wins free pizza from
Little Caesar’s Pizza and a family four-pack of movie tickets from
Carmike Movies 2. For your chance to win movie tickets, or Little
Caesar’s Pizza, or free gasoline from Woodson Shell, or free food from
Wendy’s, simply watch WLAF-TV’s Green Screen for each week’s question
and answer. Once you know the answer to the trivia question and
the ad page where the answer is found, call 423.562.1450, and you will
be eligible to win. Big Josh Etter announces each week’s winner
Monday mornings over 1450 WLAF Radio, WLAF-TV 12, and
www.1450wlaf.com. WLAF-ISG
Insurance 60th
Trivia is year-long fun from your friends at the old radio station, 1450
WLAF and Randy Heatherly and the folks at ISG Insurance.
Ann Ayers-Colvin Passes Certification
Exam
Tennessee Secretary of
State Tre Hargett and State Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins have
announced that Ann Ayers-Colvin, Campbell County Administrator of
Elections, passed the Certification Exam for Administrators of Elections
recently in
“This certification
demonstrates Ann Ayers-Colvin’s dedication to meeting the highest of
standards in her efforts to serve
The exam is a
rigorous, one-day exam held at least once a year in
“I applaud Ann for her hard work, commitment
and focus in studying for the exam,” Goins said. “I am proud of her
great accomplishment.”
Record s
Light turnout for Jacksboro election
It was expected to
be a light turnout. And it was. Jacksboro's mayoral and
alderman election was comprised by unopposed incumbents. A total
of 45 people cast their ballots with Mayor Jack Cannon receiving 39 of
those votes while Aldermen Avery Burden and Alderwoman June Gwin
Forstner picked up 37 and 36 votes respectively.
State Representative Dennis Powers weekly update from Nashville airs Fridays following the Noon CBS News on 1450 WLAF
New convenience center hours
ALL hours of operation 8:00 a.m. until 6:00
p.m.
Stony Fork OPEN Monday and Saturday
ALL
other locations OPEN Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
Special group of soldiers and sailors honored
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Close to 150 people
attended the 6th annual Campbell County Good Scout Award Dinner held
Thursday night at the Ball Farm and
Kevin Walden sings National Anthem. Logan Hickman (R)
This year the award
recipient was the Campbell County Honor Guard, a group of 29 former
Special guest speaker was U.S. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
Fleischmann, Detective Captain Brandon Elkins, and Clarence Lowe
"The Scouts wanted to take the opportunity to thank
the Honor Guard for the service they provide year after year to the
community," said event organizer Logan Hickman, who is also a veteran.
" Last year they did 107 funerals. This year they've done 25 as of the
first of April. An organization like this does not exist in every
county. It's special."
Ron Lawson and State Representative Dennis Powers
All money raised through the sale of tickets to the
dinner will go to the Campbell County Boy Scouts.
Gearing is new Jacksboro librarian
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Dan Gearing is the new
librarian for the Town of
In other business conducted during Thursday’s
meeting:
*The board approved a
payment of $5,500 for engineering prep work and plans for a project to
alleviate a drainage issue at the
*Mayor Jack Cannon said he would serve as
Jacksboro’s representative on the Campbell County Solid Waste Board.
Caryville-Jacksboro Utilities General Manager Frank Wallace
*Cannon also said he will address the Campbell
County Commission during its 6 p.m. workshop on April 8. Members of the
Jacksboro Board of Mayor and Aldermen feel that the county should absorb
the more than $40,000 being asked of Jacksboro to fund a dispatcher at
the Campbell County E-911 Center.
*Forstner complimented
Jim Freeman and WLAF Radio for promoting the Town of
Matix only
filling a handful of positions
Matix Corporation is adding positions. But before you get your hopes up too high, it’s only six, maybe seven. And some of those
are open because a few workers have either left Matix or moved away.
Jerri Starrett with the Matix plant at Caryville tells WLAF News that a
third line of operations is open, and that they are now accepting
applications. She says starting pay on the first shift is $9.50 an
hour and then $10.00 an hour for second shift workers. New
employees are eligible for health insurance benefits after a 90-day
probationary period. Starrett says anyone interested should apply
in person at their plant in the
Message from Mayor Baird clarifies You
Tube video featuring animal shelter
Mayor William Baird
tells WLAF News that “the YouTube Video that everyone is seeing
concerning the
Three local restaurants fined
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
La Follette City
Council voted Tuesday night to accept an 80/20-match grant from the
Tennessee Department of Transportation to replace the
The city’s obligation will not exceed $110,877 even
if there are cost overruns. The LaFollette Council approved a down
payment of $8,470 to secure the grant and for Finance Director Terry
Sweat to scour the city coffers for the balance.
Public Works Director Jim Mullens said the
structure is in danger of being closed by the state because of stress
cracks.
In other business conducted during Tuesday’s
regular monthly meeting:
*Members of the council agreed to conduct
interviews of the top applicants for city administrator on April 10-11
at 6 p.m.
*Approved a resolution honoring Carl Rutherford for
his many years of service to the youth of the community through
athletics.
*Approved the promotion of Stephen Wallen to
detective.
*Approved the hiring of Matt Dople as a full-time
police officer with benefits.
*Approved an invoice of $1,470.78 for office
furniture for the LaFollette Public Library.
*Approved the termination of David Martin, an
employee in the public works department. City officials would not
elaborate on the firing.
*Approved the advertising of bids for turnout gear
for the fire department.
*Approved a flagpole for Freeman Park. Fire Chief
Gary Byrd said the flagpole would be funded through private donations.
*Approved the final reading an ordinance to
establish an updated Occupation Safety and Health Program Plan, and
provide for a safety director and implementation of the program.
*Approved the final reading of an amendment to the
personnel policy in respect to drug testing of employees.
Just before the
conclusion of the meeting, Steve Underwood came before council to
express his concerns over the deterioration of a section of
Steve Underwood addresses council
Underwood also plans to bring it to the attention
of Campbell County Road Superintendent Dennis Potter, since part of the
affected road is in the county.
In a LaFollette Beer
Board meeting that followed the council meeting, three businesses were
fined for selling beer to undercover officers posing as underage
patrons. The businesses were China Town Café, Ninja Hibachi and Los
Cumbres. Since it was
Pink PALS hosts a very special guest
The founder of the
Dr. Kamila Kozlowski
Dr. K is working to get the “Mammography
Breast Density Information Act” passed in
La Follette City Council Meeting 4/2/13
<>
La Follette man dies in predawn crash
Tennessee Highway
Patrol Trooper Larry Skeen tells WLAF News that dense fog may have been a
factor in a single-car wreck this morning at Davis Chapel.
Skeen says the call came in just before 7:30 a.m. However, he
thinks that the accident actually happened closer to 5:30 a.m., and that
the fog kept anyone from seeing the wreck scene until near daybreak.
Trooper Skeen outlines that 79-year old Earl Strange of La Follette was
traveling toward La Follette on Old Highway 63 when he failed to make a
deep curve at the Davis Chapel Road cutoff. He says that Strange's
2001 Volvo went off left side of the road, down an embankment, and then
flipped several times. Strange, who was not wearing a seatbelt,
was ejected from his car and died at the scene. (UPDATED MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2013,
1:00 PM)
Carl Martin correctly answered “Judy Pierce”
in the latest trivia fun from WLAF and ISG Insurance. Carl wins free
food from Wendy's and a family four-pack of movie tickets from
Carmike Movies 2. For your chance to win movie tickets, or Little Casear’s Pizza, or free gasoline from Woodson Shell, or free food from
Wendy’s, simply watch WLAF-TV’s Green Screen for each week’s question
and answer. Once you know the answer to the trivia question and
the ad page where the answer is found, call 423.562.1450, and you will
be eligible to win. Big Josh Etter announces each week’s winner
Monday mornings over 1450 WLAF Radio, WLAF-TV 12, and
www.1450wlaf.com. WLAF-ISG
Insurance 60th
Trivia is year-long fun from your friends at the old radio station, 1450
WLAF and Randy Heatherly and the folks at ISG Insurance.
New convenience center hours
ALL hours of operation 8:00 a.m. until 6:00
p.m.
Stony Fork OPEN Monday and Saturday
ALL
other locations OPEN Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
"Listen" to LIVE Campbell Baseball "Listen" to LIVE Jellico Basketball
"Watch" LIVE Campbell Basketball "Listen" to LIVE Jellico Basketball
Katelyn's mother summed it up
simply, sadly, and lovingly. Erica Lanielle Nelson says, "My baby
will be forever 14. She has earned her wings at 8:23." The
Campbell High Freshman, who a community instantly loved, passed away
this morning at 8:23 at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. (UPDATED FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013,
10:00 AM)
Katelyn passes
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Members of the extended
Norman, a CCHS freshman, had
developed quite a following over the past several months. After recently
learning that her cancer would likely be fatal, Katelyn developed a
bucket list of things she wanted to do before the end of her days. Among
those was attending prom, which she was able to do thanks to legions of
fans and well-wishers that brought the prom to her after she was
airlifted to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in
Katelyn took a turn for the worse on Thursday and
was never able to return home. She will be missed by family and the
countless friends she has made over the past few years.
(UPDATED FRI, MAR 29, 2013)
Archive story from Katelyn's first visit to WLAF
8th Grader Winning Her Battle with Cancer
Today is chemo day. Not quite the type of day you would imagine an almost 13-year old to spend on one of her final Fridays of freedom before school starts back. But since the last week of April, Katelyn Norman’s life has taken a detour. The Jacksboro Middle Schooler’s battling bone cancer, osteosarcoma. This rare form of cancer attacks teenagers most often during a period of rapid growth. It’s more common in boys than girls. However, that’s not the case for Katelyn. She found out totally by accident from her friend, Micala Greenwood, during a teen living class. As Micala tells it, she’s ticklish. And on this particular day, Katelyn was tickling her. She wouldn’t stop. Then Micala hit Katelyn’s right arm near the top at her shoulder. The friendly punch delivered a sharp pain. So sharp, Katelyn went to the doctor thinking she had a fracture. Then two weeks later an x-ray revealed the tumor. In the meantime, chemo treatments, like today’s, have reduced the pain allowing Katelyn to sleep at night. Her mom, Erica, says they’re optimistic, but even more so now that doctors have upped Katelyn’s survival chances to 70-percent. In the mean time, it’s more chemo, MRIs, ct scans, and varied tests for this pretty young lady. And for Katelyn’s best friend, Micala, she tells 1450wlaf.com that she’s encouraging Katelyn, and that she’s there for her whenever she needs her any day, anytime. You may also play a part in Katelyn’s recovery process by simply donating blood. On July 29 and 30, in the Lowe’s parking lot, MEDIC will be on hand to accept your donation. (Updated 11:00 p.m. 07/21/2011)
Another archive story about Katelyn
Katelyn's Blood Drive 'Off the Chart'
An incredible two-day blood
drive. That’s what one donor told 1450wlaf.com on Saturday at the
drive to help 12-year old cancer patient, Katelyn Norman. A Friday
donor left and came back, because the wait was so long. According
to officials with MEDIC, 88 donors came through on Friday and coupled
with Saturday’s numbers the total was pushed to well over 125.
Katelyn is battling an aggressive form of bone cancer, and it’s still
not too late to donate to help Katelyn. You may donate on Friday
at Walmart from 10:00 to 6:00, next Monday at Tennessee Technology
Center during a time frame of 8:00 to 3:00, or on August 11 at the CHET
office on West Central. Just tell your technician that you’re
donating for Katelyn Norman. (Updated
6:00 a.m. 08/01/2011)
Another archive
story about Katelyn
Happy Birthday, Katelyn
Cancer patient Katelyn
Norman turns 13 today. She's
getting to spend her birthday at home after being at Children's Hospital
last week. Although it's a quick turn-a-round. She's due at
Vanderbilt
University Medical Center on
Wednesday for surgery to her upper right arm. Katelyn continues to
show signs of improvement as she battles a rare form of bone cancer.
She's an eighth grader at
Jacksboro
Middle School.
(Updated 6:00 a.m. 08/08/2011)
Katelyn's colage courtesy of Billie Jo Ralston
It was a night to "Celebrate Kate"
Katelyn’s prom night didn’t quite go as planned. And looking back, it may have even been a little better than planned. The hitch came when teen cancer patient Katelyn Norman was whisked away to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital by Lifestar around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon as respiratory problems forced her to go to the hospital.
However, the show would go on. And did it ever. About dusk,
around a thousand people attended Katelyn’s candlelight vigil lining the
Though the 14-year old was in a hospital room
and not at her actual prom at The Stables party barn, the prom came to
her. The celebration that began in La Follette continued when
about a hundred folks showed up outside Katelyn’s hospital window at
As a limo passed by in her honor, with Katelyn looking-on, attendees formed to shape a heart. While inside her room, she was presented with a “Prom Queen” sash.
Katelyn, who has been battling terminal cancer for almost two-years, remains at Children’s Hospital this morning. Her condition is not being released. (UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013, 6:00 AM)
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Nearly four months after being destroyed by fire, the new and improved Fincastle Church of God is taking shape. Pastor Mike Smith says the sheeting will be placed on the roof today, and if the weather cooperates this spring the sanctuary should be finished by late June or early July. The basement, which will house the Sunday school rooms, will be finished out after that. Worship services have been held the past few months in the family life center, which was not damaged by the fire.
“It’s been a journey,” said Smith. “We’ve had to have patience with each other. I encouraged the church not to get angry about the tragedy…anybody could do that. But I wanted them to keep patient. The Lord has blessed us. We really appreciate everything.”
The community at-large has
helped in the rebuilding project. Shield of
This weekend, Fincastle
Church of God will host an Easter egg hunt on Saturday on the Carl Clear
property adjacent to the church. Then, on Sunday, the church will
participate in a sunrise service at
Pix from Thursday night's Roast of former county mayor, Tom Stiner
Katelyn's colage courtesy of Billie Jo Ralston
WLAF-TV 12's Green Screen up & rolling
It was a long time
coming. After taking a lightning jolt early Monday morning,
WLAF-TV 12's Green Screen is back to its old self. Thanks to Bill
Rutter of Computer Care and Charlie Hutson, the Green Screen was revived
on Wednesday. We greatly appreciate all the calls, and believe me,
we were as frustrated and upset as you were in trying to get the GS
rolling again. Thanks for watching and thanks for your patience.
(UPDATED THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Scout award dinner is a week away
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Members of the
Campbell County Honor Guard will collectively be honored next week at
the 6th
annual Campbell County Good Scout Award Dinner. The event is scheduled
for 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 4 at the Ball Farm and
Each year, the Honor Guard provides military honors
at funerals of active duty personnel, retirees and veterans that have
served honorably in the armed services. The Honor Guard also provides
support for patriotic ceremonies and parades. In 2012 alone, this group
of volunteers performed 107 military burials.
Previous recipients of the Good Scout Award were
Edward Balloff, the late Juanita Baird, retired U.S. Army Colonel and
former County Executive Tommy C. Stiner, the five Baird brothers and
retired U.S. Army General Carl W. Stiner. For tickets to the dinner,
contact Logan Hickman at Peoples Bank of the South at 423-562-4921.
All-American Chapman back home training
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News and Photography
Brian Chapman’s strategy for strength and endurance
training is simple. Make practice harder than the game.
Jason Williams
Chapman, a
Three of the boxers —
Alonzo “Big Zo” Butler, Marcus Toney and Jason Williams — are battle
ready after six weeks of training and are looking for matches. Toney,
age 24, is the youngest of the three.
Marcus Toney
Chapman puts the three through their paces during
the morning sessions, while Foust fine-tunes their boxing technique
during the afternoons.
“A full boxing match is 12 rounds, three minutes a
round, so you have to train them to go 36 minutes if possible,” said
Chapman.
“Boxing is such a cardiovascular sport that just
the endurance to last that many rounds requires intensive training.”
All the emphasis on
endurance has led Chapman to launch 13th
Round Training. He has been involved in strength, speed and endurance
training for seven years.
He got into the
business after being injured while playing professional baseball in
Chapman also helps train several CCHS football
players at ABSolute Fitness in LaFollette.
It was a night to "Celebrate Kate"
Katelyn’s prom night didn’t quite go as planned. And looking back, it may have even been a little better than planned. The hitch came when teen cancer patient Katelyn Norman was whisked away to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital by Lifestar around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon as respiratory problems forced her to go to the hospital.
However, the show would go on. And did it ever. About dusk,
around a thousand people attended Katelyn’s candlelight vigil lining the
Though the 14-year old was in a hospital room
and not at her actual prom at The Stables party barn, the prom came to
her. The celebration that began in La Follette continued when
about a hundred folks showed up outside Katelyn’s hospital window at
As a limo passed by in her honor, with Katelyn looking-on, attendees formed to shape a heart. While inside her room, she was presented with a “Prom Queen” sash.
Katelyn, who has been battling terminal cancer for almost two-years, remains at Children’s Hospital this morning. Her condition is not being released. (UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Caryville’s Brandon
Card sits atop the “Toyota Angler of the Year” standings this afternoon.
So far, Card has 185 points through this weekend’s Bassmaster Elite
Series Tournament at
The Campbell High grad was the 2012
Bassmaster Rookie of the Year. Card was the first collegiate
angler to qualify and fish the Bassmaster Elite Series. Next up is
the Ramada Quest on
City administrator apps, 11th Street Bridge discussed
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
Determining a date for interviewing applicants for city administrator and repair of the 11th Street Bridge were the top two topics of discussion Monday night during the monthly workshop meeting of LaFollette City Council.
Interim city administrator Jimmy Jeffries asked members of council to give him a list of their top candidates at next Tuesday’s regular council meeting. A date will then be set for the interviews.
During discussion about the 11th Street Bridge, council members learned the structure has a stress crack in one of the pillars, which renders it unsafe according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. LaFollette Public Works Director Jim Mullens said the bridge has a five-ton weight limit. Jeffries said the total cost of the project would be a little more than $554,000, but the city’s obligation would be around $110,000 with an 80/20-match grant.
Other topics discussed at the workshop included:
*Roof repair of city hall.
*An invoice for chairs for the library.
*Promotion of Stephen Wallen to detective.
*Hiring Matt Dople as a full-time policeman with benefits.
*Advertising for bids for new turnout gear for the fire department.
*Termination of an employee within the public works department.
*Placing a plaque honoring longtime
referee/coach Carl Rutherford in the recreation center
at the old West LaFollette School building.
(UPDATED
TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Big week for Katelyn
By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
This is a big week for
CCHS freshman Katelyn Norman. On Tuesday night, March 26, a special prom
will be held in honor of the young cancer patient at The Stables on
While Katelyn is
enjoying the prom with her closest friends, members of the community
will line up at 8 p.m. alongside
(COURTESY LISA STANFIELD LESTER 03/25/2013)
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will also assist with
traffic control.
Donations are piling up for Katelyn’s bucket list.
A number of individuals and organizations are having fundraisers to help
out. Donations can also be made at Y12 Federal Credit Union to Katelyn's
Bucket List Fund.
Get your green for Katelyn at Cobblestone
Floral & Gifts
You not only get a green
“Katelyn” ribbon when you buy from Cobblestone Floral and Gifts, there
is also a picture of Katelyn on the ribbon. All proceeds go
directly to Katelyn’s family.
Total bond amount exceeds six-million dollars
“Operation Spring Cleaning”
Year Long Undercover Narcotics Investigation Yields Indictments
Campbell County Sheriff Robbie K. Goins announces today that a year-long
undercover narcotics investigation has yielded 63 Grand Jury indictments
and probation violations of
Campbell County Sheriff Robbie K. Goins calls the investigation
“appropriate, necessary and needed, for the citizens of
A total of 21 candidates have thrown their hat in the ring to be
the next LaFollette City Administrator. Police Chief and interim City
Administrator Jimmy Jeffries said a date will be set during tonight’s
monthly workshop for the purpose of interviewing the top candidates.
Each candidate will appear before the full city council for their
interview. The list of candidates, which includes several local people,
is as follows: Greg Brackett, Shane Burris, Gabrielle Byrge, Gary
Carver, William Comer, Travis Davis, Joseph Garrison, Thomas Hatmaker,
William Kerley, David King, Margaret Meeks, Jack Miller, Olajuwon
Onadipe, Susan Rayburn, Darryl Roberts, Billie Russell, Bobby Russell,
Edward Stevenson, Sandra Tucker, James Andy Wallace and Mark A. Wells.
The position came open after City Administrator Cade Sexton resigned in
January.
(UPDATED
MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Three offices are up for election at Jacksboro in early April. And
there's no opposition for any office. Administrator of Elections
Ann Ayers-Colvin explains that for mayor, Jack Cannon is on the ballot
while Alderwoman June Gwin Forstner and Alderman Avery Burden are also
on the ballot. All three are incumbents. Cannon, Forstner,
and Burden just need one vote each to return to office. Early
voting runs through April 1, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 to 4:00,
and Saturday early voting hours are from 9:00 to 1:00. There is no
early voting on Good Friday. Early voting ballots are cast at the
election commission office while election day, Saturday, April 6, from
9:00 until 7:00, takes place at Jacksboro Middle School. WLAF
brings you the final totals late on April 6.
(UPDATED
MON, MAR 25, 2013, 6:00 AM)
Sylvia Norman correctly answered “
Campbell County going green today for Katelyn
Local residents are painting Campbell County green today in honor of cancer patient Katelyn Norman, a student at CCHS. Katelyn, whose favorite color is green, has unveiled a "bucket list that folks in the community are helping to fulfill. The list includes attending prom, a first kiss, a motorcycle ride and a trip to Italy.
A special prom for Katelyn will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at The Stables east of LaFollette. Following the prom, members of the community are encouraged to participate in a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. along Fincastle Road between The Stables and Hwy. 63.
A special fund has also been set up at Y-12 Federal Credit Union to help Katelyn complete her bucket list. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of green bows at Petals of Grace Florist in Jacksboro and t-shirts at Ayers Auction and Real Estate will go to Katelyn's fund.
The folks at Petals of Grace are turning out pin-on
ribbons, car ribbons, mailbox and house ribbons as fast as the orders
come in. The t-shirts at Ayers sold out in 30 minutes earlier today, but
they hope to get another batch in soon.
Gray dedicates much of his time to a number of organizations around the
community including the Campbell County Baptist Association, Campbell
County Planning Commission, Chamber of Commerce, and the
The CCBA Disaster recovery program will receive a $5000 donation from
Nationwide Insurance. Gray will also be featured on a Wall of Fame in
the Nationwide corporate office in
Gray’s dedication has also led to sales success. Last year, many customers
trusted Gray with their protection needs, leading to the following sales
awards for him: Presidents Conference, Champion Conference, and Regional
Personal Lines Agent of the Year.
