To Joe the Plumber,
Within 15 minutes of the
report that the Bowens had
been tied up and their
vehicle stolen, WNOX, WIVK
announced the report. Also,
Channels 6, 8, and 10 had
the info on their website
within 30 minutes. All
three stations also reported
on their respective
newscasts at the regularly
aired time.
The Knoxville News
Sentinel also had
something on their
website later and
published an article in
the news paper.
WIVK and WNOX repeated the
broadcast of the vehicle
that was stolen, asking
everyone to help look for
it.
The Loudon County 911 center
did a very good job of
getting the information to
the various media outlets as
quickly as they could once
they received all the
information. The
information was distributed
within 30 minutes to all
surrounding media and law
enforcement agencies.
I listen to the scanner
continously and heard the
call. About 15-20 minutes
later, WIVK broadcast the
alert on their station.
I believe the sheriff's
department and 911
dispatchers did a very good
job of sending the
information to the news
media, however since it
occurred after the noon TV
news, they were not able to
do anything until early
afternoon. But, WNOX and
WIVK did an excellent job of
broadcasting and
rebroadcasting the vehicle
description several times an
hour as soon as they
received the information.
David
10/29/08
To
not curious anymore,
Welcome
to the club. Now you know why
nobody like cops. They cannot
help but spout off to the very
ppl that pay their wages thru
tax money. All for not doing
anything more than asking a
question. In my opinion it is a
cops nature to bully people
around. because they have a
gun and a badge pinned on
them they feel like they are a
breed above the rest of us. I
have seen many follow the same
road, they eventually end up
like Joe Sims did. There was a
time when law officers were
looked up to as someone who
protects the public,
That
time has long past. Just be
lucky you weren't handcuffed and
pistol whipped. or something
seized and sold and the money
disappear forever!!!
Joe
Clyde 10/29/08
seems to me like when a
person resigns,, quits ..or
"retires" from a job then
that person should stop
worrying about who gets the job
after them.. how that person
does the job.. and anything to
do with the job.. i know when i
have quit jobs before.. that's
exactly what i did "QUIT
"worrying about it altogether.
it has been in her own words
over a year. and we still are
hearing about meeting,, threats,
and what happened when she was
the clerk.. NOBODY CARES, take a
vacation move on with your life
try to enjoy something. get a
hobby. try to help some of the
people you once took money from
Let it Go loui 10/28/08
To: Disappointed parent 10/27/08
When it is positively determined
who knew of this bus driver's
drug problem and allowed her to
transport children anyway, you
have every right to appear
before the Loudon County Grand
Jury to press for indictment(s).
Under Tennessee law, any citizen
who requests an audience with
the Grand Jury must be granted
it. You must contact the
District Attorney General's
office only for scheduling - not
for permission.
If the DAG's office doesn't give
you the appearance you request,
sue him. Your statutory rights
have been violated.
Dave Divelbiss
Lenoir City 10/28/08
Billy I appreciate your time in
answering my question but not
your rude comment at the end.
Obviously if I had wanted to
take the time to research the
answer to my question I would
not have had to ask you for the
answer. You want to give out
your information for people to
contact you but them you are
rude to them when they do. I
never accused you of anything or
LPD. I simply asked a question
because I was not aware of when
you worked together. Obviously
this is a sore spot and I am SO
sorry to have rubbed it!! You
want to tell me that I should do
something better with my time,
what are you doing right now?
Reading my comment!
Not curious anymore! 10/28/08
Did anyone else see
the Knoxville paper Saturday????
Quoting Ron Cronan (of LCUB) paying
$165.00 per ticket for a
concert?????Now, according to Ron,
he's management at LCUB,,,
soooooooooo, did he pay that $330.00
or did LCUB??? And earlier there was
a comment about how much the office
personnel make at LCUB,, I know for
a fact, over $20.00 per hour and the
majority have NO formal education.
Rate Payer 10/28/08
To Just Curious
10/24/08,
The
Loudon County Sheriff’s Office
K9 Unit assists Loudon City
Police Department as well as
other departments in East
Tennessee all the time! The
Loudon City Police Department
has a very good K9 handler and
K9, but there are times when
their K9 team may be out of
service, training, off duty, or
tied up on another call. There
are times when more then one K9
Team is needed, or a K9 team
trained in a different area then
Patrol. K9 Draga and I have
assisted LPD on several
different occasions. Draga and I
have been called to LPD to
assist in locating a lost child,
and drug detection. Draga is
trained as a utility K9; she is
trained in search and rescue,
civil tracking, evidence
recovery, drug detection and
other functions that do not
involve criminal apprehension.
The other LCSD K9 Teams have
been called to assist LPD with
drug detection, tracking
criminal suspects, and other
patrol K9 needs. Just recently
Draga and I assisted LPD with
drug detection the resulted in
the arrest of 2 drug offenders
and the seizure of a vehicle and
US Currency. This could not have
happened if it was not for the
use of a K9. The Loudon City
Police Department also assists
the 9th Drug Task
Force with interstate
interdiction on I-75 in Loudon
County. Draga and I have
assisted LPD officers including
their K9 officer with drug
detection during these times as
well. Now on the other side of
the coin the LPD assist the LCSD
on several occasions when our
K9’s are unavailable. If you
would take the time to research
your question before posting on
this web site you could have
saved time and energy for
something more productive!
Once again if anyone has
questions feel free to contact
me at 865-988-2346 or @ 110
Franklin Estates Lane Greenback
Tn. 37742. Email: bhall@loudoncountysheriff.org
. You can also contact the
Loudon County Sheriff's Office @
865-986-4823 and they will be
glad to page me with your
number.
Billy Hall 10/27/08
I
have a question, and I think
this is the proper place to pose
it so.... if I leave my 7 year
old in a daycare and the daycare
transports him to and from
school. Lots of working parents
do this. But on this particular
morning when the daycare worker
gets in the van she is stopped
at a roadblock and is found to
be under the influence of
alcohol/drugs. She is arrested.
The daycare owner is questioned
and admits that she knew the
worker had an alcohol problem
but let her transport the
children anyway. DHS swoops in
and suspends the license of the
daycare owner, because she was
responsible for the care of
those children. She is also
arrested. Now here is the
question:
Why
is Loudon County NOT in deep
doodoo for this busdriver???,
she was their employee and they
knew of the problem yet did
nothing. Loudon County School
System is the same as any other
business and should be held
accountable.
Disappointed parent 10/27/08
you all should give
Cissy Chapman a break. she is a
good person.. very fair ..
unlike a lot of others in a
position of authority.. find
someone else's character to try
to destroy
CC 10/25/08
I have a question for Billy
Hall. In your posting you said
that you and your K-9 work with
Loudon city on a regular basis.
I would like to know when. Don’t
they have their own K-9 unit?
I understand that Loudon city
would do what was needed for
their citizens but I do not
recall them needing assistance
from the LCSD K-9 units on a
regular basis.
Just Curious 10/24/08
Mike, I found the following info
at www.ruralmetrotn.com click on
connect then click on faq.
From what I gather they cant
force you to pay a $500.00
yearly fee. In knox county non
members pay $1200.00 per hour
per vehicle. Just think about
it. your home is on fire two
trucks are their for two
hours=$4800.00 bill after losing
your home.
What does my fire membership
cover?
Your fire membership covers all
responses to your home by
Rural/Metro Fire Department –
including First Responder
medical services provided by
firefighters – whether for a
false alarm or actual emergency.
(Emergencies involving hazardous
materials may incur an extra
charge.)
A non-member
would be billed for fire
department response at the rate
of $1,200 per hour, per vehicle.
Non-subscriber fees can cost
as much as 10 years worth of
membership costs, and typically
are not fully covered by
homeowner’s insurance.
David Colvard
Loudon, TN 10/23/08
I am so happy that Bobby
Johnson, Jr. Found out the truth
about what Judge Terry Vann did
to convince the council that he
knew all about the law
concerning his appointment of a
city court clerk. That wasn't
his first time to visit city
council concerning an out and
out lie. As you recall, he came
to city hall and with a report
calling for my resignation and
announcing to the world that I
had not done my job of
collecting fines and cost for
the Lenoir City Court. I will
go further to tell the public
that I was called into Dale
Hurst office one day to discuss
what he said would be a great
deal for me. I had a clerk in
my office that was giving me all
kinds of problems. I will not
go into that because there is no
need. The deal was that I
resign and let her have my job
as the court clerk then I would
be done with my problem. I told
him no because the city charter
would not let that happen. It
plainly stated in the charter
that I would be the city court
clerk and that I had taken a
oath to uphold the charter.
The next couple of weeks were
a terror for me at city hall. I
was cursed and threatened in my
office by a city official. I was
told I would be picked up by the
police and taken to jail if I
did not sit in court with the
city judge. Judge Vann came to
city council and publicly
embarrassed me by telling a lie
and stating that he had a report
that proved that I did not
collect fines and cost in my
office. No one saw that report
including me. The report was
produced in my office by the
clerks that were appointed by
Judge Vann and Mayor
Brookshire. I asked the same
clerks to do me the same copy
and they refused. One of the
clerks that had nothing to do
with the mutiny ran the report
but was about $200,000 off in
the amount that the judge
produced. That report was for
10 years and not 5 years told by
Judge Vann at council that
night. It was a false report
and a lie. I even asked the
mayor to have the office audited
when I retired but he refused.
Then after more than a year
we had Cissy Chapman still
coming on the blog stating that
I did not send abstracts of
record to the state for
cancellations of drivers license
for unpaid fines. Another lie.
Any clerk that ever worked in
that office can tell you that we
did our job sending these
abstracts out. Enough about the
past, I am just so glad that
Bobby Johnson, Jr. Will have a
clear path to perform the job he
was elected to do. Without
further interference from other
elected officials, I think he
will do well. Bobby, you are
elected to your office by the
people and you answer to a lot
of people to do that job. The
present administration's excuse
to change the charter was that
you have no one to answer to.
Well, I am one to tell you that
there are a whole slew of
citizens that you will answer to
that will depend on you. Also,
you will have an annual audit
every year. Sometimes you just
might have a visit from the
comptroller's office because of
wrong doing of other public
officials because you are the
record keeper for the city. You
are accountable to so many
people and you hold the most
important job in the city.
Treat everyone fairly and my
advice to you would be the same
that I was given to me a long
time ago by my father, the late
Curtis A. Williams, Sr. He
told me to always have a smile
for everyone. Treat people with
respect and care. Go out of
your way to help people and love
doing it. My dad was everything
he told me to be and he was a
real public servant and enjoyed
every second of it. I
congratulate you Bobby. It will
be a hard job but there is no
doubt in my mind that you can do
this. Hang tough and stand
strong.
Thanks for listening to me.
Debbie Cook
Chief Deputy Clerk-1977-1995
Retired City Recorder-Treasurer
1995-2007
In reply to Robert
10/22/08:
It is common practice for employers
to pay for continuing education
credits to maintain a professional
license. Nobody said they were
paying for his "higher education".
You need the credits to maintain
your license to do your job.
My company employs licensed
engineers. Yes, we pay for time and
expenses to obtain continuing
education credits. Of course, it
has to reasonable. I could spend $20
for an hour credit online or spend
thousands traveling to a far off
seminar. I fear that oversight may
not be in place in this case,
however.
My only reservation is if Judge Vann
is still practicing law outside of
his city duties (I don't know if he
is or not). In that case, I don't
think the city should pay for all
the expenses for his continuing ed.
Bill 10/23/08
My
comment concerns your article "
The Judge was Wrong"
I
feel that the city Judge and the
City Attorney should both be
relieved of their City
positions. Not only did the
Judge propose this the City
Attorney argued for it, citing
code and all that crap. When
anyone could look at the code
and come to the same conclusion
that it is NOT what they want us
to believe. They are either
extremely incompetent, extremely
stupid, or extremely devious, or
I suppose all three could apply.
Either way they need to be gone.
Now even going further than
that, our council is chocked
full of educated businessmen,
and you would think that one of
them would have had the guts to
challenge this, but did they,
no. They went along with it
knowing it couldn't/wouldn't fly
if challenged. Thank you Bobby
for being smarter than the whole
lot of them.
Tim 10/23/08
I want to say good luck to all
the candidates it has been great
going by and seeing all of you,
looks like a good time has been
had by all and I would have to
say that I am just sorry that I
fell for the wooden box. lol.
In spite of all the bad flyers
and the bad blogs it looks like
this could be a great race after
all. Look forward to seeing you
all at the poles Nov. 4th. I
would also like to encourage
voters to get out and meet your
candidates and find out what
they stand for instead of just
reading blogs about them. This
is a perfect time right now
during early voting to ask
questions and meet them face to
face. It was even good to see
you there Van, and oh by the way
can I get someone to tell me
where I can get a "vote YES for
liquor stores sign or shirt? If
so please let me know.
LStandford lc 10/23/08
In response to the
"Squeezing the Squad" story, can
they REALLY, and I mean REALLY, make
me pay $500 for fire protection? I
mean what if I just say screw it,
let it burn? I think our Rescue
Squad is as fine as can be and I
feel adequately protected with these
fine people on the job. I'll go on
record as stating that if Chris Park
and Harold Duff votes for this I'll
campaign against them both next
election, and I voted for them both
this past one.
--
Mike Bluford
Eatons Crossroads
5th District 2/22/08
Well... Mr. Waliga you are
neither for or against Judge
Vann's pay?? Isn't that the
problem with most of our
politicians today, that cant
take a stand and stick with
it?? I am totally against his
pay. While I agree with you that
there is possibly more hours
spent than just those in court I
do not agree with the raises he
has gotten. His work hours did
not increase 173% but his pay
did. He took the job at the pay
rate it was and understandably
he could hope to get a raise
over the period of years but a
173% increase... get real. He
could always quit if he didn't
agree with the pay or felt it
took too much of his time. I
would also like to know who
write the paychecks for him, I
mean physically inputs the data
for the checks to be written?
Whomever is responsible for this
and Judge Vann should be
prosecuted for theft, they are
giving him 15,000 unauthorized
dollars per year, and he is
taking it. He knows that his
raise should have been approved
by the commission it was not. He
is a Judge and knows the law.
"Matt the Brat" does not have
the authority to hand out our
dollars at will, it must be
approved. He should have to pay
it all back.
If Mr. Waliga is already
wishy washy and upholding
the fine Judge of our city I
know for a fact that I do
NOT want him on the council
BO 10/22/08
I am going to
respond to this as it got under my
skin a little bit.
"QUOTE --
First let me say that I am an
advocate of complete transparency
when it comes to government
finances and I am in no way
supporting or condemning the
pay raises given to Judge Vann for
his services, however, no one can
conclude that the time spent by
Judge Vann in performing his
judicial duties is limited to his
time in court. There is time spent
in preparation for court, the review
and signing off of court documents,
municipal consultation, and
continuing education to maintain his
license
to practice.
I would think that, if you
researched this a little, you would
see that the hours actually spent on
judicial responsibilities by Judge
Vann
average closer to 10 hours per week.
Taking that into consideration, the
hourly rate is closer to $100 / hour
not $530. I don't know of many
attorneys or judges that work for
this rate.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for
assuring that the city cut down on
excess spending and I think that
there is some waste out there that
needs to be addressed, however, when
weighing the value of someone's
salary we need not put our thumb on
the scale for the sake of political
bashing. We get plenty of that from
all of our media sources.
Jon W. Waliga
Candidate for Lenoir City Council
1/21/08
-- END QUOTE"
My direct question is why in the
world should I as a tax payer pay
for this mans "continuing education
to maintain his license to
practice"? Nobody MADE that man
choose that career. Therefore he
should pay for his own "continuing
education to maintain his license to
practice" out of his OWN pocket if
that is the career that he chooses
to keep. Maybe I should come to you
and Judge Vann and ask both of you
to pay for a higher education for
myself that I would dearly love but
can not afford? I can just bet that
would fly as well as an airplane
with out wings.
Grrr....
Robert 10/22/08
First let me say that I am an
advocate of complete
transparency when it comes to
government finances and I am in
no way supporting or condemning
the pay raises given to Judge
Vann for his services, however,
no one can conclude that the
time spent by Judge Vann
in performing his judicial
duties is limited to his time in
court. There is time spent in
preparation for court, the
review and signing off of court
documents, municipal
consultation, and continuing
education to maintain his
license to practice.
I would think that, if you
researched this a little, you
would see that the hours
actually spent on judicial
responsibilities by Judge Vann
average closer to 10 hours per
week. Taking that into
consideration, the hourly rate
is closer to $100 / hour not
$530. I don't know of many
attorneys or judges that work
for this rate.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all
for assuring that the city cut
down on excess spending and I
think that there is some waste
out there that needs to be
addressed, however, when
weighing the value of someone's
salary we need not put our thumb
on the scale for the sake of
political bashing. We get plenty
of that from all of our media
sources.
Jon W. Waliga
Candidate for Lenoir City
Council 1/21/08
Ms Cissy Chapman:
I first want to say that I’m
proud to say Debbie Cook is my
best friend and she would never
ask me to tell untruths. As a
matter of fact, if I were a
dishonest person, I would no
longer be her best friend. This
is the truest example that I can
give for a person that is
meant to be a public official.
She is honest and would never
stand for anything dishonest
going on in her office. I was
the network administrator on
contract for the City of Lenoir
City for over 12 years. For
several years the girls in
Debbie’s office would ask me if
we could find a program for the
abstract of record that we would
send to the state to report
moving traffic violations to the
department of safety. I found a
program so we could get those
reports on the computer because
they hated to hand write them.
There were so many and it took
hours of fixing the forms to be
sent into the state. Even though
it took several years to get the
computer company to do this
form, we finally were able to do
the abstract of record on the
computer. It took numerous times
to get the form lined up
correctly. Because it was so
much trouble I would ask whoever
was responsible for doing this
job for Lenoir City if they did
run the state reports. The
answer was yes. They would do
this twice a month because there
were so many and hard to print
on the printer we had to use at
that time. Debbie would oversee
the work done in her office and
if anything wasn’t being done
she would correct this and make
sure the clerks were doing their
jobs. Debbie would also check
for accuracy and if these
reports were complete. I can say
that she had the most honest
office in the state of
Tennessee. Whenever, I was
working in another city office,
if we had a question about
anything concerning the city
recorders office, I would call
Debbie for the correct answer.
Your complaint about her having
a computer in her home was
raised on another blog. You have
the City Administrator’s
Internet services being paid by
the city. You have the fire
chief and deputy chief with
computers in their homes, you
have the recreation director
with a computer in his home.
Then you have several with
laptops. Debbie Cook did not
request her computer. The city
insisted she get a computer for
her home because she was at city
hall at 1 and 2 in the morning
working on books. They were
afraid for her safety. You have
a lot to learn and I wouldn’t be
spouting off about things that
you hear from the two people
that told the most lies about
her. Debbie was a true and
honest elected official and one
of the most respected city
recorder/clerks in the state.
She is still being asked to come
to their annual meetings. We
will be attending the Finance
Officer’s meeting at the end of
the month. She was invited to
attend even though she has no
reason to be there. That is what
I know about Debbie Cook and
there are more people that agree
with me than the few in that
office that made things so hard
for her. You lost a good one
when she retired.
Wanda Ellis
Maryville, Tennessee 10/20/08
Way to get em Debbie, Have you
thought of running for Mayor in
4?
-No reply 10/19/08
To Cissy Chapman:
I will sit here and let you know
Ms. Chapman that every moving
violation charge was sent to the
State of Tennessee Department of
Safety for non payment of fines
or not coming to court. You are
a liar. I did my job were you
doing yours when I saw you out
shopping in Knoxville the other
day during work hours? Oh, you
must have been on vacation. I am
tired of you and the rest of
your bunch getting on the
Internet and telling outright
lies about me. You should be
ashamed. Just like the rest of
those at city hall, you have
fallen into the same category.
Dishonest, money hungry, mean,
and hurtful and you do not care
about anyone but your selfish
self. Everyone knows about what
you and the rest have done so do
not come on this blog and spout
your lies. No one believes or
cares about you. I now wish I
had not felt so sorry for you
and your family a few years
back. I wasted two weeks of
sick time so that you would have
a paycheck. Stupid me. That
was the only mistake I made.
Thank you
Debbie Cook
Am I the only one that noticed
that Russ Johnson's big press
release didn't even mention Doyle
Arp's name? I guess that's a pretty
good indication who Russ is working
for. With all the problems
surrounding Mike Ross I'm sure
Johnson would really like to bring
him down and in the same process
give Arp a free pass. It is just so
disappointing to see just how
corrupt our whole judicial system
has become. I really thought
Johnson would be different. I was
wrong. He is as bad as the rest of
them.
Robert J. 10/18/08
ABC wrote "Change is coming,
maybe not this election but it's
coming."
Why not this election? It's
predicted that the voter turnout
for this election will exceed
any in history. We have 8
candidates running for 3 Council
Seats and 3 candidates running
in the Mayoral Race. If everyone
wants this change so much,
there's no better opportunity
than this election so, if you
actually do want this change, I
suggest that you spread the word
to all of your friends and loved
ones, hit the polls and make it
happen.
I will also suggest that
everyone read the questionnaire
responses
in Thursday's News-Herald. I
promise that it will shed new
light on the contrast between
what we now have and what we
could have, as far as
leadership, if we'll just get
out there and make it happen.
Jon W. Waliga
Candidate for Lenoir City
Council 10/17/08
I am
compelled to respond to David
Divelbiss comments regarding the
Lenoir City & Loudon County
uncollected fines/costs,
warrants & mittimus. I've
worked in the court system for a
number of years-yes, both for
Lenoir City Court & General
Sessions Court as judicial
commissioner. In GS Court it's
my responsibility to issue the
capias warrants (for failure to
appear in court) & also for FTA
at arraignment in both courts.
A mittimus is a form sent to the
jail which along with the
criminal warrant holds that
defendant unless/until bond is
made. I believe Mr. Divelbiss
is referring to a Capias or FTA
when he writes about a "mittimus
warrant". He alludes to Judge
Vann being wrong concerning the
uncollected fines/costs for LC
City Court. Although LC City
court does have
concurrent General Sessions
jurisdiction (can hold same
court as Loudon Co. GS Court),
until Judge Vann began hearing
other types of criminal charges;
i.e.drug charges, criminal
trespass, reckless endangerment,
etc., most cases were small
triable offenses and moving
traffic violations.
I feel confident that most
uncollected fines/costs are from
failures to appear in traffic
court or just simply not paying
the same. That could have been
remedied years ago had the
previous officeholder set as
priority to send unpaid moving
traffic violations into the
state department of safety which
would have automatically
suspended the drivers license of
the offender Notice must be
sent to the state within 3
months. In order to be
re-instated the offender must
pay outstanding citations, a
re-instatement fee & possibly be
retested. The
treasurer/recorder chose not to
send to the state. That explains
the uncollected majority & lack
of suspended licenses for repeat
offenders. The present appointed
court clerk at LC Court is doing
a great job trying to collect
unpaid fines/costs. She's made
tremendous progress. General
Sessions has software that
reports traffic offenses
directly to the department of
safety. Mrs. Jackson told me
last week her office is checking
into similar software. The
Police Department & the
Sheriff's Department are not
responsible to collect
outstanding monies owed the
courts. That's ridiculous to
even imply that they could.
It's up to the court. LCSD
does transport offenders back to
the county for FTAs & Violations
of Probation, & outstanding
charges, but not "mittimus
warrants".
At
present LC City Court does not
hear DUI cases, but could. It
would present a staffing &
logistical problems such as
holding cells, etc & possibly a
need for supervised probation
offices. The quote from Mrs.
Cook said that the "most
expensive fines/costs the city
would have would add up to
$250." Judge Vann hears drug
charges where for a simple
possession the state mandated
fine only is $250. Court costs
are same as GS Court & would be
about $500-$600 for an
approximate total of $850. That
was established several years
back & does not include ordered
drug fund contributions to LCPD.
City court does send cases to
the Loudon Co. Criminal Court,
waived as felony or after
preliminary hearing. Also the
public must keep in mind that
most of the fines/costs minus
clerk fees goes back to the
state; it is not retained
locally. Hope this will clear up
any misconceptions.
Cissy Chapman
Judicial Commissioner
It's obvious that some of you
just don't get it. I have no
knowledge of what goes on in your
local government but what ever it is
IS the business of every
citizen. You can not compare the
actions of private businesses and
private citizens to the actions of
government employees. Big
difference. Government officials and
employees are paid by the tax
dollars from the residents. This
absolutely gives the every resident
the right, no, the obligation to ask
questions about the activities of
any and all government employees.
And if wrong doing is suspected or
found to demand action. We are the
employers, they all work for us.
Don B. 10/16/08
In response to Lstanford
10/12/08
I made the comment about the
local businessmen to show the
connection between T. Scott
Jones, Tony Akins, Tooter and
the LCSD. Tooter didn't do this
as a favor he did it because he
was more or less told to. Tooter
is now running for mayor of
Lenoir City and T. Scott Jones
is campaigning for Tony Akins.
Does something not seem a little
off to you? If you want to
live your life with your head
stuck in the sand go right
ahead that's what's wrong with
this county today. People don't'
want to get involved, they
believe everything their told
and they aren't open when
someone tries to shed some light
on the situation. You keep your
head stuck in the sand and let
the people who care about Lenoir
City do the fighting. Thanks to
Van and this site the citizens
are more informed. Change is
coming, change is coming, maybe
not this election but it is
coming.
ABC 10/16/08
I sure didn't mean to cause such
a stir. I just simply stated what I
saw. I didn't make any accusations
of any kind. Is this how bad things
have gotten? Ask a simple question
and get accused of all kinds of
things. No wonder so many people
have suspicions of our officials.
Broadway Betty 10/14/08
Regarding Van's
Brookshire On Review
article, there's one thing I
thought was noticeably missing.
Matt Brookshire evidently
doesn't care for the city
charter he swears to uphold when
he takes that oath of office.
Every two-year
term we now get a few more
proposed "charter amendments"
thrown at us, and are given a
plethora of reasons why we
should approve them. In fact, in
his last two-year term he tried
to get his two-year terms
changed to four-year terms.
He takes an oath
to uphold the charter, not to
try and rewrite it.
If he doesn't
like what it says he needs to
walk away from taking that oath.
David Divelbiss
Lenoir City 10/14/08
Broadway betty....keep up the
work. I don't think you made
any accusations just an
observation and wanted an answer
from a citizen for something you
didn't know. But instead you
were called a liar and a
downright horrible citizen for
monitoring the police. I don't
think you said anything about
their professionalism or how
appreciative you are for
protecting you from harm but I
am sure you are. I think these
two that replied have no idea
themselves that it is the right
of every citizen to scrutinize
those who work for us. So to
you two bloggers you can stick
it, I am a citizen and as long
as you are getting my tax money,
I will observe, tape, and record
everything these employees of
MINE, and every citizen of the
county, does if I choose to. I
pay their salary so that gives
me and Broadway Betty the right
to gripe, complain and most
definitely question everyone's
actions that gets money from
me.
It would have been good enough
to say he was picking the car up
to take it to a public function
where pictures would be taken
and it would look better to have
a marked car but instead you
decide to try to spin gold out
of a turd. But better luck next
time. Oh and smile for the
camera.
-A close friend 10/13/08
Thanks D Divelbiss, will do>
Appreciate that. RBB 10/13/08
Area out of
touch with
mainstream America
I have lived in East
Tennessee my entire
life, and it never
ceases to amaze me
how out of touch
with mainstream
America this part of
the country seems.
Most of what I
read and hear in the
workplace, papers
and radio is
severely slanted
against Democrats.
All everybody
talks about is
Barack Obama being a
Muslim or not
wearing a flag pin.
I hear that the
world will come to
an end if we give
gays rights.
I hear that it is
perfectly logical to
teach Bible stories
in science class.
I hear that
liberals hate
America and should
move to another
country.
This is exactly
what the right-wing
demagogues want
people to talk about
so people won't
focus on the real
issues - like $4 gas
and no plan to
implement
alternative energy.
Issues like
unemployment and the
worst market crisis
since the
depression.
Issues like 4,200
dead in Iraq and
$500 billion spent
and counting.
Issues like
conservatives
ignoring global
warming and
stem-cell research.
Issues like
cronyism and
scandals at all
levels of
government,
especially in the
Republican Party.
Well, I have had
enough.
I love my fellow
Tennesseans, so I
really wish they
would shut up about
Obama's flag pin and
look at the real
issues.
Wake up and smell
reality.
It's time for
positive change in
America, and it will
take all of us to
make America a
better place.
I don't care who
you vote for, just
vote on the real
issues.
See you Nov. 4.
Lee Rader Lenoir
City knoxnews.com
10/12/08
This is to miss Broadway Betty,
Once again
another person butting into
someone's business that
you obviously have absolutely no
idea what you are talking about, so
I'll fill you in with what little
information that I know is true.
First of
all deputy chief Akiens has been
with the county for 17 years and
in law enforcement supervision and
management for longer, so if he
wants' to come get in a deputy's car
he has the authority.
And by the
way, where's the photo??
Anyway the deputy you are speaking
of has been driving an unmarked car
similar in color to chief Aikens
assigned unmarked patrol car.
Also if you
must know, in order for chief Akiens
to do his job and make sure his
officers are doing their
assignments, yes he may get a patrol
car and show up on calls, or just
patrol and watch everyone's work
habits, it's hard to blend in when
everyone knows what you drive on a
regular basis.
Maybe if
you think about it, all they are
trying to do is keep our county
safe!!
He does
care about the county and the
sheriff's dept., and he cares about
how everyone does their job. That's
part of the job, that's the hours
after the regular 40 a week, not to
mention all of the call out time and
constant phone calls relating
to office business. Just pick up a
scanner and you will hear most of
the administrative officers working
after hours of nine to five.
So I really
don't believe you have seen what you
are claiming. but I have seen plenty
of good from all of the department,
I just don't follow them around with
a camera.
I would
love to see you put your life on the
line 24/7, because that is what all
law enforcement is about 365 days a
year everyday and every night!!
You are not
a police officer/sheriff deputy 9-5
Monday thru Friday.
I can sleep
in peace knowing we have the men and
woman who have made this decision to
protect and serve the people, me and
even unappreciative citizens like
YOU !!!
I hope you
really think about what you write
next time, you never know you may
have a emergency and chief Akiens
show up in a patrol car. (THEN YOU
WOULD FEEL REALLY GUILTY. OR MAYBE
NOT)
Hope all
have a great day, and thank you Van
for standing firm on your ethics of
this website, hopefully it will stop
some of the nonsense and rumors that
are just plain LIES.
Thank you,
Loudon
County Citizen 10/12/08
In reply to Broadway Betty
10/9/08
Did you ever think that he
might need a marked police
car instead of an unmarked
one? Maybe if you had a job
then you would not have the
time to sit and stare.
And with all that is
happening in the world and
around our town everyone
seems to be so concerned
with all this other stuff.
A daycare had children in
danger with people doing
drugs, we have a historical
presidential election that
could possibly change the
world we live in. A young
lady was raped and killed in
a near by town which we all
at one point or another
travel, and not one post has
been to say we need to pray
for that family or that
money has been raised to
send to them to help with
there expenses. Meth has
virtually taken over our
state and country, we have
soldiers over seas, the list
can go on and on and on, but
yet everyone still is sooooo
concerned with only one
aspect of life and that is
the happenings of Loudon
County sheriff's
department.
I am sure that the
Sheriff would welcome anyone
of you to come and sit and
observe the happenings of
everyday life there when you
can tear yourselves away
from your postings. Or
instead of tearing these
officers down the next time
you see one thank them for
putting there lives on the
line for you with little pay
or respect. You would
definitely stop them long
enough to ask to get out of
a ticket or to help reduce a
charge against you if you
had one.
I mean why are we not
posting about real issues.
As a parent the daycare
endangering children
outraged me, not whether or
not Tony Aikens whom last
time I looked was an
employee authorized to drive
a marked police car was
driving one or not. Let's
start tearing to shreds all
the business' from A to Z in
this town if that is what is
going to happen on here. I
am sure there is enough dirt
to be shoveled in this town
besides the LCSD.
I am sure that people
have been fired unfairly or
had their wives arrested or
been accused of in moral
acts at other establishments
in this town. So why aren't
we seeing those people on
here? you know why, because
people want to gripe about
things that are none of
their business in the first
place. If we are going to
crucify people on here let's
put everyone on here. For
example let's start blogging
about the people who are
arrested for drugs, child
neglect, or domestic
assault. Let's start
throwing those people under
the bus, because they are
the ones that deserve it-not
one line of employees which
if looked into most of you
have either been arrested by
or given a ticket to by one
of them and you feel this is
the best way to retaliate.
I have had more tickets than
I care to count and not one
of those were not unjust
they were all my fault.
Why has no one mentioned on
here about the bus driver
that endangered children
last week? If you want to
go on a witch hunt on
someone let's start with
her. She should be hanging
from the tallest tree in
this town for that. She has
a responsibility to carry
children safely to and from
school and did not fulfill
that obligation, so where is
the post about that?
Why was a post on here about
a local business owner
getting help from a friend
on a bid a big huge scandal
on here? If you had a
friend who could help you
then you would let them-no
different just because they
have affiliations with the
Sheriff's office-just a
friend helping a friend,
just like one would help you
move or give you a couch to
sleep on if you needed it.
I want to close by
applauding Billy Hall for
standing up for himself,
maybe the others that are
bashed on here should do the
same thing and maybe just
maybe it would stop.
Thank you
Lstandford Lenoir City, TN
10/12/08
To: RBB 10/908
You asked: <<Does
anyone know of an attorney in
Knoxville that DOES NOT have a
CONFLICT of interest with LCUB?>>
When I
faced Shannon Littleton in court
I did pretty well with Paul
McLemore as my attorney.
We prevailed. Contact him and
ask.
Dave Divelbiss
Lenoir City
10/11/08
I've noticed something odd. I
live in the west Broadway area.
There is a county deputy who lives
near by. Ever so often Chief Deputy,
Tony Aikens, comes by the deputies
house in his unmarked Crown Vic and
leaves it and gets in deputies
marked police car (photos attached)
and goes somewhere. In a while he
comes back gets back in his unmarked
car and leaves. Not sure what that's
all about but seems a bit odd.
Broadway Betty 10/9/08
Does anyone know of an attorney
in Knoxville that DOES NOT have
a CONFLICT of interest with LCUB>>>>??????????????????????????????
If so let me know,,,,I can't
seem to find one
RBB 10/908
I too would like to thank Ms.
Zehner for trying to save the tax
payer's money. She is certainly an
exception when it comes to
government officials.
As for the News Herald. RIP
Valerie 10/8/08
I applaud
Dana Zaner for saving money –
other leaders should follow
suit!!!!!!!!!
Betty 10/7/08
I have
told my wife, family, and
friends not to respond to the
post involving the Sheriff’s
Office or myself due to the fact
that the people who are posting
comments are mostly disgruntled
ex employees and current
employees of the sheriff’s
dept., politically motivated
fools, convicted criminals , and
or just plain stupid people who
have nothing better to do then
hide behind a computer and post
lies! Notice that I said mostly,
some of the people that have
written in, and even signed
their correct name, seem to be
well informed and took the time
to seek the truth before writing
in. To those few weather I agree
with what you posted or not I
respect you and your comments
and encourage you to continue to
stand up for what you believe in
even if it is the un popular
thing to do!
Now it is
time for me to respond to the
bloggers who feel the need to
post comments that are
unfounded, untrue, and just
plain lies involving myself and
activities of the Loudon County
Sheriff’s Office involving the
Narcotics Unit and or myself!
Lets start with gi jane! You
are a liar, and the FACTS prove
it! You stated that LCSD can’t
get involved with the 9th
drug task force because they
will not work with me. Since
Russ Johnson has taken over and
even while McCluen was DA I have
worked with the 9th
DTF. Do you remember the 200
pounds of marijuana that was
found on I-75 that involved the
9th and myself. How
about the Gomes case the 9th
DTF just wrapped up! The LCSD
Narcotics Unit including myself
aided several times in that
case. The 9th DTF did
and outstanding job and involved
several different agency’s
including the Loudon County
Sheriff’s Office. I continually
receive and exchange tips,
leads, information about ongoing
cases with the 9th
DTF. The LCSD’s K9 unit aides
the 9th DTF with the
use of our K9’s this includes
K9 Draga and myself. 9th
DTF agents and I have
investigated and deconstructed
meth labs together. Don’t just
take my word look at the court
records, news paper articles and
or call Russ Johnson, Steve
Cook, John Sanchez, or anyone
who works for the 9th
DTF. As for Lenoir City and
Loudon City the LCSD Narcotics
Unit including myself works with
both departments regularly.
Now to the F.B.I.! LCSD
currently has a narcotics
officer assigned full time to
the HIDTA Task Force.(Paul
Curtis) This task force is made
up of several surrounding
agencies including LCSD and
headed up by the F.B.I. and
D.E.A . I have personally worked
with the task force on cases
that I have developed and took
to the task force for assistance
in investigating and prosecuting
on a federal level! The LCSD
Narcotics Unit is constantly
involved with the task force and
investigations in and around
Loudon County. As for your
statements about harassing
people to get a few marijuana
seeds, talking bad to your
relative! Why don’t you tell the
whole story? Since being Sgt. Of
the LCSD Narcotics Unit the Unit
has seized more drugs, arrested
and convicted more drug
offenders, created more drug
awareness programs for schools
and the citizens of Loudon
County, and seized and been
awarded more assets then ever
before! Don’t believe me check
the court records, talk with the
DA’s Office, call the State of
Tennessee and ask for the TIBERS
report and see for your self. gi
jane if you can’t tell the truth
the don’t speak.
To the
other bloggers who have posted
comments about the LCSD
Narcotics Unit and or myself.
It has
been posted that I fail to work
40 hours a week. ANOTHER LIE! I
am a salary employee ad only get
paid for 40 hours a week. Since
Jan 1 of 2008 I have taken two
vacations one for 4 days when I
got married, and just 4 weeks
ago I secluded a week off.
During that week off I worked 32
hours, I was called out several
times, made several undercover
drug buys, performed a drug
sweep with my K9 partner at
Greenback High school with the
another LCSD K9 team, and
appeared in court. This does not
include the drug fund audits,
surveillance reports, weekly
activity reports, case files,
and other work I take home and
work on while I am off! Over
the past 3 weeks I have worked a
total of 222 hours. My average
work week is 50 to 60 hours a
week. Come ride along with me
for a week and see for your self
just what I do and how much I
work!
There have
been post reporting I am picking
on Hispanics, let me assure you
that could not be further from
the truth! Look at the public
records in the courts and see
for yourself. I don’t care if
your white, black, green,
yellow, rich, poor, politically
connected, famous, or from
another planet, if you are a
drug offender or breaking the
law I will my job and put you in
jail.
The
comments about being accused of
assault and misconduct involving
Greg Berry a convicted drug
offender! Just as every person I
arrest you are innocent until
proven guilty I went to trial I
testified and I fought to prove
my innocence! No one has posted
comments about all the witnesses
who were proven to be lying.
Even the victim told 3
different stories of what
happened, I was one of the few
who told the truth as to what
happened. No one heard about
Scott McCulen sending a T.B.I.
agent to the Sheriff’s Office
just prior to my arrest advising
me that if I would come talk to
the DA I would not have any
problems. ( I still have the
recording of this offer). If I
had done what I was accused of
how come there has been no civil
suit. Post are being made that T
Scott was my Atty. Not true I
had my own atty who came to me
on his own and offered his
services, I have the atty bill
to prove it! If anyone knows
were Greg Berry is you may want
to tell him to turn himself in
he has another warrant out for
his arrest!
I have
worked hard to get were I am and
I have sacrificed a lot to do
the right thing and be the best
Officer I can be! I have put my
life on the line several times,
been shot in the head, lost
friends, drug down the road, hit
by fleeing vehicles, arrested on
false accusations, and the list
goes on and on but I still fight
for the citizens of Loudon
County! I will not allow the
criminals, liars, and cowards to
keep me from doing my job!
I am
tired of lies and people who
continue to mislead and make
reckless unfounded statements
involving LCSD Narcotics and
me! I know this is going to
start a frenzy of post about me!
People will continue to tell
lies, make reckless unfounded
statements and hide behind their
computer scared to sign their
name but at some point in time
you have to stand up for your
self and let the people know who
you are and what you stand for!
I an no different the 99% of the
Law Enforcement Officer in
Loudon County. I assure you that
each and every Officer has and
will make sacrifices to protect
and serve the citizens of
Loudon County! I have only
commented on things that
involved me personally and I
have not told you about all the
other hard working Law
Enforcement Officers in Loudon
County who work long hours for
little or no pay, who endure the
pressures of being a Officer. I
speak for myself only!!! I
have not accomplished the things
I have spoken about by myself
but I do not want to pull
those officers and other people
into the fire! If you have a
question feel free to call me
865-988-2346 I have nothing to
hide!
Billy Hall
110 Franklin Estates Lane
Greenback Tennessee.
P.S. Scott
McCluen may be out there but at
least he signed his name and for
that and that only I respect
him!
Well, it has been awhile since I
talked to you bloggers. A close
friend of mine confirms business
is as usual at the Loudon
Sheriff's department.
Special agent Curtis got a
$50,000 SUV, 2006 model, just
not good enough (great on gas).
Sgt. Hall continues to harass
people to get a few marijuana
seeds. He even talked to a
relative of mine like she was
dirt, just because of where she
was. Thought it was a free
country. He then had the nerve
to ask her to help him. Are you
kidding me?
I also see that Detective White
got moved to the school
(without) his approval. I guess
he must have had to (Just Say
No). Meanwhile you have more
people not coming to work or
doing their job.
Chief Davis is still being
Jimmy. Taking off every other
day, bringing Aikens coffee, and
suspending employees with no
merit.
By the way, the only reason the
deputies got suspended is
because they messed up a good
story for Sheriff Aikens.
Could've had a good story if not
for the escapee. The same guy
ran from him and got away. Can
you suspend yourself?
I will bet you people that you
won't see, not one supervisor
car at the sheriff's department
before 9:00 a.m. or after 2:00
p.m. You will not see the
sheriff's car there after 2:00
p.m. because that is when he
comes in. Davis, Aikens, and
Arden do come by to say hi.
If you ask anyone in the
sheriff's department and
wouldn't mention their name, 90%
of them want Aikens and Davis
gone because they know if they
are still there during election
season, they are out of a job
because sheriff #2, Guider will
get creamed in 2010.
It's going to be funny when the
chosen few are looking for jobs
and find out that they're not
that great. Enjoy for now!
I will go on to say that Loudon
City and Lenoir City are making
great progress with the war on
drugs with the 9th DTF. Loudon
County can't get involved
because they will not work with
Billy Hall. The sheriff knows
this but will not change the
situation.
The FBI does help out sometimes
with Billy and Paul on their
coat tails. Maybe the Feds can
get a big seizure and Billy Hall
can get him $50,000 gas hog
(with Paul Curtis' approval).
2010 will change all of this
mess.
G.I. Jane
10/3/2008
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