Blog Archives 3/2/09-6/29/09
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I have been a resident of Loudon
for over 20 years. I have to
admit i was rather upset when
the fountain and tree was
removed as i felt this was a big
part of our tradition. However,
after noticing the new
construction taking place, i
felt as though the town was
doing it right and making it
something we can be proud of.
However, I am not a construction
engineer or anything like that,
but why do we feel it was proper
to put the flagpole right in
front of the Welcome to Loudon
sign? Could they not have
placed it on the side? Directly
behind it? I know its petty,
but you would think that if it
was going to be done correctly,
the sign wouldn't be obstructed.
Thanks
TT Loudon 6/29/09
To Pinching Pennies You are right LPD officers are some of the highest pd. But I think that is something our city should be proud of. I wouldn’t put my life on the line for 50K . They deserve at least that. As far as the camera systems there was a good reason for that and it was actually for the public. Why don’t you call the chief and ask him. I am sure he would be more than happy to tell you. You see LPD has nothing to hide, never has. Chief Webb would gladly share any of his expenses and explanation of them to anyone who wanted to know. They have enough cars for all full time officers and a few extras that are for part time officers, all of which are needed. They use those everyday to protect and serve us. They use those cars to pull over D.U.I.’s, they have some of the biggest arrest numbers in the state for their population and it is due to their efforts and hard work. Instead of putting them down or questioning their every move maybe you and that city councilman should show them the respect they deserve. Of course if you are anything like councilman Millsaps you don’t know what the word respect means. Proud of LPD! 6/27/09
JOHN
Q.
L.P.D was good to me but i have
a great wife and two wonderful
kids and 60+ hours a week
between two jobs and 7 days a
week was to much for us and i
chose my family first.
6/25/09
To: Mr. Shawn Bivens
First of all, I never
mentioned any one by name in
my previous comments so
unless you were familiar
with the incident to which I
referred, why would you
think I was speaking of
you? But, since you have
opened the door for
discussion on this subject,
why did you quit? Please do
enlighten us all.
John Q.
Loudon County, Tennessee
6/24/09
I don't believe the
veterans administration was
behind selling the flowers
anyway.
my dad is a disabled
veteran of world war 2.since his
disability the VA has taken
care of him very well. medical
coverage a pension, medical
supplies .I cant see why the
people selling the flowers can
say that they cant receive help
from the v. a. when I know very
well different. I am glad to see
walmart stop solicitation. some
kids tried to sell me a booklet
of coupons for 15 dollars
there. I wouldn't buy it. I did
give them a donation, but I
suspect the kids were just being
used to get money from
people. maybe all solicitors
should have a road block on ft
loudon dam bridge, they would
have plenty of cars to ask for
donations while they are
bottle necked up waiting
false accusations
To JOHN Q who is ashamed to put his real name if you want to know why I chose to leave L.P.D just ask and I will tell you the truth and then you can tell the truth and quit making false accusations it had nothing to do with a party that is a lie.
shawn bivens 6/22/09
Residents of the 9th Judicial District have a serious problem with their District Attorney, Russ Johnson. Up until now it has been mostly just cronyism, taking care of friends or friends of friends. Cutting criminals incredible deals, expunging records and offering wonderful pleas mostly for petty crooks. But now he has crossed an ominous line. He cuts a deal for five years probation for a man the Loudon County Sheriff's Department said committed murder. His underlings lay out a line of propaganda that was suppose to make the deal sound reasonable. Come to find out according to the family of the slain girl, many of the facts given by Johnson's office are now in doubt and if what they say is true Johnson and/or his employees have lied. See the knoxnews story. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/jun/20/family-critical-of-plea-deal-in-shooting/ This is serious. This is not justice. And to those of you who plan to vote Johnson out in the next election, that's a fine idea but he wont be back up for reelection till 2014. That's right, he's in for an eight year term. Johnny Carson once said that the best place in America to get away with murder was Loudon County Tennessee. I guess we are just living up to our reputation with Russ Johnson's help. I want to personally apologize to the deceased girls family for voting for Johnson. I wont make that mistake again. Glen, Kingston Tennessee 6/27/09
Sour
grapes?
Not necessarily. LPD enjoys spending money on new toys. Some needed some not. How many cars do they really need? There is a lot of expense to maintaining these vehicles. yes, the city does have its own garage but it still has to be paid for. What about a Doyle Arp camera system at the police / fire department? Why? And yes i do know how much the LPD full time officers make. It is actually quite impressive. They are one of the highest paid police departments around. Many are making 50k+ a year with overtime no shabby. Maybe Mr. city councilman has had enough of the erroneous spending. Time are tough for all of us, and the money they are spending is TAXPAYER money. Every agency in the state is having hard times and having to make budget cuts, why not James "Bear" Webb?
Pinching Pennies 6/18/09
Today, while at wal-mart in
Lenoir City, I was speaking with
the assistant manager in regards
to an issue I had. I then ask
him why the veterans were not
being allowed to sell there
poppies. He started out by
saying that they do support the
veterans and troops, but they
had stopped all soliciting. I
told him that other stores were
allowing it and he then said it
was a store by store decision.
We'll see if they hold true when
it comes time for girl scouts to
sell there cookies, or at
Christmas and no bell
ringers. Wal-Mart has gotten way
too big and forgotten the roots
it was created on by the great
Sam Walton.
taking my business elsewhere
Loudon 6/18/09
john Q
I thought FOP lodge was
closed due to the fact that
a member of the Sheriff
Department was holding gun
carry permit classes and
charging a fee, and since
the land is owned by TVA it
is is supposed to be for
nonprofit? Didn't have much
to do with complaints about
noise, if that was the case
it would of been closed
years ago.
JD
LC, Tennessee 6/18/09
Sour Grapes?
I recently read the news
herald article about
the LPD budget request
and the certain city
council member that
voted to reject it
stating the department
was over budget and
using to much money from
the general fund.
I have a couple of questions for this city council member, first does this vote have anything to do with the fact that a family member quit because he couldn't attend a new years eve party several years ago? Or are you confusing LPD with Knox City and still angry that you were arrested on the very night you were elected to the position that you now hold as a Loudon City council member for dui, possession of cocaine and let's see, oh yea you were also in the company of shall we say a lady of the evening? These are not rumors they are facts and regardless of how the charges were later "taken care of" these events were on the evening news and there was a paper trail left. So Mr. city council man what is your real problem with the LPD budget? And would you work for the salary the LPD or any other city or county police officer is expected to work for? I know I would not, police officers are one of the most under paid and under appreciated professions there is. They put there lives on the lines every day for others and people have nothing better to do than complain about how much they are paid? Yet, who are the first ones they call when something goes wrong or they need help? And officers are expected to just do the job and not complain and take whatever pay is given like any other job? It isn't like any other job, for the most part when I go to my job in the morning I don't worry about whether or not I will come home in the afternoon. But, for police officers this is a concern in the back of their minds and it can happen here, it can happen anywhere. So to you Mr. city council man, I voted for you the last election but I will not make that mistake again. The new year will bring a very big election to Loudon County and I hope a great many changes with it. To Mr. Webb, the chief at LPD, I just say have faith and know that the citizens of Loudon are behind you and do appreciate the job that you and your department do and will support you now and in the future. And no, I am not a police officer or affiliated with any department but I do appreciate the job that all officers do.
Thank you for you time.
John Q. Public
Loudon County Tennessee
6/11/09
To former resident
And she was looking for the GOSSIP paper...lol what's up with that?
All we do is gossip!!!!
Tisk 6/17/09
To former resident
it must have contaminated you before you left... cause looks who is talking. Home In LC 6/15/09
As a
former 911 employee, I can tell
you this. Things are NOT run
the way they should be.
Mismanagement runs rampant. If
you take a look at the
disciplinary records, you will
see (if they don't disappear
after this post) that the males
that have been terminated or
allowed to resign, or just down
right quit because of fairness
would have one heck of a sexual
discrimination suit. One wrong
doing on a males part and they
are out the door, while there
are several females that have
had numerous write ups, or
should have for things that are
just as bad.
One long time employee had enough after a position came available for training officer. The director for some reason felt it necessary for someone in Blount County to do interviews for the position. Lets see, who should get the job....a several year employee who was a supervisor with a lot of experience...or a little over a year long employee who is the Directors friend (and female). Guess who got it. Not the male. Is making the 911 center pay for a stolen car that was entered improperly into NCIC not pretty bad, well not if your female, a little write up will do. If an employee has a complaint about another employee, a written SIGNED complaint had to be filled out and was showed to the person it was against. Also, public records can not be obtained for a fair price. For 15 dollars per sheet of paper that it takes less than 5 minutes to search and print you can have all you want. Or for 100 dollars you can have phone calls and radio traffic on DVD that pretty much makes itself. Why it is that you would want to replace experienced employees that it costs so much to train for one infraction because they are males and let females slide for similar things is beyond me. It takes at least 6 months to thoroughly train a dispatcher just to be ready to work the radios and phones and at least a year to be proficient. Look at the records, if they would let you and you will see that the males that have worked there since the current director stepped in are gone. Any lawyers want to take on the 911 center for a sexual discrimination suit? I'm game!
Not
a female and no longer employed
at 911 6/15/09
When I came across
this blog, I was actually looking to
see if the LC gossip paper was
online. I find this quite
interesting. Unfortunately, I
lived in LC until I was 5 year's old
and have had relatives there until
just a few year's ago. I'm so
happy I didn't have to go through
school in this nasty town.
Everyone there does nothing but
gossip. Do you people not have a
life or perhaps gossip is your
life. Former resident 6/13/09
What the heck is going on in
this county/city? Here is
the latest going around
town. employees of the 9-1-1
center are dropping like
flies in a cooler, two or
three terminations as of
recently, several written
reprimands. The
terminations seem to have
been just according to
policy but they only apply
to certain
people. Employees have
violated these policies both
past and current and are
only written up. why is
this? Does the 9-1-1
director have a clue as to
what is going on.
And what is the deal with city and county law enforcement having a " who has the biggest B _ _ _ s " competition. law enforcement departments should work together and have trust in one another. I feel it is time for James " Bear" Webb to be replaced. anyway, with all that is going on it appears that someone will wise up and put a stop to all this. more folks know more than what the leaders of Loudon City and the 9-1-1 center are aware of. If you can shed more light on the subject please post. It needs to be brought out into the open.
Fed Up
6/13/2009
Well mrs K. hats off
to you for getting the (Firing)
range, you hated so much, closed.
God help another gun battle goes on
here and every time they miss they
will be thinking of you. I would
vote for a temporary tax increase
for anyone with a house as big as
yours to pay for a new indoor range
over your side of the lake and no I
am not in law enforcement. Apparently they do
need HELP!!! If one calls in, they
are hold FOREVER, and not once did I
see them(employees) answer the
phones nor did their phones ring.
And you have a point, NO I wouldn't
fit in because I WORK!!!! :)
lcub wanna be
if you think you
are going to tell on somebody
for something.. dont waste your
time if u have a problem with
the employees there.. just mail
your payment in OR have them
automatically deduct it from
your account OR pay the bill on
line all three combined would be
faster and easier and a lot less
stress on you. they dont need
any more help there anyway.
why would you want a job
there? would u fit in with
them?
Rate Payer 6/11/09
How does one get a job at LCUB??
On a recent trip to the branch
office on Cedar Bluff Rd. I was
amused. Walk in and straight
ahead is a window that has 2
cups, with a woman eating food
to where one can't even get
anything in the window to pay a
bill or anything. Then at the
drive thru window, there's
a woman dressed as though to be
going out to the clubs and
chopping gum, at the other
window is another woman turned
around talking to the drive thru
woman (I guess making plans as
to what club to hit first?).
AND, in a room by herself is
another woman reading a book...
How much do they make?? I want a
job there.
L CUB Want To Be
Well Christmas came early this
year didn't it? Tim Brewster
being arrested.
signed
Elated 6/5/09
maybe the probation officer
will get probation.. then he can
be his own probation officer. he
can pay himself the fee for
being on probation. then collect
the fee for being a probation
officer for a probation
officer. or if he doesn't pay
himself he can issue a warrant
for his own arrest for violating
his own probation. then extend
his probation for another year
or so. then charge himself more
fines for being on probation,
etc and so forth and so on.
Circular logic 6/3/09
"Eliminate the volunteer Pre K
program, An income based social
program that has not worked.
This is a 900k per year program
that has been proven to have no
lasting impact on the kids. It
also displaces and reduces
funding for older children.
Eliminate the school sponsored
daycares. "
This quote is from your
website. I agree the Pre K
program does not offer value. I
have read that the educational
difference between students who
attend and those who don't
levels out after first grade.
Also it is NOT an income based
program. If it is, then how
could the child of a teacher and
a principal qualify? Surely
their combined income would
disqualify them from a need
based program. It is a program
for those who know somebody and
is a waste of money and space.
If Pre K is such an important
part of the education of our
children, then let's have it
Lottery funded like they do in
Georgia. It should not
be a private daycare for a
few families funded by the
taxpayers.
I
didn't know we had
school sponsored daycares except
for the one for the teachers'
children in the trailer at
Eaton. We have been told
repeatedly that the school
system is not paying for that.
Although I have my doubts
because it appears they are on
the same utility lines. If the
school system budget is in fact
paying dollars for daycares, it
should stop immediately. Why
should we pay for daycare for
some people and not for all? I
fear it is the same thing as the
Pre K program; a 'who you know'
deal.
I
believe we have real needs in
the education system in
Loudon County but I also
believe that we are wasting
money on things that don't add
value to the education of the
children.
Education First 6/1/09 I recently received my monthly statement from Chase with a friendly notice that I have the flexibility to skip a payment. I thought this was very shady and odd, considering how badly these giant banks are doing financially, surely they cannot have offered this to everyone; how on earth could they survive one month without this cash flow? Anyway, a few days later I realized their motives for this scheme. They were simply buttering me up for their next letter to me – an interest rate increase from a somewhat reasonable fixed rate of 11.99% to a variable rate of prime plus 23.99%. Not because of any late payments by me, or negative activity on my other accounts, but “in response to market conditions and to maintain profitability on your account.” I did some research and found out that this has been going on for several months to hundreds of thousands of customers of most major banks. I am a “new” Chase customer, a rollover from their WAMU purchase. During this research, I came across a very helpful website ( www.changeinterms.com ), maybe we can inundate our representatives and the credit card companies with complaints and make a difference before they put every household out of business. Good luck to all. Belligerent in LC 5/29/09
I was
extremely saddened on a trip to
Loudon today. I was born and
raised my entire childhood a few
blocks from downtown. I remember
vividly the evening walks
holding my daddy's hand to the
fountain downtown. It had
colored lights then and the
colors would change. As a child
I was in awe. The fountain is
longer there. I found this out
today. Removed to build what
someone has determined to be
appropriate for the "new" look
of downtown no doubt. I bet that
person doesn't even live in
Loudon. I realize it wasn't the
fancy waterfall fountain like
the village has, but why
couldn't it have been spruced
up, why did it have to be
removed? it was an important
part of the history of Loudon.
Loudon Lost 5/27/09 Wait, are these
republican commissioners? I think
they need to change their party
because big government is not the
answer but if the prez can do it it
doesn't surprise me these nitwits
are trying it. This wellness is a
pure crock and those of you who
think the county has the right to do
this because they pay the bulk of
the insurance should think twice.
Are you on welfare, do you get wic?
Would you like the county to make
you take a drug test to get any
county benefits? I for one would
like to see you have to pee in a cup
to throw your garbage away at the
convenience center or maybe you
should be charged by pound for the
amount of garbage you throw away and
give you a break on recyclables? If
they try it with the employees we
the citizens are next. Does anyone
know mr wampler also does the
insurance for LC and Loudon? Do
you know he gets more money if the
county goes with this? I know
someone who is running against Nancy
M and he will be out in full force
in November. Austin, the people are
coming to join you and take this
government back. Keep the fight,
those around you have an election to
lose. Cissy Chapman wrote:
To the Observer: That is the best idea I have heard in a long time! Maybe we could put that pork chop around Arp’s next since he was instrumental in doing his buddy Cunningham the favor to start with. jLo 5/9/09 Every year in
Pamplona, Spain the residents
release the bulls from the corrals
and people race the bulls through
the streets to the coliseum. The
event attracts tourists from around
the world and was made famous in an
Ernest Hemingway novel.
Wow ..I didn't know 1st national
bank needed a bailout. I have
money in there.. I guess i need
to get it out if they have
mismanaged it. If it is still
there.
Dollar Bill 5/-/09 Understand that
anyone that works at the LCSD would
be labeled an advocate of Mr. Aikens
and every time I went to the
election office last election he was
there hanging out. We know Mrs.
Harrison will do a good job and I
hope she cuts all ties with the dept
as I know we are glad she is getting
out of the den. You must understand
how people would see it when someone
from there gets a new position in
the county.....Too bad though, she
would make a nice secretary to the
new sheriff next year.
I am unceasingly
amazed that the public never
fails to scream "Dirty
Politics!!" whenever changes are
made that they don't
understand-or don't want to
understand because then they
would have to find something
else to gripe about. The
political majority changed in
Nashville which allows changes
to an appointed position
locally-not just Loudon County,
but all local election
commissions. Ms. Zehner, I am
sure was aware of the
possibility when she accepted
the position; just as Susan
Harrison is well aware.
I have known Susan for many years & have had absolutely no reason to question her integrity or abilities. If we all had her work ethic our county would be a far better environment. She has never failed to go above and beyond in any task given her. She previously worked for Lisa Niles in the General Sessions Clerk's office-no one questioned when she left for the Sheriff's Department position-she was bettering herself monetarily & accepting new challenges. While there she performed administrative duties just as Frankie Shields before retiring. Susan also maintained physical evidence for prosecution, carried blood alcohol tests, drugs, etc. to TBI Crime Lab, researched & filed TBI Disposition reports & was Sex Offender clerk-meeting with offenders & keeping up with their residences, employment, etc. and maintained the officer's personnel files (training, etc.) along with maintaining & logging uniforms, handled seizure warrants for the State and administratively assisted in auctions of seized property . She always gives at least 10 hours work in any given 8 hour day.
Susan was outstanding in
managing the Sheriff's Dept.
Toys for Tots last Christmas,
working many, many unpaid hours
soliciting toys & funds to make
sure no one was forgotten. All
this while being a wife to James
and mother to 2 teenage boys at
home, their daughter, Ashley,
being a practicing local
attorney. She is also church
secretary, serving on numerous
committees, and also
participates in the Cancer
Society Relay For Life. Did I
mention she is also a marathon
participant, having run in
several marathons? If she is
not qualified for the Election
Commissioner or any position
that requires hard work,
dedication and the highest
integrity of a totally unbiased
person then I don't know who
is.
She did not actively seek out
the position. When we talked
about it she told me she felt
she could handle the job and
would like to have it, but would
not politically seek it. She
would pray about it, if it was
meant to happen --it would. I
am very proud it did & Loudon
County should be honored to have
her.
Susan has political obligation
to no one.. To whoever alluded
to Tony Aikens having a pawn or
the ability to manipulate
Susan--you don't have a clue.
As I understand it, through the
proverbial grapevine, Aikens was
supporting someone other than
Susan.
Susan has lots of friend &
family. We all know her
attributes. Just give her time,
you'll see, too. For once, at
least, the right choice was
made.
Cissy Chapman 4/29/09
Well it seems congrats are in order. Congratulations Mr. Fred Nelson, you got the ones you wanted again. Inside 4/27/09 Bus cameras had no
video cards to record crash informed 4/27/09
To Concerned Supporter of
Greenback School,
My name is Lisa Russell and I am
the Greenback School Board
Representative. I appreciate
your concerns and would like to
help address them. Please give
me a call at 865-988-7939. I
will of course protect your
anonymity.
Sincerely,
Lisa Russell 4/24/09
I wouldn't have
expected the new election commission
to appoint anyone else that didn't
work at the sheriffs office. Now
Aikens has a true insider in the
office, or does he???? I have been reading
this blog for awhile and although I
am fairly new to this community it
seems to be alot of shady dealings
in this county. I read that the
general sessions judge is retiring
and is being replaced by a "close
personal friend" of the chief
deputy? Now I read that the current
administrator of elections was fired
and replaced by a lady that is
currently the secretary to the
sheriff of the county? So it seems
that now the chief deputy and the
sheriff have a monopoly on the
entire Loudon County government from
the court system to the election
commission? It seems this blog
could be devoted entirely to the
somewhat disreputable dealings of
the Loudon County Sheriff and never
run out of things to say. Message to concerned parents of the students of Greenback School. I have heard from teachers, students & others concerned that there are several areas of our facility that need immediate attention. Most importantly the roof leaks. My understanding is that Loudon County is spending good money for new equipment for several classrooms....that's great! Our Students Deserve It! The equipment, whether it's current or new or even used, is getting ruined quickly from rain...is the roof leaking? Are the students getting wet? I know the equipment is getting wet! I know children are getting sick! Are we appropriating the money wisely? Shouldn't we be making sure that roofs are adequate to protect current & new equipment AND our kids BEFORE we spend hard earned, tax payer money or even Federal Funds & Grants on things that don't contribute to acedemic success? Don't our students & Teachers deserve this consideration? I have supported a new facility for quite some time, but that seems to be in vain. If our students, who are our future, are to continue to do what we expect of them, then why aren't we doing what they expect of us...providing a facility that they are proud of and that they can learn in safely & healthy? Get the building in the condition it needs to be in for them to achieve our expections and their pride! Our kids deserve the most from us because they give us the most. Look at the past test scores. What other schools in Loudon County can achieve what our kids have done?!!!!! Get our facility in the shape it needs to be in OR Build the new Building!!! Concerned Supporter of Greenback Students! More To Come! 4/23/09
i
really don't understand
"Disturbed Citizen's" problem,
even though you cannot find the
hiring policies for LCUB online
they have shared most of those
policies at one time or another
with general public. Sometimes
they only share one at a time
and at other times a couple
policies at a time are made
public. Anyway, I compiled a
list of the qualifications that
have been made public so far
that I am aware of, perhaps
others may know of a few I
missed along the way, if so
please share.
1.
Must be 18 years of age - except
in the situation of summer jobs
for the relatives of present
employees.
2.
Must have no experience or
educational qualifications in
the area in which they are
applying.
3,
Past employment records are of
no concern.
4.
All applications must be given
to Mr. Nelson or the hiring
offical by the applicant's
family member or elected offical.
5.
Applicant must be willing to not
divulge how they "got the job".
6. If
2 or more applicants apply, they
one with the most prominent
family member wins, the others
are to be ranked and placed on
hold until next job becomes
available.
7. If
a very important person wants a
member of their family hired and
no positions are vacant, one
must be created to fullfill the
wishes of the requesting person.
8.
All applications on file must be
back dated to show a date prior
to their employment.
L cub 4/19/09
Has anyone else noted the
disturbing hiring practices at
LCUB? I find it discouraging
that the only
applicants considered eligible
and / or qualified for a
position [most recently;
Custodian, Telephone Operator &
Customer Service Representative]
must be related to someone
already employed by the LCUB or
related to someone on the City
Council.
I checked on-line for the
policies and procedures
governing hiring practices
and nepotism within our
City. Sadly, no policies are
included for public review.
Surprisingly the federal
government as well as the
State of Tennessee have
anti-nepotism laws in
place.
Why is it allowable for
Freddy Nelson to exclude
qualified citizens of our
city from consideration for
a position? The blatant
discrimination against
non-relative hiring is at
least bewildering and at
most alarming.
This tiresome trend in
hiring not only needs to be
addressed quickly it also
needs to cease.
This is the 21st century,
not the good ol’ boy days of
the 1950's. Post the
policies and procedures on
line outlining hiring
practices, follow them and
enforce them and give
everyone an equal
opportunity to be hired!!
Disturbed Citizen 4/18/09
Tellico Village commissioner Don Miller really has no use for the general public. He has made that clear time after time. But if you really needed any more evidence just read his comments in the News Herald. Last week in a story about commissioners using chat rooms to discuss public matters Miller was quoted as saying,
If the paper quoted him correctly, he sees public comment as useless. Just think about that. An elected official who thinks public comment is useless. Miller is so out of touch with reality. Surely there is at least one real republican in Tellico Village who could actually represent the public and not just their own interests. Gayle form the village 4/18/09 No one has mentioned that next May is a county wide election. Don't you suppose that could account for Don Miller's sudden change of heart on a big tax increase? But if you will notice he keeps saying no increase this year. He doesn't mention next year and the next and the next. Hopefully the voters will send a bunch of these joker's to the house and elect some people that will represent the people instead of their own interests. Looking forward to May 2010 4/13/09 What’s the big deal ? Everybody knows if you want to get elected in Loudon County you have to claim to be a Republican. Your qualifications and ability to do the job have nothing to do with it. All it takes is having the big R beside your name. I don’t know if any job is worth lowering your standards to that level. “D” and proud in Loudon County 4/13/09
Ahhhh, gotta love those signs.
one of the most recent i have
noticed is thanks to the state.
if you go from Loudon to
Philadelphia, you will see an
adopt a highway sign for the
participant that reads "historic
Loudon", coming from
Philadelphia to Loudon the same
sign reads "Histopic Loudon" .
They must have run out of r's
Bud 4/9/09
Is it just me or it the News
Herald worthless. I called them
asking them to do a story. The
Honor Air program that send
Veterans of WW 2 to Washington,
DC to see the monuments: flew 2
Lenoir City men on the trip
today. Its such an exciting trip
for them I felt it should make
the paper and people would love
to hear some of there war
stories! The man was not even
aware what Honor Air was and
after a brief explanation on my
part told me to take a photo
myself and if he ever needed
that type of story he would run
it! Talk about lack of respect
for our local veterans! I wont
be wasting my 75 cents for a
paper again! What do they
consider good enough for a story
??? What good is a small town
paper if it wont share events of
the local who buy it! Thanks
Very disappointed in Lenoir
City! 4/9/09
i went by the liquor store
sign and they have fixed
it. they got it right this
time. also i read the column
that venable wrote about
people in loudon not being
able to spell correctly.. he
used the spelling of loudoun
as an example. his take is
that is should have been
spelled loudon. he should
have studied history, the
old english spelling is
loudoun, surely a man of his
education knows that
already.my guess is that he
was desperate for some
evidence of our idiocy and
that was about all he could
come up with. also he pokes
fun at the loudon county
people for a sign reading "lenior"
city.. surely he knows that
the state of tennessee
actually printed that sign.
whomever mr james hired to
make the sign (my guess is
sweetwater flea market) is
the culprit in this case. it
just shows you who these
liquor people get to do
their work for them. maybe
even a mexican made the
sign!!
A1 4/9/09
why did it take the
police so long to catch the
kids.. out of 80 times seems
like they would have a better
average. good job ?yeah .. right
HS 4/9/09 Who says one man can't make a difference? God bless your heart Austin Shaver. I'm sure Don Miller will try to spin the idea of not raising taxes as his but we all know it was Austin who stuck his feet in the ground and refused to bend to the political machine. If it weren't for Austin I guarantee you Miller would have gotten his tax increase. He sure did the last two times. Proud in second district 4/9/09 Did the Loudon County school
board really need a letter from the
attorney general telling them they
couldn't give away money? Billy Jim 4/9/09
"Police end string of
Lenoir car burglaries"
Good job police and let me say
if you ever forget to tell your
teenager that you are proud of
them for making the right
choices (I know I am guilty),
read this then go and talk to
them.
Mike B
4/7/09
I noticed no one has mentioned that Terry Vann was also at the republican Lincoln dinner. If I'm not mistaken Terry used to be one of the top officials in the Loudon County Democrat party. Hum. I wonder who invited him? Sounds like the dems are breaking to the republicans. Terry Vann Loudon County General Sessions Judge. Has a real ring to it doesn't it. Maybe he could do for the county what he's done for Lenoir City. Too late, Doyle Arp already did it. Not In My County 4/7/09
"New taxes nixed:
Miller suggests $20 million
to start school building
program"
“I’m pretty
much convinced that no one on
the commission will vote for a
tax increase this year,” Miller
said to the school board members
during their retreat.
Wow, was that
really that hard to come up
with? I have a image of the "Wow
I could've had a V8" commercial
in my mind. "WHAP....Wow, we
don't have to always raise
taxes!" Hang in there Austin.
Mike B
4/7/09
Hwy 72 WINE AND "SPIRTS"?
WHAT EXACTLY IS A
SPIRT? LOOKS TO
ME LIKE THE SIGN MAKER ALREADY
HAD TO MUCH TO DRINK. I think
next time some one needs to
proof read the sign first.
spirt - the
occurrence of a sudden discharge
(as of liquid) spurt, squirt,
jet outpouring, discharge, run -
the pouring forth of a fluid.
disgusted in Loudon 4/3/09
Oh Joe. You are probably an outstanding lawyer but you completely missed the mark when it comes to party affiliation. Being a democrat or a republican is not like putting on or taking off a lapel pin. Your party affiliation tells people where your morals and core values lay. For instance, if one claims to be a republican one would be stating that they believe in small government, low taxes, personal responsibility, that what makes this country great are the people not the government. This only applies to true republicans not RINOs (Republicans In Name Only). If one claims to be a democrat one would be stating that they believe in mass government control, higher taxes, the the unbridled murder of unborn babies, the destruction of the traditional family structure for homosexual advancement. In the position of judge, it is vitally important to know where one stands on many positions. Their decision making process will be entirely driven by their beliefs. If Ms. Ledbetter seeks office as an independent and can so easily throw away or try to hide her life long party affiliation and her core values, what does that say about her commitment to her beliefs. There are times in life one must stand and be counted. Choosing no side is the weakest choice of all. Loudon County Republican 4/3/09 Boy, Loudon is really getting
into the big time. Taco Bell,
McDonalds, KFC. Now a liquor store
or two. My, My, My. What a utopia
they are creating and the people of
Loudon owe it all to those business
wizards at city hall. I think the
businesses in Loudon directly
reflect the quality of the city
officials. Just not sure which one
of them would make the best Ronald
McDonald. Pick any one, their
all clowns. Whether you are a Republican or Democrat has very little to do with the qualifications to be a good General Sessions Judge. You want someone with experience and the demeanor to rationally decide each case before the Court. This is one of the
reasons the other Judges is our
district run as independents so as
not to even give the appearance
favoritism I have represented
people for years in General Sessions
and have never thought to ask my
client or the opposing party
whether I am a Republican
and am eligible to run for Loudon
County General Sessions Judge. I am
not running, but I would not ask for
a single vote if I did run because I
was a Republican. The below post is offensive and mean spirited. The person makes an offensive remark and then at the end points out he/she is making an offensive remark. NN Democrat-v-Republican
People should not
be so hard on Lee Eblen
Ledbetter, because from what I
understand she has been in bed
with the republicans for
awhile. Maybe not all of them,
but one big enough to be counted
as a bunch. You know as well as
anyone, everyone is your friend
when you want or need something,
how many people shook your hand
when they running for office!
A true measure of
a person is how they treat you
after
the fat lady has sung and the
polls have closed.
To Judge or not
to Judge...I hope you noticed
the double entendre?
LCA 4/2/09 Wait just a minute. Doesn't Lee Eblen
Ledbetter work for Russ Johnson? So
maybe Russ Johnson has turned
democrat rather than her turning
republican. Johnson was at the
dinner too. I bet they both carry
pictures in their pockets of Obama.
I
can accept that, for whatever
reason, valid or not, some
people will never like Police
Officers. But to take it out on
a memorial to fallen Officers,
that's just pathetic. This is
like vandalizing a Military
Memorial or one for nurses
because you don't agree with
their policies
PS -
to my Law Enforcement brothers
and sisters, I am *not*
suggesting you get caught
printing this picture out for
future reference, at all.....
PPS
- If anyone hears of an effort
to go repair the Memorial, or if
they ask for donations to help
repair it, let me know, and I'll
pass it along.
-Shawn 4/1/09
_______________________________________
Roane man caught spray
painting "DEAD PIGS" on
police memorial
ROANE COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) –
Roane County authorities
have arrested a Harriman man
for vandalizing the county’s
Fallen Officers Memorial at
River Front Park. During questioning, police say he admitted to vandalizing it several times in the last few months as a way to show how much he dislikes the memorial. Lemons was later arrested on two counts of vandalism and booked into the Roane County Jail. Harriman Police officials said the case is now being reviewed by the Attorney General's Office and further charges are pending. The Roane County Fallen Officer Memorial includes the names of 14 officers who were killed on duty or from on-duty related injuries. The oldest name on memorial is Kingston Town Marshall John M. Webster Jr., who was killed on duty in 1890 while trying to arrest a man for public intoxication. Other names on the list include Deputy Bill Jones and his friend Mike Brown, who were gunned down during a shootout in 2006 while trying to take one of the Houston brothers into custody on an outstanding warrant, Wayne “Cotton” Morgan, a jailer who was fatally shot at the Roane County Courthouse in August 2005, and Matthew Rittenhouse, a Harriman Police officer who died in an duty automobile accident in 2004. Damages to the memorial are estimated at more than $1,000. " You said: Given the options of, To Tax Or Not To Tax, and given the public's clear opposition to higher taxes and given the fact that elected officials work for and represent the views of the tax payers, it's a mystery why all ten commissioners, the mayor, finance director, bookkeepers, custodians and everybody else isn't putting their heads together to figure out how to accomplish the desired goal without again punishing the tax payers. I say: Perhaps the reason is that the developers have all left town and are not handing out money for favors anymore. Arp got told on and can no longer hand out tax breaks for kickbacks. Maybe Newman spent all of his money becoming a developer and his mortgages have come due. Bottom line is that they spent all the tax dollars that they bled out of us before and now it’s time to refill those coffers. I’m praying that they come up for reelection before anything is decided. No new taxes! 4/1/09 Well, that explains a lot. I had
the pleasure of attending the
Loudon County Republican Party
Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night.
There was a large crowd in
attendance. Most all good
republicans. But there was one
glaring exception to the republican
guest list. Far left wing, and life
long democrat Lee Eblen Ledbetter
was in attendance. Lots of people
noticed her and had no idea why she
would have been at a republican
function. Now that I have read your
story about the judge retiring it's
all too clear. She is a lawyer and
is planning to run for the judges
office next year. Does Lee Eblen
really think no one knows she is a
dyed in the wool democrat? Or has
she finally seen the light and
turned from her wicked democrat
ways? Come on Lee. You know we are
smarter than that. Just because your
president Obama was able to fool so
many I doubt you can pull off the
same trick. If your daddy, God rest
his soul, knew you were rubbing
elbows with all those republicans he
would roll over in his grave. I was reading what “letter of the Law” wrote. Here is the actual law for authorized emergency vehicles and it says no where in the law that the police vehicle has to be marked. If that was the case then Law Enforcement in this state would not be able to drive unmarked vehicles. I feel this is very misleading and it could cause someone to get in trouble if they went by what letter of the law has written. 55-8-108. Authorized emergency vehicles. — (a) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions stated in this section (b) (1) A driver of an authorized emergency vehicle operating the vehicle in accordance with subsection (a) may: (A) Park or stand, notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter that regulate parking or standing (B) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation; (C) Exceed the speed limits so long as life or property is not thereby endangered; and (D) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions (2) Subdivision (b)(1) shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall subdivision (b)(1) protect the driver from the consequences of the driver's own reckless disregard for the safety of others. (c) (1) The exemptions granted under subsection (b) to a driver of an authorized emergency vehicle shall only apply when the vehicle is making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of the applicable laws of this state, except that while parked or standing, an authorized emergency vehicle shall only be required to make use of visual signals meeting the requirements of the applicable laws of this state. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, while parked or standing, from making use of both audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of the applicable laws of this state, in the discretion of the driver. (d) An authorized emergency vehicle operated as a police vehicle may be equipped with or display a red light only in combination with a blue light visible from in front of the vehicle. (e) Notwithstanding the requirement of this section that drivers of authorized emergency vehicles exercise due regard for the safety of all persons, no municipality or county nor the state or any of its political subdivisions, nor their officers or employees, shall be liable for any injury proximately or indirectly caused to an actual or suspected violator of a law or ordinance who is fleeing pursuit by law enforcement personnel. The fact that law enforcement personnel pursue an actual or suspected violator of a law or ordinance who flees from pursuit shall not render the law enforcement personnel, or the employers of the law enforcement personnel, liable for injuries to a third party proximately caused by the fleeing party unless the conduct of the law enforcement personnel was negligent and that negligence was a proximate cause of the injuries to the third party. [Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 7; T.C.A., § 59-808; Acts 1986, ch. 822, § 1; 1989, ch. 173, § 1; 2001, ch. 60, § 1.] Thanks Food for thought 3/31/09
I called dept. of safety in
Nashville and was told unless it
is a marked police car you do
not have to pull over at all and
has no right to stop you. Also
he should be terminated. To let
them know if he was.
Letter of the law 3/30/09
NMN, Congratulations you proved your point and called attention to a problem that has obviously been going on for a while. Sheriff Guider, If you had apologized to NMN you could have rectified the situation and made a positive spin on it. Then your department would have finally had something good said about it. I know NMN and they would have gladly put another post to say that you took the time to call them and arrange an apology but once again you screwed up. I am sure you will be around for quiet a while longer and that sucks for most of the citizens in this county but what a legacy you will be leaving. It is not something I would be proud of yet we obviously do not have the same morals. Paul Curtis, There are policeman that are role models and respectful human beings that genuinely love their job and then there are the ones that like having a badge and blue lights because it makes them feel better about themselves. You sir are the latter. It has been proven over and over again that you believe it makes you a “man” and it does not. Acting the way that you do makes you a sorry. In my opinion you are a person who needs to belittle other people to make yourself feel better. Having a badge, blue lights, and a gun does not mean that you are any better than anyone else and it does not mean that you have to treat people the way that you do. My husband is a police officer and has been for 18 years and he treats people with respect. He does not need that badge to make him a man his reputation and his word does that for him. So you can pull people over for the heck of it, wear your John Gotti suits to court, and spike your hair all you want to but at the end of the day the only people that “like” you or are your “friends” are their because they think you can get them somewhere or do something for them and that is such a sad way to live your life. MBN
One morning i was on my way
to work. At the entrance to martel
east subdivision A car pulled out
in front of me.. it was either hit
it or go into the other lane, so i
did as any common sense person
would do i went to the other lane.
from there i passed the car. I
didn't blow the horn. didnt flip him
off. I just figured no harm no foul
anybody can make a mistake. The car
followed me all the way to the
dairy queen, at which time blue
lights came on, he said he worked
form loudon county sheriffs office.
At first i thought he was going to
apologize for almost causing a
wreck. man was i mistaken. He said i
was speeding down martel road and
asked me if i knew the speed limit,
I said yes 35, but my transmission
don't shift out of 2nd gear til i
get faster than that and there
were several cars in front of me i
was going no faster than they were
going.. he thought i was being
sarcastic or something. Im convinced
in my mind that the only reason he
didn't give me a ticket is that in
court, i would have told that he
almost caused me to wreck. In
hindsight i wish i had tee boned
him right on the driver side
door. If there is any justice in
this county at all ,the people will
vote in a new sheriff next
election, hopefully one with enough
sense to hire people to work as
deputies that do not act the way
the current ones act. word of
advice. you cant fight the sheriffs
office and win. In my opinion we
have the most corrupt law
enforcement in the
state. NMN, To NMN The tailgating went on for another mile or so, so I taped the brakes twice to let the SUV driver know I didn't appreciate his actions. Almost immediately the SUV displayed interior blue lights. I first thought it was a hoax and was a bit afraid to pull over but I decided to stop. A large man dressed in civilian clothes walked up to my car and started cursing and screaming at me. He said he was a cop and could take me to jail. He was making all kinds of threats about searching my car and impounding it. I told him he was welcome to search all he wanted. He kept referring to it as my daddy's car which is wrong. The man never identified himself or showed any identification and while I couldn't be absolutely positive, I'm sure I could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from the man. He finally finished his rant and walked back to his car and pulled back onto the interstate like a madman. I later found out from a friend who works for the sheriff's department that it was Paul Curtis. I started to file a complaint but I was told that it would be a waste of time that the sheriff wouldn't do anything about it and that Curtis would take it personal. Knowing I would be going that way most every day I decided I would just let it go. I didn't want to go through this every time I got on the interstate. In my opinion there is something seriously wrong with Mr. Curtis. No rational police officer acts the way he did during a traffic stop. There were times during his attack that I actually feared Mr. Curtis was going to completely flip out. This officer is an accident waiting to happen. The sheriff better do something about this renegade officer before he hurts someone or someone hurts him. I for one will not tolerate that kind of treatment again. Dave 3/26/09 This morning while traveling to work a New model Bronze Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban pulled out in front of me at this point I had to slam on my brakes…I lay on the horn and all of a sudden blue lights come on from inside the vehicle. At that point a white male wearing civilian clothing exits the vehicle and comes back to my car. He is agitated from me blowing my horn. He proceeds to say that I was speeding though has no proof of this (just what he thinks). I was very upset with this white male. He NEVER IDENTIFIED himself to me or that he was Police officer. I did some searching through other alias and found that this white male is a Paul Curtis and he works for the Loudon County Sheriffs Department. I have tried to contact the Sheriff on this matter today with no success. The people of Loudon County need to know about an unmarked vehicle that just randomly pulls people over. NMN 3/25/09
Just
a note of congratulations to
Lynn Harrison as we knew him in
the class of 1964 on his new
appointment from Governor
Bredesen . We are very proud
of him....
A
Tallent- Class of 1964 3/24/09
It's a plane, It's a
UFO, NO it's a Bird!!!
All i can say is ha ha ha about
Ed Bell not getting the nod for
his liquor store. He worked so
hard to get the liquor voted in
, now he should understand how
the liquor crowd works, It
couldn't have happened to a
worse person. IM GLAD THEY
EXCOMMUNICATED HIM FROM THE
FLOCK . maybe he could try tot
get a liquor store in paint
rock or
somewhere
the jackal 3/18/09
One little problem
with the plan to fire
Administrators, Its Illegal. They
are County employees and don't make
policy,and have to treat both
parties alike, so the first and
fourteenth Amendments say they can't
be fired for the way they vote. See
the attached site for a Supreme
Court decision. One site shows the
TCA' that describe their job. Title
two covers elections. http://www.michie.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp=tncode
Fair Play 3/17/09 Hey, whatever happened to the investigation into Arp giving all those tax breaks to his developer buddy? Has Russell Johnson stumped his toe and had to stop investigating? Does he REALLY think that we are going to forget? Maybe if restitution was made on those tax breaks we could afford to build all new schools? Surely if we can arrest a teacher for being scared to report child abuse, we can do SOMETHING to a mayor for cheating us out of public tax dollars? Maybe we should put Arp and Johnson on that same rail and ride them out of town? Personally I think feathers would look good on them. Sick of corruption 3/11/09 I attended commission meetings faithfully for awhile, so I have seen first hand the shenanigans that Don Miller and some of the other commissioners pull. This needing to raise taxes for school improvements is pure bull crap and I applaud Austin Shaver for saying so. My opinion is that county commission is feeling the pinch because Doyle Arp continues to spend like there is no tomorrow. Taxes need to be raised because they need more money to fill THEIR personal coffers. Too bad we can’t tar and feather them and ride them out of town on a rail like they deserve. As to the Newsless Herald, maybe it should go with them. I quit wasting my money on it several months ago’ JoAnne LC 3/10
LET me get this
straight.. someone abused a kid
and the woman who reported it
was arrested?? i agree that the
teacher should not have been
arrested. especially when they
let a child molester off with a
suspended sentence. right when
you think you have heard
everything, the "law" in this
county does something else
stupid. like barney fife on
the Andy Griffith show. even
worse than this arrest of the
teacher, they let drug dealers
go on a regular basis. i know of
one punk that has been caught 3
times pushing dope on people ,
yet he is still free and
walking the streets .i guess if
you pay a certain lawyer in
Loudon to be your attorney
get by with anything, some
people whose worse crime is
driving a car illegally get 30
days in jail . yet sexual
offenders and drug heads are
slapped on probation ... i
guess the probation officers
are some of "boss hogg's "in
laws. i feel bad that a decent
person like Jonathan Sartin
arrested a woman that had the
best interest of a kid in
mind... they will probably
punish her more than the one
who abused the kid.
the watchdog 3/6/09
"IN GOD WE TRUST"?
I attended the Loudon County
commission meeting Monday night.
I listened intently as
Commissioner Austin Shaver
presented his plan to fund the
much needed and overdue building
program for the Loudon County
school system.
Mr. Shaver obviously had done
his research on the project. He
presented his proposal in clear
and concise proportions with all
the facts and figures clearly
documented. Mr. Shaver's
proposal would allow for up to
34 million dollars for the
building plan with no property
tax increase. His presentation
was excellent.
Unbelievably, no more had Mr.
Shaver finished his proposal
than Tellico Village
commissioner, Don Miller, began
to dispute Shaver's facts.
Miller had no evidence to refute
Shaver but he just could not
believe Shaver was right. Miller
has been calling for a
twenty-five cent tax increase
for the building plan. This is
nothing new. Miller always wants
to raise taxes. He feels Loudon
County taxes are too low.
I suspect that one of the
reasons Mr. Miller decided to
move here from up north was the
high taxes he had to pay there.
Why does he now want to continue
to raise our taxes?
I would call on all
commissioners to give Mr.
Shaver's proposal fair
consideration. He seems to be
the only commissioner that is
even thinking about the tax
payers and what another tax
increase would do to us.
I applaud Austin Shaver and his
continued dedication to the tax
payers of Loudon County.
A Hopeful Tax Payer 3/3/09 I don't think the teacher should of been arrested. She did the right thing by reporting to her superiors. Maybe they should have contacted DCS! you can remain anonymous when u call DCS. Hope the child doesn't get abused again because of the publicity.
sherri 3/3/09
What is it with doctors and liquor stores? Doctor Barry Gordon spent his money and worked hard to get liquor stores in Loudon County now Dr. Sanabria wants to open a liquor store. I guess it's true, greed has no bounds. Bob Bodine 3/2/09 First, do no harm.
Those words are part of the
Hippocratic oath taken by all
doctors. Note that Dr. Sanabria, the
eminent physician who decided that
bus driver Vicki Lynn Kwasny was not
addicted to pills or a danger to
children, is one of those applying
for a liquor license in Loudon. Dr.
Sanabria is also "Health Director"
of the Loudon County schools. Given
his oath, I take it he will only be
dispensing liquor for medicinal
purposes.
I seem to remember a dr. with
a Vision that made a quick was
it 14 mill? that promised high
paying jobs and more tax revenue
for our co...So I guess there
are not any foreclosures and no
unemployed in our co. Thanks
dr., next time public tv cries
for a hand out donate for all of
us, will you? I guess the only
way to make money in Loudon is
have a construction co.,
relation, be from Knox be in the
loop or have money and a VISION.
THAT'S SAD. People go to the
town meetings at least for your
children and grand children
forget tv for 1 night a month.
Make them proud of you.
Freedom isn't Free 3/2/09
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