A very nice gift from the Steve West family along with the extended West/Ramsey family; Link...

Each community has things it "wants" and things it "needs". Taxes, money from everyone in a community, should only be used for needs. Things we want should come from the private sector - or as a result of a referendum.

I think the "wants" for the average taxpayers are going to be something we hear less and less of as cost rise and jobs are cut.

Thanks again to the West family for contributing to something many in our community want, but because of other needs, can't afford.

Sit down before reading; Link...

Then stand up and be counted if it ticks you off. At a minimum, forward this to five friends.

Congratulations to Donna Burnette! Link... We sometimes hear from the national media 911 dispatchers that seem to not understand the seriousness of their job.

Not in Blount. Donna and her coworkers are not only always professional, but courteous to those who are often irrational in a moment of crisis. Again, thank you for your service.

Keep up the good work!

The Daily Times has written two features Link... , Link... on the marble used at the new Newseum in DC. I too am proud of the role our fellow Blount Countians have played in this effort. Tennessee Marble Company should be applauded for their achievements.

While one article mentioned the text on the 170-ton, 74-foot high, 52-foot wide marble tablet, the text was not reprinted within the article. I'm afraid The Daily Times staff might assume most people know the text of our 1st Amendment.

I'm afraid too many don't. Following is the text of our 1st Amendment and the tablet;

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Link...

With the local GOP taking the role of tax and spend, and national GOP assuming the role of simply spending - maybe we can look to the state level to see if the governor is promoting fiscal responsibility; Link...
Nevermind.

...Anybody got any hot leads on government jobs?

Kidding aside, are we in this shape because of ignorance, apathy, or complacency?

Link...

Mrs. Farmer is a true inspiration and example of how Blount County land could be considered. She not only saw the beauty and use of her land, she decided she would unselfishly leave that view for the rest of us as well. Not to mention future generations.

Merry Christmas Blount County from Mrs. Laverne Farmer. If you see her, thank her.

Linda King of Citizens Concerned for Blount County's Future had a nice letter to the editor today. It rehashed what the Mayor likes to call "old news". Link...

For those who haven't heard any of this "old news", following are DT and BT links to the issues referred to in her letter;

Fake degrees; Link...

Officer graduation; Link... It's a shame these cadets would be trained to see themselves as "elite" in a community that has had just about enough of the "elites" or "A-list" or "Who's who". From the Declaration of Independence;

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

How are we to achieve these truths when those who are tasked with duty of upholding these rights see themselves as "elite"? I agree with Linda, I would prefer to hear the cadets extolling the virtues of the community that supports and pays them rather than "their" force.

Sorry I don't have a link about Mr. Hatcher's county owned vehicle, I've not seen that reported. But here is an example of why we need better policy; Link...

This is a Link... to Commissioner Reeves blog. In the "Still not Satisfied" content June 22nd, you will see what was thought to be the order of the raises: 15 - 20% for the deputies and jailers and 3 - 4% for the higher ranks. That's not how it worked out.

From The Daily Times Our Voice;

Until the pay for county deputies is brought up to a level comparable to that of officers in the Alcoa and Maryville police departments, such qualified deputies would be hired away as fast as they were trained.

Link...

Should Blount County teachers, employees, and those contracted with the county be paid the same as Maryville City? Isn't teaching and police work in the city considered an upward move for county workers - not a lateral one?

If they are not, should we not go ahead and consolidate our government?

This link is a letter to the editor in The Daily Times; Link...

I'm not sure how citizens are supposed see their government in the SUNSHINE when items are not publicly posted in the agenda. Whether you are for or against the extension of the Pellissippi Parkway, I think we could all agree it should be discussed openly and with due notice to the public. County Commissioner Reeves had a nice post on her blog advocating more open, deliberative discussions; Link...

Members of our government are our representatives - not our "deciders".

Link...

Jessica Stith is my hero. If this area means a damn thing to you - take that lady flowers at the Daily Times today with a thank you card.

Fourth Estate: Link...

From today’s Daily Times; Link...

What made the front page of the actual paper ?

Blount County Circuit Court Judge W. Dale Young issued a response to Ana Calixto’s appeal this week, stating that Calixto is in the United States illegally and is not a resident of Tennessee based on state law.

The document, obtained by The Daily Times, then denies her request.

In Young’s response, he states, “They were illegal, non-resident aliens and there were, in the court’s mind, serious legal questions to be answered before the case proceeds further.”

The judge’s statement ends with, “Mrs. Calixto is in the United States of America under the auspices of a “work visa” which has expired. She does not have any appropriate documentation which allows her to remain legally in the United States of America. Mrs. Calixto cannot establish domicile and/or residence in Tennessee because she cannot stay here legally and she must return to her home country.”

What got pushed to page 3?

Ana Calixto says she has been in the United States legally since 1994 when she came here to attend school and work. Her current employment authorization card from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Department — of which The Daily Times has obtained a copy — is valid through Jan. 5, 2009.

What else didn’t make the front page or page three? A picture of the authorization card the DT says it has. What did? A guy getting a shot and a picture of a syringe.

Why is this important? Because we know many people only read the front page. Samples showed he hadn’t got around to the whole story when he last tried to suspend the rules to extol the virtues of Young, why should we believe others do? Very creative DT, but hardly opaque.

The "Long Arm of the Law” appears to extend all the way to 307 Harper Street.

Three cheers for Charles Clifford. Link... It can't be easy for him to have to have been truthful considering where he works everyday.

In another LTTE Link... , Sgt. RL Dowdy extols the virtues of Judge Young, a man he considers a friend. Sgt. Dowdy does this under the pretext of just having read the first DT article. (Three weeks and more facts later, does he still feel the same about this Legal resident?)

In Blount county, would Democrats get more support/votes by focusing on candidates or local corruption and preservation issues?

In either instance, one would help the other, but which should be promoted to the larger Blount County audience?

In this thread Link... local quoted this from TN Democrats Creed;

We will be faithful stewards of our economy by supporting sound fiscal and energy policies that will create opportunities for all citizens now and in the future;

I gave this as a suggestion for sound energy and conservation;

Think BIG! Ethanol is created by using corn and “stills”. Link... I would say in Blount we already have both. This would enable Dems a policy of “functional” preservation. Lease large farms on a long term (100 yrs?) basis at a fair price. Grow as much corn as you can utilizing farms that won’t have to be turned into sprawl. Make land valuable for something other than development. Link... Once you have established production, the savings on county vehicles should enable a quick return on investment. Most automakers are promoting E85 Link... If production has surplus, sell to McNutt, Downey and Pilot Link... and use these funds for education and/or more preservation.

DT wrote today that Monroe County is doing this; Link... I know in the above I promoted corn, but I have no problems with switchgrass.

I know there are those who write hear who fear the ecological impact of ethanol. Worse comes to worse, we stop the project, the fields rot, and some land has some nice compost.

If not, whats the altermative?

Does it never occur to anyone in the GOP to actually prove a point rather than just waxing endlessly about it? This is hardly rocket science, but bare with me;

Her most recent filing with immigration services and the Department of Homeland Security was dated Aug. 8, 2007, and is reportedly valid for 18 months.

As reported by Rick Laney here, Link...

Mr. Calixto freely admitted that he had no legal status while Ms. Calixto attempted to show Judge Young proof of a work permit.
The work permit was out of date and Judge young made note that both parties were apparently here illegally and could therefore be deported.

As stated by Mike Hickman in a LTTE here; Link...

This means one of three things. (1) Ms. Calixto showed Mr. Laney a different document other than the one she brought to court or (2) Mr. Laney is not telling the truth or (3) Mr. Hickman is not telling the truth.

If either source (or anyone for that matter) has a copy of Ms. Calixto's work permit, please state you have it and Mr. Neal will hopefully get the document from you for a post.

As of now, if I had to pick between a justice system that deems it needs no court reporter for records or a local reporter who catches hell from the GOP machine including his own boss' - I'll go with Laney. But ultimately I hope we can prove here what seems easily provable.