There is a Health Coverage Tax Credit program that will pay 80% of health insurance premiums for workers that are receiving Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits or receiving pension payments from Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) and over the age of 55.

The IRS is holding an education session to assist eligible individuals through the process.

Crowne Plaza
401 W. Summit Hill Drive
Knoxville, TN
9 AM to 3 PM

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) is a benefit for individuals who have lost their jobs because of trade with foreign countries. Employers and unions file a petition with the Department of Labor (DOL) to have their employees TAA certified.

Area companies that are Trade Adjustment Assistance certified include:
Alcoa, Inc., Alcoa, TN
Newell Rubbermaid, Maryville, TN
Ceramaspeed, Inc., Maryville, TN
Key Safety Restraint Systems, Knoxville, TN
Panasonic Electronic Devices Corp. of America, Knoxville, TN
DeRoyal Industries, Inc., Powell, TN
La-Z-Boy, Dayton, TN
Bos Automotive, Morristown, TN
Berkline/BenchCraft, LLC, Morristown, TN
The Mazer Corporation, Johnson City, TN

Use the US Dept. of Labor web-site to search for TAA certified companies.

According to the Maryville Daily Times,

A Health Care Reform discussion forum will be held at the Blount County Library on January 26th at 6:30PM.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Strong Communities at Maryville College, the Blount County Ecumenical Action Council and the nonpartisan Tennessee Health Care Campaign.

The groups "advocate for health care reform as a moral imperative regardless of the current national political debate."

Previous events by the groups were held in September, 2009, and January 3, 2010.

Cloudy skies and cold weather didn't stop anyone from coming out to the Maryville Christmas Parade in downtown Maryville today. According to the paper there were over 160 entries in the parade, and folks from all over lined the parade route. Here are some snapshots... 

(Click here for larger view)

Once again there is discussion of building an "Alcoa Parkway" to allow drivers to avoid a 3 1/2 mile section of Alcoa Highway. The 2007 estimated cost for this "parkway" is over $64 million, whereas the redesign of this section of Alcoa Highway with better turn lanes and traffic signals is approximately 1/2 million dollars.

Do we really need to pave Alcoa? Do we really need a 5 mile 6 lane interstate through Alcoa? Oh, my bad, it is a "parkway". Doesn't that sound pleasant?

There is no need to make Alcoa a parking lot so commuters can go 3 1/2 miles very quickly only to be stopped by the traffic light managed Hall Road (35 mph) or Alcoa Hwy bypass (US 129/State Road 133).

I'm pretty sure travelers can find the new "Downtown Alcoa" without this 6 lane albatross. Wouldn't it be nice if the section of Alcoa Highway from Singleton Station Road to Hunt Road/Hall Road was made a well managed boulevard? How long does it now take to get from Singleton Station Road to Hunt Road/Hall Road? 2-3 minutes? Okay, so there have been frequent accidents on Alcoa Highway, wouldn't it be more beneficial to redesign the existing road (better managed access) than to pave Alcoa to avoid this minor stretch of road?

Have you seen the section of Alcoa they are planning to pave? Lots of green space, including a golf course. The new "parkway" will be on the edge of the most historical neighborhood and park in the City of Alcoa, Springbrook. Won't that be pleasant? Just what those hard working, middle-class citizens need, more traffic noise and pollution. How about it if we encourage planned development with continued greenspace requirements and managed roads without an interstate through Alcoa.

Let's think about this people. Are you with me? We do not need the "Alcoa Parkway".

What are your thoughts?

The Maryville Daily Times reports, and has a rundown on the other races and all the Republicans (and a few Democrats) running.

Cunningham has been a political and public relations embarrassment for Blount County. But we're not bankrupt yet and the schools are still open and the roads mostly passable and nobody has been rounded up and sent to detention camps (that we know of) and all the big development and road projects are good to go so that's good enough for the Republicans who run Blount County. They will reelect him in a landslide so there's no point wasting any time or money trying to have an opposition party or run any candidates or anything.

The new Blount County Animal Center is set to open today. Located at 241 Currie Ave. in Maryville, the new animal shelter will be open Monday through Friday from 8AM to 4:30PM.

Blount County has been without an animal shelter since 2007 when County Commission ended the county's contract with the City of Maryville. Blount County Animal Control has been contracting with Loudon County to take in strays. The county also had no organized spay/neuter program.

The new shelter is opening in phases. The first phase, opening today, will address Blount County's immediate animal control needs, which include 4,000 stray and abandoned pets each year. The next phases will expand public education and animal health and welfare programs and will make services available to the community and other local governments.

The Blount County Animal Center was created through a public/private partnership with the non-profit Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, which raises funds through private donations and is coordinating the program. The estimated construction cost is $1.6 million, with about one third of that coming from county funds and the rest through donations. Annual operating costs are expected to be over $300,000, funded through a contract with the county, adoption fees, and private donations.

You can help in a variety of ways. Click here to find out more.

8th. Annual PAWS IN THE PARK
DATE: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25th, 2009
(RAIN DATE NOV. 8)
TIME: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
LOCATION: SPRINGBROOK PARK, 1537 DALTON ST., ALCOA, TN
Come out and join us at Springbrook Park for a fun filled day with
your family & friends, and don't forget your dog!
Hosted by Blount County Animal Rescue Effort,
Blount County’s oldest animal welfare organization.
FREE ADMISSION

The fall Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event is scheduled for: Saturday, November 14, 2009 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

At William Blount High School at the County Farm Road entrance gate.

Acceptable items include paint, pesticides, liquid household cleaners, batteries, and chemical sprays.

Left to right: Brandon Cook, Dave Finch (former Blount Co. Democratic Party Chair), and Joe Gallagher (Louisville Alderman and local political activist)

Supporters gathered at the Blount Co. Library this evening for the launch of Brandon Cook's campaign for County Commission representing the 1st District. The crowd of almost 60 included a "who's who" of Blount County Democrats and quite a number of fresh new faces.

Regarding his early entry into the race, Brandon said there is a lot of work to be done and it's never too soon to get started. He says he has a lot to talk about with voters between now and the April 14th start of early voting for the May 4th primary. He also says he won't be afraid to tell them he's a Democrat.

In his refreshingly short announcement speech, Mr. Cook said the reason he is running is simple: he cares about Blount County and Tennessee.

He said his campaign will focus on four things. First, we need to make investments in our local economy, and second, the best investment we can make is education. Third is bringing us back together as a community. Despite the perception that we are divided, Mr. Cook said there is a lot that unites us. He said the only promise he will make is that we won't always agree, but that this is healthy and we must work through the issues, lock arms, and march forward together to make our community better. Fourth, he said his campaign will be about "you, the citizens of Blount County." He wants to hear from you about your concerns and where you think the county's priorities should be.

Judging from some of the rumors and speculation among attendees, there will be a lot of interest and maybe a few surprises in the next round of Blount County elections. Lest there be any doubt about that, both local papers were there to cover Brandon's announcement.

Brandon Cook is a fifth-generation Blount County native who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes over the past several years for a more progressive Blount County. We are happy to see him take on the challenge of public office. He's sharp, well spoken, and knows what he's doing. We need more young people like Brandon in public service.

If you'd like to help out Brandon's campaign, you can visit his website and volunteer or make a donation:

Brandon D. Cook for County Commission

The City of Maryville unemployment rate dropped from 19.6% in July, 2009 to 9.8% in August, 2009. It all happened with smoke and mirrors.

You may have already heard of Hota Ferschke, widow of Maryville native Michael Ferschke Jr., a Marine who gave his life serving this country in Iraq. Due to a strict provision in immigration law, Hota and her one year old son are now facing deportation in January, despite the vocal appeal of the Ferschke family and many others in the Maryville community.

The Ferschkes’ story will be a focal point of this documentary. Hota and her family-in-law will be in attendance and will take questions from the audience following the film.

Join us as we honor the service of these soldiers by thinking critically about our nation's immigration laws. This program is part of an ongoing effort by the Center for Strong Communities and Welcoming Tennessee to bring together recent immigrants and long-time residents to learn healthy ways to live as new neighbors.

The Center for Strong Communities and The Welcoming Tennessee Initiative are proud to present: “Second Battle”
A 30 minute documentary about two military spouses facing deportation from the country their husbands proudly served.
7:00pm-8:30pm
Thursday, September 24th
Fayerweather Hall / Lawson Auditorium on the Maryville College Campus
WATCH THE TRAILER: Link...

Refreshments will be served after the program. The event is free of charge.

For more information, please contact:
Elias Feghali, elias@tnimmigrant.org, 615-833-0384 (ext. 104)
The Center for Strong Communities at Maryville College, 865-273-8894

Alcoa Parkway bypass of Alcoa Highway moving closer to reality

"The purpose is to get rid of traffic congestion on Alcoa Highway, which will turn into a commercial street. It will be our Kingston Pike," Wiggins said. "It's our commercial corridor."

And we want a Kingston Pike in Blount County, why? Have these guys driven out there lately? We've already got two empty car lots on Alcoa Highway. I guess we need some empty strip malls to go with them.

Johnson hopes to pull out the Hunt Road portion from the Hall Road/U.S. 129 Bypass split to just south of McGhee Tyson Airport and construct it first.

"That would be easy to do," Wiggins said.

That area of Alcoa Parkway is going to serve as the main entrance into the 350-acre former ALCOA Inc. West Plant property. Developers Kinsey Probasco Hays (KPH) and International Risk Group (IRG) are planning a $500 million development at build-out, not including inflation.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner. Everything is becoming much clearer, now.

Link...

The Last Friday Art Walk is a recurring event to celebrate the arts on the last Friday of every month in Downtown Maryville.

Maryville Arts Coalition is proud to present the second annual Last Friday Art Walk Tribute to Music event! August 28, 2009. 5-9pm. Artists and Musicians will be lining the streets of Downtown Maryville. The theme? Paint the Music!

Note from the Little River Watershed Association:

Keep Blount Beautiful needs your help to prevent Cigarette Litter in Downtown Maryville... the Friday Night Art Walk and KBB is looking for 24 volunteers to help hand out free pocket ashtrays at the event for one hour... Please contact Jillian Atchley at 681-4809, email intern@keepblountbeautiful.org to volunteer, please specify a time you are interested in.