http://www.hometownclinton.com/ Clinton Courier News - Local News and Information for the community of Clinton TN en-us Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:26:31 EST editor@hometownclinton.com (editor) Copyright 2006-2012, Republic Newspapers Inc. Newspapers http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2375.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2375.html Several members of the sixth grade Leadership Committee at Clinton Elementary spearheaded an effort to collect items to be donated to ADFAC or Aid to Distressed Families of Applachian Counties. The students were: Hope Disney and Claudia Bible, who were team leaders, and Sarah Cardall, Jessie Criswell, Georgia Pietrzak, and Emma Schrider. Over 1,400 items were collected, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo. The students and administration are proud of the success of the project, and the Student Leadership Committee is planning more projects in the future. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2374.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2374.html Mayor Scott Burton presents a check equal to the Mayor’s salary for one year to Director of Clinton City Schools Vicki Violette. Burton has donated $6,000 over the years and his company has matched making the total given over $9,600. Money will be used to upgrade the sound system in Clinton Elementary and to help finance a portion the science field trip of 6th graders from Clinton, North Clinton, and South Clinton Elementary schools. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2373.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2373.html Mayor Scott Burton presents a check equal to the Mayor’s salary for one year to Director of Clinton City Schools Vicki Violette. Burton has donated $6,000 over the years and his company has matched making the total given over $9,600. Money will be used to upgrade the sound system in Clinton Elementary and to help finance a portion the science field trip of 6th graders from Clinton, North Clinton, and South Clinton Elementary schools. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2371.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2371.html City of Clinton officials are urging citizens to get on board with its new CodeRed high-speed notification solution, designed to alert the public of crisis situations occurring in the area. Through a contract with Emergency Communications Network (E.C.N.), the City of Clinton plans to employ CodeRed to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire city, according to a City of Clinton press release. Messages delivered via the CodeRed system will include major fires, chemical spills, evacuations, lock downs, natural disasters, abductions, major water system problems, bomb threats and other emergencies. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2370.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2370.html Vernon Long admits to having mixed emotions about his decision to step down after a long career as Anderson County Property Assessor. First elected to the position in1996 after working 14 years in the property assessor’s office under former assessor Owen Richardson, Long says the most difficult aspect of retiring is sure to be the eminent interruption of the routine and relationships he’s grown accustomed to over the years. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2369.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2369.html Anderson County will have a new leader in the Mayor’s Office after the August 2012 General Election. Interim County Mayor Myron Iwanski made it official on Tuesday, Dec. 7, that he will not contend for the Office in 2012. The former Dist. 8 County Commissioner was appointed last January to serve as interim Mayor until a special election in August 2012. Iwanski stated this week that despite a growing trend of support for him to run in 2012 he has decided to fulfill his previous pledge not to seek the position in the next election. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2368.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2368.html Exactly 100 years after a mining explosion in the Briceville Community took the lives of their ancestors, more than 50 descendants of the Cross Mountain Mining disaster attended the anniversary ceremony at the historic Briceville Church honoring the 84 miners who lost their lives in the 1911 explosion. A crowd of close to 200 crammed into the tiny hilltop church to mark the 100th anniversary of the mine explosion that shook the community to its core and forever changed the way American coal mines operate. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2367.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2367.html The voters of Clinton spoke Tuesday and it appears they like what they’ve seen the last two years. Incumbents Larry Gann, Rob Herrell and Jim McBride were re-elected from comfortable to “big” margins in the Dec. 6 Clinton City Council election. Clinton Mayor Scott Burton said he was “disappointed” in the voter turn out ó only 1,136 of 6,229 voters registered in the city took part in Tuesday’s election. “I was disappointed in the turnout. We had some quality candidates running; people who stepped up because they care about our city,” Burton said. “It’s good for Clinton when citizens take part in the process, and the people who ran for City Council are an example of that.” With the incumbents winning, Burton said, to him, it is a sign that citizens see the city heading in the right direction. “I think it validates what we’ve done during the last two years. We’ve had to make some tough decisions ó and we may well have to make more in the future ó but the city government, I feel, has always acted in the best interest of our citizens.” Clinton has replaced its city manager and finance director in the last two years and faced a shortage in revenue resulting in the re-prioritizing of some projects. “I think this vote is telling us we’re doing a good job overall,” the mayor said. Early voting numbers ó 626 ó was larger than 2007 and 2009, but the final numbers were lower ó 1,136 compared to 1,730 (2007) and 1,279 (2009). “I thought it might be higher due to the early voting numbers, but I think the weather had a big part,” Anderson County Administrator of Elections Mark Stephens said. “It was slow during the day, but when it cleared up some, between 5 ñ 7 p.m., we had a big rush.” Stephens added that election trends are showing early voting as a popular way of being heard in the polls. “I think we’ll continue to see these kind of numbers climb,” he said. The 2011 election, Stephens said, looks like “an average” election in the last decade: High early voting numbers and not so high on election day. The Anderson County Election Commission will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, to certify the results of the Dec. 6 city election. Sun, 11 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2366.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2366.html Yes, it is the holiday season, so bear with me. It’s not that I’m Scrooge-like, or even Grinch-like, it’s just holidays stress me out. I mean, I have to really think about my Christmas list to Santa and get ready to try and trap that fat sucker so I can keep all the presents in his sleigh. Just kidding. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2365.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2365.html The Optimist Club of Claxton and TVA Employees have shared a generous partnership in donating to many in Anderson County. The employees of TVA donated meat, canned food, and fresh fruit to 27 families this Thanksgiving. The Optimist Club secures information on those who are most needy of this kind outreach. Pictured in photo are TVA Employees and Bert Cagle, president of the Optimist Club, and County Commissioner Optimist members Tracy Wandell and Robin Biloski. The two groups are currently preparing for their Christmas outreach. If you would like to become involved in the Optimist Club, or donate to the Christmas fund, please contact Bert Cagle at wizcagle@yahoo.com. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2364.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2364.html Norwood Elementary has adopted the Safety Patrol program, according to Principal Karri Hobby. “The Safety Patrol program was started by AAA,” Hobby said. “It teaches safety and responsibility to all students who participate. “This year, fifth- grade students were asked to fill out an application, meet certain academic and behavioral criteria, and commit to serving their school as Safety Patrollers. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2010/12/2363.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2010/12/2363.html “Responsible” students pictured for the month of October from Grand Oaks Elelemntary School include: Dylon Phillips, Kinsley Diggs, Emily Duncan, Mia Todd, Isabelle McGill, Austin Fox, Ethan Charles, Brent Singleton, Camden Batchellor, Jobe King, Haley Metheny, Addison Tinker, Nathan Lee, Dylan Joy and Danyel Joy. Not pictured: Ellie Murrell. These students were honored with a brunch compliments of Faith Lutheran Church and presented with a certificate of recognition. Sat, 04 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2362.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2362.html “Each month our students and staff focus on an important character trait that enhances academic achievement and success inside and outside the classroom,” said Grand Oaks Elementary Principal Shelby Haun. For the month of September, students were recognized for being “Honest” students. Pictured are: Ethan Eubanks, Ella Hill, Jeremy Lindsay, Joseph Cantrell, Deven Hatmaker, Makayla Simmons, Clayton Cranmore, Trinity Johnson, Olivia Miller, Cassandra Chamblee, Jobe King, Abby Bowling, Kevin Cruz, Abby Jones and Logan Bowling. Not pictured: Blake Edwards. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2361.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2361.html Treasured relationships with grandparents and other elderly folks transformed years ago into a career for Deborah Rickettsóand now, that longtime career of working for others has turned into a business of her own. Ricketts, who lives on Mountain Road with her husband John, started organizing Hope 4 Tomorrow in October, working from home. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2360.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2360.html A banner designed, drawn, painted, and sewn by students at South Clinton Elementary was on display in Nashville at the annual convention of the Tennessee School Board Association. The school system’s banner illustrates our “Go Green” efforts to become more environmentally friendly by practicing the three “R’s” ñ to recycle, reduce waste, and reuse paper. The three flowers represent each of the three schools in our system. The project was spearheaded by Abby Vessell, art teacher at North and South Clinton Elementary Schools. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2359.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2359.html An open field on the Clinton High School campus was transformed into a makeshift launching pad on Friday morning, Dec. 2. Fourth-year CHS Physics Teacher Rachel White allowed her students the opportunity to showcase their rocket-building skills this semester, as the class of 29 students ñ made up of juniors and seniors ñ split into seven groups and each group was responsible for creating its own (scaled-back) rocket. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2358.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/12/2358.html The Anderson County Commission approved approximately $24.75 million in bond proceeds to fund a series of capital projects, including the construction of a new alternative school and major expansion of the Anderson County Detention Facility, during its Monday, Nov. 21, meeting. The county’s legislative body voted 14-2 in favor of approving the bond issues. Sun, 04 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2357.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2357.html Anderson County Sheriff Paul White announced on Monday, Nov. 21, that the Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a traffic safety grant for the third straight year. The grant award of $40,000.27 from the Governor’s Highway Safety Office will be used to support the county’s traffic safety program for DUI enforcement, said an ACSD press release. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2356.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2356.html A grand gift in honor of an 80th birthday has made financial conditions a lot less dire for the Norris Area Food Pantry, which serves low-income families in the Anderson County High School district. The pantry had been staggered by a combination of falling individual donations due to the recession plus loss of its annual Federal Emergency Management Agency grant. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2355.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2355.html Thoughts from Thanksgiving, 2011. ï Pumpkin pie. Not as good as sweet potato pie. You can put all the whipped cream on it you want, pumpkin pie is not up to par with sweet potato pie. Trust me. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2354.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2354.html Fourth grade students from North Clinton display their ribbons from the recent 4-H Speech Competition. Their teacher is Tammy Pack. Front row: Michael Duncan, Taylor Rowe, Jadyn Thomas, Sierra Harness. Back row: Dylan Edwards, Sierra Patrick, Brittany Freni, and Hailey Werkheiser. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2353.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2353.html More than 100 people attended the Lake City Veterans Memorial Service, Nov. 12, to honor and remember all veterans and to thank them for giving so much for out freedom. Several veterans and family members attended the service. Major Jacob Albright, retired United States Marine pilot, was the emcee and leader of the Pledge of Allegience. The Rev. Tom Byrge, retired U.S. Air Force M/Sgt., opened the program with prayer. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2352.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2352.html Everybody has a Pearl story. Anderson County lost a dedicated educator Nov. 15 when Pearl Lorraine (Cornette) Rhea passed away. She was 92. Rhea, born in Pennington Gap, Va., and returned to Southwest Virginia when she began her teaching career, which spanned 30-plus years in elementary education and carried over into adult literacy programs. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2351.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2351.html The Clinton Public Library is keeping pace with the modern technology boom while managing to maintain all the traditional, “old school” programs that have drawn Anderson County citizens to the library for decades, Second-year Director Essy Day has made it a prerogative to provide library patrons the latest in online innovations while reinforcing the traditional clubs and activities that have long been associated with the Clinton Library. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2350.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2350.html Anderson County General Sessions Judge Don Layton ordered accused South Clinton Pawnshop shooter James Allen Green to undergo a mental evaluation this week as the legal fallout from the Nov. 7 shooting that killed 59-year-old pawnshop employee Larry Snellings continues. Layton originally assigned the Anderson County Public Defender’s Office to represent Green but due to what the judge described as a possible conflict of interest, he appointed local attorney Mart Cizek to the case instead. Sun, 27 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2349.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2349.html The Y-12 Federal Credit Union recently opened another high school branch. On October 20, 2011 the Y-12 Dragon Vault opened on campus at Clinton High School with a Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. In attendance were several Board Members from Y-12 along with branch employees Mrs. Donna Bass, Mrs. Christy Smith, Mrs. Billie Howard and Mr. Tre Rhyne. Mr. Tim Parrott, CTE Director, and Mr. Kelly Myers, Anderson County Career and Technical Center principal were also in attendance. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2348.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2348.html Nancy Alley and Sheri Phillips of the Anderson County Council on Aging receive a $100 donation from Carolyn Martin, President of the Clinton Chapter #2461 AARP, for the council’s Senior Nutrition Program. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2346.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2346.html A great, big $1,000 check was presented on Thursday, Nov. 10, to Betty Anne Jolly Norris Community Library by Golden Living Center-Windwood, a nursing and rehabilitative care residence at 220 Longmire Road, Clinton. The initiative grant is one of more than 1,570 awarded for a total of $1,498,000 by Golden Living, parent company of Windwood. Shown with the enormous presentation check are, from left, Carol Philips, Anderson County Library Board; Patti Halsey, library director; Lake McCoy and Marty Harber, county library board; Susan Miceli, Norris Library Commission; Nancy Chitwood, Windwood executive director; Tim Hester, Norris city manager; Linda Ramsbottom, Windwood activities director; and Loy Johnson, Norris City Councilwoman. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2345.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2345.html Generating tourist revenue in the picturesque but isolated mountainous region near Briceville continues to be a challenge for Anderson County Government. Revamping an out-of-work tourist train in the area could be the answer for creating such an economic spark, according to Anderson County Grants Coordinator Alan Beauchamp. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2344.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2344.html He’s married now. He has a family, a job and a house. It’s been a remarkable two years for Nathan Phillips. Two years ago he was sitting in almost the exact same spot he was sitting Thursday night: On a bench in Judge Don Elledge’s courtroom. The circumstances were a bit different however. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2343.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2343.html The Christmas spirit is already in the air at Clinton’s Second Baptist Church. This past Sunday morning, Nov. 13, more than 60 Second Baptist Sunday School students stuffed some 120 shoeboxes with items such as toys, clothes and hygiene products to deliver to impoverished areas across the globe as part of Operation Christmas Child. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2342.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2342.html Clinton Police Department investigators arrested 64-year-old James Allen Green on Monday, Nov. 14, in connection with last week’s fatal shooting at South Clinton Pawn Shop. South Clinton Pawn Shop employee Larry Snellings was fatally wounded while struggling with Green, a pawnshop patron, on Monday afternoon, Nov. 7, inside the business. Green was reportedly struck by two shots from a handgun fired by pawnshop owner Ron Webber Jr. as Green tried to flee the business Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2341.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2341.html Kindergarteners were able to wear “wacky wigs” on Wacky Wig Wednesday at Clinton Elementary School. Wearing wacky wigs on Wednesday helped the kids remember the sound of “w.” Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2340.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2340.html Three new volunteers, Joseph Noeker, Fredrick (Brad) Landenberger and Judith Abner recently completed 30 hours of training and were sworn in by the Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brandon Fisher becoming Court Appointed Special Advocates. New volunteer advocates are essential to CASA of the Tennessee Heartland’s program of supporting and providing volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children; the goal being a safe and permanent home in which they can thrive. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2339.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2339.html EDITOR: I read the letter to the citizens of Clinton from our Mayor and wanted to clear the air and set the record straight. First, regarding the record debt the city now bears: The Mayor stated, “this all happened when the new city staff uncovered additional debt to our city totaling 2.5 million dollars”. It is very simple to explain how our city accumulated this debt. We were spending more than we were bringing in. Why would we do that? Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2338.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2338.html The Wednesday Club presented Dr. Vicki Violette with three checks designated for North Clinton Elementary, South Clinton Elementary and Clinton Elementary. Earlier in the week checks were presented to Clinton Middle School and Clinton High School. Pictured from L to R are Patricia Aylor (Publicity), Dr. Vicki Violette (Superintendent of Clinton City Schools), Elaine Carmichael (Ways and Means) and Pam Rainey (President). Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2337.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2337.html Parents and guardians of Anderson County Schools’ students can now make online payments for meals purchased in school cafeterias. “We are so excited to be able to offer this option for our families,” said Margaret Burrell, director of the school system’s food services program. “Our Skyward system has been able to alert parents when their children’s account balances dropped below a particular dollar level, but this new feature will actually let them do something about it.” A link to instructions about the option is available, marked with apples and prominently displayed on the left-side menus of the school system website, www.acs.ac. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2336.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2336.html A 33-year-old East Wolf Valley Road man was reportedly killed instantly when his 1989 Lincoln Continental struck a utility pole head-on at the intersection of N. Charles Seivers Blvd. and E. Broad Street early Saturday morning, Nov. 5. A Clinton Police Department accident report prepared by CPD Sergeant Scott Gregory states that Weston Tyler Mitchell did not brake or make any noticeable corrective-steering adjustments before crashing his sedan into the pole holding up the traffic lights at the downtown Clinton intersection. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2335.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2335.html An impromptu public memorial was placed in front of the South Clinton Pawn Shop this week following a Monday, Nov. 7, shooting that killed employee Larry Snellings. The pawnshop was closed following the afternoon shooting with a sign placed on the business’s door stating: “Due to our recent tragic loss, we will remain closed for the remainder of this week and will reopen on Monday, Nov. 14, at 9 a.m. ñ we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.” Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2334.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2334.html The investigation continues into a fatal shooting Monday afternoon, Nov. 7 at the South Clinton Pawn Shop, said Clinton Police Chief Rick Scarbrough. Clinton Police responded to the report of a shooting at the pawnshop, located at 903 Clinch Ave., at approximately 2:15 p.m. Monday and found employee Larry Snellings, 59, wounded with an apparent gunshot wound from point-blank range. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2333.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2333.html Students at Briceville School in Coal Creek were asked to share their dreams for their watershed with the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation. Students described their dreams and drew pictures and viewers of the foundation’s web site were asked to vote on them. More than 300 votes were cast. Pictured are, front row from left, Caleb Birchfield (first grade - $20), Madison Braden (second grade - $20), Mason Fields (kindergarten - $20), Myra Kesterson (third grade - $20), Louisa Rolden (fourth grade - $20), Linlee Loop (kindergarten - $50 Brevity is the Soul of Wit Award winner) and Skylar Mozingo (fifth grade - $100 grand prize winner). In back are, from left, Carol Moore, Principal Sandra Patton, and Barry Thacker. Entries of the semi-finalists are posted below. Results of the dream contest are shown at http://www.coalcreekaml.com/dream_contest.htm. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2332.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2332.html During the last week of October, South Clinton Elementary School celebrated Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is a week long campaign where people, nation-wide, celebrate being drug free. Each day of the week had a different theme day where students and faculty dressed up. The themes included Team Up Against Drugs, Follow Your Dreams, Put a Cap on Drugs, Shade Out Drugs, and Friends Don’t Let Friends Do Drugs. During Guidance class the children learned about the effects of drugs as well as how to say no to drugs and peer pressure. Third through sixth grade wrote papers persuading others to not use drugs which were hung on display. There was also a Red Ribbon Week themed door decoration competition. Katie Buchanan’s fifth grade class won with the theme “We Don’t Give a Hoot About Drugs.” Every student at SCES signed a pledge making a commitment to be drug free. Red Ribbon Week was sponsored by SCES’s Student Council. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2331.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2331.html EDITOR: I want to give a progress report to the citizens of Clinton. Since my last letter, the city leaders have been busy getting back to business and improving the services for our citizens. Before I start giving you an update, let me remind you where we were during the first quarter of 2011. The city had to restructure its debt and borrow additional funds for capital outlay projects. Out of the 13.5 million that was borrowed, 12.1 million was debt that was restructured (includes both long term and short term debt), and about 1.4 million was borrowed that was part of the capital outlay projects. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2330.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2330.html Call me dumb, but just what exactly is this “Occupy Wall Street” all about? Protesting the way Wall Street does business? I have to say, getting mad and protesting because the economy is not what you want it to be seems likes a waste of time. Not that I have anything against one voicing one’s opinion. Go ahead, let it out. Shout at the world. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2329.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2329.html Ray Varner Ford has announced participation in Box Tops for Education® (BTFE) program and will award a total of $4,000 to Anderson County Schools in a competition to collect the most General Mills box tops. In addition, online registration in Ford’s contest to “drive” dollars to schools earns extra “eBox Tops” for the schools and a chance at $25,000 in additional prizes. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2328.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2328.html It was rainy, but a little rain doesn’t stop the Coal Creek studentsa during the 10th Annual Coal Creek Health day. Students gathered at the creek, then went inside the gym for fly tying, casting lessons, and observing the fish and critters placed in an aquarium. For many years a hefty small mouth bass has perched beneath a ledge in the creek. “We don’t know if it’s the same fish or if the biggest smallmouth in the pool claims the perch beneath the ledge. Regardless, we call him ‘Rocky’ when he is collected by electro-shocking by our friends from TVA, UT, and the Clinch River Chapter of Trout Unlimited,” said Barry Thacker. Students checked all the fish and “critters” they could in the creek. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2327.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2327.html Various county dignitaries, including Anderson County Mayor Myron Iwanski (third from left) and Anderson County’s Director of Schools Larry Foster (fifth from left) took part in Anderson County Schools’ Learn Academy groundbreaking at the future site of the new school on Friday morning, Nov. 4. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2326.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2326.html The Anderson County Board of Education voted during a Tuesday, Nov. 1, special-called meeting at the Robert Jolley Building in downtown Clinton to grant Director of Schools Larry Foster a three-year contract extension running through 2015. The eight-member Board voted unanimously to extend Foster’s contract on a motion by Dist. 2 Board Member Greg Crawford. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2325.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2325.html The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department released the details of the investigation that led to the arrest of a Lake City woman for attempting to hire an undercover Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agent to kill her ex-boyfriend and father of her 4-month-old son last month. Teresa Dawn Wright, 42, Coal Creek Lane, Lake City, was arrested at a North Charles Seivers Blvd. fast-food establishment on Wednesday, Oct. 19, after meeting with the TBI agent and handing him the key to a used automobile that she had promised to exchange for the death of her ex-boyfriend, the father her young child. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2324.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2324.html A new video arraignment system presently being incorporated in Anderson County General Session courtrooms has revolutionized the way local inmates face punishment while considerably lessoning the load on courthouse workers and jail staff. The system has been available in Anderson County for just two weeks but has already been deemed a resounding success to those involved in the local court process. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2323.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2323.html The Anderson County School System has received Lab-in-a-Box kits provided by the Rural Communities STEM Initiative, an Oak Ridge business/education partnership seeking to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills of regional K-12 students. Because of limited resources, teachers often do not have enough lab materials for students to conduct experiments individually or in Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2322.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2322.html EDITOR: Thank you for publishing Martin McBride’s Guest Column, “Anderson County needs leadership, now” in the Sunday, Oct. 23, 2011, issue of your paper. Mr. McBride presents some interesting data regarding growth in Anderson County vs. surrounding counties. While I have not had time to unearth data to support or refute Mr. McBride, I would like to make the following three suggestions. First, it seems like Roane County should be part of Mr. McBride’s analysis. Much of the Oak Ridge Reservation (and the City of Oak Ridge) lies in Roane County, including ORNL and the former K-25 facility. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2320.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2320.html EDITOR: On behalf of the Clinton Senior High School Class of 1978, I would like to personally thank you for your recent contribution to our 33rd Class Reunion. With your help and the many others who volunteered their time and efforts, our reunion was a phenomenal success. We would like to recognize Gene Marlow, owner of Willow Ridge Nursery, for his contribution of a beautiful dogwood tree. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2319.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2319.html The Anderson County School System’s plans to build a new alternative school are moving forward as expected despite hitting a potential snag this week when construction bids on the project were unveiled on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and the lowest bid came in at several hundred thousand dollars more than what officials initially expected to spend for construction of the school. Of the four bidders on the project, the lowest submission - $6,084,000 ñ belonged to Knoxville-based Rouse Construction. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2318.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2318.html A group of Anderson County students will spend the spring semester before graduation engaged in a lesson plan pulled directly from the other side of the world. Kathleen Benedict, a language arts and social studies teacher at Anderson County School’s 21st Century Academy, was one of 26 American public school educators included among the recipients of the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation’s Award for Teaching Excellence announced last February in Washington D.C. Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2317.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2317.html What Anderson County needs is a true leader; someone who can get the economy jump-started---and soon. The County Mayor is the ideal person to provide this leadership. Mayor Myron Iwanski came to office promising to focus on solving the county’s problems. Hopefully, the county’s economy is at the top of his list. Unfortunately, DOE figures show that during 2008, Anderson County received $48.5 million dollars less in annual payroll than it did in 1993. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2316.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2316.html Clinton resident Jake Howard recently earned the highest honor attainable in the Boy Scouts of America when the 2011 Clinton High School graduate was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout during a Sunday, Sept. 4, ceremony at Clinton’s Memorial United Methodist Church. While serving under the tutelage of Scoutmasters James McCrary and Paul Gore, Howard was thrust into several positions of leadership and responsibility during his seven years in the troop, including Troop Quartermaster. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2315.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2315.html An admittedly disappointed Dist. 3 County Commissioner Johnny Alley relented this week that he’s prepared to move ahead with the new Commission-approved redistricting map despite his efforts over the last month to revisit the controversial issue and start from scratch. Alley, who, along with fellow Dist. 3 Commissioner Dusty Irwin, represents the Andersonville, Clinch Valley, Fairview and Norris areas on the county’s legislative body, said this week he’s focused on moving forward now that his options to thwart the September Commission vote have been exhausted. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2314.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2314.html A 42-year-old Lake City woman was arrested after offering an undercover Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent a used car in exchange for killing her ex-boyfriend ñ the father of her four-month-old son. Teresa Dawn Wright, Coal Creek Lane, Lake City, was taken into custody Wednesday evening, Oct. 19, at approximately 8:30 p.m. after members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Investigations Unit in conjunction with members of the TBI set up an undercover operation that led to Wright propositioning the undercover TBI agent to kill the father of her son, according to an ACSD press release. Sun, 23 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2313.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2313.html Norris City Council has reversed itself, voting 3-2 to accept the Rogers Group’s low bid on a Norris paving contract despite many residents’ objections to doing business with the company because of its proposed quarry at Bethel. At the September meeting of Norris City Council, the second-lowest paving bid had been approved because of the quarry controversy. Afterward City Manager Tim Hester notified council members that the vote might not stand up to legal scrutiny. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2312.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2312.html Nearly 20 key leaders from Oak Ridge and Anderson County visited Maryville College Sept. 26 to learn more about the College’s curriculum and initiatives in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The group was initially invited to the campus by Darrell Akins, chairman and partner of Akins Crisp Public Strategies of Oak Ridge. Akins, a longtime supporter of Maryville College who served on its Board of Directors from 1993 until 2001, said he thought the gathering would benefit both communities. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2311.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2311.html The Fifth Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony took place Oct. 6, at First Baptist Church of Clinton, North Main Street. Those inducted were: Tommy Mariner, who is in his second term as the vice mayor of Norris, and sixth term on Norris city council; David Coffey and Pat Coffey,who have enjoyed careers as a serial entrepreneur (1970-present) and Mr. Coffey as a state legislator (1986-96); Greg Deal, who is starting his 34th year as educator; The Rev. George Williams, who passed away Sept. 7, 2011, one week after learning of his honor; Dudley Hoskins Bostic, a lifetime resident of Anderson County and partner with her sister in operating Hoskins Drug Store and Hoskins Medical Supply; Kenneth M. “Reece” Wallace farms 30 acres of land in Heiskell, but is better known for his production of a lifetime of community service; The McKamey’s, who share their sincere love for the Lord through their gospel music; Patsy Stair Lomeli, who spent her entire working career in the Anderson County Courthouse; Jennifer Wilson Galloway, an all-star basketball player (1995-1999) at Oak Ridge High School; and Larry Wayne Kerr, educator and football coach who led Lake City to an undefeated season, won a state championship at Halls, and put Anderson County High School football on the map with win over Cleveland High School, snapping a 54-game winning streak. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2310.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2310.html Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager urged the county’s Legislative Committee last week to seek new legislation that would give law enforcement and victims more rights when dealing with pawnshops and dealers of jewelry and scrap metal. Providing stricter regulations on such businesses would directly curtail the local illegal drug trade, said the law director, noting that the current state statutes dealing with those type operations leave both theft victims and police at a distinct disadvantage and create an avenue for criminals to net quick cash. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2309.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2309.html The Clinton High School Drama class was given the rare opportunity to quiz a globetrotting theater veteran on the finer points of acting on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 5, in the school’s Little Theater. Shakespearian-trained thespian Eric Hoffmann lectured the CHS drama students for more than an hour before taking questions from the class. Hoffmann, who has worked since the 1970s as an actor, director and teacher, related to the students the hardships of making it as an actor and the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment that comes with chasing your dreams and doing what inspires you the most. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2308.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2308.html Dist. 3 Anderson County Commissioner Johnny Alley will make a motion at the Monday, Oct. 17, quarterly day-session County Commission Meeting to have the just approved redistricting plan calling for eight districts and 16 Commissioners rescinded due to what he claims was an improper vote at the Sept. 19 meeting. Commission voted 9-7 at the September meeting to approve the new redistricting plan that would maintain the same number of commissioners and districts but would require “some minor tweaking” to adjust the necessary map lines. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2307.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2307.html The Claxton Community picked up a major boost for its economic future on Monday, Oct. 10, when the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced it would award Anderson County its $181,750 grant to help fund sewer improvements along Edgemoor Road. Securing the coveted ARC grant has been a priority for Anderson County Grants Coordinator Alan Beauchamp for more than a year. The importance of the grant to the Claxton Community and the county is measured by more than dollars, said Beauchamp. Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2306.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2306.html Emmalee Mariner and Ethan Roeder are getting used to sharing a stage. Both are senior members of Sound Company Children’s Show Choir, just completing a nearly sold-out run of “Take it Home (Again), Tennessee,” a fund-raiser held Oct. 1-2 for Emory Valley Center that involved more than 200 of the area’s most talented performers. And, both have been named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists, representing Anderson County High School and Clinton High School, respectively ñ a distinction earned by just 286 high school students in Tennessee. The two high school seniors are now eligible to continue to compete for some 8300 scholarships worth more than $34 million that will be offered next spring. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation describes the students as “academically talented,” but Mariner and Roeder are talented in a number of areas, said Director of Anderson County Schools Larry Foster. “We couldn’t be prouder of these two fine members of the Class of 2012,” Foster said. “Their hard work and determination to succeed represent our schools and our communities well.” Mariner, 16, is the daughter of Mary and Tommy Mariner of Norris. A member of Anderson County’s Navy Junior ROTC, she has led her academic team to two national championship events as well as multiple victories in other academic competitions. She will be a platoon commander in the spring. She is the founding president of ACHS’s chapter of the French National Honor Society; and, in addition to her involvement with Sound Company, she is an active member of the National Honor Society, the ACHS drama and Russian clubs. She was selected for the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Humanities at University of Tennessee, Martin, and the NJROTC Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Academy at the University of San Diego. Mariner says she enjoys slam poetry, doodling, Soviet history, traveling, debating philosophy, and watching movies in her free time. She hopes to attend the University of Chicago after graduating from ACHS in May, and she is considering a major in history while she also studies Russian and Arabic. Though she’s undecided about a career, Mariner says, “I’m certain it will involve my two great loves: writing and exploring the less-traveled corners of the world.” Roeder, 17, is the son of Beth and Dennis Roeder of Powell. A member of his school’s drama clubs since sixth grade, he was vice president of both the CHS drama club and the International Thespian Society as a junior and serves both organizations as president this year. He was selected for National Honor Society as a junior and served on the principal’s council as junior representative. He was freshman class president in 2008-2009. A member of the yearbook staff, Roeder was an assistant editor last year and is co-editor for the 2011-2012 edition. In addition to his show choir work, which began in fourth grade, he has worked as a camp counselor for Showcamp over the last two summers and sings in a barbershop quartet. Roeder says he hopes to study musical theatre and communications/journalism, with a minor in language, or sociolinguistics, the study of the relationship between language and culture, at Belmont, New York, Harvard, Columbia, or Emory universities. With the ultimate goal of being a professional actor, Roeder and Mariner may find their paths crossing for years after their graduations from Anderson County’s high schools. NMSC is a non-profit organization established in 1955 to conduct the annual competition and administer the scholarship program, which it funds with support from more than 400 businesses and higher education institutions. NMSC’s goal is “honoring the nation’s scholastic champions and encouraging the pursuit of academic excellence.” About 1.5 million high school juniors took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in 2010, providing “an initial screen of program entrants,” according to information from NMSC. “The nationwide pool of semifinalists, which represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state,” NMSC said, with the number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. From the approximately 16,000 semifinalists, about 15,000 finalists will be named in February, based on additional test scores; the endorsement of their principals; and further information, including an essay and information about school and community activities. Scholarship winners will be selected based on “skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies,” and will be eligible for 2500 NMSC scholarships of $2500 each, for approximately 1000 corporate-sponsored scholarships who meet the businesses criteria, and for about 4800 college-sponsored awards who will attend those schools. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2305.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2305.html The Anderson County Detention Facility picked up a valuable resource this week in its ongoing fight to curb recidivism at the perpetually overcrowded jail. Anderson County Grants Coordinator Alan Beauchamp announced on Tuesday, Oct. 3, that a $250,000 federal grant to fund a collaborative effort between the Anderson County Detention Facility and the Ridgeview Psychiatric Hospital would be used to establish a program to help identify and treat inmates with mental illness and/or co-occurring substance abuse disorders. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2304.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2304.html The students at North Clinton Elementary School are enjoying their third year of the “Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program”. A grant written by Coordinated School Health Director Gary Lukat provides the students with fruits and vegetables that they may not have tried before. The hard-working cafeteria staff prepares the fruit and vegetables for students twice a week. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2303.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/10/2303.html Wal-Mart, Clinton, gave 10 Clinton Elementary School teachers $100 gift cards as part of the store’s “Teacher’s Rewards” program. Morgan Smith (second from left) and Kelly Weeks (second from right) presented the gift cards to the teachers Friday morning. Pictured receiving their cards are Jill Whitaker, Gay Lynn Alsop, Dana Dalton, Stephanie Brock, Carol Wetherington, Gretchen Sanders, Deana Conrad and Sharon Hunt. Also pictured are CES Principal Jamie Jordan (right) and Assistant Principal Jenna Sharp (left). Last year Wal-Mart gave gift cards to teachers at North Clinton Elementary School. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2302.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2302.html Thirty-four parents and Boy Scouts recently braved Class II, III, and IV whitewater rapids on the Pigeon River. Those who attended were able to experience the thrill of rafting as well as the picturesque views along the river. Each of the five boats had a trained guide to assist Scouts down the river safely. Safety was a priority with everyone outfitted with a helmet and life jacket. Prior to the ride, Scouts learned what to do in the event they fell out of the boat. Luckily only one Scout experienced the whitewater up close and personal. Down river Scouts were allowed to jump in for a swim in the calm waters. For many Scouts this was their first whitewater rafting experience, though the trip provided great memories for everyone. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2301.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2301.html Ms. Opal Portwood visited South Clinton Elementary recently to share with Teresa Schlandt’s enrichment group about her life during the depression. This group has been reading “A Long Way From Chicago” by Richard Peck, a book whose setting takes place during the depression. Pictured on the first, from left, Etan Justice, Makayla Nance (Portwood’s great-granddaughter), Portwood, and Chris Webb. Second row, from left, Austin Bunker, Sedona Herrell, Tucker Metcalf, Elijah Gross, Westley Overton and Mrs. Schlandt. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2300.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2300.html North Clinton Students of the Month for September are, front row from left, Eric Page, Autumn Collins, Jade Guadarrama, and Thelma Clapp. In the back row are, from left, Hayden Brooks, Alyssa Tucker, Haylee Collins, Jasmine Booker, and Jordan Hall. Not pictured: Hailey Werkheiser. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2299.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2299.html Small step by small step, the Norris Planning Commission continued the city’s process of annexing neighboring territory with the approval on Monday, Oct. 3, of annexation studies and plans of services for four more properties along Highway 61. Included are two properties north of the highway and west of Joe Owen Road (a vacant lot and a lot occupied by an office building leased to the U.S. Department of Agriculture) and two south of the highway (Appalachian Arts Craft Center and Meadow View Senior Living Community). Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2298.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2298.html The theme at North Clinton this year is “Going Greener”, and to prove it, the school has added a compost bin to the existing recycling program. The bin was built by a loyal North Clinton supporter and has two compartments that will hold layers of leaves and food waste that comes from plants. Once this material decomposes, it can be used for school garden projects. The NCES Green Team includes student representatives from each classroom who are interested in reducing what goes to the county landfill as they continue to recycle paper and use the new compost bin. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2297.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2297.html Congratulations to the new council members. Speeches were delivered last Friday at our new outdoor amphitheater in front of peers in spite of nerves and butterflies. Parents would have been proud! This year’s posters were original and clever. Back, from left, Austin Bunker, Addison Dupree, Molly McDaniel, Cheyenne Sexton, and Kayla White. Front, from left, Donovan Gentry, Dillon Vandergriff, Charlie York, Destiny Simonds, Chris Carroll, and Amber Reynolds. Not Pictured: Dawson Brummett and Haiden Reed. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2296.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2296.html Real estate broker Loy Johnson has opened her own firm at 21 W. Norris Road, Norris Town Center. The location had been occupied by Allred & Johnson Real Estate, the company Johnson started with Diane Allred six years ago, until that firm moved to Andersonville Highway this summer. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2295.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2295.html Anderson County Sheriff Paul White announced last week that Communications Officer Joyce Leinart is retiring after 15 years of service. Leinart began her career with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department as a reserve deputy. She worked part-time and later full-time as a dispatcher. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2294.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2294.html Friday night, Sept. 16, Mayor Scott Burton joined Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County to kick off the Parents Who Host Lose the Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking campaign. Burton signed a proclamation designating September as Underage Drinking Awareness Month in the City of Clinton. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2293.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2293.html Oliver Springs City Manager David Bolling blamed a communication breakdown for an unexpected crisis that arose earlier this week when seven of the town’s firefighters submitted resignations in frustration over a city policy that restricted their use of a particular fire truck. Bolling admitted that both he and Oliver Springs Mayor Chris Hepler were shocked when news of the resignations developed Monday, Sept. 26. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2292.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2292.html Pay attention. This is important. It’s about baseball. The “Tevatron atom smasher shuts after more than 25 years.” BBC News Website reported this story ó the only “leading” news organization to have it as a lead story. I have no idea what a Tevatron atom smasher is, but someone at BBC News Website sure does. Like I said, it was the lead story. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2291.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2291.html It didn’t take long for the new Chairman of the Anderson County County Commission, Chuck Fritts, to find his first controversy in his new role as Commission Chairman. Later the same meeting after he was selected to replace Alderson as Chairman, Fritts had his hands full with a hot-button issue that came at the end of a relatively short but eventful agenda. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2290.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2290.html An innovative classroom method targeted at enhancing the educational experience for a demographic of students traditionally neglected in America’s public education system has taken hold at Norris Middle School this fall. On Aug. 8, the Integrated Learning Academy (ILA) welcomed its first crop of students with the beginning of the 2011-2012 academic year, and the program continues to collect praise and support from parents and educators alike as the cutting-edge concept strives to gain its foothold in a system steeped in custom and order. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2289.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2289.html Claxton-resident Chuck Fritts says he welcomes the challenge of being the Chairman of the Anderson County Commission. Fritts, who, along with Tracy Wandell represents Dist. 1 on the county’s legislative body, was selected at the Monday, Sept. 19, meeting as Commission’s new Chairman, taking over the role formerly held by Dist. 2 Commissioner Mark Alderson. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2288.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2288.html Automobile makers should be ashamed. They make it sound so simple to fix things. “Take it to your authorized service professional.” What automobile makers should say is, “Don’t try this, please! You’ll just look silly.” But how hard can it be to change a break light switch in a 25-year-old Jeep? Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2287.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2287.html A new redistricting plan for Anderson County’s legislative districts was approved with a hasty vote at the end of a four-hour County Commission meeting Monday night, Sept. 19, at the Anderson County Courthouse. The county’s Redistricting Committee has worked since July to realign the county’s legislative districts to remain in compliance with state law on the heels of the 2010 state census. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2286.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2286.html Several residents of the Bethel Community voiced concerns over recent activity at the Bethel Rock Quarry and a Nashville-based road paving company’s plans for that site during the Monday, Sept. 19, Anderson County Commission meeting. Dist. 3 County Commissioner Johnny Alley stated that over the last two weeks he’s fielded several calls from Bethel citizens due to random blasting at the rock quarry and road congestion from heavy equipment vehicles in the area near the site. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2285.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2012/01/2285.html Fairview Elementary School is the first elementary school winner of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) award for academic achievement. The award was announced at a ceremony Tuesday evening, Sept. 20, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2284.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2284.html EDITOR: The Emory Valley Center is celebrating 56 years of successful services to physically and mentally handicapped individuals from our area. We are having a great musical Oct. 1-2 to kickoff our campaign to build a new building for the Emory Valley Center. We will have several well-known performers from Clinton: Teresa Seals, Jeff Hylton and his wife from New York, Shannon Barry Watkins, Vicki Heidle, and Connie Larimer. What I don’t think a lot of Clintonians and Anderson County’s citizens realize is the major role they have played in the life of this great center. The original Emory Valley School for Retarded Children was built with donated funds and labor. It was run by the Anderson County School Board. The Anderson County School Board started and also ran the Center for Cerebral Palsy that included a Clinton citizen Daniel Arthur Gossage. The Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center was sponsored and run by the Anderson County School Board. All the land and buildings for this school and the DARC Center are still owned by the Anderson County Commission. The Commission has done a great job of operating, repair and maintenance on these buildings and of course still does, fifty years later. Age and cost of maintenance have taken their toll and in 2008 the Anderson County Commission planned for the eventuality that the buildings would become too expensive to maintain, and we would lose the building housing many of our programs at EVC. The Commission gave $160,000 to buy the lot next door to the administration building so we could plan and raise money for a new center. In the meantime, the Anderson County Commission continued the great service of maintaining the present building. This great tradition of care for our most vulnerable citizens must continue. Many of the 140 clients have outlived all their families and any support system, and their quality of life depends on the EVC. I hope the citizens of Clinton and Anderson County will continue this great tradition that has been successful these past 56 years. Please come and see our kickoff show “Take It Home, Tennessee.” Tickets are available at the Community Bank and the Clinton branches of the Enrichment, Y-12 and X-10 credit unions, as well as at the door the day of the production. Sincerely, Gene Caldwell Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2283.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2283.html EDITOR: I am writing you in response to the proposed property tax hike for the residents of Anderson County. I lived in Clinton most of my life. I moved to Knoxville and was very upset when they imposed a wheel tax. I didn’t see paying $60 a year for my car tags. However my property taxes haven’t gone up since the wheel tax was implemented. Anderson County needs to reconsider a wheel tax. I mean who wants to pay higher property taxes when you can pay a wheel tax? I know people are against it but what is a few extra dollars compared to a few hundred? Its just a thought. Tammy Nelson Rayfield Knoxville (formerly of Clinton) Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2282.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2282.html Steve Christopher of Cloud 10 Music in Nashville contacted me this week about reviewing an album his company has put out. I’m not what you would call a country music fan. And you know if it’s coming out of Nashville, it’s going to be country, right? “Oh, what the heck,” I told Myself. “Broaden your horizons. Give it a listen.” Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2281.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2281.html At least one Anderson County official feels like Monday night’s public meeting between the Tennessee Valley Authority, Anderson County officials and Claxton-area residents actually created more questions than answers concerning the future of that community and the fate of dozens of residents who have called the area home for decades. Claxton Commissioner Chuck Fritts said Tuesday that he’s as concerned about the prospect of TVA locating coal ash storage expansion in this area as he was the first day he learned the news. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2280.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2280.html Anderson County’s recovering economy suffered an indirect blow with this week’s announcement by Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason that the lab is planning to cut up to 350 jobs in a move to trim down lab spending in the 2012 fiscal year. Mason, the ORNL Director since 2007, reportedly delivered word to his lab staff on Thursday, Sept. 15, that the lab is looking at cutting up to 350 positions in the coming months in anticipation of the beginning of the 2012 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2279.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2279.html Anderson County officials received word from the Tennessee Corrections Institute on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 7, that the Anderson County Detention Facility meets all the criteria to remain certified for at least another year. TCI officials announced that the detention facility passed its annual inspection last month and will remain certified at least through 2012 despite rampant inmate overcrowding issues. Anderson County Commission in July approved installing a 16.2-cent property tax increase to, among other things, fund major jail expansion and a series of alternative to incarceration programs to help alleviate inmate overcrowding at the jail. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2278.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2278.html Recently, the Anderson County Commission passed a 7-cent property tax hike to deal with serious overcrowding at the Anderson County Jail. This “Jail Tax” has two parts. Five cents will go to expand the jail facility while two cents funds a series of management upgrades. It turns out that the Commission has ignored the overcrowding problem for years. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2277.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2277.html Ten Years After Do you recall the music group Ten Years After? They were the British blues/rock band that spawned the second British music invasion into the United States around 1966. But today, almost ten years after, music is not what I am remembering. I am remembering an invasion of another type. One that changed the world we live in forever. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2276.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2276.html Oak Ridge Associated Universities awarded 23 teachers and administrators from 13 East Tennessee schools nearly $36,000 during the tenth annual ORAU Education Grants ceremony held in the organization’s Center for Science and Education classroom yesterday afternoon. The grant monies enabled the purchase of interactive white boards, iPads, books, computers, calculators and an array of other science, math and technical learning materials. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2275.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2275.html In an effort to increase safety conditions for Lake City Middle and Elementary students, Anderson County officials are working with the school system in seeking a $227,158.06 grant through the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to provide improved pedestrian and biking opportunities for Lake City students. Anderson County Schools’ Coordinated Health Coordinator Kim Guinn and Anderson County Grants Coordinator Alan Beauchamp are working jointly on the grant request. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2274.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2274.html After 24 years of serving on the Clinton Utilities Board, Herb Ward was replaced by Alan Seivers Monday night. In a 4-3 vote, Seivers was elected to replace Ward. Clinton resident Gary Cooper addressed city council at the beginning on Monday’s meeting and called the vote on Ward as “a change for the sake of change. “I do like change … If it’s warranted,” Cooper said. “But I’m concerned on the vote of Mr. Herb Ward.” Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2273.html http://www.hometownclinton.com/articles/2011/11/2273.html Clinton residents will start receiving emergency notices via their landline telephones, and/or cell phones and computers whenever the situation arises. City Council passed a motion Monday night to allocate roughly $5,000 a year for electronic notices whenever emergencies arise that call for extra precautions. Code Red Communications Network out of Ormond Beach, Fla., has set up warning systems in Blount County. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST