Are we trying to compete with Ga and Mississippi here? That and Diane Black on mental illness and guns...

The Daily Buzz

Sam Lewis will be at Market Street one week from today (Friday march 8).

Everybody should already know how much I love the waters of this earth. They are often a central metaphor for our lives, as in this Sam Lewis tune...

The AP...looked at public records and found that 2,133 people have had their permits revoked or suspended for criminal charges or orders of protection over the last two years. Handgun permit owners have killed or been accused of killing at least 16 people in the past five years-four people in parking lots.

So that works out to over 1000 people a year who get concealed carry permits who shouldn't have them, but for a while they do...

Lack of oversight lets temptations run away.

Link...

A coal ash pond has contaminated a NC drinking water source with high levels of arsenic. WCNC has the story, via Appalachian Voices: Link...

-- OneTahiti

SB 1015 by *Bell
(HB 0581 by *Dennis)
Weapons - As introduced, removes the prohibition against selling or carrying knives with a blade in excess of 4" or the sale, possession or carrying of a switchblade knife,and preempts local regulation with respect to the transfer, ownership, possession or transportation of knives. - Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17, Part 13.

And then there's this...

If you are interested in supporting this resolution...

Link...

Harriman is Roane County's last team in the State basketball tournament. The game is tonight in Harriman at 7:30. That gym is gonna rock!

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No! He's from Oak Ridge. How cool is that?

The Tennessean has the story: Link...

-- OneTahiti

John McCutcheon just showed up at the Dagger barbecue party at the 96 Olympics and quietly played backup for the folks who were performing. No one knew who he was except a few of us and there was a totally crappy PA system. One day I'm going to bring him to Roane County and make that up to him, even though he's really big and costs a ton of money. He'll be in Oak Ridge tonight.

The Daily Buzz

Who stands to benefit from fracking in TN?

In 2012, the Haslam family purchased Western Petroleum and Maxum Petroleum. Both companies are among the nation's major suppliers of fuel to the gas drilling and fracking operations in the U.S.

Roane County School Board (RCSB) meeting reveals the truth about the request made in an amendment rejected by the County Commission (CC). In a clear and concise presentation by the RCSB Financial Director, the funds requested to pay for (see below) in an amendment request WOULD NOT HAVE RESULTED in a Tax increase nor any funds from the County.

Truancy
Unemployment
Janitorial Services
Liability Insurance

A Law is being considered...

Link...

That and: Charter Schools Will Bypass Local School Boards Under GOP Bill ...from the Daily Buzz. Link...

See the details on the PRINCESS BLOG!

Save us from these people! That and more from the Buzz...

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I really like posting good news. This is exactly the type of program Roane County needs. We could be a shining example of solar energy production.

"... the city and its partner, the firm Energy Source Partners, will produce 250 kw of power across a pair of locations."

Link...

The Tennessee Wildlife Management Agency recently dedicated the McGlothin-Largen Wildlife Management Area. This WMA was a portion of Gerald Largen’s family farm on the Tennessee River south of Kingston, which was gifted to the State of Tennessee by Largen.

Link...

We'll be in our temporary space which is right next door toward Food City.
Hopefully the construction projects will be finished before our next show.

Sam Lewis will be at Market Street tomorrow night. We have plenty of seats left so bring your friends to hear this artist while we can still get him. Sam has been touring with the Kenny Vaughn Trio and just opened for New Grass royalty, John Cowan, at the Shed. The buzz is growing for this guy and we expect him to "break through" any minute. His personal and touching songs are matched by a distinctive voice. We heard him tear up Market Street with Roy Orbison's "Crying" so we know it's true that he could work as a front man singing other folks songs, but he's chosen to go it the hard way and stay true to his own work.

Link...

RCN reports denial of budget request by RCS officials. Amendment denied, There are necessities which the school must fund:

1) unemployment costs
2) Liability insurance
3) Janitorial expenses
4) Truancy expenses

“We have commitments to pay the unemployment. We have commitments to make that payment to the county for the truancy. We have to pay liability insurance and we also have to pay the increased janitorial expense.”

The County Commission, 6 votes for amendment, 5 pass (no vote), 4 no votes including one in my District.

Link...

Read about the petition here: Link....

-- OneTahiti

Roane County is now home to the newest state-of-the-art hospital in Tennessee.

Link...

Here's a link that summarizes what we know about the meteor that exploded over Russia, injuring over 1000 people. The meteor was around 15 feet across, moving 40,000 miles per hour, and exploded at least 6 miles above the ground. (Have the terms meteor and meteorite ever been misused more often? Meteors are only meteors until the instant they touch the earth, whereupon they become meteorites.)

Link...

This is very troubling to my civil liberties. Watch the video.

I've told everybody in my family that the answer is "NO" when any office ask if they mind if they search their vehicle. That is the advice of every one of my attorney friends.

Link...

Franken said the decision could have been avoided if the House of Representatives had taken up the bipartisan postal reform bill passed in the Senate last year. The bill would have put the Postal Service on sounder financial footing and would have allowed rural communities to have a greater say in the operation of local post offices.

I might note that it is a good thing my home is outside the Rockwood city limits, since I don't have "running public water".

Foundation failure was added into the list of reasons for finding a home unfit for habitation, as well as “lack of running public water, functioning toilets, showers or sinks.”

Link...