Tax-deductible donations must be in by March 1. They have already raised all but $350. Please consider helping these students. (link...)

For more information, see (link...).

-- OneTahiti

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) will have a Chili and Soup Fundraiser on Friday, September 9th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Grande Vista Bay Clubhouse located at 1405 New Hope Road in Rockwood. A donation of $10 is requested. The meal will include chili or soup with dessert and drink.

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department will use the funds to match a FireFighter Grant to obtain turn out gear and equipment for the new tanker truck. The new tanker truck will be available for viewing at the event and also this will be an opportunity to meet the volunteers.

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) will hold an open house on Saturday, July 23, from 9 am to 1 pm at Station No. 1 at 1303 Pumphouse Road in Rockwood, Tennessee.

Free 10-year smoke detectors are available while supplies last. Come see the firefighting equipment and our new fire truck, meet your volunteer firefighters, and visit with your neighbors.

A few Roane County classrooms have listed their funding hopes at DonorsChoose.org ((link...)). Some are about to time out (in 2 days, 6 days) without meeting their goals.

Please consider giving a tax-deductible donation to one or more of these classrooms and make some students very happy. Thank you for your attention. :)

-- OneTahiti

As the New Year approaches, I am filled with happiness and gratitude for the sheer good fortune of living here.

This year was particularly memorable. Our brave and heroic neighbors, volunteers all, risked their own lives last February to save me and my mother--and others in our community--from icy deaths. The West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department astounded us with their kind good works during the storm and electrical outage, and helped us for months after.

Please consider donating to this fine and worthy group in this season of giving. Every little bit helps! Go to WestRoane.com.

-- OneTahiti

A number of classes in Roane County are hoping for help on DonorsChoose.org: (link...)

One group of 3rd - 5th graders in Rockwood has only 4 days left on DonorsChoose before their project times out: (link...). They have raised some, but are still $168.06 from their goal.

In the spirit of this holiday season, please consider donating to one of these deserving classrooms. You can help make these students' dreams come true. Every donation helps.

-- OneTahiti

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a new tank truck. However, West Roane VFD is required to match 5% ($10,166) of the cost of the $200,000+ truck.

On Friday at 5 PM, support the West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department and have some good food and fellowship too! Chief Charlie Redwine donated his grant-writing skills to get a usually elusive $200,000+ grant from FEMA for a much-needed new tank truck.

However, the community is required to raise 5% (a little over $10,000) to quality for this substantial grant. So, come to the Chili/Soup Fundraiser Supper on 9/25, have some fun, and help these fine volunteers get that truck.

Read more at: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) has been awarded an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for a new tank truck. However, West Roane VFD is required to match 5% ($10,166) of the cost of the $200,000+ truck.

Come support your fire department this weekend and find some bargains too! This huge annual charity event will be held as always at Station #1 on Pumphouse Road just outside Rockwood. Hours are May 1, 7 AM to 7 PM and May 2, 7 AM to 2 PM. For more information, see WestRoane.com ((link...)).

A "combination of winds and low relative humidity will lead to increased fire danger this afternoon. Residents of east Tennessee... are discouraged from burning this afternoon."
Source: National Weather Service

Note that burning permits are required October 15 through May 15 and are always a good idea: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

The West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department will have its annual elegant junk 'yard sale' at Station 1 on Pumphouse Road, Rockwood. Please call 865-354-8201 to arrange for pick-up or to drop-off your slightly used items.

UPDATED: Hours: May 1, 7 AM to 7 PM; May 2, 7 AM to 2 PM.

Also, please limit the amount of clothing donated since we have limited remaining clothing space.

Support the West Roane VFD and have fun at the same time. Donate, then shop! Come meet with your neighbors and find bargains.

The dedicated volunteers of the West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department make hundreds of runs each year; about half have been emergency medical calls and the rest were fires, searches, rescues, vehicle extrications, and a long list of other categories.

WRCVFD is a Roane County United Way Partner Agency.

-- OneTahiti

First-graders at Ridge View Elementary in Rockwood have raised most of the funds they want for LED writing tablets, but still have $145 $138 $132 $0 to go. Help these students by donating at DonorsChoose.org ((link...)). Every little bit can make a difference!

-- OneTahiti

Time is growing short for Mrs. Burgess's first graders in their quest on DonorsChoose for LCD writing tablets. They are over halfway to their goal, with $165 left to go.

To help these students, go to: (link...) Every little bit helps!

All donations are tax-deductible.

-- OneTahiti

West Roane VFD ((link...)) receives their first quarterly donation check from Kroger this month. So far the donation averages over $25 per signed-up family per month. Thank you, Kroger!

If you shop at Kroger and want to get more donations for the fire department by shopping as usual, here's how to sign up:

TO USE THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

WVLT has the story: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

Want to see what various police groups got from the Pentagon? Scroll down to the picklist on this page to search by state and department: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

The West Roane County VFD website has updated safety links for this holiday season:

Toy and Product safety: (link...).
Christmas Tree Fire videos: ((link...)), plus more on Youtube ((link...))
Winter fire safety tips: ((link...))
Holiday fire safety fact sheet: ((link...), PDF).

-- OneTahiti

The Rockwood Ministerial Association (RMA, (link...)) runs the Food Pantry in Rockwood. The Food Pantry feeds an average of over 1000 people each month.

They also give out Christmas baskets in December. This year RMA hopes to give out over 300 Christmas baskets filled with food. Sign-up between 10 a.m. and noon weekdays from Nov. 10-21 in the Food Pantry. Bring identification and documentation of income.

Kroger shoppers may set West Roane County Volunteer Fire as their designated charity to receive funds from Kroger's Community Rewards® program. Sign in or create an account at (link...). Then designate West Roane County Volunteer Fire as your charity at (link...). After that, shop as usual at Kroger's, swiping your card.

Amazon shoppers may set West Roane County Volunteer Fire as their designated charity

We want to thank the kind volunteers at West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)), and also RoaneViews' WhitesCreek and the fine folks at Rockwood Electric. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful neighbors and friends. Here is what happened.

In Tennessee, go to (link...) to look up your voting location.

-- OneTahiti

The Tennessean ((link...)) reports that Kroger is changing its 'give back' donation program. Now shoppers will be able to designate a charity online at: (link...).

Charities that want to participate should sign up online: (link...). I checked, and so far Ridge View Elementary, Rockwood Food Pantry (Rockwood Ministerial Association), and West Roane County VFD are not yet signed up; I hope they sign up soon.

-- OneTahiti

There is a new website, CrowdPac.com ((link...)). It lets you enter your interests and issues and lists political candidates to match, with lots of extra information. Definitely recommended.

-- OneTahiti

"For three days only, from August 22 to August 24, 2014, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will fund 50% of this (Donorschoose.org) project if (others) donate the remaining amount."

Now is a great time to support our schools and get Bill Gates to chip in. There are currently four classrooms in Roane County seeking funding: (link...).

Every little bit helps.

-- OneTahiti

"The hotline, which offers help in math, science, language arts, social studies and reading, can be reached at two numbers — 615-298-6636 and 1-888-868-5777."

Read more at WBIR: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

Creative Kids Preschool is opening in Rockwood this month. Finally Rockwood will have a private, non-church-based alternative for those children aged 3 to 5 who aren't eligible for Headstart.

An open house and registration will be held Tuesday August 19th, from 9am to 12pm. For more information, call Carolyn at 773-6973 or see: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

-- OneTahiti :)

The Rockwood Ministerial Association ((link...)), which runs the Food Pantry, is sponsoring its annual charity golf tournament at the Rockwood Golf and Country Club on Saturday, August 9th, starting at 8 am.

The cost is $100.00 per person to play on teams of four, OR supporters may sponsor a hole for $100.00. Each hole will have a sign with the name of the person or business sponsor.