If you haven't got a pumpkin, First Christian in Rockwood still has some great ones which we will be selling through Halloween. They are grown by the Navajo and are priced by size (starting at $.50). Proceeds go to the youth program.

Per an article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Camp Buck Toms is undergoing a $3 million renovation. I am not sure, but it also looks like the camper capacity is increasing. Good news for Scouts, good news for Roane County.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel has an article about a Roane County Black Bear. Too bad this is how we find out. Anyone else spotted a bear here?

KNS has the story on bald eagles being shot, including one in Crab Orchard, Cumberland County. This is senseless and ridiculous. Why would you shoot a bald eagle?

Whoever did this is dumb enough to be proud of it, and will probably be talking. If you hear anything, call TWRA; there is a major reward.

The Roane County Sheriff's Office has created an online inmate database, which is available on the Sheriff's Office Website.

I haven't yet conclusively determined that this database is complete and fully up-to-date. Maybe someone who knows can give us that information. However, assuming it is, it will save my office time calling the jail to see whether a particular inmate has been released. I imagine I wasn't the only one calling the jail for that type of information, and that the jailers are happy to be able to refer callers to the website.

I was surprised to learn Friday that attorney Kim Nelson has taken out a petition to run for Roane County Circuit Court Clerk. Kim says that Angela Randolph, the current Circuit Court Clerk, has told several people that she is not running for re-election.

Apparently, a trusty at the Roane County jail went missing during work crew in Harriman this morning. Did she slip in the grass and hit her head, being rendered unconscious, and the remainder of the crew did not see her and went on?

Singer/songwriter Jay Clark will be performing during the normal worship service of Rockwood First Christian Church Sunday, July 30, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. Everyone is welcome this and every Sunday.

After watching today's speech, I wondered what my grandfather would have thought. A lifelong, diehard Republican, he surely would have been pained to see a Democrat in office.

Yet, Obama's call to responsibility, to the founding principles of our nation, would have resounded with him. A veteran of World War II that didn't talk about it until the last few years of his life, he spent much of his life volunteering for others, and always concluded the prayer before family meals with a request to "help us to become better Christians and better citizens." We kidded him about always saying the same thing, but it was the way he lived his life.

I hope our country can rise to the challenge, take responsibility, and work our way out of our problems together.

The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that there should be a trial regarding Kingston attorney Chris Cawood's claim that several officers of the Roane County Sheriff's Office committed "outrageous conduct" (a tort which is also referred to sometimes as "intentional infliction of emotional distress") after the officers investigated a sex-related complaint by one of Cawood's divorce clients. This ruling reverses the trial court, which held that Cawood's claims should be dismissed.

For those that have not followed this story, or read Cawood's book about it, you can read the Court of Appeals decision here. The facts are unusual.

The Chancellor ruled this morning that Roane County Commission never accepted Patton's resignation from his position as Constable prior to his revocation of that resignation. Therefore, there never was a vacancy, and he remains Constable. On a side note, this was predicted here nine months ago.

The Chancellor also ruled that Patton had not proven that there was any violation of the Open Meetings Act in connection with the Patton "resignation" and "appointment" discussions.

After the ruling, Patton put on his badge, retrieved his "big stick" from his car, and issued a statement to the media about said stick and local law enforcement.

The Roane County News broke the story, and indicates that more will be available online at the Roane County News site and in Monday's dead tree edition.

Roane County agreed this morning in the lawsuit filed by Steve Robinette to produce Theresa Kirkham's cell phone records. Greg Isaacs, a prominent Knoxville attorney, appeared on behalf of Mr. Robinette. There may be some qualifications to the agreement, and I am sure it will be reported further in tomorrow's Roane County News.

Yes, Sam's Thai will close for good on Friday, March 28, 2008. Sam has made excellent Thai food in Midtown for over a year. Sam is closing so that she may spend time with her elderly mother in Thailand. Her reasons are understandable, but her food and constant smile will be missed.

Mount Roosevelt Wildlife Management Area ((link...)) spans 11,000 acres in Roane and Cumberland County. It is one of Tennessee’s hidden treasures.

Friends of Mount Roosevelt is an organization that is forming to specifically focus on preserving Mount Roosevelt for future generations as one of Tennessee’s best natural and hunting areas.

In connection with this effort, an organizational meeting will be held at the Mount Roosevelt overlook area on Saturday, March 15, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. For those who have not been, the overlook area has amazing views, and a nice picnic area. After the organizational meeting, we will conduct a litter pickup. If weather is poor, we will post here on Roaneviews that the meeting is rescheduled to the next Saturday.

If you are interested in helping out to make this amazing area a better place, please come out for a fun day on the Mountain.

Here is a tree whose price was right. Now, if I can just get started on that Christmas shopping. Merry Christmas everyone.

As many of you may know, I am a sole practitioner attorney who, after practicing for three years in Knoxville, opened up a law office in Rockwood on September 1, 2007. I am currently looking for a legal assistant.

The State has acquired 127,000 acres on the Cumberland Plateau. Read more in today's Knoxville News-Sentinel.

These land buys are huge wins for the environment. One aspect that shouldn't be overlooked is the contributions of hunters to make this purchase possible. For example, part of this area will become the "Brimstone Addition" to the Royal Blue Wildlife Management Area. This and other purchases by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are paid for through money collected for hunting and fishing licenses. I have wondered why environmentalists and hunters often seem to be at such odds with each other, when they both have a huge shared interest in these types of conservation acquisitions.

Here in Roane County, we have Mount Roosevelt Wildlife Management Area, which is 11,000 acres just outside Rockwood. This land is open to hiking and other nonhunting activities and is rarely used by hunters except during deer season. In other words, stay out now (unless you are wearing blaze orange), but check this place out in January. 11,000 acres is a lot of land, but there is a lot more out there. I would love to see this area expanded in future land purchases, so that more of our Roane County forests are preserved.

Congratulations are in order for Steve Scarborough. The Roane County News, Friday edition, indicates that it is now official: he has been named as a "Legend of Paddling" by the American Canoe Association. If you're reading, congratulations, Steve.

P.S. I couldn't find the article on the Roane News site, but you can still buy the dead tree edition today to read it.