Fri
Jan 15 2010
06:30 pm

Glad to know they will return safely.

WATE reports:

(link...)

Topics:

CREDO Action has a petition this morning:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is launching a potentially devastating attack on the Clean Air Act. Majority Leader Harry Reid has granted her a vote for January 20 that would block the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants and other polluters in 2010.

Continued...

Wed
Dec 23 2009
12:17 pm

Two legislators have asked the TN Attorney General, Robert Cooper, to prepare to take legal action to protect the state from the unfndated mandate portions of the healthcare reform bill currently being considered. According to the legislators, the bill would require to increase its state Medicaid program with $1.4 BILLION in additional funds from the state's taxpayers.

I have had dealings with one of these legislators on other issues, and have found her to be a very bright and thoughtful legislator.

See: (link...)

RB

Tue
Dec 22 2009
06:13 pm

Dozens more filed by the Monday deadline.

Continued...

The state health department has completed its health assessment of the TVA Kingston coal ash spill disaster site. Key findings according to the TDH:

Continued...

Sat
Dec 19 2009
09:14 am

An article in the Roane Co News - Opinion section (Dec. 18th) indicates that Volunteer Firefighters are excempt from paying county property tax, since they are not paid. Is this true for Roane County Volunteer Firefighters? The person writing the article may have been referencing his previous town in Virginia. I would like to see Roane Co. have this benefit if they do not already have it.

Topics:
Thu
Dec 17 2009
12:37 pm

Remember when we used to hang out around the American Legion Hall in Harriman on Friday nights? Of course I wasn’t much of a dancer, but I did occasionally try to impress someone by “cuttin’ a rug”, but mostly I stood outside listening to the music while talking and smoking with “the guys”!

Good music and dancing still happens on Friday nights at the Harriman American Legion Hall. As a matter of fact, some of the same old gang that used to make all that music are still “pickin’ and grinnin’” as the “Riverfront Band”! It begins at 7:00 PM and IT’S FREE!


Remember ol’ Bill and Bobby Wright (no relation), Jim Galyon, Jim Crawley, and Gary Morgan? They are still making good music! Other local musicians also occasionally join them; you never really know who will be there! YOU could join them if you really wanted to! Why not…let’s bring back the fun of Friday nights with music, singing, and dancing!

It was that good music and that down home gathering of people that drew Muse Watson to the Legion Hall that last Friday back in November. He had heard about how Roane County folks still get together for some country music fellowship, and he wanted to get right in the middle of it. He, like a lot of us, feel like supporting whatever goes on in our area is the best way to keep our county alive. We have to keep that spark that makes us unique burning for the future generations.

See more on this and photos by CLICKING HERE!

Wed
Dec 16 2009
05:08 pm

I know, you're probably saying to yourself, "Thank God he's finished", but I just had to post all my favorite photos for the 2009 "Historic Harriman Christmas Tour" on Flickr and invite you to see the full tour in sequence.

The full Saturday tour now includes photos from the Stowers, Cassell-D'Alessandro, Tarwater-Knobloch, Anderson-Demyanovich, Stowers-Velker, Smith, and, finally, the Hendrick-Saye Residences.


To be honest, I did not get up to the "Hospitality House" (Saye home). I was attempting to get to another camera angle on one of the little green hills in front of the home and literally popped a calf muscle. Although the injury was a "grade 1" pull, it hurt like crazy! At first I thought my wife had hit me in the calf because I dared step on the grass, but it was the muscle tearing. It literally felt as though someone had hit me with a baseball bat!

I apologize to the Saye's but I'll make it a point to come there first next tour! But, I used their home to give everyone a taste!

Anyway, click on the embedded link in the word FLICKR above, or here.

I have posted photos of the beautiful Tarwater home within the same "2009 Historic Harriman Christmas Tour" set. Click the bold link to go there. Look for the new photos at the bottom of the set, if you've been following along, and don't forget to double click on them to enlarge them!


The 1951 circa home is pure southern charm!

I have posted the next beautiful home photos within the same "2009 Historic Harriman Christmas Tour" set. Click bold link to go there. Look for the new photos at the bottom of the set, and don't forget to click on them to enlarge them!


The Judge Robert B. Cassell home was built in 1905 and stuffed full of Christmas items! It's a wonderland!

Mon
Dec 14 2009
08:18 am

I urge everyone who can to attent the first public meeting of the Roane County Community Advisory Group tonight at Roane State. I will be held in the student lounge. Meet and greet is at 6. The meeting will be called to order at 6:30.
Keep in mind, this is your meeting. It is your opportunity to voice your opinion as to how YOU want TVA, and the other agencies involved to return your beautiful community to perfection.
Please take this wondeful opportunity to get off the sidelines and into the game.
I hope to see many of you there.

Topics:
Sun
Dec 13 2009
08:09 pm

For years, ever since my dad would drive down Pansy Hill, I have dreamed of one day getting to go inside the Stowers "Mansion"! I got that opportunity Saturday and it was a dream come true! It's exactly what you would expect from a Victorian Queen Anne home...beautiful white-oak woodwork and plush period furniture. I took lots of photos, fearing I may never get another opportunity.

HERE THEY ARE for your viewing pleasure!

Don't forget to double click the photos to see the larger, or on "All Sizes" icon to see them original size.

Thu
Dec 10 2009
01:01 pm

I finally got my favorites of the photos I shot last Saturday posted on Flickr...CLICK HERE...to see the in a set I created. Double click on them to see them in larger size.


As an example, here is the Peterman House. Reenactors from both sides made camp in the yard between the Peterman and the John East houses.

Also look for the Battle of Cannons set to see the reenactment photos!

Mon
Dec 7 2009
04:10 pm

Technical-minded Roane Countians, take notice. :) The following appears in the ET IEEE blog:

"Please volunteer to help with the 2010 Tennessee Science Bowl! Do your part to encourage students in the pursuit of technical careers."

Continued...

Sun
Dec 6 2009
08:54 pm

Christmas in Roane County, Tennessee annually means that each city will have its own parade, a guided tour of its historical Queen Anne and Victorian homes, and other festive events. The home tours are held on consecutive weekends, usually the first weekend in December for Rockwood and the second for Harriman. The old magnificent homes are all decked out in their Christmas finery, with bright and flashing lights, with their owners dressed in period clothing, proudly showing off their homes. Some homes even offer finger foods and hot cider!


The seasonal celebration this weekend, for Judy and me, began in Harriman at the annual “Merry Tuba Christmas” concert. There are over 200 Tuba Christmas events held this time of year across America, and the one we attended was one of 7 in the state of Tennessee.

Harriman’s principal “Tuba Christmas” organizer, Dr. Joe Williams, has been leading this gathering for 21 years. He also formed the local Babahatchie Community Band, made up of enthusiastic musicians from all the local high schools and veterans, some of which are retired and played together in high school years ago!


After the concert, we attended the “Battle of the Cannons” that was held on the Saturday as part of the “Rockwood Christmas Tour of Homes”. The reenactment featured the men of the 28th Tennessee Infantry, Company “A” “Caney Fork Mess”, and coordinated by the “Sons of the Confederacy, Camp 1750” of Crossville, Tennessee. This year they braved light snow and a very cold chill factor to portray a small skirmish of Union and Confederate troops that occurred near Rockwood in September of 1863.

You may ask, “What in the world does the Civil War have to do with Christmas?” Well, our country endured 4 years of a terrible War Between the States, which included 4 Christmases!

Read more on this subject and see more photos at MUSHY’S MOOCHINGS, and on MY FLICKER PAGE!

Sun
Dec 6 2009
11:31 am

I was present for promo shooting of Muse Watson at the Temperance Building as Pat Mynatt gave us a guided historical tour. The Christmas trees were beautiful and made the shoot eye catching.

Pattycake Pastries catered the "Christmas Parade of Trees" and I got to sample one of those wonderful "cream horns"!

CLICK HERE to read more about that evening and see some photos of the Temperance Building AND the cream horns!

Sun
Nov 29 2009
04:45 pm

Has anybody seen any angel trees up in Roane County? If so, where? :)

-- OneTahiti

Sat
Nov 28 2009
11:38 pm

Did anyone else make it to the Christmas Parade of Trees Auction at the Temperance Building Friday? What did you buy?

HERE are a more few photos!

Sat
Nov 28 2009
07:54 pm

Find PSR's report here: Coal's Assault on Human Health.

In a nutshell, coal really is just as bad as we thought, maybe worse.

Update: I just noticed that Matt Landon has already posted about this. Way to go, Matt! :)

-- OneTahiti

Sun
Nov 22 2009
11:39 am

Rode up to Dandridge Saturday just to enjoy the beautiful day. I don't remember ever being in Dandridge, but I'm glad I went. There are lots of little shops, mostly antiques, and a BBQ place downtown. All the old historical buildings are being used as city and county offices...wonderful to see them being taken care of that way.

I liked the old John Roper Mansion best...3 floors of grand old things!


I sure wish our towns were being utilized as well as it is being done in Dandridge.

Maybe it will come in time, after all, the bakery is back in Harriman, and lots of talk of other things coming soon.

Only we can make our towns viable again...patronize small business as much as possible!

A FEW MORE SHOTS HERE!

Sun
Nov 15 2009
03:42 pm
By: RICK

The 70th anniversary of Wizard of Oz is Tuesday, November 17. Theaters all across the nation will be showing the best movie ever made.
Cinemark's Tinseltown in Oak Ridge will have one showing at 6:30 p.m.
Take the family, especially those family members who have never seen Wizard of Oz. Get there early to get seats.

Mon
Nov 2 2009
01:43 pm

I was just wondering why many drivers around Tennessee don't use their turn signals? Not only is it dangerous and discourtesy but it is a violation of the law. Shouldn't we do everything within our power to make the roadways safe for ourselves, our families, and other drivers? Please use your turn signal at all times.

Topics:
Sun
Nov 1 2009
01:11 am

Change your clock, change your batteries: smoke alarms save lives

Fri
Oct 23 2009
09:04 am

Apparently the City of Rockwood has decided to move forward with the annexation process. See more at:
(link...)

RB

Thu
Oct 22 2009
08:24 am

Michael Moore has published a 15-point action plan for Americans who want to help their families and the country right now: (link...)

The 15 points seem applicable on the local level as well as the national. What do you think?

-- OneTahiti

Wed
Oct 21 2009
04:15 pm

Asbury Chapel United Methodist Church is having a yard sale. The info is listed below. Stop by and see them if you can.

Asbury Chapel United Methodist Church
1717 Eureka Road
Rockwood, TN 37854

Garage Sale

Fri. October 23, 2009
Sat. October 24, 2009
8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

NO EARLY BIRDS!

Fri
Oct 16 2009
09:43 pm

"Come join us and have a Halloween of a time!"

When:
Thursday, October 29 and Saturday, October 31

Time: 7:00 PM - midnight

Cost: $3 per person

Where:
Old Coca Cola Building,
220 S. Kingston Ave.,
Rockwood, TN 37854

"All proceeds go to the Rockwood Ministerial Association."

Handicap accessible!

Sponsored by: Rockwood Water, Sewer, and Gas.

Fri
Oct 16 2009
09:39 pm

"Come join us and have a Halloween of a time!"

When:
Thursday, October 29 and Saturday, October 31

Time: 7:00 PM - midnight

Cost: $3 per person

Where:
Old Coca Cola Building,
220 S. Kingston Ave.,
Rockwood, TN 37854

"All proceeds go to the Rockwood Ministerial Association."

Handicap accessible!

Sponsored by: Rockwood Water, Sewer, and Gas.

Tue
Oct 6 2009
10:07 pm
By: jeremysilvers

We often hear it from our parents. Focus on your priorities. Which to them mainly is academics and more academics. But we can't help it if we have extra-curricular activities. We're in high school and that's just the way it is. I myself am often told to focus more on my subjects instead of spending hours in band practice. I remember a Saturday night, back in high school when my mom never let me out of the house until I finished my essay on world literature. You can't blame them, they only want what's best for you. The best thing that you can do is to show that you can handle having multiple priorities. It's won't be easy but if you really love what you're doing. As they say, If there's a will, there's a way.

Topics:

Eco warriors and politics

Science and stuff

Lost Medicaid Funding

To date, the failure to expand Medicaid / TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding.