The planned erection of the full scale replica of the "Three Soldiers" monument in Riverfront Park is to happen this coming July 4th!

See, and consider supporting, the cause below. No, it's not political - in fact, it's apolitical. But the fact is that it could benefit all of us:

(link...)

RB

Tennessee has only two bookmobiles. Kentucky has 98, and even Georgia and Alabama have 23 and 17 respectively. See this PDF: (link...).

I loved the access to books that a bookmobile gave me when I was young. We could really use a bookmobile or two here in rural Roane County.

-- OneTahiti

CounterPunch has the article: (link...). It's worth a read.

-- OneTahiti

The West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department has issued a call for volunteers. Our neighbors in this all-volunteer IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit not only fight our fires but also provide our emergency medical services. Every year they respond to hundreds of calls.

Check out the cultural, artistic, citizenship, learning and other positive things going on in Paraguay... based on a unique way of recycling trash. I dare you to spend the 11 minutes with this video and not be moved.

(link...)

RB

Do twice as much good for hungry people in our community today.

Today is Second Harvest’s annual Double Your Donation Day. Provide twice as many meals for our neighbors in need: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

Today I received an envelope via U.S. mail with a real-looking cashier's check inside for $1290.45, drawn on the First Legacy Community Credit Union in Charlotte, North Carolina. I checked with that credit union and they said the check is a forgery, one of several recently reported.

The Web of Debt blog (via Alternet.org) has an idea-filled article on banking and debt: (link...).

-- OneTahiti

Well, Jack lost the race. But I hope he won't stay away from future races.

On a personal level I agree with Jack on some things and I disagree with him on some things. But he ran a totally clean race. He ran an informative race - we all knew pretty clearly what Jack stands for and what we could expect out of him. He's a stable person who is a real servant - and this can be seen in the way he's lived his life, not just in what he says. I beleve he DOES care about people the way he says he does, and that's because actions speak louder than words; he's been directly involved in things that SHOW he cares.

The Creative Arts Co-op is hosting its final night of 'Terror in the Theatre' Saturday, October 27, beginning at 7:30pm. Tickets are just $5.00 at the door. The Co-op is located at 426 Ruritan Road, Harriman. For more information, call us at 865/765-1129.

See you there... if you dare!

I have rarely, if ever, initiated a post here that dealt purely with politics. But here goes.

This pisses me off. No other way to say it.
(link...)

Sorry of most of it is behind the RCN's paywall. But Beth Harwell is talking about legislation that will keep people from being able to vote their choices.

Volunteers with the West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) will hold a boot drive on October 27 starting at 9 AM. They hope to raise funds for local activities of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). All monies raised will benefit our area.

-- OneTahiti

Volunteers with the West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department ((link...)) will hold a boot drive on October 27 starting at 9 AM. They hope to raise funds for local activities of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). All monies raised will benefit our area.

-- OneTahiti

David has an interesting lesson on public discourse. You can't write IN PUBLIC on PUBLIC FORA and expect people to not comment or not quote you. Of course, the one with the screwy expectations is pretty screwy himself. From KNS: (link...)

RB

Appalachian Voices has the story: (link...)

-- OneTahiti

The West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department has launched their August appeal. Please consider a generous tax-deductible donation by mail to WRCVFD, P.O. Box 417, Rockwood, TN 37854, or online at WestRoane.com ((link...)).

Our neighbors in this all-volunteer IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit not only fight our fires but also provide our emergency medical services. Last year they helped 430 individuals with medical emergencies and fires.

From CommonDreams.org today:

"Up to 240 million Americans will now lose protections against dangerous smog and soot pollution, following a decision by a US appeals court on Tuesday.

Bring the whole family to the East TN/Roane County Labor Day Picnic in Roane County Park on Sept. 3 from noon to 3 PM. Cost: $10 adults, children under 12 free. Tickets may be purchased at the picnic or in advance by calling 865-332-1289.

This should be a wonderful feast of food and community. Park Overall will be the guest speaker. Tommy Santelli will be there too, for music and fun.

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

-- OneTahiti

Please attend (or donate to) the East TN/Roane County Labor Day Picnic (850kb PDF flyer attached).

Place: Roane County Park, 3515 Roane State Highway (Highway 70) in Harriman
Cost: $10 adults, children under 12 free. Tickets may be purchased at the picnic or in advance by calling 865-332-1289.

It is a wonderful feast of food for the whole family. And, this year Park Overall will be the guest speaker. Tommy Santelli will be there too, for music and fun.

If you live in Loudon County, please email or phone Don Scott at drscott40 @ charter.net or call 408-1712. Don has tickets for $10 and knows from experience how good the food is!

-- OneTahiti

Just saw a note about a new item on News 8 in Knoxville that Tom Kilgore says he is going to retire in several months, but will wait till a replacement is named.

Your breaking news reporter,

RB

Apparently this blog system is on Central time - it was 1:44PM EDT when I created this, and the system said 12:44...

C'est la vie.

All the excitement of Las Vegas without the pressure! Try your hand at Blackjack, Craps, Roulette...

And refreshments!

The deatails are:
'Casino Night'
August 16, 2012
8:00pm
Creative Arts Co-op Visual & Performing Arts Cneter
426 Ruritan Road, Harriman
Tickets are $10.00 pp
Reservations please.

Call the Creative Arts Co-op at 865/765-1129 or visit (link...) for more information.

The Creative Arts Co-op announces its last children's mystery of the season 'The Case of the Haunted Inheritance'. The 'Scooby-Doo' style mystery gets the audience involved in the act. Guests search for clues, question the detectives, and helps solve the mystery. Great for children of all ages.

The details are:
'The Case of the Haunted Inheritance'
Tickets are $5.00pp at the door
Thursday, August 9, 2012
2:00pm.

Call the Creative Arts Coop for more information at 865/765-1129 or visit (link...)

Classrooms in Rockwood, Harriman, and Oliver Springs are asking for help on DonorsChoose.org, the excellent 501(3)(c) charity site for public schools.

Supporters of education, please consider giving even a little: (link...).

"It takes a village to raise a child."

-- OneTahiti

West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department (WRCVFD) has received new rehab cooling equipment designed to help firefighters and victims recover from heat stress. This follows the recent hospitalization of a firefighter at the Whites Creek forest fire.

After learning that WRCVFD lacked cooling rehab, an anonymous local citizen donated over $3000 for the 6-person vest system.

West Roane volunteer firefighters try out new cooling vests
Photo by Tom van Dalen

From a Second Harvest email just now:

Tomorrow, we need some hard working volunteers to help sort and bag about 40,000 pounds of sweet potatoes!

The more hands we have, the faster it will go. We will be meeting at Sycamore Tree UMC at 1830 Clydesdale St. in Maryville. A Scout troop they support is co-sponsoring this sweet potato delivery.

We will be working from 8am-noon. Even a one-hour time commitment will be very helpful.

Here is a table of census data from 2010: (link...) (via the Tennessean).

-- OneTahiti

From The Scouter newsletter ((link...)):

"After nearly 40 years, our Camp Buck Toms Ranger Dave Wallace is retiring; sadly the date is set; he will be leaving at the end of August. Many of us have only known one Ranger in our Scouting lifetime. Dave has been such a part of Camp Buck Toms that it will be hard to imagine what it will be like without him.

From The Scouter newsletter ((link...)):

"After nearly 40 years, our Camp Buck Toms Ranger Dave Wallace is retiring; sadly the date is set; he will be leaving at the end of August. Many of us have only known one Ranger in our Scouting lifetime. Dave has been such a part of Camp Buck Toms that it will be hard to imagine what it will be like without him.

From The Scouter newsletter ((link...)):

"After nearly 40 years, our Camp Buck Toms Ranger Dave Wallace is retiring; sadly the date is set; he will be leaving at the end of August. Many of us have only known one Ranger in our Scouting lifetime. Dave has been such a part of Camp Buck Toms that it will be hard to imagine what it will be like without him.