“A major goal of the Alliance since its formation was to bring the county’s per capita income up to the state average,” said Leslie Henderson, President/CEO, The Roane Alliance. “I feel very gratified that we have logged some of the top percentages increases in the state consistently over the past few years and that we are now at 90% of the state average."

That is from the press release printed in the Roane County News today. I wonder if they are calculated by the same genius who reported that unemployment went down in the US even as the population grew, and we lost 60,000 jobs last month?

Mathematically improbable, at best.

“Things just spun out of control,” Roane County Sheriff Jack Stockton said. “I don’t know who’s at fault, but I know that if there’s not community relations kept open with law enforcement and the public, then there’s always issues that arise and it’s my job as a sheriff to try to keep those issues at a minimum.”

Wow...That sounds...Honest and straight forward. I mean, what kind of talk is that coming from a sheriff, Thinking that people can get together and talk things out?

And then there's the radical concept that law enforcement officers are there to serve the people of every community!

If Jack Stockton keeps spouting off things like that, people are going to start thinking he has sense enough to be a good Sheriff.

Link...

We had our last Friday lunch at Good Eats. Thanks, Paul and Family!

Dear Friends,

After much debate we have made the decision to close our doors, this is a sad and unexpected event for us. We have been feeling the pain of the economy for weeks now and have tried not to raise our prices, and still serve good quality food that we would serve our own family. The main factor in our decision is current state of the economy and the fact that our food costs have risen over 25% since we opened our doors. We appreciate the support of all our regulars, and those that came in to enjoy a family meal. We have made a lot of friends through-out this process and want to thank all of you for your support. As tough times are most likely ahead for all of us, remember the things money can’t buy Respect, Family, Friends and Happiness.

Best of luck to all

Paul, Mary and Krystal

First of all...We broke this story on KnoxViews and then RoaneViews, just to set Damon Lawrence right on who got it first. We bloggers actually have other jobs and can't normally compete with a young ace like Damon on original reporting, so we have to take our wins when we can.

Damon has an update in the RCN that RoaneViews Readers might find interesting. I take three things from it:

The land owner will sell the property to someone else if they offer him more money, Commissioner Goddard speaks in double negatives, and Commissioner Johnson is so naive that he thinks Roane County ought to actually obey the law...Good for him!

Link...

What do you know...All references to GLBT and Clothing Optional are now gone! Did they suddenly decide to change their business model?

Link...

Update: Several folks have told me that they have talked or exchanged emails with someone at the "resort." I'm guessing it is for real and not just a scare tactic to get somebody to buy them out.

The best comment was, "We have between $40 and $60 Million dollars in school needs and a haywire $10 million jail project and you don't hear much of a peep out of folks, but let gays and lesbians threaten to take their clothes off at a private resort..."

All of those are part of the History of Rockwood Municipal Airport.

Today, Danny Collins runs a danged good local airport, and it's the "New and Improved" version, thanks to Danny's drive and interest in the "next big thing."

The April 2008 Issue of TDOT's Aeronautics newsletter has an article on Rockwood's airport and Danny Collins. Did you know that Danny was involved in the first two TVA wind turbines?

PDF Version

HTML Version

West Roane County VFD's Spring Yard Sale is all day Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10. Items include a Toyota van, a generator, a scooter, and much much more! If you can help with setup on Thursday or during the sale, even for a short time, please do!

A couple of us were discussing whether the wood thrushes had returned and wondering if they are late or if something has happened? Anybody here heard them this year?

Hear the song, after the jump...

That's pretty much what the legal briefs for defendants in two lawsuits are saying, and I pretty much agree. Everyone, including elected officials, has a right to privacy and nobody has any business rumaging through their personal effects unless there is a specific legal justification.

In the race for Tax Assessor, Robinette refuses to debate Teresa Kirkham without having her phone records. I'm going to have to go with "strange" as a description here, and give points to Kirkham in the quote department:

One question that nags at me...When a man has been held in prison for a decade after it was determined that he was not guilty of the crime for which he was convicted, why doesn't somebody lose their job at least?

Link...

I keep thinking we'll move beyond this kind of thing but I guess it will take longer than I thought. It's really too bad when it filters down from adults to the kids. Don't we have better things to do?

Racism problem charged at Rockwood schools

Update: My insiders at Rockwood say this isn't a fair charge at Rockwood High School. The young man at the center of the problem was in detention recently for fighting with another African American student. I figure the truth is somewhere in the middle. Cool off, sit down, and talk to each other...Please?

Commissioner Chris Johnson seems like he would fit right in at RoaneViews with his feelings about the jail project status. One thing I have to correct is that weather caused any delays. We are an inch below normal in rainfall.

We've been getting redirected to a nice Egyptian restaurant by our web host. Frankly we were all excited about the free delivery until we found out that the Egyptian restaurant was actually IN EGYPT!

Our web host seems to have things straightened out. Sorry for the inconvenience a temporary lack of snark may have caused.

(Dang! I love Middle Eastern food!)

Here it is...The news that has Roane County Buzzing...

New Resort in Kingston

Update:The Roane County News weighs in...

Senator Kilby stopped a bill from coming out of committee that would have protected Tennessee's Scenic Vistas and the many jobs that depend on Tennessee being the "Greenest State in the Land of the Free."

(Remember that one?)

Protecting Coal Company profits at the expense of Tennessee's environment could become one of the bigger issues in the State Senate election. I will be interested to hear Becky Ruppe's position on this, but in the mean time, the issue is making the news in a big way:

Story at Knoxviews with video for you lucky broadband people.

The folks that founded Dagger Canoe Company are hosting a reunion for employees at Roane County Park, from noon til five, on Saturday May 10.

Everybody who ever worked at Dagger is invited. The only catch is to let them know so they will have enough food. Here's the reunion website, with a bunch of photos from the good old days:

Dagger Reunion

Post a comment if you can be there to see everybody, and Please pass the word if you know someone who worked there.

The Weather Link on the right (scroll down, you'll see it) has a the link to the current local radar. You don't have to wait through commercials or anything except slow internet, to see what is happening.

The storm cell has almost passed my house as I write this...Good.

here's the direct link to the radar:

Radar Link

From the Roane County News:

(County Mayor Mike) Farmer said last month that he had no idea when the new jail would be finished or if it would be completed on budget.

On ten million dollar project, wouldn't it be a good idea to have a detailed budget and timeline? Isn't the Design-Build firm supposed to keep that and give regular update?

Link...

An impressive set of credentials was read off as the Kingston Boys Soccer Seniors and their parents were honored at halftime. Four Eagle Scouts, a Valedictorian, a Saludatorian, and a host of other honors. Every single Senior is an honor graduate or better. The Schools they will attend is impressive as well...Fordham, UT, Tennessee Tech, The Naval Academy, and others.

Kingston may have lost the soccer game but their lifetime earning potential is a winner anywhere!

Well done, Boys, Well Done!

More Pix...I'll upload More as I have time. (Oops, Link is fixed now)

So says the Judge in his ruling.

Other states are interested in what TN does with Mountaintop removal. We had better get this one right.

We'll miss Camille, our friends, and the conversation over a cup of dark roast...And the "Bah Jah" chicken soup, too.

No word on what will go in the space. We'll keep you posted if we find out anything.

By Ray Collett:

Hello Readers, My dear friend Pelea Meador (Class of 1944) , sent me a letter a few days ago, helping tide me over with a column and my upcoming surgery. I can always count on Pelea. She wrote me about her "tobacco" experiences of her childhood. Pull up a chair, and join me in reading about Pelea's remembrances of...

SMOKIN', DIPPIN', CHEWIN', AND SPITTIN'

Appalachian Voices

And be sure and check out the Front Porch blog, and the video of Al Gore presenting the Current Award.

Harriman and Prestige Development continue to play the Pee Wee Herman game of "I know I am, but what are you?"