What's up with this? I am not saying that there's anything wrong, but why hasn't this been discussed out in the open so the locals could have their say?

I have problems with Shuler being involved with regulating TVA at the same time this is going on.

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I haven't been through the old courtroom in a couple of years, but I thought it was one of the coolest things about the old building. I woish the Heritage Commission would take the public through it one more time before they turn it into a transportation museum.

How about an "Old Courtroom Museum" instead?

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WBIR's website reports that Leon Houston's attorney has asked for the first degree charges be dropped. What say you fellow Roane Countians?

Ruppe leads Yager 44% to 39% in the most recent poll. This is simply the large number of "undecideds" in the last poll breaking heavily for Ruppe.

Ken Yager may have twice the money but, unfortunately, folks in Roane County know his record, in other parts of District 12 and voters who take the time to meet both candidates have been much more impressed with Becky Ruppe.

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It seems funny to me that Meadowlake Airpark thinks they have won a certain battle concerning rights to the runway at Riley Creek.

If you think about it they have rights to a runway owned by ONE individual on HIS private property, Fine. With time though, they will have access to a pot hole filled, weed entangled, gravel strip.

I read Chris Masons comments in the Roane County paper and had to chuckle a little bit.

Concerning the VW plant to be built in Chattanooga.

Regarding industry moving to Harriman or to the county to support VW he stated there was interest from a company to locate here but did not know what they manufacture and did not know the company name.

So what does that mean exactly.....I could stand out on the street and talk crazy talk.

By Ray Collett

Hello Readers, it seems like each week we lose a couple of Classmates and readers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Billie Sue Brackett Oran and Larry "Butch" Greene, one of my classmates from '57....

On to the mailbag this week, first off Dennis "Hoot" Gibson is looking for anyone with a film of the 1962 Bowl Game between Rockwood and Pikeville. A good question came in from a reader, Steve Scarborough...I usually refer to Harriman citizens as Harrimanites, Kingston residents as Kingstonians, Crossville folk as Crossvillians, What are Rockwood's townspeople called? Steve asks, " Are we Rockwoodiens, Rockwoodians, Rockwoodites, or my favorite (Steve's), Rockwooders?" Thanks Steve, a good questions. Get your thinking caps on readers and send me your thoughts on the subject, we will make it into a popularity contest...our own "Rockwood Memories Olympics."

Via Corvus:

Woodworkers/Engineers Needed at Stinging Fork State Natural Area

Ed and Arleen Decker were contacted by Lisa Huff with the State of Tennessee Division of State Natural Areas with a plea for help. The trail at Stinging Fork State Natural Area in Spring City (1 hr from Knoxville) is in dire need of two wood staircases on steep sections of the trail. One staircase would be approx. 27' long (with one landing where the staircase needs to make a turn); the other staircase is approx. 16' long. A picture is attached of an existing staircase on the trail. The two new ones could be the same design. Lisa has very detailed sketches and measurements that she can provide.

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The new members have some very big shoes to fill. I wish them luck.

To those who want to see Roane Street breaming with action and entertainment... come to the Cruisin' this Saturday afternoon on Roane Street. Starts at 4:00, ends at 7:30

Please Dear god someone help me to understand, what they are trying to do, why Mark Pwoers is involved in the HUB if he works for TTC, I dont get it ?
Maybe change is needed but to take direction from a guy who runs a school. And actually not a very funtional school there drop out rate is ridiculious, nursing class starts with 26 students and 10 graduate,,,,sure i want to sign up. Fix things in your own home before you pass judgement on your neighbors

Since moving to the area 2 years ago, i could not figure why all the abandon shopping center, why the town of Harriman looks like a ghost town, and most importantly why there is no growth or development of job for people living in the area. I stumbled upon a bicential calender of Harriman, that dates all the history and happenings of a once very prosperious city WHAT HAPPENED,,,why did it die, and why do elected officials, continue to stun the development. I am not say lets go crazy, but with gas prices being outradious and we have a fully functional RR system why not bring in some industry, why not bring in jobs, why not make this a place people are proud of I just dont get it, Sevierville, Farragut, Turkey Creek,,,all are alive, Roane County is in need of some serious LIFE SUPPORT
Someone told me they want to make Roane County a "retirement community"
Retired people are not DEAD,,,and who would live in an area where the biggest growth development is in METH LABS, and the selling of prescription drugs and food stamps

For a Primary Election Morning with
Congressman Lincoln Davis

and

State Senate Candidate Becky Ruppe

Where: Kingston City Park
When: August 7th, 2008 - 9am EST

This event is free and open to the public

Please don't forget that Thursday August 7 is election day. It is an honor to have this right, a lot have people have died to give you that right. No rain in the forecast, no excuse!!!

I have trouble understanding the separation between the Roane Alliance, a County Government function supported by our tax dollars, and the Chamber of Commerce.

I just opened a letter from the Roane Alliance and inside was an invoice for dues from the Chamber of Commerce. Can anybody fill us in on how this works?

(FYI, I dropped my personal CC membership after the intentionally misleading presentation by Ms Henderson on the Lighting Improvement Initiative. I'm still involved through my businesses, so it was only a small gesture of my displeasure.)

The two highest paid athletes in the world are golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Tiger made twice as much as Phil last year ($127 Million to $62 Million.)

Three of the top ten were football players...David Beckham($48M), Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi. (Yeah, football...not American football)

Basketball players Lebron James($40M) and Kobe Bryant($35M) made the list, as did boxer Floyd Mayweather($40M). Shaq was just off the top ten at 12th with a lousy $35 Million.

Roane County election officials said 3,206 citizens had voted in that county.

By Ray Collett

Hello Readers...This is the second week of "Rockwood Memories" being absent from the newspaper. It will continue to be on the internet and monthly in the Roane Reader. Please pick up your free Roane Reader at local businesses and support them...Now on to the mail bag..

9 AM: Signup for the Andersonville Volunteer Fire Department Annual Poker Run in Clinton at Tommy’s Motorsports, 2401 Andersonville Hwy.

11:00 AM: First bike out
Noon: Last bike out
Cars are welcome and will leave after the last bike.

National Night Out - Kingston City Park

Activities for kids. Free food and drink

On August 5, 2008, the Kingston Police Department is hosting a National Night Out 2008 Against Crime. This event is an opportunity for all parts of the community to come together and share goals for a safe and healthy community. Also it reinforces the partnership of citizens and police to combat crime.

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That bright thing shining about 30 degrees up in the sky? That's Jupiter. Go get your spotting scope or ten by binoculars and see if you can see the moons.

If you can...Show this to a child. Nothing teaches us our place in the Universe like the knowlege that we are riding around on one planet of many.

Jupiter actually looks a lot like this tonight, only the fourth moon is visible with a 40 power scope.

More

Straight through the okra to the beans...

You planted all this good stuff for me, right?

WASHINGTON — Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said his party may risk being tagged as obstructionist by voters if its leaders insist on constantly voting against Democratic proposals on energy.

For the third time in as many weeks on Wednesday, Rep. Wamp crossed party lines by voting in favor of a Democratic bill, which fell a few votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass, aimed at curbing oil speculators.

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Funny...WBIR story has ad for Farm Bureau Insurance in the DUI story when I viewed it.

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OK, not really funny, but still...

Ok, I wasn't there so I'm depending the quotes being accurate. Correct them if you heard differently:

Flaming car truck interaction this morning.

What is it about Mile 341? We could have our own Country Music song about it.

Wrong way driver on this one.

Roane County has a rather large "Brownfield" site that sits and sits, waiting for someone with the vision to put a package together and bring us a responsible industry.

When I bring it up to the powers that be, all I hear are negatives. Well guess what? The new VW plant near Chattanooga had a brownfield site as one of ther requirements form Volkswagon.

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And download the current newsletter while you're there.

The Southern Baptist Convention is taking to task Congressmen Lincoln Davis and Heath Shuler, both members of Southern Baptist churches, for being two of the only three Democrats in the whole country to vote against a Bill giving the FDA authority to regulate tobacco and tobacco products.

"It is far past time for the lethal product of tobacco to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. "It is unconscionable that every substance that is taken to try to quit smoking is regulated by the FDA, but tobacco is not. Approximately 400,000 Americans die every year as a result of their addiction to tobacco."

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