What happened to Tennessee's much vaunted surplus of last year? A year or so ago, Governor Phil Bredeson and the state money officials were making much of how well Tennessee was doing financially, and told us of a surplus.

In Crossville they've created the Cumberland Business Incubator.

Tennessee and Blount County high on the list for influx of Hispanics.

No more sippin whiskey... what a time to be out!

But I could be wrong. I'm stupid and usually am wrong about liking this kind of thing, cause I usually just don't get it, but anyway...

TVA scrubber projects moving along

Earl Nall stands and delivers on his decision to renew Dr. McGriff's contract.

I totally supported the decision, just so you know. I see Dr. McGriff making tough management decisions and even though I don't like some of them, I see her side. It's an unusual thing to have a Director of Schools who will makes decisions based on improving service to the students, regardless of whose ox gets punctured.

Opposition to passing a Lighting Improvement resolution is diminishing and what's left is starting to look really foolish...or mean spirited, in certain cases.

Roane County School Board Member, Earl Nall, has started blogging on, you'll never guess, school stuff. Mostly on Roane County Schools, but also on broader school related things.

Check out his report on the recent School Board meeting.

Any opinions or data about blogging services?

Knox County is considering it. Hamblen County already does it. And did you know that the State of Tennessee Board of Education has a student on it?

Tyler?...Earl?

I think it would be fun to see how and who got appointed. Or would the student have to run for election, too?

The Harriman City Council sent one of those notes inside their Christmas card to Messers Duncan and Kirkham.

I just recently found out that the streets inside the Pinnacle Pointe shopping center were now Harriman City streets. With all the empty spaces along them, will they ever generate enough tax revenue to cover the maintenence?

By Ray Collet

The email bag this week brought a lot of comments on David Sliger's rabbit hunting tale and a great response from my annual column about my thoughts on the upcoming winter and the holidays.

This post is a little off topic for a hyperlocal blog, but then again it is not.

"We drank a toast to innocence..."

Dan Fogelberg died yesterday...Prostate cancer...100% curable with early detection. He has a message for us at his website.

Men...We hate it but we have to get checked. I plan to schedule my exam today.

Women...You have permission to nag on this one.

So Roane County can spend 10 million on a jail and it's sunk money. But will our County Fathers even look at the possibility of creating a County wide fiberoptic Internet Utility?

Morristown is going forward with theirs! They have a potential of 65,000 customers and will break even a 10,000.

MUSFiber

It's cold and you need to catch up on your reading, so HERE.

Very windy at WhitesCreek this morning and also...

Snowing!

Do you folks know what "hominy snow" is?

TennViews has more

Roane County got a grant for a waterline to McMinn County and I have to ask some questions about it.

Mainly...Which way will it run? Are we buying water from them or vice versa?

OK, Roane Countians, where are the good Christmas lights? If you know of any particularly good displays, please post the location. There used to be some great ones down here south of the river, but, either everyone is late decorating, or they've packed up shop. We like to drive around and check out all of the lights, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Roane County!

Over at TennViews, Randy Neal is watching a Tennessee Bill that hopes to place obstacles to metal thieves by making Scrap dealers keep records.

There are two stories that caught my eye his morning. While they don't exactly relate directly to Roane County, I think there are concepts here worth examining.

In case you guys didn't get the memo:

Friday will be the last "Picking and Grinning" at Yonder Hollow, downtown Rockwood until Jan. 2nd. 2008. Among the bands who have called and said they would be there are, The Smith Brothers, Alex Leach, Lacey Lee, Gene Horner, Wind Rock Mountain Boys, and of course there will be other bands I am sure, plus lots of good ole "jamming" in the other areas. Come on down for a great evening of music, fellowship, and "Miss Nell's" delicious homemade pies. The fun starts at 6:30 until.....No smoking, or drinking allowed in this family entertainment atmosphere. Looking forward to seeing you... Ray Collett

Good wholesome Family entertainment. I've been wanting to drop by and I'd better do it Friday or I'll have to wait until 2008.

"People still seem to think that the Lighting Improvement resolution is about a small group of astronomers not being able to see the Milky Way, instead of making Roane County a better place to live and saving a lot of money."

Citing a wish to get out of the spotlight, Steve Kirkham resigned from his position as Chairman of the Roane County Industrial Board in a meeting of the Liaison Committee.

Interesting.

And into the Clinch River which enters Watts Bar Lake where I can see it from my office.

Randy Neal of KnowViews has a post at FacingSouth that deals with the ongoing efforts to fix a mess made over 50 years ago. It shows that just because there's awar on, you just can't ignore the future.

Anatomy of what's happening upstream of us.

Let's break out one of the issues WC listed so it can have a separate discussion - as the members of this forum may desire - that of the office of constable.

The dogs were barking about 2 am so I got up and went outside. I called them to me long enough to let whatever beast of the night they had cornered escape. Then I looked up.

The first clear night in weeks and Mars was almost dead overhead putting on a show. Here's the December star chart.

There's tons more info at the Tamke Allen link over on the right.