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Falls starts cancer support group

     Where do you turn when you hear the news?  Shelia Falls knows first-hand the whirlwind your life faces when you’re told you have cancer.  The young breast cancer survivor celebrates one-year this week.  One-year to the day from taking her first chemotherapy treatment, Falls shed her wig yesterday and says it feels good.  Her next move is organizing “Pink Pals,” a breast cancer support group, something new to our area.  It stands for positive, attitude, love, and support.  Falls tells 1450wlaf.com that Pink Pals (423.494.7080) meets the second Thursday of each month, and the next meeting is February 9, 7:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church in La Follette.  Falls is in her 25^th year of banking and is a customer service representative at Community Trust Bank.  (updated 01/27/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Ribbon cutting day at new Children’s Center

     It’s Grand Opening Day.  The new Campbell County Children’s Center cuts the ribbon on its new digs at Noon.  The new center was built on the west edge of the Roane State campus. (updated 01/27/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Basketball tonight

     Our county teams hit the hardwood in key district games tonight.  Jellico visits Oakdale while Oak Ridge travels to Campbell County for Senior night. Hear JHS over 1450wlaf.com and CCHS on 1450 WLAF Radio. See the Campbell - Oak Ridge games televised live over 1450wlaf.com.  (updated 01/27/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Tourney time for local middle schools

     It's district tourney time for the Eagles and Owls.  Saturday at Jefferson Middle School at Oak Ridge in the Middle School District Tournament - 1:00 p.m. GIRLS - La Follette vs. Clinton...2:30 BOYS - Jacksboro vs. La Follette...4:00 GIRLS - Jacksboro vs. Robertsville.  (updated 01/27/2012 6:00 a.m.)

CPD catches two meth makers

     Caryville Police nab meth makers under I-75.  Suspicious activity behind the Family Inn in Caryville leads police to arrest a pair of meth makers.  CPD Chief Johnny Jones tells 1450wlaf.com that his officers along with Jacksboro Police arrested 32-year old Kirk Snodderly and 22-year old Katlynn Willoughby, both of La Follette.  Jones says officers chased the duo through a drain tile underneath the interstate.  It’s reported that Willoughby stripped off her clothes before running through the drain.  Meth components were recovered in a wooded area close to I-75.  Multiple charges are levied against Snodderly and Willoughby including promotion of meth.  The pair is housed in the county jail.  (updated 01/26/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Fake pot found on store shelf

     Synthetic pot is still showing up around Campbell County.  An undercover agent with Caryville Police bought legal bud or fake weed as it’s called at the Main Street BP at I-75 in Caryville.  Caryville Police Chief Johnny Jones tells 1450wlaf.com that even though a letter was sent to area merchants requesting that the synthetic pot not be sold, it still is showing up.  Some of the names the fake pot is packaged under are Blueberry Haze, Genie, Nitro, Panama Red Ball, and Voodoo Spice.  (updated 01/26/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Social security benefit statements return in 2012

     If you’ve wondered where those projected social security benefit mailouts have been lately, we know.  As with many things, it’s about money and saving money.  Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue says that reducing the number of statements sent out is expected to dramatically cut costs.  And the numbers are staggering.  By not sending out as many statements, the cost is trimmed down from 70-million dollars a year to just under four-million dollars.  Annual social security benefit statements will begin being sent starting as soon as next month to people age 60 or older who are not yet receiving benefits.  Astrue adds that one-time mailings to 25-year old workers introducing them to the entitlement program and their potential benefits are coming.  Those mailings are set to go out before the end of this year.  (updated 01/26/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Weavers wind up behind bars

     A weaving car gave them away.  As Campbell County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to pull over a car for weaving into the oncoming lane several times, the driver sped away.  Deputies soon learned the car was stolen and eventually pulled it over on Highway 90.  During the pursuit, the passenger tossed several baggies out the window.  Arrested were, the driver of the car, 26-year old Thomas Barnes of Jellico and his passenger, 24-year old Melissa Sue Clark of Jacksboro.  Clark told officers that she threw baggies of soboxyn out the window.  Soboxyn is a narcotic medication used for the treatment of opioid dependence.  It’s only available by prescription and is illegal to sell or give-a-way.  Deputies also found hypodermic needles inside the car that was stolen out of Corbin, Kentucky.  Thomas and Clark are up against a combined total of 23 charges including possession of drug paraphernalia.  (updated 01/26/2012 6:00 a.m.)

Oh, if Boomer were only a commissioner

     Charles "Boomer" Winfrey would love to be a county commissioner.  Once every now and then.  See what Boomer's ranting about this week in his occasional "wishes to be" a commissioner column on Boomer's Corner.   (updated 01/25/2012 8:00 p.m.)

 Inside job at Walmart sends one to jail

     Caught on camera stealing shoes.  That’s what led Jacksboro Police to arrest a Walmart employee.  However, Detective Mike Starrett tells 1450wlaf.com that there’s more to the story.  Starrett says Walmart management allegedly saw an employee, 33-year old Sonya Lee of La Follette, on store surveillance cameras putting on new shoes from the store’s rack and then hiding her shoes in the empty box.  When Starrett questioned Lee, she confessed to swapping the shoes, and he then asked her if he could search her Walmart locker.  She said yes.  Lee clammed up when Starrett asked if he would find anything in her locker.  And find he did.  Starrett found Schedule III & Schedule IV drugs along with a gram bag of meth plus razor blades and straws.  Starrett confiscated 180-dollars in cash along with Lee’s 1995 Ford Taurus.  Lee is free on a 10-thousand dollar bond on several charges including theft and meth.  (updated 01/25/2012)

Local banking veteran switches banks

     Rhonda Longmire has a new banking home.  The La Follette native joins American Trust Bank of East Tennessee.  Longmire held key positions at the former First National Bank of La Follette, First Volunteer Bank, and First National Bank of Oneida.  She tells 1450wlaf.com that she is joining people she’s worked with before and has known for years in Ed Wheeler and David Craig.  Longmire adds that she’s proud to make the move and to come back home.  At American Trust, she is the executive vice-president and chief financial officer.  Longmire may be reached through the La Follette office at 423.562.2800.  American Trust also has locations in Lenoir City and Knoxville.  (updated 01/25/2012)

Tuesday Basketball Finals

Campbell Lady Cougars 51 - Powell Lady Panthers 31

Campbell Cougars 37 - Powell Panthers 39

Jellico Blue Devils 71 - Wartburg Central Bulldogs 72

Bus 41's back on the run

     Campbell County School Bus Number 41 is back up and ready to roll.  Bus 41 is scheduled to make its regular run this afternoon.  (updated 01/24/2012 12:30 p.m.)

Monday Basketball Finals

Campbell Cougars 56 - Hardin Valley Hawks 42

The Cougars are now 14 & 6...6 & 4 in District 3-AAA 

Campbell Lady Cougars 49 - Hardin Valley Lady Hawks 46 2-OT

The Lady Cougars are 16 & 5...10 & 0 in District 3-AAA

MATIX celebrates 90 years, 20 in Tennessee

     Increased sales are forecast for a Campbell County manufacturer.  Company officials of MATIX Corporation of America, located in Pioneer, announced that its overall sales forecast for 2012 – 2013 shows steady to significant increases.  That’s mainly due to the rebound in Japanese automaker global sales and a strong Japanese “Yen” prompting the resourcing of production parts currently produced in Japan to the USA.  The announcement was made Friday at a meeting with Campbell County Mayor William Baird, MATIX President Shinji Yamada, Plant Manager Will Trent, and others attending onsite at MATIX.  Trent tells 1450wlaf.com that MATIX is poised for a year of record sales.  Trent adds that the plan is to gradually increase MATIX permanent employment base throughout 2012 to approximately ten percent above current levels.  Trent says he expects to see more hiring and machinery needed within the first half of 2013 when MATIX crankcase business exceeds the capacity of our current lines.  In addition, MATIX commented that their sales department is working to secure future business that will allow possible expansion of the plant beyond 2013.  MATIX Corporation of America is a wholly owned subsidiary of MATIX Company, Limited, with headquarters and facilities located in Japan.  In 2012, MATIX begins its 11th year at its Caryville location in the Ershell Collins Industrial Park.  Trent says MATIX of Campbell County employees around 100 people.  (updated 01/25/2012 5:00 p.m.)

Neighbors Against Crime to meet

     The next Neighbors Against Crime meeting is set for next week.  Sheriff Robbie Goins tells 1450wlaf.com that Neighbors Against Crime Neighborhood Watch meeting is Monday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m.  Neighbors from Mount Paran, Wheeler Landing, Island Ford, and any neighborhood for that matter, are encouraged to attend the meeting at Mount Paran Baptist Church.  Goins goes on to say that there will also be a meth and litter presentation.  For more information, the Sheriff says to call him at 423.562.7446.  (updated 01/24/2012 12:01 a.m.) 

Lloyd shot in leg, not head

     “I’m gonna blow your f*!*#*g head off.”  That’s how the report from the Campbell County Sheriff’s department reads surrounding a shooting we first told you about last Friday evening.  Hannah Lloyd of 236 Pony Drive in Jacksboro tells deputies that Beecher Johnson drove a four-wheeler out Pony Drive just after four o’clock on Friday afternoon.  Lloyd goes on to say that the 48-year old Johnson stopped the four-wheeler in the road in front of her McDeerman area home and then shot at her husband.  Rather than begin shot in the head, Chief Deputy Aaron Evans tells 1450wlaf.com that the bullet went clean through Johnny James Lloyd’s thigh, and that Lloyd’s going to be OK.  Evans says the shooting stems from a previous domestic issue that’s been on-going between Johnson and Lloyd for about the last month.  Johnson remains in the county jail on a 150-thousand dollar bond while awaiting a court appearance on January 31.  Johnson faces charges of attempted first degree murder and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.  Lloyd’s been released from the UT Medical Center and is recuperating at home.  (updated 01/23/2012 1:00 p.m.)

    CCHS & HVA finally set to play December 13 games

     The games were originally set for December 13.  Then they were moved to January 12.  Now, they're on for tonight.  Campbell County High's basketball teams face Hardin Valley this evening at Knoxville in District 3-AAA games.  The first date was changed due to school-wide tests at Hardin Valley on December 14.  Winter weather forced a postponement of the games some 11-days ago until today.  Neither team needs an introduction since the two faced-off this past Friday night at John Brown Gym. Campbell (15-5, 9-0) won the girls game 57 to 46 while the Cougars (13-6, 5-4) took the nightcap 71 to 58.  Hear the CCHS games live over 1450 WLAF Radio and see the games televised live via 1450wlaf.com.  (updated 01/23/2012 8:00 a.m.)

Friday Basketball Finals

Campbell Cougars 71 - Hardin Valley Hawks 58

Campbell Lady Cougars 57 - Hardin Valley Lady Hawks 46

Jellico Blue Devils 54 - Oliver Springs 46

Afternoon shooting at Jacksboro

     A man is shot around 4:30 this afternoon in the McDeerman area of Jacksboro.  Chief Aaron Evans with the Campbell County Sheriff's Department tells 1450wlaf.com that officers are questioning a male person of interest at this hour.  The man who was shot is in stable condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville suffering from non-life threatening injuries.  (updated 01/20/2012 7:30 p.m.)

Melvin's seat remains vacant

County commissioners failed Tuesday night to make any progress toward filling the third district seat vacated in December by Melvin Boshears, with nearly half of the commission voting instead to leave the position vacant until voters select a successor in August.

Johnny Bruce offered a motion to do just that, but County Attorney Joe Coker warned the commission that such a decision runs counter to state law, which requires the commission to appoint someone to fill an empty seat within 120 days of the date it is vacated.

“The law does not spell out a penalty for failure to meet his requirement,” Coker added, “but a citizen could sue, charging that failure to appoint someone to fill the vacancy violates the constitutional one man, one vote requirement.”

Coker added that such a lawsuit could possibly charge the county commission with “malfeasance of office,” for failing to exercise its duty under the law.

Several commissioners appeared to fear the political fallout from voting for or against any of the numerous people seeking the appointment more than they fear violating the law. Bruce did not withdraw his motion, but it failed by a narrow margin with two commissioners absent from the meeting while a third abstained from voting.

Bruce was joined by Bob Adkins, Alvin Evans, Terry Singley, Bobby White and Rusty Orick in voting to leave the seat vacant until August. Thomas Hatmaker, J. L. Davis, Beverly Hall, Marie Ayers and Charles Baird voted against the motion while Steve Rutherford abstained. Bob Walden, who at an earlier meeting suggested the process by which an appointment would be made, was absent from the meeting, as was Sue Nance.

The absence of Nance was later explained as Hatmaker asked that everyone keep her in their prayers, because her husband, former County Clerk Don Nance, is suffering serious health problems.

Although the vote to not appoint a new commissioner failed to gain a majority, a motion to hold a vote that night on appointing someone fared no better. Hatmaker offered a motion to fill the vacancy immediately, but only seven commissioners voted “yes,” one short of the necessary majority. Davis, Singley and Rutherford voted against making the appointment while Adkins and Bruce abstained.

Melvin Boshears, whose resignation sparked this contentious division, ironically fared much better through his absence. A series of resolutions that Boshears asked commissioners to pass asking TWRA and TVA to improve boat ramps and access areas on Norris Lake was passed by a unanimous vote of 12-0.

While in an agreeable mood, the commission also approved unanimously a motion to change the county’s personnel policy so that hourly employees who must work on holidays but aren’t eligible for comp time will be paid for those holidays. The measure affects mostly personnel in the Sheriff’s Department and some employees in the Sanitation Department and ambulance service and will cost approximately $30,000 a year. 

The commission then found itself mired again in controversy as Rutherford offered a motion that the county commission go on record as urging voters to support a referendum on increasing the local sales tax by a half cent in order to fund local road improvements.

That motion passed 9-3 with only Evans, Hall and Hatmaker voting “no,” but a second motion, to advertise and publicize the commission’s  support for the tax increase, ran into trouble,

“I have a problem spending taxpayers’ money to buy advertisements supporting a tax increase,” Adkins declared. Other commissioners were equally hesitant to allocate money. Rutherford noted that what he had in mind was more a series of community forums to educate the public on what the tax increase would be used to fund.

Finally, an amended motion to educate the public without spending any money for paid advertisements was offered and approved by a vote of 10-2, with only Hatmaker and Evans voting “no.”  (updated 01/17/2012 1:00 a.m.)

WLAF's News Archives are to the left

     Miss a recent story on 1450wlaf.com?  Check the "News Archives" to the left on this page.  You'll also find recent community meetings there.  (updated 11/28/2011 6:00 a.m.)

 WLAF - TV 12 NEWS & BIRTHDAYS

LaFollette Area Then and Now

Campbell County Christmas Parade

Campbell County Commission Meeting 11/21/11

Campbell County School Board Meeting from 11/08/2011

La Follette City Council Meeting From:

November 01, 2011