It's the season for sizzle with a Wender's Big Green Egg Grill plus the "best buy on a mattress" sale.
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WLAF encourages your comments to wlaf@1450wlaf.com
The WLAF-Pilot Sports Network presents "LIVE" radio & web-televised coverage of the Orange & Blue Football Game-Thurs, May 23, 7:00 Smith's Hardware's MEMORIAL DAY SALE is in progress
Click on the Smith banner for more online savings Smith's Memorial Day Sale includes a $55 savings on a wicker deck box, a $3.99 1-gallon home & garden sprayer, a $10 a gallon savings on Clark+Kensington paint for Ace Rewards Members (limit 3), and many more Smith Hardware Memorial Day Sale savings. LISTEN "LIVE" NOW WATCH "LIVE" NOW 1450 WLAF Radio WLAF-TV 12 "Home of the Green Screen"
Wartime photo of Pitney McGhee World War II veteran Pitney McGhee to be laid to rest Sunday
World War II veteran Pitney McGhee will be laid to rest with full
military honors on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Day observances scheduled for Saturday and Monday
Memorial Day observances will be held at 11 a.m.
Saturday at A Jacksboro Eagle is looking for an LHS yearbook This is a
special request from a Jacksboro Eagle. Wayne Byrd is looking to
buy a 1971 La Follette High School Yearbook. Actually, he has a
good reason. His wife is an LHS grad. Wayne's number is
423.871.2673.
Sports Report 5/24/13
WLAF TV 12 News 5/24/13
Still time to hold on to your property Is your property in
jeopardy of being auctioned? It might be if you are delinquent
with your property taxes. You may want to connect to 1450wlaf.com
to find out. If you are looking for a good deal on a lot or home
or building, you may also want to connect to 1450wlaf.com. Connect
to the “bulletin board” link, and you will see all the property that is
going to be auctioned on Saturday at the courthouse. However, at
close of business today is the deadline to save your investment by
paying your past due property taxes along with
penalties, interest, and cost set fourth
by the Clerk and Masters Office. Tomorrow is
the day of the auction of all the properties that are still on the
block. The subject property is going to be sold in the morning at
10:00 in the Chancery Courtroom at the Campbell County Courthouse at
Jacksboro.
Results from Susan Sharp versus the La
Follette Press
Dismissed. That’s the decision handed down this week at the
Campbell County Courthouse at Jacksboro in the Susan Sharp versus the La
Follette Press lawsuit. Sharp, the newspaper’s former editor and
reporter, was terminated in April and soon filed a civil action lawsuit
against the paper’s owners and its new editor, Brent Schanding.
Sharp was demoted as editor in June of 2012 and was eventually replaced
by Schanding a few weeks before she was let go. In the suit, the
42-year Sharp claims she was discriminated against and terminated
in-part, among other reasons, because of gender and age.
The lawsuit reads that a younger
male was then placed in the position of Editor. Sharp was asking
for her job back or compensatory damages not to exceed two-hundred
thousand dollars.
Results
from Wednesday night’s checkpoint A joint
effort by local and state law enforcement nets four arrests and several
charges. Campbell County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Aaron
Evans tells WLAF that the checkpoint was conducted on Wednesday from
9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on the four-lane between
Good weather for the Memorial Day Weekend
Carmike Movies 2 behind Woodson Shell
La
Follette,
Tennessee
423.562.0979Movie ShowtimesEpic (PG)
The Hangover Part III (R)
Click here for Cougar Football
See the Orange-n-Blue game from May 23, 2013
WLAF-TV 12 News for Thursday, May 23, 2013
Swilling receives state's highest honor By Vic King - WLAF News
Judi Swilling, the branch office administrator of Edward Jones Investments of
La Follette, recently received the highest honor the Governor can bestow
on a citizen of
Judi Swilling with Governor Bill Haslam Those who receive this
award are recorded by the Secretary of state of Dollars down for RFL Story and pictures by Dwane Wilder - WLAF News
However,
donations will continue to trickle in through August, so the final
amount could grow much more than the $41,000 counted after last Friday's
event held at
Paige Etter,
who co-chaired the Campbell County 2013 Relay for Life along with Cyndi
Russell, said attendance was likely down due to the threat of rain and
other major events happening the same weekend.
School Board mulls unfinished budget, has tough questions for “virtual school” representatives
Board of Education
members reviewed the final department reports at a workshop Tuesday
before preparing to finalize a school budget for the upcoming fiscal
year, then spent an hour hearing from representatives of K12, Inc., an
online educational program that is interested in creating partnerships
with local “ Instead, several board members voiced skepticism
and directed some hard questions at the two K12 representatives. “We have over 100,000 public school students
enrolled,’ Chisum stated, but admitted that the only county that has
joined the “cutting edge” so far in Tennessee is the Tennessee Virtual
Academy of Union County, where a total of 3,000 students were enrolled
from across the state. “Did not the test
scores of students in the “In the first year, scores were not what we
wanted,” Chisum admitted, adding, “The new test scores are about to be
released and we expect they will be greatly improved.” The K12 model allows school districts to receive
the state dollars for each student enrolled as if they were attending
regular school, then K12 charges a fee for each student from the school
district “partner.” “Is there any way that you’ll be charging us more
than we receive from the state?” Lawson also asked. “Chisum’s response was
less than direct. “We’ll be under contract to you to provide the
services,” he replied. To other questions about total or per student
costs, the K12 representatives said that they couldn’t provide exact
figures until the RFP (request for proposals) is completed. “What is your graduation rate?” Homer Rutherford
asked. Again, the K12 spokespersons replied that they did
not have the exact figures but would provide them before a contract is
final. Lawson also asked what
other states and school systems are currently partnered with K12 in
online education. This time Chisum was prepared with answers, responding
that the closest state is The board members did not indicate whether they are
inclined to negotiate a contract with K12 but as Director Donnie Poston
explained at the board meeting last week, the board is not committed to
anything by reviewing a proposal. Before the K12 presentation, the board members
heard reports on the projected technology budget, where the new PARC
testing program that supplants TCAP tests will eventually require over a
thousand computers capable of using the testing software. The county has
about 400 computers that can be re-programmed to meet part of that
demand but will have to lease computers on a temporary basis to meet the
total demand. Jeannie Higdon reported on the pre-Kindergarten
budget, which should see little change from the current year, but she
added, “We don’t yet have our figures from the state so I can’t give you
the final amounts.” Higdon handed out a report that showed the pre-K
budget for the current year at $987,046, with 70 percent, or $688,413 of
that amount coming from state grants while the county provides $298,633. Dr. Rita Goins reported on textbooks needs for the
upcoming year, adding that as computer programs provide more instruction
in future years, textbook purchases will decline but are still necessary
for the time being. Goins and Poston
confirmed that the adult education program in Many of the programs that Goins supervises are
heavily dependent on state and federal grants and funds, so she was also
unable to provide final dollar figures until the Tennessee Dept. of
Education finalizes their shared revenue projections. Board chairman Josh Parker concluded the workshop
without scheduling a follow-up session, as the board must now await more
information about numerous state funds before a final budget can be
developed. Haslam here Tuesday Story and photos by: Dwane Wilder - WLAF News A
packed house greeted Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam on Tuesday afternoon
as he came to Caryville to formally sign
Haslam and State Senator Ken Yager
developmentally disabled.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Powers (above) and Sen. Ken Yager, resulted
from the abandonment last June of 19-year-old Lynn Cameron of
Local DHS staffers with the governor
Among those present Tuesday during the signing of
Alderwoman Vickie Heatherly greets Governor Haslam
Gov. Haslam had high praise for Smith, the Caryville Police Department and
local employees from state agencies, including the Campbell County
Department of Children’s Services. Campbell County Commission Meeting Monday, May 20, 2013 <> Click It or Ticket to Boost Seat Belt
Use – Day and Night Campbell County 2013 High-Visibility Enforcement Campaign Begins today
The commission suspended the rules to allow school
board chairman Josh Parker to present a request from the school board
that the commission provide $345,000 in funding to pay the salaries for
eight additional SRO officers and that those funds be in addition to
local dollars required to meet state maintenance of effort levels for
local education funds. Parker then pointed out that the federal government
has made additional COPS grants available for local law enforcement
agencies for the purpose of providing school security. The grants would
provide 75 percent of the salaries for school security salaries for
three years with the county providing 25 percent. The grant agreement
would require local governments to continue funding the program for a
fourth year with local funding paying all of the salaries. “After meeting the fourth year commitment, we can
look at other options,” Parker explained. Jellico commissioner Alvin Evans questioned the
75-25 split, noting that Jellico had a COPS grant that paid 100 percent
for three years with one or two additional years paid from local funds. “Those 100 percent grants were part of the federal
stimulus package. That money has now been exhausted,” Rusty Orick noted. If the county receives the grant, $258,750 of the
yearly total would come from federal dollars with the county responsible
for $86,250 in matching local funds. “Do you have an alternative if you don’t get it?”
Evans also asked. “We do have a Plan B that Director Poston has
worked up,” Parker replied. “We would keep the SROs at the high schools
and rotate the SROs that are currently at the middle schools around to
the elementary schools. We would also provide office space in the
schools for the SROs and other deputies so there would be some security
presence each day at all the schools.” Parker added that Director of Schools Donnie Poston
was working on the grant application, that will have to be submitted
from the Sheriff’s Department. “The deadline for the COPS grants is June 4,” Mayor
William Baird pointed out. “This commission would need to vote to
suspend the rules and authorize this grant application tonight in order
to meet the deadline.” “I support this and offer that motion but it’s
worth mentioning that while $345,000 is a lot of money, that’s only for
salaries. There will be other costs involved. That doesn’t cover
training or equipment.” The motion to authorize the grant application was
then passed unanimously. The commission also voted unanimously with one
abstention to approve a new health insurance contract with Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee, although the rates have increased by
seven percent over last year. “Because claims are up dramatically, our rates are
up. No other carriers wanted to bid on our coverage,” insurance
consultant Debbie Cole explained. “We were able to work with Blue
Cross/Blue Shield to keep the rate increase down to seven percent when
it was determined that a number of employees who have had claims are
retiring.” Commissioners were not all in agreement on another
motion, a request from some state legislators to pass a resolution
opposing a sales tax on internet sales. Mayor William Baird pointed out that the tax would
help local businesses that are presently at an unfair disadvantage
competing with big companies that offer online shopping. He recommended
that the commission vote against the resolution. Most of the commissioners did not agree with Baird,
however, seeming hesitant to support what some viewed as an additional
tax on consumers. Marie Ayers, Evans, Steve Rutherford and Terry Singley
voted against the resolution to oppose the tax but it passed 9-4 with
Sue Nance abstaining. J. L. Davis was absent from the meeting. The commission did show concern for some local
businesses with another resolution, however, by voting down a resolution
supporting the “responsible vendor act.” That law authorizes counties to
impose a requirement that all businesses selling alcoholic beverages
must require employees who sell package beer to undergo a training and
certification process and pay a $25 annual fee to cover the training
costs. “This is just another burden on the businessman,”
Thomas Hatmaker protested. “The legislature may make it mandatory next year,”
Mayor Baird pointed out, adding, “Businesses that comply with the
training will not have their beer license suspended or be liable for a
fine on a first offense.” Adkins also voiced his opposition, stating flatly,
“I’m not for this. It’s just more burden on the business owner.” Most commissioners appeared to agree. A motion to
support the responsible vendor act was voted down 13-1, with only Steve
Rutherford voting “yes.” Commissioners were
also split on an offer from the State Dept of Transportation to install
two caution signals on Highway 297 that connects Pioneer with Jellico
through TDOT plans to pave
that highway this summer and suggested that solar powered caution lights
should be placed at both the junction with The devil’s in the details, however, and several
commissioners voiced concerns with the details. Although the state would
pay the $1,200 cost of installing the lights, the county would have to
agree to maintain them if they are vandalized or break down. “You put all that stuff on Highway 297 and a lot of
it will end up as souvenirs,” Terry Singley argued. Alvin Evans agreed, but added, “It would be hard to
turn down that much paving.” Baird explained that the paving project is
unconnected to the lights and will be done as planned regardless of the
county’s decision on caution lights. After it became clear
that commissioners were divided over the idea, Rusty Orick made a motion
to table the topic until June and ask for more clarification from the
state on the need for the caution lights. The motion to table the
discussion passed 11-2 with Bob Walden and Evans voting “no and The commission then unanimously passed a motion to
hire Lonnie Vann to coordinate the summer intern program at a salary of
$10.80 per hour and to pay student interns at the minimum wage. They adjourned the
meeting after Mayor Baird announced that Governor Haslam will be at the
The bill, sponsored by
Rep. Dennis Powers and Senator Ken Yeager, was the result of the
abandonment last year of 19-year-old Lynn Cameron, whose mother fled to
Graduation coverage 2013 is made possible by these outstanding corporate partners Litho-craft Printing & Office Supply Robbins Guttering & Siding First National Bank Wender Furniture Company Peoples Bank of the South Josie's Beauty Fashions Mayor William Baird theSTAND State Representative Dennis Powers Powell-Clinch Utility District Campbell County Graduation May 18, 2013 <> Trial date set - Bartley could be free on
bond Convicted school shooter Kenneth S. Bartley is getting a new trial. Months ago, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood’s June 2011 order to set aside Bartley’s guilty plea and grant him a new trial. However, the State Attorney General’s Office had the final say, and it came late last week. Officials with the State Attorney General’s Office elected not to pursue further appeals meaning that the last order stands which is Blackwood’s order for a new trial.
Bartley on the evening of the shooting Bartley, now 21, was 14
at the time of the shooting at
Blackwood Assistant District Attorney Mike Ripley tells WLAF News that it was confirmed Monday morning that Bartley’s trial will take place at the Jacksboro Courthouse the week of November 18, 2013. Judge Jon Kerry Blackwood will preside.
Bartley in the summer of 2011
Ann Thompson, Brent McNeeley, and Red Harrison
Ronnie Henderson looks on as Linda Farmer Thompson, Mary Ann Cummins, & friends chat
The Silver Cloud performs
Upwards of 1,000 WLAF friends came by to say hello
Charlie Hutson listens as Dormas Miller and Bill Waddell talk
David Graham is counting up how many hot dogs he's eaten
Charlie Hutson's thinking about his next camera shot
Lillie in orange looks on as Dormas Miller and Bill Waddell are in deep discussion
Perennial candidate Virgil Kidwell works the crowd in anticipation of another run for office
Harold Branam and Ron McClellan are getting an "atta boy" from Margaret Ayers
Ann Thompson visits with a customer
Nancy and Kippy Leach arrive at the celebration
Jim Rogers is looking for Todd Overbay
Winfred Douglas and Earl Lawson visit while Barney Goins surveys the situation Where does the new school security law leave Campbell County?
How is the new school security law going to effect Campbell County
Schools? Governor Bill Haslam signed the School Security Act of
2013 into law on Thursday. The Campbell County Sheriff's
Department Chief Deputy Aaron Evans tells WLAF News that basically, the
changes are not too different from the way they were before the new law
was signed. Evans says officers have to complete Academy training
and POST regulations. The plans here have not yet been finalized,
but School Board Member Rector Miller made a motion to ask the Campbell
County Commission for funds of $340,000 and another $325,000 for
maintenance of effort levels. If funding is not available, the
plan with the school system is to split current SROs, currently at the
middle schools, between the middle schools and the elementary schools.
The two high schools,
The sign that became synonymous with the south
Caryville exit is no longer. As part of the new Holiday Inn
Express, the tree came down Thursday morning. The final day
pictures are from WLAF's David Graham.
The Holiday Inn Express owners, the Patels
David Graham was extra quick to snap this photo with Haskel "Hack" Ayers Girls and boys soccer coming to Campbell High* Peace appears to have been declared in the brewing
feud between school board member Rector Miller and school system Safety
& Athletic Director Johnny Bruce. At Tuesday’s board meeting, Miller
withdrew his proposal to eliminate Bruce’s position in order to fund
security officers for the county’s eight elementary schools. Miller instead indicated that other options are
being considered and invited Bruce to explain progress that he has made
in providing security for all of the county’s schools. Bruce then reported on discussions with Sheriff
Robbie Goins. “The sheriff has officers that need office space, and says
if the schools can make space available for them, he will assign
deputies or detectives to work out of offices at the different schools,”
Bruce told the board. Board attorney Dail Cantrell added that there is no
legal problem with such an arrangement and that actually the school
principals can make the decision to provide the office space without a
vote by the board. “They wouldn’t be there all the time,” Miller
observed, but their presence would be a deterrent to any problems.” Miller then offered a motion to ask the county
commission to provide funding for full time school resource officers at
the elementary schools, at a cost of $340,000. Finance Director Jeff Marlow told the board that
local funding for the school system will increase by around $325,000 due
to a continuing decline in state funding, and he advised that any motion
to fund security be appropriated above the state-mandated minimum local
education dollars. Miller then amended his motion to request $340,000
for security in addition to the maintenance of effort levels. The motion
passed unanimously, although board members are aware that getting
another $340,000 from the commission may be a big “if.” The board also voted to approve a high school
soccer program with $2,000 salary supplements for head coaches for both
boy’s and girl’s teams and $1,000 supplements for two assistant coaches.
Bruce reported that 30 boys and 28 girls signed up at Campbell County
High to join the teams. “This is adding a whole new sport to the CCHS
athletic director’s duties. We need to look at increasing her
compensation as well,” added Miller, referring to Sherry Chapman. Eugene Lawson was the only member to vote ”no” as
the soccer program was approved by a 9-1 vote. The board also voted to decrease the number of
unexcused absences during a school year from ten to five before
disciplinary action will be taken, and voted unanimously to invite
proposals for a virtual school contract. “Any students who sign on to virtual school, to
seek a degree online we get full state funding as if they were in
school,” Poston pointed out. “Did they not take the
virtual school program out of “I asked the same thing,” Poston replied. “I have
some concerns about the program but this doesn’t obligate us to
anything.” While voting on several budget amendments, Mike
Orick pointed out that the school system’s solar panel project is ahead
of projections. ”For all the naysayers in the audience, I want to
point out that the first payment, projected at around $9,000, was
actually over $16,000,” Orick said. Marlow agreed, telling the board that the average
of 1863 kilowatts of electricity produced meant an extra $600 per month
at each of the nine schools. “Of course this could go down in winter
months,” he cautioned. The board spent an hour before the regular meeting
reviewing the budget for different departments, and will continue budget
workshops next week.
School Board Meeting Part 1 May 14, 2013 <> School Board Meeting Part 2 May 14, 2013 <>
Ivey sues the City of
The former city recorder and certified municipal financial officer for
the City of Heatherly the only "man" - "den of snakes" Ivey spares no words addressing council If you've been following recent events in Caryville, the demotion of Police Chief Johnny Jones, the firing of City Recorder Cheryl Ivey, and other seemingly questionable moves, you had to wonder if anyone would ever speak up. Well, someone did. Publicly. His name is Edgar Ivey. During a citizens input opportunity, here's what Ivey told the Town of Caryville Mayor and Aldermen and crowd at its regular monthly meeting Monday night at city hall: "I'm Edgar Ivey. I've come to address this committee tonight. And the main thing I want to just say to you guys, right up front, I have no respect whatsoever for you - so you know that right from the beginning. And I think I know all you guys. Just from the way that you've done this committee the last four weeks, taking guys raises away, to demotion of the chief of police, now to the firing of Cheryl. And it said in the paper that the reason for demoting the chief was lack of management skills. And I want to say there is a lack of management skills over here, but it's not in the police department. It's setting right here in front of me (a round of applause breaks out). And for two of you I want you to know that I have no confidence in you. That's gone.
Edgar Ivey addresses Caryville mayor and aldermen (DWANE WILDER PIX 05/13/2013) And Miss Vickie, I
want to say to you, I've talked to a lot of people over the last several
weeks, and there's not a one that's got a bad thing to say about you.
I want you to know. I'm sorry, but I don't know you personally, but
seems like everybody else in the community did, and they talked about
you. They talked about the way you've tried to stand up and do
what's right over here. And I'm gonna say this, and they tell me
men and women both alike, and they say this with the greatest respect,
and I want you to take it at that. But they say you're the only
man over here on this committee (a female member of the audience says
"that's right" as applause breaks out again). I also want to say
that they say they hope you won't get discouraged and quit. But,
uh, you know if you wanted to get out of this den of snakes, nobody
could blame you for that either. So, me personally, I wouldn't
give them the satisfaction. Thank you." (applause).
Caryville Fire Department takes on more territory By Dwane Wilder - WLAF News The Caryville Volunteer Fire Department will soon begin providing protection for 346 households west of Island Ford Road and near the town’s John McGhee Industrial Park. The announcement was made during Monday’s regular monthly meeting of the Town of Caryville Board of Mayor and Aldermen. The cost to each household will be a nominal fee of $1.75 per dwelling and help lower the cost of homeowner insurance for the residents, said alderman Allen Smith. He said the Jacksboro Fire Department has a similar plan to provide protection for the east side of Island Ford Road between Mt. Paran Loop and Jacksboro Elementary School. The now defunct Pinecrest Volunteer Fire Department had previously served the residents of that area.
Pat Donahue, Alderman Mark Stanley, Mayor Chris Stanley In other business conducted during Monday night’s meeting, the board: *Approved payment of an invoice for $689.00 to Copeland Brothers, Inc. for lighting at the John McGhee Industrial Park. *Approved payment of an invoice for $596.68 to Lowe’s for outside lighting and the wiring of a shed at the Caryville Municipal Building. *Approved the continuation of an auditing contract with Brown Jake and McDaniel. PC. *Approved certificate renewal for 141 Wine and Spirits.
Alderman Mark Stanley, Mayor Chris Stanley, Alderman Lloyd Lawson *Approved a fundraiser road drive on Saturday, June 8 for the Stony Fork Volunteer Fire Department. *Approved a bid from Jerry Foust to cut hay at the Ershell Collins Industrial Park at the 141 exit. *Approved a bid of $67,896 by the Rogers Group for
a paving project on Loop Road. Mayor Stanley said money to pay for the
project will come out of the general fund, which he said right now is
just under $400,000. Alderwoman Vickie Heatherly cast the only “no”
vote, explaining that she was all in favor of paving projects, but that
she didn’t want to take that much money out of the general fund so that
the town could build back its rainy day fund in the event of an
emergency. Caryville City Council Meeting Monday, May 13, 2013 <>
New convenience center hours ALL hours of operation 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Stony Fork OPEN Monday and Saturday ALL
other locations OPEN Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
"Listen" to LIVE Campbell Baseball "Listen" to LIVE Jellico Basketball "Watch" LIVE Campbell Basketball "Listen" to LIVE Jellico Basketball FBC of La Follette's Sunday, May 12, 2013, service <>
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