In response to the article about the 40-year growth plan.
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March
2010
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2/17/10
Dear Editor:
After reading the letter from Feb. 2nd regarding Rocky King, I was appalled. The authors attempted to make Rocky look like he was Sheriff “Roscoe P. Coletrain” from Dukes of Hazzard.
I like Sherriff Davis. Anytime I have needed to talk to him, he would come and meet me at the door. He was always polite and showed interests in my issues. He didn’t know who I was, but he treated me like he did. I hope that he didn’t appreciate what you wrote about Rocky. I think you owe Rocky King and Sheriff Davis an apology.
1.Regarding the grant process reference, more than likely a grant writer was used. It doesn’t matter who wrote the grants, just that the city of Benton has gotten much needed equipment. Furthermore, the Benton police department has participated in many championships and has won. That indicates strong leadership on the Chief’s part.
2. How much schooling is needed for a police officer to read the numbers on a radar gun? Well the way I see it you insulted the whole department indicating they were dumb. Maybe you better add an apology to them as well. The Benton police can only patrol the city of Benton so many times due to how small the city is. So instead of sitting around the town hall drinking coffee they catch speeders. If you do the speed limit why should that bother you?
3. Yes, our sheriff department should be doing what they are doing now. They have a lot more miles to cover. They don’t have time to handle speeding offenses.
4. I was not at the meeting at Black Bear Cove in Nov., but there you go again calling our whole police department a bunch of “puppets”. An apology for that is in order.
5. Think long and hard before you write another letter. Do not go all the way down into the bottom of that septic tank you have over there to throw more political mud.
6. All of the above is no reflection on the police officers who work for and have to do what their chief and “puppet handlers” tell them to do. I do not think that last part of your number 6 really made much of a difference. You pretty well did it again; I am sure that some or all the officers like their chief and enjoy their jobs and are not to happy with #1-5 in your letter.
(By the way, were you aware that a bunch of Rocky‘s campaign posters were missing)?
Brenda Christian
Benton, TN
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to the article written about Chief Rocky King.
Does it really matter who sit down and done the paperwork on the grants. No, all that matters is the grants were received. Until people know for sure who wrote out the grants maybe they to get their facts straight. Let’s talk about the DUI checkpoints. It’s a proven fact that thousands of people are killed yearly due to drunk drivers. I have seen Rocky out doing DUI checkpoints and helping other counties do DUI checkpoints. Now my question is where was our sheriff? Why have we not seen him out doing DUI checkpoints in the county? That is part of his job or did ya’ll forget.
As far as the Benton City officers-they do a lot more than sit in their cars and read numbers. I have seen these officers assist county officers, work wrecks in the rain and cold, unlock cars when people were out in the cold and couldn’t get in their cars to get home or work. Evidently the people who wrote that article don’t get out very much to see exactly what these officers do. So until any of you that wrote the article walk in those officers’ shoes, in my opinion you need to keep your comment in your group. Those officers risk their lives everyday to make sure we the people of Polk are safe. This goes for the city and county officers. Regardless of who the sheriff is. I can say speaking from experience that I have never been disrespected or talked down to by a city officer. But I can say that I have been cussed out by one of the deputies that work for Bill Davis and nothing was done about it. Last time I checked they were to protect and serve not cuss you out and get away with it.
The county officers also do radar it’s called “part of their job.” We should be proud of all our city and county officers except 1. Everyday they put their uniforms on they are putting their lives in danger to protect us the people of Polk County. That’s why our county is a safe, near crime free county. Keep up the good work guys!
Now to Rocky King and his puppet handlers. I haven’t heard Rocky or seen any of his puppet handlers out stealing signs or running ads bashing his opponent. He has up-to-date run a clean fair race for election. What will people do to help someone win re-election. What a shame that people have to do all this just so someone can win or get re-elected.
To all the men that wrote the article, here is my opinion to all of you. All 5 of you are absolutely right about one thing you wrote in your article. We the people do need to think long & hard before we vote. We do not need to go backwards we definitely need to go forward. Forward for a change, not backwards for the same! And yes it is broke and we need to fix it. It’s definitely time for a change.
We also need to think long and hard when we go to vote for county executive. That is serious need for change. I just hope it’s fixable. Many things were promised when Stinnett ran for election and 4 years later I’m still waiting to see if those promises come to life. What has he done for Polk County? What has he done for the people of Polk County? He put a new roof on the courthouse-why-so he wouldn’t get wet. In my opinion had promises not been made we would still have our old county executive in office. Thank God he is running again. Mr. Firestone said something, he done it; if he made a promise he stood behind it and kept it. So to all my family and friends let’s not make that mistake a second time, let’s put Firestone back where he belongs as Polk County Executive.
We need to concentrate more on this problem than anything. We are in dire need of a new executive. So please do think long and hard before you vote and don’t go backwards, go forward for a new county executive. It’s a change that is needed bad.
Glenda Richard
Dear Editor,
In reviewing a certain Letter to the Editor in the last edition of The Polk County News, I have come to the following conclusion:
If you need to write a grant and do not have the qualifications for the grant writing process, you hire a “grant writer”.
If you need to write a Letter to the Editor and do not possess literary prowess, you hire a “letter writer”!
The governor’s proposal to increase class sizes in the elementary schools, and to base the state’s payments on those maximums, could mean a significant loss of revenue for teaching positions in Polk County.
At the Jan. 19 meeting, commissioners were told that the Library Board would like to move the library from the lower level of the Courthouse to the building soon to be vacated by the Benton Family Health Care Center.
Teachers across the state, still reeling from last year’s loss of negotiating rights and a complicated evaluation system, now face a loss of a guaranteed salary schedule based on longevity and education.
The Library Board will be asking the County Commission for approval to move the library from the Courthouse to what is currently home to the Benton Family Health Care Center.
Video surveillance has been installed at the county’s convenience centers to identify people leaving garbage outside the fence at the convenience centers or throwing it over the fence when the centers are closed.
The collision happened around 6:45 a.m. Dec. 28 when a westbound truck carrying around 20 tons of calcine lost control coming around a curve on Hwy. 64 and flipped on its side.
Board members spent a majority of the meeting listening to a laundry list of ranging from mold issues to the proper wording on “no smoking” signs on the outside bleachers.
The IBMA Leadership Bluegrass, now in its 13th year, is an intensive three-day program that brings together the most progressive leaders to collaboratively challenge issues facing the professional music industry.
Lee University’s Encore Program, which offers people age 60 and over the opportunity to take university courses, has a new line up of specially-designed mini-courses for the spring.
Horse Trainer and owner of Double S. Stables, Randy Speegle of Benton took second place in the Legends division at the Mustang Challenge in Murphreesboro on October 21st – 23rd.
Local residents got their first look at potential routes for a Copperhill-McCaysville Bypass, at a public information open house held last Thursday by Project Engineers for the Georgia Department of Transportation.
Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Julius Johnson has authorized a statewide referendum for cattle producers to vote on a $0.50 per head increase in the assessment to fund the in-state promotion of beef.
While some students may be nervous about how the upcoming exams could affect their college options, the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) has the tools they need to succeed.
Principal Mrs. Patricia Smith proudly announces the Copper Basin Elementary 1st and 2nd honor students. Students must have a 93 or higher average in all classes for the 1st honor roll.
Mrs. Deborah Swafford of Old Fort, was chosen by Northwest Elementary Faculty in Murray Co, Georgia to be Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 School year.
On Oct. 7, with the help of Vice Principal Turner, who kept her out of class for a few minutes to get it set-up, The Senior English 12 Class threw a Surprise party for Mrs. Ellen Carr.
Virginia Deloris Brown Trantham, affectionately known to family, friends and coworkers as “Sally”, age 77, of Copperhill, TN passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
I just wanted to say a big “Thank You” to Cheryl Maxwell, Mayor Stephens, Linda Caldwell, and others who planned and carried out a very successful 2nd Annual Heritage Days festival in Benton.
There is an old saying, which many credit to Native Americans as advising, “You can’t really understand someone else, unless you live their life or walk in their shoes (so to speak).
Photo from 1910 provided by Bill Lillard shows the family of Calvin Higdon, who built the Higdon Hotel in Reliance. Calvin (1836-1919) and Amanda Linderman Higdon (1845-1926) were married in 1860.
From Polk County News, 9/13/34
Famous Monroe County Hotel Is Now No More
People from All Over South Visited the “Saratoga of the South” in the Good Old Days.
The Museum Center at 5ive Points will host a presentation on Learning to Care and Maintain Your Featherweight Sewing Machine by Stan Pegram on Saturday, February 11 from 10:00 - noon.
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is offering a Cherokee language class in Vonore, TN on the following Mondays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, 2012 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Each day kids will create their own holiday spirit by making decorations, learning games and trying foods from the past. Campers are asked to bring a sack lunch.
“It was like seeing a freight train coming down the tracks 90 miles an hour and trying to stop it by stepping in front of it”, Coach Danny Rogers said.
The Copper Basin Medical Center’s District Board honored Dr. William E. Lee last week. Dr. Lee, 85, has spent a lifetime in service, not only to the community but to the world through his medical mission trips.
EPA is proposing actions to improve the water quality of the Ocoee from Copperhill to Dam No. 3, at Dam No. 3, and at the upper reach of Parksville Dam.
The Ocoee River Outfitters Association will conduct a stream cleanup with the help of approximately 130 volunteers on Friday, May 27, 2011 starting at 9:00 am.
Beginning in mid-January culverts will be replaced on Sina Branch Road where it crosses Sawmill Branch in the Ocoee Ranger District in Polk County, TN.
Drawdown is underway at Apalachia Lake, according to David Bowling with River Operations at TVA. He said the lake will drop 18-20 feet for routine maintenance work.
Trout stocking will be reduced about 20% in the coming fiscal year and could be reduced 85% after that, according to Frank Fiss, Assistant Chief of Fisheries at the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
TVA has created a smartphone app for those wanting to check on reservoir elevations, water release schedules and more. The information has been available online, but the new app will allow access by cell phone.
Unseasonably high temperatures -- in the 90s -- are sending folks to the water. The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a popular place when the river isn't flowing, and the Hiwassee and Ocoee are popular when it is.
People come from near and far to experience a variety of outdoor recreation activities including camping, picnicking, hiking, bike riding, water play, fishing and much more.
VEC was recently notified by a neighboring utility that they have been receiving complaints from customers who have been visited by scam artists posing as energy evaluators.
The Tennessee Historical Commission is now accepting nominations for its Certificate of Merit Awards to honor individuals or groups that have worked to preserve Tennessee’s cultural heritage during 2011.
The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine offers personalized support for Tennessee residents who want to quit smoking by connecting them with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs division is urging consumers to be wary of emails that request participation in a survey and that promise a gift card in return.
While many job placement firms may be legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings and charge high fees in advance for services that may not lead to a job.
The annual campaign has enrolled tens of thousands of children in the low-cost health insurance plan, which provides coverage for everything from physician visits to hospitalization to dental and vision care.
The Tennessee Department of State has launched a campaign to educate citizens about the new photo identification requirement that will go into effect for elections held in the state after Jan. 1, 2012.
All of the legislation approved this year, during the first session of the 107th General Assembly, is now available online at the Office of Secretary of State web site.
Applications for the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) are available online at www.e-rebates.org/teearp or by phone at 1-877-741-4304 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Individuals who have received LIHEAP assistance since July 2010 must wait until October 1 for the new program year to begin before they can re-apply for benefits.
“Kids Fishing Day” event in Cherokee National Forest’s Ocoee/Hiwassee Ranger District is scheduled for May 21, 2011 at McCamy Lake. Anglers 15 years and under are invited to try their luck.
Ducktown resident Jack Suites and his partner Bitt Ledford of Murphy, N.C. took home the $700 second place prize at the Tri-County Community College Foundation Fishing for Scholarships Bass tournament on April 2.
More than four months after a spotted bass weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces was caught on the Ocoee River in Polk County, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has confirmed the fish as a new state record
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