This letter is in response to the article on February 3, 2010 signed by five men who refer to the upcoming Sheriff’s race of Polk County.
In the article they refer to grants received by the Benton Police Department. They question if Rocky King ever filled out a grant by himself. One thing is for certain, Benton received the grants. I believe Rocky played a large part in receiving them. If the Sheriff’s Department received any. The same question is for Mr. Davis. I doubt if he has filled out one by himself.
They worry about schooling it takes to read numbers that are printed out on a radar screen. What schooling does any officer have, city or county? The same I would think. I remember 20 years ago when Mr. Davis ran he didn’t have any. The citizens only wanted a change. Any qualification Mr. Davis has today has been received since his being in office.
Rocky King is much more qualified today than Mr. Davis was at that time 20 years ago. I believe the voters want a change again even if it was anyone with no experience as it was with Mr. Davis 20 years ago.
They think the Sheriff’s Officers need to do what they do under Davis and not running radar but the county does not run radar at times as they are seen using radar also. Better yet read the arrest reports, especially above the mountain today. Davis said in a Commissioner meeting sometime back when he was wanting funding he might want a Chief Deputy again. I wonder who thinks they are now above and or below the mountain. It is one thing for sure Mr. Davis has lot his touch with the people and his door isn’t open.
They talk about a town hall meeting held by Senator Corker at Black Bear cove when the question was asked how many Democrats were present at the meeting and only 3 raised their hand. Now how many times has anyone been asked to raise their hand but not done so. I sometimes don’t raise mine. The five couldn’t have been at the meeting or there would have been five hands and none of them could have been there. They could be going on here say. I don’t believe they have any of their facts straight. Also, if Mr. Davis had been there he could have raised his hand and maybe put some input about the needs of the people.
They say think long and hard before voting, not to go backward if anything isn’t broken don’t fix it. I think a vote for Rocky King is a step in the right direction, going forward, and the Sheriff’s Department is broken and needs fixing. Most citizens I talk to tell me if they try talking to the Sheriff they are told he is out, but still having business in the building see him coming out later.
The ones that do see him are told everything is fine. He had rather people tell him everything is fine. He had to learn in a Commissioner’s meeting that the contract for medical services at the new jail were rejected because his staff was going to make it hard on the contractor. The same is true in everyday operations. We are only told everything is find but in reality it is broken.
As far as being in the closet Mr. Davis kept 2 when he was elected. I referred to the one above the mountain as being a closet Republican. Mr. Davis thought that was funny at the time. I know we now have 2 if not 3 above the mountain. They only vote Democrat during the Sheriff’s election not even giving our other candidates a vote. Only to protect their jobs. The five men who wrote this article on February 3 ask that the public keep reading the articles to the editor. I only wish that they question your articles. I also want them to question mine. I would be willing to show paperwork of what I write. I think your negative articles will get a response from someone if not from me. May the voters decide.
David Gaddis
Copperhill
Dear Editor:
Again, we are having another low cost spay/neuter at Burgess Feed on March 3rd. Please call Michelle at 338-6265 or 423-596-8866 (CP) for an appointment for your pet. Dogs are $45.00 and cats are $35.00.
It has been so cold these days: please feed your pets a little extra, as food is their fuel to help keep them warm. Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday, March 3rd! Thankyou to Polk County News for printing our letters to the Editor and to Burgess Feed for using their parking lot.
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.
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 state’s report card provides achievement scores showing the amount of knowledge students have, and value-added scores showing the gain in test scores, or lack of it.
While there was some improvement last year, it was not enough to overcome low scores after the state raised standards in 2009; there were also some declines.
While the big race nationally is for President, there are several countywide races on tap, as well as School Board, constables, and municipal elections.
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.
On Wednesday September 20, Ms. Bigham's English 11 class gave their book reports. One of the students, Tyler Queen, dressed up for his book report on Harry Potter.
In an effort to provide added security measures at Cleveland State, the college has purchased Code Blue emergency blue light pedestals to be placed in different locations throughout the main campus and one at the CSCC Athens site.
Virginia Deloris Brown Trantham, affectionately known to family, friends and coworkers as “Sally”, age 77, of Copperhill, TN passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
Peggy Wood, 79, of Ventura, CA went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 26, 2011. Peggy passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease
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.
The Museum Center at 5ive Points with the Sassy Brass Big Band invite you to a Christmas concert called “Swing into Christmas” on Tuesday, November 29.
“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.
After a week off, the Copper Basin Cougar football team regrouped to break a three game losing streak by defeating the Marion County Warriors 41-18 at Cougar Stadium.
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.
More than six hundred museums in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—including the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum in Athens, Tenn.—are taking part in the initiative.
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.
The next time you see an electric utility vehicle working on the side of the road, slow down and give it room. The workers will appreciate your courtesy, and a new Tennessee law requires it.
“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