Tellico Village News

"I do love this valley and the water that runs through it," said Don Keeble, who spoke Thursday night to members of Watershed Association of Tellico Reservoir in Tellico Village Community Church during the group's annual meeting.

Carolyn Lequire remembers it as "the decade of goodbyes." She rattles off names, one by one, just as they disappeared from the Jackson community of her youth during the run-up to completion of Tellico Dam.

12, at Buddy's Bearden Banquet Hall off Kingston Pike. Enjoy music, shopping, baked goods, food items, small holiday crafts, auctions, cakewalks and a 'white elephant' sale.

It's an unquestionable fact: The population of senior citizens is burgeoning, growing daily, while the age groups available to provide services is shrinking.

If a slogan could be applied to Orabell "Obie" O'Conner's life, it might be the adage: "Live well, laugh often, love much," but perhaps with the addendum, "Don't worry, be happy." She was born in Grand Lake, Mich., not too far from where the first Model T Fords were being produced.

Southern Appalachia Railway Museum's Secret City Scenic Excursion Train will run trips to see the changing fall colors each full weekend in October.

GFWC Tellico Village Women's Club is hosting its 14th Annual Home Tour Sunday. Five beautiful and unique homes will be featured.

From Staff Reports Originally published: September 24. 2009 3:01AM Last modified: September 23.

Loudon's two liquor store owners were back before the Loudon City Council Monday, requesting a reduction in inspection fees established by the ordinance adopted late in January.

It is this editors personal opinion that Richard Anklin should concentrate his due diligence and further efforts on the upcoming 2010 budget and the pending lawsuit to gain access to records. This is a valid effort to confront the villianous actions of Winston Blazer, Joe Marlette and the other Board Members of the Tellico Village POA. Dan Hutcherson is also included in this equation since his motives are similar. For those of you living in the Village, I can only say one thing - before forming an opinion, please make sure you have heard both sides of the equation!

After months of sometimes heated debates, Loudon area residents remain divided over the issue of whether alcohol sales should be allowed locally, and its ultimate effect on the community.

A former Rockwood police officer investigated for an alleged kidnapping has sued the 9th District Attorney General, contending he was pressured into quitting after the DA schemed to get him fired.

By Bob Fowler/Posted September 1, 2009 at midnight. A former Rockwood police officer investigated for an alleged kidnapping has sued the 9th District Attorney General, contending he was pressured into quitting after the DA schemed to get him fired. The Roane County Circuit Court lawsuit by John C. Evans asserts DA Russell Johnson overstepped his authority by urging he be fired and saying he should be banned from law enforcement. “My job was unjustly taken from me without a reason,” said Evans. “I was robbed of my career.” Evans said he was forced to resign in July 2008. He was under investigation then by the DA’s office for allegedly using his police badge and gun to force a man into a private vehicle for questioning by Evans’ father about a truck stolen from a body shop. Officer Evans was off-duty and was accompanied by a Harriman reserve police officer, Jajuan Hamilton, and a Marine reservist, according to the DA’s file on the case. When Evans confronted the suspected thief, he kept his hand on his firearm, according to the suspect’s statement. The man filed a complaint about the incident, saying he was forced into the vehicle. But Evans’ father, John Evans, said the man later admitted he went willingly to his car repair shop. The man was later released and filed a report about the July 3, 2008, incident. Several days later, Johnson wrote the attorney for both the elder Evans and his son. The DA in the letter stated he was recommending that John C. Evans be “terminated immediately for his actions.” Several people helped the younger Evans “over some huge hurdles” to become a law enforcement officer, the DA wrote. “He has effectively ruined his chances of continuing in that career, at least in the Ninth Judicial District,” Johnson wrote. Johnson in an affidavit stated he told the Evanses’ attorney that the “potential kidnapping charge would not go forward if Mr. Evans left the police force and he did not get in any more trouble.” Evans signed a statement that he was resigning on July 16, 2008. “He asked to resign,” said Rockwood Police Chief Bill Stinnett “I said, ‘Sure, I’ll accept the resignation.’ ” (Read the rest of the story)

If you're one of those people whom mosquitoes tend to favor, maybe it's because you aren't sufficiently stressed-out. Insects have very keen powers of smell that direct them to their targets.

By SHIRLEY S. WANG If you're one of those people whom mosquitoes tend to favor, maybe it's because you aren't sufficiently stressed-out. Insects have very keen powers of smell that direct them to their targets. But for researchers trying to figure out what attracts or repels the pests, sorting through the 300 to 400 distinct chemical odors that the human body produces has proved daunting. [LAB] Michael C. Witte Now scientists at Rothamsted Research in the U.K. have been making headway at understanding why some people can end up with dozens of bites after a backyard barbecue, while others remain unscathed. The researchers have identified a handful of the body's chemical odors—some of which may be related to stress—that are present in significantly larger concentrations in people that the bugs are happier to leave alone. If efforts to synthesize these particular chemicals are successful, the result could be an all-natural mosquito repellent that is more effective and safer than products currently available. "Mosquitoes fly through an aerial soup of chemicals, but can home in on those that draw them to humans," says James Logan, a researcher at Rothamsted, one of the world's oldest agricultural-research institutions. But when the combination of human odors is wrong, he says, "the mosquito fails to recognize this signal as a potential blood meal."

Less than half of potential jurors summoned for accused killer Lemaricus Davidson's trial showed up to fill out questionnaires Tuesday morning.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Less than half of potential jurors summoned for accused killer Lemaricus Davidson's trial showed up to fill out questionnaires Tuesday morning. Davidson's the second of four suspects to be tried for the carjacking, rape, and murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom. A Nashville jury has already convicted Davidson's half brother, Letalvis Cobbins, for his role in their deaths. But unlike Cobbins, Davidson wants a Knox County jury. Judge Richard Baumgartner says looking for 12 jurors, plus three alternates. The court summoned about 900 residents, but only 386 answered questionnaires at the Civic Coliseum. Baumgartner says the publicity surrounding the Christian and Newsom murder case is like nothing he's seen. "This has been the subject of a lot of news stories, conversations," Baumgartner told potential jurors. But publicity concerns aren't enough to sway Davidson from asking for Knox County jurors. The judge told the crowd to disregard rampant rumors about this case and to set aside any opinions already have about Davidson. Baumgartner also reminded potential jurors Davidson is presumed innocent. "So as he sits here right now, ladies and gentlemen, you would be obligated to find Mr. Davidson not guilty because you haven't heard one piece of evidence that causes you to believe Mr. Davidson did anything wrong," Baumgartner said. The crowd answered questions about what they've heard about Davidson and the crimes. The questionnaire was based on the one used in Cobbins trial. However, Davidson's attorneys added a few questions, including asking if potentials use social networking sites or post comments on media websites. Judge Baumgartner said just knowing about the case may not be enough nix possible jurors. Instead they've got to decide if they can reach a verdict based solely on evidence in court. "That's the test, and if you can do that and you mean it you can be a juror in this case," Baumgartner said. Judge Baumgartner and Davidson's attorneys will sort out which jurors to call back for individual questioning. Davidson's trial is set to begin September 21. Baumgartner has said said Davidson's jury selection could take as long as two weeks. As for the those summoned who didn't come, the court got at least 150 returns from the post office.

Senator Bob Corker says he believes an agreement on health care reform can happen when Congress reconvenes next week.

Font Size: HUNTSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Senator Bob Corker says he believes an agreement on health care reform can happen when Congress reconvenes next week. Corker spent his short recess holding town hall meetings throughout the state to hear what you want to see changed. A mild crowd welcomed the senator with a standing ovation, but that didn't mean they didn't ask tough questions. Corker told them, though, he doesn't have many answers. "There is no Obama plan. He really hasn't said publicly what he wants to see happen," Corker said. He continued to say that health care is complex and without a concrete proposal for change he can only talk about problems with the current system. And a lot of people had issues to add. "These are billing books.Cobra books for one year," Jeff Silver told him from the crowd. Silver owns a pediatric practice. His concern is paperwork and how much of a burden government interference already is. "Medicine still is a business and to be completely honest with you, without some changes being made you're going to have fewer and fewer doctors practicing," Silver said. The first term senator told the packed room he would like to see pilot programs before congress changes anything. "Health care is tough work and it takes tough, sort of slogging through these things," Corker said. But then came the reminder that some changes should be swift. "Last September, I lost my job and I lost my insurance," Gayle Kennedy stood up and said. Scott County now has the highest unemployment rate in Tennessee and Kennedy says she came to tell Senator Bob Corker her family needs help. "It's easy to read something on a piece of paper but they need to see the face that goes with that picture," Kennedy said, tearing up, "and I wanted them to know there's people out there hurting." By the end of the hour, Corker left the group feeling optimistic that bi-partisan reform can and will happen.

A Tellico Village resident was arrested by the Loudon County Sheriff's Office Aug.

Many Tellico Village residents have their toys - the trappings of the various hobbies and/or avocations of their lifetimes - in the basements or garages of their homes.

May Slawson, 73, was doing what a lot of children eventually have to do. She was clearing out her mother's home after placing her in a nursing home.

U.S. Senator Bob Corker will hold a town hall meeting in the Loudon High School Auditorium on Wednesday, September 2 at 4:00 PM.

The stated purpose is to speak with citizens and community leaders about health care reform and the economic challenges facing our state and country. The event is open to the public.

Tennesseans seeking more information about the event should contact Senator Corker's Knoxville field office (Topix prohibits posting phone numbers on either news boards or blogs).

At Thursday's Loudon County Commission's budget committee meeting the vote was to accept the school board's proposed budget of $793,000.00 in new operating expenses for the 2009-2010 school year.

The budget includes $430,000.00 for text books and the rest is for new employees and raises. If the budget committee's recommendation is passed by the full commission, it would effectively kill the planned multi-million dollar building program currently under way.

After a lengthy discussion, member Don Miller made a motion to send the budget back to the school board to include the same funding as last year without the requested $793,000.00 in new operating expenses. Miller's motion failed for lack of a second.

Harold Duff then motioned to fund the full request of the school board, seconded by Chris Park. Voting in favor were Duff, Park, David Meers and county mayor Doyle Arp (committee chairman). Miller was the lone no vote.

The committee's recommendation will now go to the full commission for a vote. Due to legal fund sharing requirements, Lenoir City schools get around 30% of Loudon County schools funding. This means that the commission will need to increase funding to the schools by more than a million dollars in order to achieve the county school's request.

If the budget passes the full commission there would be no money left to fund the school building program unless the commission votes for a large property tax increase.