All Day Emergency Drill of the Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plant in Soddy-Daisy TN

Several agencies and local ham radio operators will take part in today's emergency drill, which is expected to last several hours. You can listen-in if you have access to the 147.180 repeater on Oswald Dome.

DA Steve Hatchett in First High Profile Case: Close Ally of Sheriff Tommy Jones Indicted on Sexual Assault

The news headlines on 10/2/2024 from the TBI press release seemed vague and ambiguous..."Monroe County Man Indicted, Arrested for Sexual Assault."

It shows, "At the request of 10th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Hatchett, on September 5th, TBI special agents began investigating a complaint of sexual assault that took place on August 24th. During the course of the investigation, agents developed information that Brian Hodge had committed sexual battery against an individual at the Monroe County EMS station in Madisonville."

DA Steve Hatchett

Hodge pleaded guilty to a vote-buying scheme in federal court during his involvement in the 2014 Monroe County Sheriff's race. After being fired from Oak Ridge EMS soon after the federal indictment; Tommy Jones offered Hodge a job--the catch was that Hodge would have been required to carry a gun, but U.S. Attorney Bart Slabbekorn objected: this kept his 'gun rights' permit rescinded as per the court order issued by U. S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan.

This case is about an alleged victim and an accused person: however, how and why Brian Keith Hodge (formerly referred to as "Wormy" Hodge in previous news clips) is back in the news charged with a serious felony is a "WTF" head turner!

"Wormy" Hodge being back in the spotlight is the last thing that Randy White and Tommy Jones would have wished for 10 years after the infamous debacle that was the 2014 sheriff's election in Monroe County...the headlines could be-- 

for Tommy Jones and Randy White, 

"The chickens come home to roost"

This saying dates back to 1390 when Geoffrey Chaucer used it in The Parson's Tale: And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth, as a byrd that retorneth agayn to his owene nest.

Tommy Jones

Florida Residents Warned to Escape from the Path of Hurricane Milton

10/10/2024--Hurricane Milton Live Updates: Millions in the dark as it rumbles across causing several deaths and billions in damage. !8" of rain in the Tampa Bay area.

Cat-5 category expected as Hurricane Milton approaches.

Thousands of people are fleeing from Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches the Tampa Bay coast...storm surge is expected as high as 15'-- Officials are warning residents to "leave now, or you will die." Gas stations are either low or have run out gas due to the demand from the number of people evacuating.

So many that were just impacted by hurricane Helene are wondering what Milton is going to do to their communities. Up to record-setting storm surge expected--the longer you wait the more difficult it will be--airplane tickets and gas prices continue to soar.

Monroe County TN has often been a favorite destination spot for Floridians seeking a short or long-term stay--many cabin rentals available in the Tellico Plains area. 

Europol Shuts Down "Ghost" -- Worldwide Cybercrime Social Platform

The platform used encrypted communication to allow criminals worldwide to send and receive messages and also order assassinations. Thousands of illegal ops and transactions were carried out using "Ghost," but even though multiple encryption options were used, the site was dismantled. The platform was run by a single admin, a 32-year-old male based in Australia.

Exploding Radios in Lebanon were discontinued Icom IC-V82's, often used by Ham Radio Operators

It was the batteries in radios and pagers that held the detonation device that maimed or killed hundreds of users in Lebanon this week.

The Japanese company Icom manufactured the IC-V82 radios from 2004 to 2012. It was a solid quality, well-

built HT or (handy talkie) as ham radio operators refer to hand-held portable radios. 

Production of the batteries for the IC-V82 radios was discontinued years ago, but parts are still available: It remains a mystery how the batteries detonated--although it is clear they had been loaded with explosive material.

Icom is one the top radio brands,  one of their best current hand-held models is the Icom ID-52.

Excitement Filled Black Bear Rampage Mountain Bike Race

 It will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15th, 2024--Meetup and start is at the Whitewater Center, Polk County TN. For additional details on time, fees, and how to register click on the 'Rides and Events' link  https://www.scottsbikes.com 

Car Accident Victim on Forest Service Road waits for 22 hours for help to come

Joe "Clooney" a recent move-in to Monroe County TN escaped serious injury in what could have been a deadly single-vehicle car crash on USFS Wildcat Creek road just 10 miles from Tellico Plains on July 22, 2024. 

The good news was that he was not hurt and his cell phone still had service, although he did not call 911. Joe said he spent the rainy overnight ordeal sleeping underneath the car. 

'Thumbs-up' for Boost Mobile.  A USFS service employee happened to drive by and did report the accident to the Tellico ranger station, but they did not do any follow-up or offer assistance...this should serve as a warning to others: if possible, travel in a group or caravan and have plenty of supplies while on rural forest service roads. Use your head and plan ahead or you could easily become "bear food."

There are a few full-time dwellers and some vacation homes near the Cherokee National Forest, and most of the locals know their neighbors: "strangers and outsiders" are quickly recognized. 

No tow truck service companies were willing to come out to the remote crash site except Shep's garage from Tellico Plains: they came out and did the salvage op/recovery. If not for the big tree, he would have fallen down a deep ravine and the outcome of the crash would have been entirely different. There are similar accidents yearly, see statistics of U.S Forest Service road accidents on Accidentdatacenter.com

Running on the Forest Trails--Endurance Event July 20, and 21st

 

East Coast Adventures is sponsoring an endurance mountain event on some of the most beautiful trails of the Southern Cherokee National Forest.

It is a challenging mountain trail run event. To sign up and other information see the East Coast Adventures Website https://ultrarunning.com/calendar/event/the-cherokee If you are more of a hiker than a runner check out http://www.cherokeehikingclub.org/

Car Rally Race may soon to be 10 Times Bigger, if allowed to continue

Derek Wooley KD5UBL, one of the chief collaborators in the recent Car Rally Race in Polk County TN is giddy with joy as he announces what he hopes will take place in 2 to 3 years in our Cherokee National Forest.

    After its Deadliest Year, Rally Race Presses On

Road and Track magazine reports: "It's a sport on the fringes. Advertising dollars don't rain in for a sport that doesn't lend itself to television or even in person-viewing. 

The previous 19 months have hit the rally world hard: 3 deaths during rallies and two other drivers, including one of the sport's biggest, passing away in crashes away from the course."

USFS District Ranger Supervisors are not evaluating any other requests for future rally race events. 

John Muir and other great naturalists that came before us would cringe at the thought of turning our Great Wilderness into a pit of Zombie Hell.

Sparks Fly at USFS Meeting: Racetrack Event through the Forest Considered an "Environmental Crime"

Even though greedy corporate interests have managed to sway or influence forest service supervisors in other parts of the country, the proposed car rally race on June 15-16 in a Wildlife Management Area at the Starr Mountain Wilderness is in direct violation of "The Wilderness Act."  

A Local resident asks "Why do you want to destroy our Natural Wilderness?" ...Another local resident says a friend was sentenced to almost 2 years in prison for accidentally damaging a tree in the forest: 2 days of car rally racing would have a much more severe impact on the environment.

Hiwassee Ocoee District Ranger Supervisor Philip Earhart has decided to authorize all portions of National Forest Service Roads (NFSRs) 23, 44, 55, 67, 99, 103, 220, 221, 302, and 1333 on National Forest System Lands on the Ocoee Ranger District, Cherokee National Forest, Polk and Monroe Counties, Tennessee for rally car racing events on June 15-16, 2024.

One of the first of many comments at a recent rally forum community meeting described how a man had been convicted to a year and a half in federal prison because he crossed the creek in his truck and accidentally damaged a tree at Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park... "You know what it cost that man? non-dui, non-drug, he just damaged a tree with his Toyota truck-he served 1-
1/2 years in prison because it's federal land."...Two days of car rally races in the forest would have a much more severe impact on the forest environment.

https://thepolkcountynews.com/wp-content/uploads/Rally-forum-part-2.mp3

U.S. Forest Service Allows Car Rally Road Race Near "Protected Wilderness" in Polk County TN

The Cleveland TN office of the U.S. Forest Service is allowing race car zombies to turn a narrow forest service road into a weekend-long race car rally on June 14-16, 2024--in the
Starr Mountain Wilderness.

Update: Contact USFS District Supervisor Philip Earhart for comments and legal casework. philip.earhart@usda.gov

The staging area will be the Polk County High School Hwy 411 on Saturday morning June 15th, 2024. The Tennessee Rally USA organizers are allowing what they call "spectator friendly viewing." ...They do not own your national forest. Come and witness your national forest turned into a racetrack--take pictures and gather information which could be used in court.

A petition with over 600 signatures was signed last year voicing strong opposition to allow our treasured national forest to be used for a Daytona Race Car-like event.

The idea of holding such an event in the national forest has raised rumors of a possible 'kickback' or 'bribe' since it seems so unreal and may possibly be in violation of several federal laws. Call any other U.S. Forest Service district and ask if you can get a permit for a rally car race on a narrow and secluded forest service road, which borders a protected wilderness..."You Wanna do What?"...

Contact as many environmental activists as possible. Come to the event and show your support for our beautiful forests and wildlife. Your support will shape our future for generations to come. 

The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. This Act established the National Wilderness Preservation System ..." for the permanent good of the whole people." This law also directs federal land management agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS), to manage these wilderness areas and preserve their wilderness character.

The Southern Environmental Law Center is the largest nonprofit, nonpartisan environmental legal advocacy organization in and focused on the South. As lawyers, policy and issue experts they take on some of the toughest challenges to protect our air, water, land, wildlife, and the people who live here.

The video below shows where the same race group did a preparation/practice run on Lost Creek Campground Road near Reliance TN last year--notice the placard in the video, in a Wildlife Management Area: they referred to it as a "Special Event" as a way to hide or lessen public awareness. On the day of the practice "special event" (April 8, 2023) it rained hard all day long; windshield wipers in vehicles could barely keep up. 

   

"All who enjoy the natural wonders of the Starr Mountain Wilderness will be victimized by the roaring of engines, the screeching of tires, and the aftermath of damaged roads and trails through our beloved forest, all in the name of entertainment."

"A similar event was allowed to happen back in 2002 that caused a lot of problems as far as local residents being behind closed access roads, and a funeral procession being held up for over an hour due to the rally race. It's going to cost our county, it's going to tear up roads, disrupt wildlife habitat, cause an increased danger to residents, and impact all emergency services for the entire weekend...it's a wacko idea proposed by greedy city slickers."

Coker Creek Resident Given Award for Saving FHP Trooper's Life

This incident took place back in 2017 in Palm Beach County Florida, years before he settled down in Monroe County TN--Joe Rodriguez, affectionally known as "Joe Clooney" because of his likeness to George Clooney.

Former DA Steve Crump Must Have Been in a Post-Covid Brain Fog

Who quits and moves out of town if they have just been re-elected to a second 8-year post as District Attorney...and not just move, but move to a densely populated, crime-ridden, major metropolis? ... Former DA Steve Crump must still be taking it all in, after months of waiting to see if his ill-conceived plan would work--it appeared to some as a ploy of political 'musical chairs' which failed miserably...it was an intense wait and see ..."what would happen on March 5, 2024?"...

Crump succeeded in getting Governor Lee to appoint his chief deputy DA (Shari Taylo) as interim DA when he resigned--she served as interim DA until a special run-off election, which coincided with Super Tuesday. The whole scheme didn't sit well with most area residents and she lost the election.  As the saying goes, "Everything Happens for a Reason."

Newly elected DA Steve Hatchett saw a golden opportunity in 2023 when Crump announced he would be resigning and taking a job in Nashville TN. 

DA Steve Hatchett

According to former Bradley County Commissioner Dan Rawls, Shari Taylo never had a chance. Several months ago, he predicted the outcome of the election and every detail in the months-long saga.

Shari Taylo is not required to step down and hand over the keys until September 1st.

Our District is on the Brink of Collapse, more RED FLAGS THAN BEFORE 911

If you pick the wrong district attorney candidate on March 5, 2024, it will increase the risk of a law enforcement collapse: when you add the fentanyl crisis and the open border crisis; it could lead us into a state of doom.

Jenny Blalock Was Unable To Recover From Auto Pilot Spin, Crashed and Died

Jenny Blalock was full of ambition but lacked the experience to fly solo according to aviation flight instructor Dan Gryder--She was pretty far behind the airplane most of the time, which means the model airplane she was flying was way beyond her capability. Jenny and her Dad will be greatly missed by friends and family.

 

Former Sheriff Eric Watson Saga Played like a Shakespearean Tragedy

Bradley County TN is the most densely populated part of the the TN 10th judicial district, which means it is sort of a bellwether of future trends.

Serving only one term, Watson's tenure was filled with multiple investigations and lawsuits. He was even jailed in the same county jail he was in charge of until he bonded out.

When a 12-count felony indictment was handed down by a Bradley County grand jury in 2018, he was vacationing with his family at Disneyworld in Florida. He continuously 'sniveled and whined' blaming others: the county commissioners, the TBI, and the news media outlets.  Dan Rawls shared his opinion on the Watson case dismissal. Even though charges against Watson were dismissed, he was not re-elected. After losing re-election, his glamorous wife filed for divorce and remarried: a few months later, she died from complications of the COVID-19/coronavirus. Get ready for an MSNBC Dateline episode hosted by Keith Morrison.

The mishandling of the Watson prosecution was one of the first major failures of former DA Steve Crump; he had grown to be close/friendly with the sheriff and would recuse himself from the case, which was decided by an outside prosecutor. Another major failure was resigning as DA shortly after being re-elected, and then moving out of town. 

Nearby Unicoi County DA Tony Clark was in a similar situation as former DA Crump: a grand jury indicted the local sheriff--he said that even though the sheriff was a friend, he had to perform his duties as prescribed by law. Watch Video

Dr Lobel Raises Serious Questions on the Recent Hamas Attack in Israel

 

That Horrible Move-in Neighbor from Florida: This One was Even Worse

As seen on ArsTechnica 

If you thought the neighbor who returned after getting booted out of Transylvania was bad--meet Barry Ardolf...

A Minnesota hacker prosecutors described as a “depraved criminal” was handed an 18-year prison term Tuesday for unleashing a vendetta of cyber-terror that turned his neighbor’s lives into a living nightmare.

Barry Ardolf, 46, repeatedly hacked into his next-door neighbors’ WiFi network, and used it to try and frame them for child pornography, sexual harassment, various kinds of professional misconduct and to send threatening e-mail to politicians, including then-Vice President Joe Biden.

His motive was to get back at his new neighbors after they told the police he’d kissed their 4-year-old son on the lips.

“Barry Ardolf has demonstrated by his conduct that he is a dangerous man. When he became angry at his neighbors, he vented his anger in a bizarre and calculated campaign of terror against them,” (PDF) prosecutor Timothy Rank said in a court filing. “And he did not wage this campaign in the light of day, but rather used his computer hacking skills to strike at his victims while hiding in the shadows.

“Over months and months, he inflicted unfathomable psychic damage, making the victims feel vulnerable in their own home, while avoiding detection.”

Ardolf had no criminal record, but an investigation revealed that he’d also hijacked the WiFi of other neighbors, and terrorized them as well. 

A father of two, Ardolf had turned down a two-year plea agreement last year to charges related to the Biden e-mail. After that, the authorities piled on more charges, including identity theft and two kiddie-porn accusations carrying lifetime sex-offender registration requirements. He pleaded guilty to them all last year.

The bizarre tale began in 2009 when Matt and Bethany Kostolnik moved in the house next door to Ardolf, who at the time was a Medronic computer technician living in the Minneapolis suburb of Blaine.

Monroe County Constable Tommy Jones Was Arrested and Re-elected--Trump Supporters Hope For The Same

 If as the saying goes, 'truth is stranger than fiction' we may be seeing former President Donald Trump re-elected in 2024.

Despite facing several felony charges in March of 2014, Monroe County TN Constable Tommy Jones won re-election before his case went to trial...if you are wondering whether justice was served, all the charges were dismissed and he remained in his elected constable position...

The presiding judge Andrew Freiberg pointed the finger at the DA's office for taking too long to bring the case to trial, and the DA's office claimed they had been ready all along.

Regardless of where the blame lies for Tommy Jones Senior not having to answer to the serious felony charges; one can only imagine the difficulty involved in the district attorney's office prosecuting Monroe County TN Sheriff Tommy Jones' father--had Daddy Jones been prosecuted, it may have created a 'humbug chaos' with other pending criminal cases: deputies not showing up for court, contraband being lost or mishandled, and other obstructionist tricks and tactics...simply put, it could have been a worst case scenario for the legal system. 

Seen here during the Channel 8 news interview admitting that... "he shouldn't comment" -- Even those who should know better than to make public comments during pending litigation often make incriminating remarks.

Field Day 2023--Drones Assist set up HF antennas and Dstar Demonstration of Icom 52

Setting up a wired HF antenna used to be more commonly done using a slingshot to set the antenna wires between trees...not anymore--with the advent of personal drones or UAVs, drone-assisted setups are common for temporary and permanent installations.

Also shown is the latest handheld by Icom, model 52-A which is Dstar as well as analog capable...You can communicate around the world or locally with the Dstar system.

Get into ham radio and you will have a tremendous resource if you are ever lost in the woods and find yourself without cell phone service. There are many situations of lost campers and hikers that ventured out thinking their cellphone was the only lifeline they needed in an emergency: avoid being another DOA statistic--learn about radio communications and you will increase your chances for survival.

Daniela Valderrama's Facebook Alert was a Hoax

 

Daniela Valderrama

On Monday, May 22, 2023 -- an alert was posted on the local Facebook users group by Daniela Valderrama saying..."Does Anyone know who this creepy guy is?"

The so-called "creepy guy" was an innocent victim and was falsely accused--he was interviewed by MCNW and wants to share how he ran into the accuser...

                         ...........................

Manny Silva says...I was driving towards Cooper Hollow road and saw what looked like a stranded or perhaps a lost motorist on the side of the road and stopped and said hello...As soon as I realized she must be a friend or girlfriend of dirty trickster Billy Smith, AKA on Facebook (Rusty Trucks) -- I drove on, and could hear as she screamed and hollered: she wanted to know "how did you know that, and who are you?"...Cooper Hollow road in Monroe County TN is one of the most hidden places to live and use as a base of operations.

As I looked in my rear-view mirror, she had turned around and was following me--GPS cache meta-data would show that she followed me after our brief conversation...I felt she was so enraged that I better stop and try to calm her down--she started video recording her shouting and screaming, so I took a picture of her...I later made a police report at the Tellico PD with a Monroe County officer...I was in fear for my life and felt I was being chased by a "raving lunatic."

Rural Forest Service Road Used as a Racetrack...? Residents Meet to Discuss Impact

8:06 AM...April 8th, 2023 Rally Race Updates

100% chance of rain for most of the day--Nature is not supporting those that would violate the natural forest environment...some consider the location for this race event as "Insanity passed off as logic."

With the approval of the local USFS office in Cleveland TN, a Chattanooga Tourism Company is leading the effort to bring a World Rally Championship car race to the Cherokee National Forest in a rural and narrow gravel road in Polk County TN. Some of the local residents are strongly opposed to the event...Race event is set for April 8th, 2023.

Polk County resident Brian McCord shares his opinion on the race in the woods ... "The idea reveals the worst kind of disrespect for Polk County residents, the forest environment, quality of life and nature in general--the arrogant idea is to draw the financial gain to Chattanooga, with some scraps leftover for Polk County, which will only to be overwhelmed with excessive noise, air pollution, and terrified wildlife."

"All who enjoy the natural wonders of this national treasure will be victimized by the roaring of engines, the screeching of tires, and the aftermath of damaged roads and trails through our beloved forest, all in the name of entertainment."

Another local resident recalls the problems caused by a similar event..."We had a similar rally race here in 2002 that caused a lot of problems as far as local people being behind closed access roads, and a funeral procession being held up for an hour and a half due to the race. It's going to cost our county, it's going to tear up roads, will cause an increased danger to residents, and impact all emergency services for the entire weekend...it's a wacko idea proposed by greedy city slickers."...come to the forum at the high school next Tuesday.

There will be a public forum at the Polk County High School to discuss the proposed race rally event  on Tuesday March 28th at 7 PM...This video was recorded on April 1st, it shows the actual path where the rally race will take place.

Enjoy the Benefits of Living in East Tennessee

Spring has sprung.  Enjoy all the natural wonders that attracts more out-of-town visitors  each passing year.  In the southern part of Monroe County,  there's cell phone service using any of the AT&T affiliated cell phone service providers.   And, there's a Dstar wide-area coverage repeater in nearby Benton TN that has crystal clear audio for both receive and transmit...as well as the 147.180 analog repeater.

Just over the TN/NC border there is an amazing waterfall and cave formations that is not on the tourist map...take Joe Brown road in Coker Creek for about 10 miles,  and you will run into this wonderful recreational area--it is so well hidden that during the 5 years Eric Robert Rudolph was a federal fugitive,  this area was one of his hangouts in the wild.  To prevent the overflow of tourists, you must travel and do your own research:  otherwise it may become as busy as Bald River Falls,  which is usually way overcrowded with visitors during the summer months.

Thermal Drones Are Becoming A Must Have Tool in Bear Hunts

A local hunter describes a bear hunt using a bow and arrow as ...

" It is different hunting something that can hunt you back, And you're using a pointy stick."

The DJI Matrice 300 drone is what this local hunter will be adding to his arsenal for hunting in 2023...

As a high-performance complex thermal drone, the Matrice 300+Zenmuse H20 is the leading standard for thermal measurement drones. It's bolometer sensor has a resolution of 640x512, the main camera has 23x hybrid optical zoom, capture 20 MP still photos, and is also equipped with an infrared range finder with a range of up to 1.2 kilometers --the drone will set you back around $14,000...Happy Hunting. Look for local deal on drones on the Knoxville Craigslist ads.
 

Osama Bin-Ladin's Satellite Phone was being monitored long before the 911 Attacks

To what extent was the NSA watching suspected terrorists prior to the 911 attacks...? According to former head of the CIA's Bin Laden unit Michael Scheuer, "Osama Bin Ladin's Inmarsat Satellite phone was a Godsend, it gave us an idea of not only where he was in Afghanistan, but where his Al Qaeda Organization was located."

By putting together thousands of now 'unclassified' documents and public records we can piece together the NSA's role prior to 911.  In November 1996, a known Al-Qaeda operative bought an Inmarsat Satellite phone from a store near New York City; that phone was for Osama Bin Ladin--once he started dialing from Afghanistan--the NSA's listening posts quickly tapped into his conversations...his Inmarsat phone would transmit a signal straight to a satellite orbitting over the Indian Ocean...the tracking also enabled investigators to get his phone number, which allowed them to monitor both sides of the conversations.

We now know that Bin Ladin had gone 'dark' years before he was caught; hiding in a compound in Pakistan that had no internet or landline phone--which explains why it took investigators so long to track him down...in a carefully planned raid by Navy Seals in 2011.

Chattanooga Ham Radio Fest 2022

Learn about modern radio communications--get ready in case cell phones and land line phones are not working due to a nationwide emergency... If the power grid is down for several days or even weeks ham radio operators may be the only ones that will have the means to communicate and pass on emergency radio traffic--this Friday and Saturday 10/14 to 10/15--location of event is at 1517 Tombras Ave. East Ridge TN 37412--don't miss it...Search on your browser for Chattanooga Ham Radio Festival if you need additional information as well as your local ham radio club to learn about ham radio.

John Loach Admits to Lying in Court, then Tries to Pass a Note to the Judge

In 2021, Miranda Cheatham sought an acquittal or to have her case retried on the grounds that her defense team obtained a barely audible secret recording that they claimed showed a conflict of interest by the DA...More in Cleveland Daily Banner.

John Loach, the witness who made the secret recording openly admitted while on the witness stand that yes, he lied sometimes...

Passing a note or anything at all to a judge during a court proceeding is 'unheard of' ...See how gracefully Judge Don Ash handles the situation. The John Loach testimony is towards the end of the video.

It may be the first and only time you see a witness unwittingly incriminate himself like this:  ...Watch Court Hearing on YouTube.

County Elections seen as a Victory for the Public Good

Circuit Court Clerk:  Dewayna Martin is the clear winner over Tracy Long Austin--Martin 3,796--Austin 2,304...The Circuit Court Clerk position is one of the most important posts in the county. 

Austin had the backing of the current/retiring circuit court clerk Marty Cook, and the local Murphy Clan...nevertheless, her defeat is seen as a victory for the rule of law and the administration of justice.

Monroe County Road Superintendent--Incumbent Steve Teague wins over Richard Best's 2nd try to get in the county road superintendent position...RB was seen sitting down in election posters wearing what looked like a light green pajama shirt..."What the heck were you thinkin' Richard?"

Monroe County Mayor--Mitch Ingram defeated Tim Yates for the second time--Mitch Ingram 4,116--Tim Yates 1,993

Monroe County School Bus Contractors Unite, Demand More Money

In a rarely seen unified effort to demand more money from the Monroe County School Board, 3 long time school bus contractors are refusing the latest contract offer from the school system --watch video on how School Bus Drivers Gettin' Screwed

A strange twist on how the school board is using your tax dollars;  they recently spent close to $300,000 to buy out the contract of former director of schools Dr DeAnna McClendon. The buyout agreement included provisions that McClendon would not sue the school system or publicly discuss the secret agreements worked out by the school board and her lawyer.  It is believed that the firing and the 'cover up' was over the school board wanting to continue their history of mismanagement and 'back room deals' with little public input or oversight.  Go to the next school board meeting (if they'll let you in).

Update 7/16/2022  Just a couple of weeks from the start of school and director of schools Kristie Windsor still 'using evasive tactics' when dealing with the news media: refusing interviews.

The current revolt by the main bus contractors is a rare event--in years past, they would just offer a low salary to school bus drivers and continue operations doing 'business as usual.'... several factors have contributed to the unified 'cry for more money' ...

Several employee/drivers are not returning after the summer break (two of the contractors in the video had over 35 drivers employed)... some drivers have within the last two years retired or will soon retire. A bus contractor in 2020 unable to hire additional help, was overworked and crashed into a tree while "functionally asleep" at the wheel.

Let's not forget bus contractors have skyrocketing diesel fuel and operating costs, and there is little incentive to attract new drivers since there are many area wide options for employment--there's also an increased difficulty for new applicants to get a school bus CDL license now that the new federal MAP-21 provisions have been implemented--getting a CDL now is much more time consuming and expensive--and, the training has to be provided by an accredited federal/state program. The new requirements are effective for all new driver training performed after February 7, 2022. See  School Bus Entry Level Driver Requirements

Excluding Monroe EMS from Post Incident Debriefing Was a Violation of H.R. 5852

Sheriff Tommy Jones may have violated several federal laws by excluding Monroe County EMS from the post incident debriefing in the recent "Alijah Kensinger Amber Alert" in the Coker Creek Community.

"The Homeland Security Act" was amended in 2006 adding hr5852,   (5) which includes provisions for inter-agency inter-operabilty and cooperation to 'conduct extensive outreach to foster the development of interoperable emergency communications capabilities by State,  regional,  local governments,  and public safety agencies.'

It also describes ways to (8)  'promote the development of best practices to facilitate the sharing of information for achieving,  maintaining,  and enhancing inter agency cooperation capabilities for such response.'

For The Second Time in the DA's Race, Hatchett Gets The Axe

Two candidates including long-time DA wannabe Steve Hatchett, lost to their opponent despite having many times more road-side placards.  In the past, Hatchett admitted that his ability to hold the public trust was "time-limited" so if elected, he would only serve two terms.  That was one of the most absurd comments ever heard from anyone seeking public office, much less from a member of the legal profession.  

In a bid to unseat Criminal Court Judge Sandra Donaghy, her opponent in the race "Rush to Judgement" Paul Rush likely had 10 times more road signs;  but nevertheless, he lost the election.  The disciplinary actions against Rush by the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility while he was an assistant DA under DA Bebb, is still fresh in the  public's memory.

During the Tommy Jones / Randy White Honeymoon

He Betrayed Randy White,  Can he Ever Be Trusted 

Political scandals are part of a politician's public record:  Richard Nixon is remembered for the Watergate Scandal -- Tommy Jones is remembered for the Alijahgate Scandal.

In (2014) Tommy Jones was a virtual unknown (dog handler) that Randy White chose as his chief deputy; a position of trust which led to Tommy admitting that "in the meantime,  I'll be the sheriff"  while Randy dealt with some technical glitches.  

Tommy now wants to be your 'forever sheriff' -- he has done a reasonable job with the drug epidemic--however, his lack of experience and his overwhelming desire to stay on as sheriff has compromised his ability to do what's right...

The MCSD having switched from the analog radio system to the digital Motorola system  may cost Monroe county a huge increase in the budget--a technician at Fine Communications said that Motorola wants to add at least three additional tower sites to improve radio signals at a cost of about 1.5 million dollars per site.  Analog communications is better for counties with mostly rural mountain terrain--nearby agencies that have kept analog service include US Forest Service,  Polk County TN,  McMinn County TN, and Cherokee County NC.

Tommy's 'costly' mishandling of the January 2022 Alijah Kensinger missing child alert and lack of cooperation with Monroe EMS may disqualify him and hopefully even get him indicted and barred from further LEO service:  After the election will hopefully bring about a full investigation to see 'what really happened' during the two day 'circus' put on by Tommy and his handlers.  They staged a major 19 hour production while the 'lost and disoriented' victim sat under a tree less than a mile from home...it's clear that he endangered the life of 6 year old Alijah and exposed the county to an expensive civil lawsuit by disregarding state and federal guidelines even though he had been told to 'stand down' by the EMS director.

Trucking Company in Deadly Loudon County Crash may be liable for Millions in Damages

Watch safety manager Dean Huth talk about cases where juries have awarded millions of dollars in damages paid out by trucking companies. 

Official Version of Alijah Kensinger Search, Simply 'Not Credible'

Update:  Several witnesses as well as video and photo evidence shows the 'official version' of events is different from what really occurred: which points to an elaborate ruse using a helpless 6-year-old medical transport patient. Within hours, the missing child became a pawn in what may be one of the most egregious cases of law enforcement misconduct in Monroe County TN.  

An eyewitness sums it up like this -- "It started on the afternoon of 1/13/22, when 6-year-old Alijah wandered off on a familiar hiking trail behind the house, living with the paternal grandmother.  As we now know (he was sitting under a tree about (less than a mile) from the house)...  if he was ever lost or unable to find his way back, he had been told to 'stay where you are, and we will find you.'  Instead of rapidly forming a grid search and yelling out for the kid, the event was blown way out of proportion with 3 noisy helicopters, 7 federal and state agencies, and news media from Knoxville camped out at the Coker Creek School parking area for 2 days, (there were even food vendors) --  it was designed to be a next day 'golden opportunity' public relations (PR) event for the sheriff."  

It turned into something so twisted and sinister that Monroe EMS was prevented from joining the post-incident debriefing...? Post-incident debriefing looks for answers to how well prepared were we,  how well did we perform, and how we can perform better in the future...?

What was so damaging that Tommy Jones didn't want anyone to know? ...from a logistical standpoint, Tommy Jones failed miserably: thousands of dollars foolishly spent in overnight flight hours which also hindered the ground search, and a young victim who almost died exposed to 17 hours of near-freezing 30* degree temperature:... so he had to find a way to recoup for the following day, and again he screwed that up too!... You often hear of 'dumb criminals' posting incriminating photos on 'facebook' and getting caught--that's exactly what he did...'go-figure'.

Publicity Stunt At Any Cost

Sheriff Tommy Jones' effort to stage a 'political sideshow' in the Alijah Kensinger incident raises questions of 'Official Misconduct'--TN 39-16402. (1)  One who commits an act relating to the servant's office or employment that constitutes an unauthorized exercise of official power.  The offense of 'official misconduct' is a class E felony.  As far as federal violation of 'civil rights',  Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Would Tommy Jones risk the safety of a 6-year-old boy to get an advantage in the May 3rd election--and,  if part of this two-day operation was 'staged' could there be other details that should be uncovered?  

Late Friday morning 1/14/22, Tommy's hand-picked goons brought Alijah from the walking trail site behind the grandmother's house to the command center and parked as far as possible from the waiting ambulance so they could parade south from the farthest spot in the parking lot, right up to the waiting news media... this publicity stunt on a busy state route endangered everyone involved-the gathered crowd looks on as Tommy's water boy Jason Fyllyaw tries to offer some protection and ready-made excuses: it's ironic that nearly two weeks later, a sheriff's deputy was killed on a busy highway while outside of his patrol car.

When EMS Director Randy White became aware Alijah was found he gave specific instructions that the ambulance crew would come and take over: his order was ignored even though improperly handling a patient who may have suffered trauma increases the risk for cardiac arrest… without regard to standard medical protocol, the six year old was loaded in the back of a truck and brought near the command center so he could be carried by Sheriff Jones on a busy highway ‘like a trophy' ...

“Has Tommy Jones lost his friggin’ mind?”...mishandling a medical transport patient, (a possible trauma victim) can lead to horrendously expensive legal costs... Courts have ruled that 'emotional distress' is mental suffering caused by a particular event or negligence. As such, it is possible to file a civil lawsuit on the grounds of emotional distress to receive compensation for the damage caused. 

New details emerge from a recent video interview with the 6 year old's mother, in what is now regarded as a 2 day 'Theater of the Absurd'...Why did it take 19 hours to find the missing 6 year old boy who supposedly was under a tree about a mile away from home near a walking trail behind the house?  An attempt to spread 'disinformation' that Alijah took shelter overnight in an abandoned house is a PR damage control ploy.

His mother said he was taught to stay in-place if he was ever lost...and she confirms that Alijah had symptoms of trauma, unable to discuss the events until days after being back home." We may never know if news of the discovery was kept secret until late Friday morning to optimize publicity of the event for Sheriff Jones...The actual person that supposedly found the boy 'Trenton Debity' never appeared before the waiting TV camera crews (unusual to not make a comment in a situation like this)--instead, search volunteer Stone Gray who was 'nearby', made some comments...but left many unanswered questions.

Alijah's mother picked up the child and left town; if not for the loud helicopter noise, you likely could have yelled out for Alijah from the grandmother's porch--the mother has ties to Washington state, Knoxville TN, and her parents in Virginia...when found, Alijah's first words were "where's my daddy?" The burden of the horrible ordeal must have been devastating for all, especially for the paternal grandmother who lives near the Coker Creek Welcome Center--she had custody of the child or he had been left there by the parents.

Lack of Leadership at Monroe County Schools, Fentanyl Epidemic Sends Shockwave

Recently appointed Director of Schools Dr Kristie Lady Windsor ducks the news cameras during latest crisis at Monroe County Sequoyah High School, where three people were taken to the hospital and a student was arrested after a vape pen exposed fentanyl—the school was forced to close for three days. Lady Windsor (no relation to the Queen of England) is the complete opposite of former Director of Schools Dr DeAnna McClendon, who did not run from the gathered news media at the 2020 school bus crash--McClendon was fired by the white power elite for being a strong woman of color...an investigation into the near deadly bus crash was promised but never made public--some believe the secrecy of this 'cover-up' led to former transportation director Charlie Lee to resign and the school board giving McClendon nearly $300,000 of taxpayer funds as ‘hush money’ before her contract expired.

Tellico Plains HS Coach Shawn Yates Admits to Spit Tobacco Use on Campus

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What are the long-term effects on impressionable young adults, should Coach Shawn Yates be mandated to go into rehab?

Although he has tried to explain that he does it at certain times, it may not prevent a slew of legal issues--as a parent, you should be concerned and mad as hell as to why and who approved the use of tobacco, (a level 1 carcinogen that some consider harder to kick than heroin) by a faculty member during school hours...Monroe County Tellico Plains HS Athletics Director Shawn Yates (a close friend of director of schools Dr Kristie Windsor) has admitted in writing, to regular use of spit tobacco on campus during school hours...

Lawsuits against schools for failing to keep students safe during the Covid 19 pandemic have become commonplace and expensive: to avoid a legal battle, the school board recently paid former director Dr Deanna McClendon nearly $300,000 to go away and keep their dirty secrets private.

When Covid turns into more than just a cold

Delta Variant Fuels Covid Surge Among the Unvaccinated

Many people say their experience with Covid 19 was ‘just a cold’ others haven’t fared as well. 

A local resident says he and his wife were vaccine hesitant because of concerns about infertility—but now he says he wants the vaccine. Currently there is no indication that the vaccine causes infertility.

Look at the case of William Ball, he’s been unable to sit up on his bed for more than about a minute a month after getting Covid…

Miami Building Collapse Linked to Greed and Gross Incompetence

The recent condominum building collapse in Miami may bring a surge of new Florida migrants to East TN —a lack of proper maintenance by the condominium board of directors may have contributed to this deadly tragedy…Early on during the construction the permits were pulled due to somebody’s bright idea of putting a penthouse apartment which was never part of the original design—after a few days, the developer was able to get a waiver and continue with the added weight of the penthouse: it’s unknown if any structural allowances were made to deal with the thousands of tons of unplanned weight the penthouse  brought to the buiding’s design.

As recently as 2018, there are numerous accounts of strange noises and lack of proper upkeep to the building.

Dismissal Of Director McClendon Shrouded in Secrecy

Upon review by the Blogger team this post was reinstated.

Dr DeAnna McClendon took what appears to some as a "payoff" for keeping quiet on a scandal that could affect the lives of Monroe County students--despite the attempt to make pleasing remarks... the secrecy surrounding the mutual agreement to pay off the remainder of her contract at a cost of nearly $300,000 has raised eyebrows. This has impacted race relations, kept important information from the general public, and set a horrible example for students--they (the school board) stopped short of passing a resolution to make the Dire Straits hit single "Money for Nothing" the official theme song for the school system. 

Despite her advanced learning degree, cradling two cell phones and flanked by her attorney; she went against the cardinal rule that anyone should follow when under investigation: Professor James Duane advises anyone who is under investigation to 'keep their mouth shut.'...More often than you can imagine—Any public comment you make, even if it may seem exculpatory-simply 'cannot help you.'...

She used a 'conversational rip cord' to quickly end the news conference, but it worked against her--If you take a careful look at what was said - "I feel overwhelmed by the support that is here tonight; because THEY (pointing to the crowd) care about the children." She never switches to a first-person narrative using "I" or "We" during her brief comments and for a second time goes back to 'She knows these people care about children.'

When was the last time you heard that anyone in Monroe County was dismissed from a job, and received almost $300,000 to simply 'go away' and not sue the employer?...What was the school board wanting to keep secret? ...If you think it was just a 'racial thing'...think again--Lady D 'sold out' and tarnished her legacy: she should have exposed misconduct and stayed at her post until the end of her contract...At the present time--only a few insiders know about the 'back room deal' that led to a contract extension before she walked away with almost $300,000...

School Bus Driver and 20 Students Survive Near Fatal Crash

Upon review, the Blogger team reinstated this post citing it did not violate community guidelines...

Date of Crash: 11/5/2020--A long time Monroe County school bus contractor crashed into a large tree on Wilson Station road at approximately 7:26 AM...

Weather appears to not have been a factor and no other vehicles were involved--Not at an intersection or near a driveway. Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper James Fox felt the driver was compliant and did not detect impairment, therefore an alcohol test was 'not given' and a drug test was 'not given'...even though several students were transported to the hospital. Director of Schools DeAnna McClendon  said county officials would conduct drug and alcohol tests on the driver, but he wasn't suspended or fired: he was back behind the wheel shortly after the horrific accident. (THP was the lead investigator and stated on their report they did not give the driver a drug or alcohol test)--Even if the county did administer a drug and alcohol test on the driver--falling asleep at the wheel may have been a factor, which has been a topic of conversation—a search of the driver’s cell phone should have gone beyond the time of the crash to see if he had been up texting or playing video games the night before the crash, then driving while “functionally asleep at the wheel” during the time of the time of the crash.

Two sources close to the driver said county officials urged him to continue to drive (not confirmed) the afternoon route on the same day of the accident but the driver refused--he took a couple of days off. *This incident underscores the need for better driver training and the importance of implementing the upcoming federal guidelines outlined in the MAP-21 provisions ...

Monroe County has one of the lowest pay scales for school bus drivers anywhere in the country. Some contractors, unable to find drivers to fill positions are forced to drive double routes--which can lead to driver fatigue. With the Corona Virus pandemic and an aging driver fleet, the driver shortage situation will get worse.

How does crash history affect CMV (commercial motor vehicle) licensed drivers? If you are driving a CMV and are involved in a crash, your crash history will stay on your driving record--whether you are at fault or not--information about the crash will be sent to the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)...School Bus operations and transportation performed by anyone under a contract with a school is considered a 'for hire' motor carrier.

The more crashes you and your company experience, the worse your grades on the crash BASIC database and the more likely that the FMCSA will intervene to find out what you might be doing wrong.