Attorney Russ Egli files Notice of Appearance in the Whiskey Barrel Case

Knoxville Attorney Russ Egli has filed an appearance in the Whiskey Barrel Trading LLC vs Robyn Hurvitz case in Monroe County TN.

A July 2024 press release on Marquis Who's Who describes Mr. Egli:

"A distinguished attorney with a career spanning over 18 years. In 2007 as a new member of the bar, Mr. Egli went before the Tennessee Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighting the fact that the Tennessee Judiciary was experiencing significant problems with a litigant's due process right to pursue the removal of a judge which has an actual conflict or an appearance of impropriety. 

This Senate Judiciary hearing in which other members of the Tennessee Bar, as well as Tennesse residents who were in litigation with a judge refusing to recuse from the case despite an actual conflict or appearance of impropriety testified, was instrumental in changing the laws surrounding the recusal of a judge in Tennessee as well as the disbandment of the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary which was not disciplining Tennessee judges who had clearly violated their judicial canons."

Once had Over $3 Million Worth of Yachts?... Karma is a Bitch

In 2018, 'hype and fluffery' was an integral part of Billy's playbook.

While acting as his own attorney before the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2024, he sang a different tune. 

'Billy' or ‘William Jennings Smith’ was sued by gal/pal Robyn Hurvitz over a real estate dispute–the case made it to the Tennessee Court of Appeals as ‘Whiskey Barrel Trading Company vs Robyn Hurvitz.’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-vExEKQgoE 

Appeal Denied: https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/2024/09/27/robyn-h-hurvitz-v-whiskey-barrel-trading-company-llc-et-al

Whiskey Barrel Case Delayed for Years if Tried in the U.S. Supreme Court?

Pro se attorney oral argument in the Whiskey Barrel Trading Company vs Robyn Hurvitz case appeal made by Coker Creek resident Billy Smith... The Appeal was denied in TN State Court...He was often incoherent and rambling with comments and text that he had difficulty with--but, like he said, "he ain't no lawyer." What options does he have?

Billy started a Gofundme several months ago--says he is donating $2500 to benefit victims of corruption in Monroe County but the donations balance as of 4/5/2025 only shows $315... And has dropped to '0' funds as of 5/27/2025 https://gofund.me/c1976eda

  *************************

Filing an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court can delay a state action.

• The Supreme Court has the power to review decisions made by the state courts.
• When an appeal is filed, it can lead to the court deciding to hear the case (granting certiorari).
• While the Court considers the case, it can issue stays or injunctions that halt the state action in question.
• Stays: The Court can issue a "stay," which is a temporary suspension of legal proceedings or actions. This can prevent a state from enforcing a law or carrying out a decision while the appeal is pending.
• The Appeal Process Itself: The legal process of an appeal to the Supreme Court itself takes time. So even without a stay being issued, the process itself delays the state action.
• If the Supreme Court ultimately rules against the state, it can invalidate the state's law or action, effectively preventing it from being implemented.
• But here's the bad news Billy--The Supreme Court accepts a very small percentage of the cases that are presented to it, and this includes pro se appeals.
• The Supreme Court has discretionary jurisdiction, meaning it gets to choose which cases it will hear.
• It primarily focuses on cases that have significant legal principles or have a nationwide impact.
• The deadline for filing a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court is generally 90 days after the entry of judgment or decree by the lower court. Some cases have an even shorter deadline of 30 days.

By dragging his former girlfriend/business partner 'through the mud' with a litany of insults and off-topic remarks, Billy showed his true colors. It was more likely that the Arabs and the Jews would have agreed to a permanent peace accord before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to hear an appeal by 'Billy' William Jennings Smith.

Recent Clues Shed Light on 2023 Facebook Hoaxster Daniela Valderrama

It was an alarming and bizarre encounter on May 22, 2023. It is now crystal clear the motive behind the malicious tactics used was a 'swatting attack' by a 'serial hoaxster.'...the victim remembers, "It felt like being chased by a raving lunatic." 

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 and harassed for no reason--he was interviewed by MCNW and wants to share how he ran into the accuser...

Daniela Valderrama

Update 2/26/2025...Why was Billy's new girlfriend so 'alarmed and hysterical' back in 2023...was it because they wanted to hide what they had on Cooper Hollow Road...?

Could it be that there is a 34-acre parcel of land near Tilley Lane registered to the infamous  'Whiskey Barrel Trading Company...?'  It's an LLC that was dissolved years ago...There is much more to come...

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

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: I stopped and said hello...As soon as I realized she must be a friend or girlfriend of dirty trickster 'Billy' William Jennings Smith; 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."

Watch Tommy G video below--it shows how Ryan Montgomery was pranked by a Fakesbook hoax and the aftermath.

Whiskey Barrel Trading Company vs Robyn H. Hurvitz 'Live Courtroom Video'

Flea Market Vendor "Billy" William Jennings Smith landed in Coker Creek TN in 2017.  He is one of the most interesting characters that has ever migrated to southern Monroe County--seen representing himself in court as a 'Pro se appellant' in a dispute over real estate with former associate Robyn Hurvitz. His appeal was denied--explained in a detailed decision here, see pdf link:

https://www.tncourts.gov/sites/default/files/OpinionsPDFVersion/Hurvitz%20v.%20Whiskey%20Barrel%20Trading%20Company%2C%20LLC%20et%20al.%20Memorandum%20Opinion%20%2852%29.pdf

An interlocutory appeal filed by Daniela Valderrama, also a non-attorney litigant and recent girlfriend/associate of Billy's was dismissed--see pdf. link:

https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/court-appeals/opinions/2024/04/17/daniela-valderrama-v-robyn-h-hurvitz

Majorana 1 Chip is coming soon--will make real-world quantum computing a reality

Microsoft has unveiled a new quantum chip called "Majorana 1" that claims will make scaled, real-world quantum computing a reality in just years rather than decades. It's palm-sized and has a delightfully retro look yet Microsoft claims it will eventually pack more theoretical computing power than all the world's current classical computers combined.

The Majorana 1 comes after nearly two decades of research. The big claims come thanks to Microsoft's unique approach to the quantum problem. Scientists at the company have engineered a first-of-its-kind "topo-conductor" material that they say exploits an exotic "topological" state of matter, bridging the gap between quantum physics and practical engineering.

Microsoft adds that this topological state enables smaller, faster, and more stable quantum bits (qubits). In fact, the company is so confident in the technology that it claims topo-conductors and the new type of chip they enable provide a clear roadmap to scaling up to over one million qubits on a single chip – a key threshold for quantum supremacy over classical computers for real-world applications.

Superbowl Blowout is Big Surprise for Taylor Swift

Downcast Travis Kelce made his way to girlfriend Taylor Swift’s suite on Sunday inside Caesars Superdome after the Eagles thwarted the Chiefs’ hopes of a three-peat with a 40-22 loss in Super Bowl 2025.

Dressed in ’70s-inspired attire that he arrived at the game in, the Chiefs tight end was seen walking through the hallways of the New Orleans venue in footage shared by “Entertainment Tonight” following a disappointing performance across the board.

Kelce, now facing questions about his NFL future, had zero receptions in the first half.

GUAC THIS WAY

The New York Post reports that the Mexican president strikes a deal with Trump to pause tariffs, and also agrees to put 10K troops on the border. Great News for Avocado lovers...

Interpol Director on Cybercrime Scams

Interpol has been successful with it's ability to have partnerships with 196 member countries. Also, the global race for Quantum Computing intensifies: this will have an impact on national security and life on the planet.

Who Works

This is a dated prediction of the workforce but proportionately similar to current numbers.

The Population of the Country is 160 million, but there are 62 million over 60 years of age, leaving 98 million to do the work.  People under 21 total 54 million which leaves 44 million to do the work.

21 million government employees which leaves 23 million to do the work.  Six million in the Armed Forces leaves 17 million workers.

Deduct 14 million state, county, and city employees which leaves 3 million to do the work.  There are 2,500,000 people in hospitals, asylums, etc.,  which leaves 500,000 workers.  But 450,000 of these are bums or others who will not work.  So that leaves 50,000 to do the work. Now it may interest you that there are 49,998 people in jail so that leaves just two people to do all the work.  And that is you and me brother,  and I'm getting tired of doing everything by myself.

So Let's Get With It!

Florida resident said his truck was stolen within 2 days after moving to Coker Creek--but no police report was made

In mid-October 2024, area residents noticed a small 10' ft U-Haul truck parked on Hwy 68 at the "Billy building" now owned by Florida resident Derrick "Exxon" Valdez under "Lone Wolf LLC."

It was either a move-in or a move-out situation...turned out it was a young couple from Florida that had settled into the studio apartment.

After extensive renovations in the past 5 years, the building has two small apartments (a one-bedroom, a studio-apt, and a small storefront) although it barely has any parking area. The property (which is up for sale again) is less than half an acre, the listing shows it is .4 acre, filled with two rusty classic trucks and other bohemian artifacts.

No police report of a stolen truck raised suspicion about the motive of the 'stolen truck story' so to play the devil's advocate, we had to make sure that the young man's mystery truck story was authentic--in a recorded interview the alleged victim was told that some wealthy residents would consider starting a Gofundme drive--but had to make sure when and where his truck was stolen: did it happen before moving from Florida or in Coker Creek TN...? he assured MCNW that it was stolen from his Coker Creek TN location.

Why 'no police report' about a stolen truck with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office...? He had many excuses for that, the best one was "they couldn't find his address."

The alleged stolen truck victim then sent a picture of a truck (see pic) to see if that would get the Gofundme drive started--as you can guess, it was a feeble attempt that failed to convince anyone that anything he said was true--the young couple barely stayed a month, they moved on to greener pastures.

The owner of the property was told about the interaction that his new renters had with some local residents and he responded in a text: "The tenant was no good. He was full of lies. I already got rid of him. Unfortunately you can't believe everything you're told now a days."   ...sent on Nov.21, at 9:53 AM

Staying Out of the Line of Fire

 

November 15th, 2024

STAYING OUT OF THE LINE OF FIRE: The Dead Drop generally tries to steer clear of politics for oh so many reasons. Actually, just one really important one though: if we can’t all come together on national security issues – regardless of our politics – then we’re only playing the game half as well as we could and that’s just un-American. That’s why we’re not gonna even comment on the megaton of nominees who were announced this week for national security-related positions in the next administration (though our cheekier side could’ve had a field day with a couple of them). What we couldn’t’ resist though, was calling out something we saw that desperately needs a fact check. The Washington Times reported that the President-elect’s nominee to run the CIA, former DNI John Ratcliffe, was expected to target ‘politicization within the Agency’ as a priority and (here’s the surprising part) – that Ratcliffe would “replace Gina Haspel, who has been the agency’s director since 2018.” This will come as news to many – including that Bill Burns guy. Or maybe Haspel has been running the ‘deep state’ version of the Agency for the past few years. More https://www.thecipherbrief.com/dead_drop_article/dead-drop-november-15-2

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" Rodriguez, 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, 'Thumbs-up' for Boost Mobile--although he did not call 911. Joe said he spent the rainy overnight ordeal sleeping underneath the car. 

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...

Update 2/26/2025...Why was Billy's new girlfriend so 'alarmed and hysterical' back in 2023...was it because they wanted to hide what they had on Cooper Hollow Road...?

Could it be that there is a 34.5 acre or so, parcel of land  near Tilley Lane registered to the infamous  'Whiskey Barrel Trading Company...?' 

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

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' William Jennings Smith; 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