Local News

Roane County Board of Education members wrestled again with the prospect of a tax increase to balance the proposed 2013-14 school budget last week.
“We’re about $3 million short. Is that right?” Board member Sam Cox asked.
“Yes,” schools business manager Eric Harbin responded.
“What kind of tax-rate increase would that be?” Cox asked.
“Twenty-six cents,” Harbin responded.

STAFF REPORTS
 State officials are warning about a scam targeting families of inmates.
“Several offender family members have reported receiving phone calls from someone claiming to represent the Comptroller’s Office and offering to help secure the release of inmates from prison,” Tennessee Department of Corrections officials said in a press release. “The caller instructs the family member to send two large sums of money through Western Union in order to secure the inmate’s release.”

... that while Roane State is well-respected as our local community college, Roane County once had two other institutes of higher learning?
In Harriman

The first was in Harriman, where what we now know as the Temperance Building was used as the part of the American Temperance University.

In 1898, its second year, the university enrolled 345 students from 20 states.

Believe it or not, this school is in the college football record books.

Trust us, it’s not a good thing.

Oliver Spring’s darling  country singer Janelle Arthur has seen her time on American Idol end.
The singer was in the bottom two with fellow country enthusiast Kree Harrison.
Arthur sang “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” which she performed a stunning rendition of earlier in the season, in hopes the judges would use their one save of the season to keep her on the Fox talent show styled program.
“Unfortunately baby, it is not unanimous. We’re not gonna use it, but we love you ...” judge Randy Jackson said.