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Today's News

  • A VIEW from LICK SKILLET: Remembering Daddy — John Roy Largen

    Gentle reader, as a regular follower of this column, you may recall that last August you were given a brief biography of my mother, Martha Mae McGlothin Largen up to the time of her marriage, with the promise of a similar piece on my father, John Roy Largen, this month.

    Since almost six months have passed it seems apropos to repeat the introduction to the earlier piece before launching into today’s segment, so, this is what I wrote in the article dated 23 August, 2013:

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  • IRS offers YouTube help videos

    The Internal Revenue Service has released a YouTube message from Commissioner John Koskinen to the nation’s taxpayers providing tips and help for the 2014 filing season.

    In the YouTube video, now available at IRS.gov and the IRS YouTube channel, Koskinen also discusses how the IRS and its employees will approach the 2014 tax season.

    “I can assure you we are all dedicated to doing whatever we can to help you file your taxes this filing season,” Koskinen said in the video, which runs just under three minutes.

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  • Yager honored by TPA

    Two legislative leaders from East Tennessee are the 2014 recipients of the Tennessee Press Association’s coveted Open Government Award.

    The awards were presented to state Sen. Ken Yager, a Harriman Republican and chairman of the Senate State and Local Government Committee, and state Rep. Ryan Haynes, a Knoxville Republican, on Feb. 6 at TPA’s Winter Convention and Press Institute in Nashville.

    Haynes chairs the House State Government Committee.

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  • Aytes not bothered by Common Core controversy

    Roane County Director of Schools Gary Aytes said he’s not concerned with the controversy surrounding the Common Core State Standards.

    “I don’t have time to be,” he said. “We do what we’re told, and we’re told that we’re going to do Common Core, so that’s what we’re preparing for.”

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  • Bruner suspension impacts courts

    Harriman attorney Spence Bruner won’t be available for the February through April term of Roane County Criminal Court because he’s suspended from practicing law.

    The term starts next week.

    Assistant District Attorney General Bill Reedy said the cases where Bruner is the defense attorney will be continued until the June through August term.

    The Tennessee Supreme Court suspended Bruner for 90 days on Jan. 31 for violating rules on expediting litigation, fairness to the opposing party and counsel and misconduct.

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  • Road salt supplies dwindling this winter

    The unusual amount of wintery mixes has substantially cut down Harriman’s salt supplies, but officials said Wednesday they were ready for the snow storm forecasted earlier this week.

    “We are pretreating right now, and then we’ll salt if we have to,” Drack Langley said Wednesdaymorning.

    Langley supervises the Harriman Street Department.

    “We are low, but we have enough if it comes.”

    He said they’ll use a mix of salt with chips (grit) and sand.

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  • Harriman sets sights on future goals

    Harriman is looking to the future again, planning to review the city’s longterm goals and vision.

    Municipal Technical Advisory Service was supposed to be in Harriman last month, but bitterly cold temperatures and snow forced a rescheduling.

    The “visioning” meeting is now set for 6 p.m. March 18.

    “Expect a two, two-and-a-half hour meeting on March 18,” said Harriman Mayor Chris Mason recently.

    “I think we need a short-range and a long-range plan,” Mason said.

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  • Two offices, only one Berry

    Ron Berry has picked up petitions to run for county commissioner and for circuit court clerk.

    When asked about it, Berry said he is exploring his options.

    The qualifying deadline is April 3, so Berry has until then to choose.

    “I’m just going to see what things are looking like,” he said.

    All 15 county commission seats will be on the ballot for the Aug. 7 election. Berry is one of three commissioners representing District 1.

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  • Part-time job pays $93,000-plus

    Imagine a part-time job that pays more than $93,000.

    Moreover, if you pay taxes in Roane County, you’re footing the bill.

    Despite being a part-time job, the position of Roane County attorney pays $93,775.

    That’s more than the salaries of the sheriff and road superintendent, who each make $81,208, work full time and supervise government staffs.

    One county commissioner questioned the logic of the situation this week.

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  • Arrests: Aug. 18-31, 2013

    Editor’s Note: Readers are cautioned that some names may be the same as, or similar to, other members of the community.
    Aug. 18 — Jessica Leann Murray, 22, 157 Old Hen Valley, Oliver Springs: failure to appear. Bond $119.10; court date Sept. 6.

    Aug. 19 — Charles Thomas Jenkins, 25, 113 Wise Road, Kingston: two attachments. Total bond $3,000; court date Aug. 28.

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