.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's Opinions

  • Police, fire staff were professional

    I would like to commend the Harriman fire and police departments for their professional response to a wreck in South Harriman on Aug. 7.

    I called 911 to report the wreck and vehicle fire.

    Both departments arrived within two minutes, secured the area and extinguished the fire.  

    The men and women of Harriman fire and police are underappreciated for their dedication and sacrifice to our community.

    Click here to read more...
  • GUEST OPINION: Loyal employee lawsuit against schools in court

    By DAVID L. HUDSON JR.
    First Amendment Center
    A former employee with a Nevada school district will have her day in court after a federal district judge ruled she had a clearly established right to attend a public meeting and sit next to her former boss.

    Kathleen Nichols was an employee with the Washoe County School District, where she worked as an administrative assistant to the district’s general counsel, Jeffrey Blanck.

    Click here to read more...
  • New school year means a fresh start for all

    By GERA SUMMERFORD
    Tennessee Education Association
    A new school year is under way for most school districts across the state.

    The start of a new year always brings with it a sense of a new beginning.

    Students have a clean slate, teachers welcome new students in their classrooms and we all have the opportunity to renew our commitment to public education in Tennessee.

    The State Department of Education has been touting exciting gains in TCAP scores all across the state in recent weeks.

    Those scores are a direct result of the hard work of our teachers and students.

    Click here to read more...
  • Thanks for the varied opinions printed here

    Most of the time, most of the people make most of their decisions without most of the facts.

    Therefore, I would like to thank the editor and all of the people working at the Roane County News for printing a wide variety of opinions in Roane County’s fine newspaper.

    I especially enjoy the opinions and articles concerning the First Amendment.

    I think it was Patrick Henry who said something along the line: I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death, your right to say it.

    Please keep up the good work.

    Tom Hensley
    Kingston

    Click here to read more...
  • Vote411.org is place to learn about voter ID

    This week marks the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination in voting and has been instrumental in ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected from nefarious election laws.

    In Tennessee and other states, we have seen laws enacted that have the potential to undermine this vital protection. An estimated 11 percent of the population do not have the type of identification required.

    Especially impacted are the elderly, people with disabilities, low-income voters and young people.

    Click here to read more...
  • Kingston couple says local heroes saved their baby

    I want to write a special thanks to all the Kingston firefighters, paramedics and the Kingston police department for helping save my 3-week-old daughter.

    They helped keep me calm when I couldn’t take anymore.

    The three times they came out, they had a very fast response time.

    I especially want to recognize Lynn Ross. He is the paramedic who made sure he was on scene and took special care of our daughter.

    Thank you again for all you guys do.

    Keep up the good work.

    Tim and Mary Austin
    Kingston

    Click here to read more...
  • Chick-fil-A issue not one for govt. involvement

    What kind of country do we live in where a person cannot express what they believe and quote from a notable resource?

    I am referring to the restaurant Chick-fil-A and the Bible.

    Isn’t this the land of free speech?

    Isn’t this what we fought wars for? Since when do politicians choose where and what restaurants the public chooses to eat at?

    The politicians have way overstepped their bounds.

    If they want their cities to be gay-friendly, so be it, but it is not necessary to sneer at Christian beliefs to show their support.

    Click here to read more...
  • GUEST OPINION: Knoxville and Memphis: When officials overreach

    By KEN PAULSON
    First Amendment Center
    Memphis and Knoxville are about 390 miles apart, but they’re in strikingly similar territory as city officials in both try to poach the names of local citizens from newspapers.

    In Memphis, attorneys for the Shelby County Commission are trying to force the Memphis Commercial Appeal to reveal the identities of anyone who posted comments on the newspaper’s website over a 21-month span concerning the merger of city and county schools and plans by suburban communities to start school districts.

    Click here to read more...