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‘VIRTUAL PIONEER’ SHINES IN...

With a lightning-fast mind and body, Austin Cochran struggled with the pace in traditional schools.

Diagnosed in kindergarten with Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, the fifth-grader was often bored and antsy in the classroom.

Jenkins’ influence felt beyond...

 

This year’s Roane County News Educator of the Year doesn’t just make a difference in the classroom.

Dawn Jenkins does much more, including instructing a flourishing Bowers Elementary Dance Team.

For her, children are a joy, and it shows in her dealings with them.

“It doesn’t matter what age. I love them all,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to children. I just think I was born to do this.”

Oak Ridge woman charged with DUI

A woman was arrested for driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and driving on a suspended license after a four-vehicle accident on Hwy. 58 near James Ferry Road Saturday.

Amanda Graham, 30, Oak Ridge, was treated at University of Tennessee Medical Center before being taken to the Roane County Jail and charged.
Preliminary reports from Tennessee Highway Patrol indicated Graham’s vehicle was traveling southbound on Hwy. 58 in the northbound lane.

Lawyer asks to quit defending...

Matthew Dotson, the father accused of starving his son to death, may have to find a new defense attorney.
His current legal advocate, Knoxville attorney Joseph Lodato, filed a motion in Roane County Criminal Court to withdraw from the case “due to his (Dotson’s) failure to fulfill contractual obligations,” Lodato said in the motion to withdraw.
The motion has yet to be granted by a judge.
Dotson and his wife, Amanda, are charged with first-degree murder in the death of their 2-year-old son Clifford.

Beer board refuses to hear woman...

The Roane County Beer Board refused to hear Roma L. Christopher’s application for a beer permit on Tuesday.
“Because you all think I’m opening up for Grover Norton,” Christopher told the board.
Norton, owner of the Grill & Pub, had his beer permit revoked for a year on Feb. 12. Christopher planned to operate from the same location, 2224 Harriman Hwy., under the name 27/61 Grill-N-Pub.
According to her application, Norton still owns the property.

Janelle Arthur going from ‘Idol...

Janelle Arthur’s star shone brightly during this past season of “American Idol.”
The Oliver Springs native, who made it to the top five on the televised talent-show-style program, will next showcase her country pipes at the legendary Grand Ole Opry.
She’ll perform at the Opry House at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19.
“She’s really excited. She put on Facebook she has been wanting to sing on the Grand Ole Opry since she was 4 years old,” said Judy Arthur, Janelle’s proud mother.

Inmate garden goes to weeds

 

The Roane County inmate garden has fallen on hard times.

A site that once rustled with tall, green cornstalks is now overgrown with brush and weeds.

University of Tennessee Extension Agent Grant Palmer, who helped run the inmate garden program, blamed it on the weather.

“We didn’t do it this year, and we didn’t do it last year,” he said. “With it being so wet, being able to get in there and get it tilled is what’s held us back.”

The county started the garden back in 2008.

Roane, by the numbers

It’s budget season, and Roane County finance director Kaley Walker is in her element.

“I am a math nerd, so I love all this stuff,” she said. “I think there are not enough girls going into finance and engineering.”

Walker likes the black-and-white clarity of numbers.
“I have to have a right answer or wrong answer,” she said.

Walker was hired by County Executive Ron Woody in 2010, at the recommendation of his wife, Becky.

New insurance laws loom

In about six months, every man, woman and child in the United States will be required to have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Can you and your family afford it?

What options do you have?

And what are the penalties if you don’t, say, get with the program?

A representative from a new kind of health insurance entity was in Roane County recently to help dispel some of the fog.

Lisa Preiss works with Community Health Alliance, a new company based in Knoxville.

Tax increase? No way, some say

A proposed increase on the county’s property tax rate for schools isn’t popular with members of the public who spoke out during last week’s Roane County Commission meeting.
“Any increase in property taxes is not only going to hurt everybody that’s here,” John Binseel said. “It’s not going to motivate anybody to move into Roane County.”
The property tax bill on his Grande Vista Bay home last year was $2,731.

Copyright © 2013

The Roane County News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Roane County and Kingston, Tennessee, and the surrounding area.