County and DOE Pending Litigation
Tennessee counties must identify pending litigation, as a part of their annual financial audit that is conducted by State auditors and reported to the Tennessee Comptroller’s office. The audit report is published on the Tennessee Comptroller’s website in February of every year. This audit year Jefferson County had 17 cases of pending litigation, which includes […]
Dandridge Police Department Installs “Drug Take Back Box”
On Feb 10, 2015 the Dandridge Police Department began utilizing a new strategy to fight the growing prescription pill abuse epidemic in East Tennessee: a “Drug Take Back” program. Citizens are encouraged to bring in excess medications and prescriptions that are no longer needed, or left behind by family members who have passed away, depositing […]
Rezone? Build? or Both?
The Jefferson County Board of School Commissioners held their work session on February 12, 2015 in the Historic Jefferson County Courthouse. Chairman of the Board Jarnigan called the meeting to order. Absent from Roll Call was Board Member Vines. Sherry Dotson, Jefferson County School Transportation Supervisor, addressed the Board regarding challenges that bus drivers have […]
Jefferson County Fugitive Arrested For Stabbing Death In Whitesburg
On February 2, 2015, Officers Sam Cameron and Ethan Shults stopped a blue 350ZX Nissan at the 417 travel center off of Highway 92. The car was driven by Jesse Cole Marriman, 22, of Whitesburg, TN, and Heather Marie Smith, 26, of Morristown, TN. When officers Shults and Cameron questioned the couple, they received consent […]
Dandridge Board Of Mayor And Aldermen Approve 2015 Events Calendar
Dandridge Board of Mayor and Aldermen met on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 in the Dandridge Public Works Building. Preceding the voting meeting a Public Hearing was held regarding an application for off premise beer permit for Dollar General Store in Dandridge. No citizens requested to speak at the hearing. A representative of the applicant stated […]
Blount County Chamber and Blount County Library Partner to Offer Free Business Operation Workshops
The Blount County Chamber of Commerce and the Blount County Library have partnered with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center to present 15 free business operation workshops from Feb. 12-Nov. 12 on Google, social media, business marketing and planning, starting a business and government contracting for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Workshops are held at […]
County Personnel Policies To Be Topic of Discussion
Jefferson County’s Personnel Committee met for the first time since 2010 on Monday, February 9, 2015. Current members of the Committee include Commissioners Carmichael, Beeler, Turner, Blevins and Musick(absent). Following the election of Commissioner Turner as Chairman, Blevins as Vice Chairman and Musick as Secretary, the discussion turned to the responsibilities of the Committee. Without […]
114 School District Leaders Ask General Assembly to Oppose Standards Legislation
The Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) today released a letter to all members of the General Assembly signed by 114 Tennessee superintendents and school district directors who are asking lawmakers not to change the state’s academic standards during this legislative session. The leaders who signed the letter represent school districts that are educating more […]
$1.375 Billion State-Federal Settlement with Standard & Poor’s
Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery announced today that Tennessee, the U.S. Department of Justice, 18 states and the District of Columbia have reached a settlement with Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (S&P) resolving allegations that S&P misled investors when it rated structured finance securities in the lead-up to the 2008 financial crisis. The settlement […]
Work to Start Without Penalty Clause
The change order that is associated with the renovation and repair of Building 8 at Jefferson County High School has been signed,as of February 6, 2015, according to Jefferson County Finance Director Potts. Previously, there had been some exchange regarding the terms associated with the change order. According to information provided, attorneys for Jefferson County […]
Secretary of State Tre Hargett Presents Jefferson City Library $100,000 Check
Secretary of State Tre Hargett paid more than just a visit to Jefferson City Friday as he delivered a check for $100,000 to the Jefferson City Library currently under construction. City, County, and State officials gathered Friday at City Hall to officially receive the money and voice their support for a strong library facility […]
3-D Printed Bust of President Obama on View for Presidents Day at the National Portrait Gallery
In 2014, President Barack Obama became the first President to be scanned using 3-D technology. Data from the scan were used to create his portraits, and a 3-D printed bust will be on view for Presidents Day weekend Friday, Feb. 13, through Monday, Feb. 16, at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The portraits of Obama […]
New Market Students Celebrate Authors
New Market School students and staff enjoyed a day to Celebrate Authors, last week. Special guests Galen Carpenter, author of two children’s books, Reed Carringer, sports writer and photographer for Rocky Top Insider Magazine and Jeff Depew, Editor of the Jefferson County Post, were on hand to speak to the student body about different aspects […]
58 Million Nonsmokers in US Are Still Exposed to Secondhand Smoke
Although secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in the United States dropped by half between 1999 to 2000 and 2011 to 2012, one in four nonsmokers — 58 million people — are still exposed to SHS, according to a new Vital Signs (http://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/tobacco/) report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Data from the National Health […]
Punxsutawney Phil Spooked Once More
February 2 marks Groundhog Day 2015, a celebrated folk holiday where the trend of the remaining days of winter is predicted by the holiday’s revered mascot, Punxsutawney Phil, the resident groundhog of Punxsutawney, Pa. Groundhog Day has been celebrated for over 170 years, with the first recorded instance of celebration occurring in Morgantown, Pennsylvania on […]
Budget Chairman Scarlett Addresses County Debt Issues
Recent actions by the Jefferson County Commission, as well as the fast approaching budget season, have brought serious questions to the forefront regarding the financial situation in Jefferson County. John Neal Scarlett is serving his second stint as Jefferson County Budget Committee Chairman (two years during his previous term) and will be leading the Committee […]
