VITAL POLICY – Citizen Activism, Public Policy, Education, and County Debt Discussed at Jefferson County Republican Town Hall Meeting
Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-District 1) led the pack of speakers and presenters. State Representatives Jeremy Faison (TN-District 11) and Andrew Farmer (TN-District 17) visited with constituents and listened to views expressed by the party membership with the open mic format. Following Harshbarger’s presentation, Josh Cameron, JCRP Treasurer, presented the congresswoman with a donation check from […]
VITAL POLICY – Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Enters Second Phase in Jefferson County, Tennessee Schools, Parents Express Concerns Over Student Surveys
Student surveys are one of the known tools of SEL. Children as young as 11 years old are being presented with deeply personal survey questions probing the marital and divorce status of their parents, inquiries about family members that are incarcerated, substance abuse, and foster care. Older students recently had to complete a survey in […]
131st Continental Congress of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
After three years in an online format, the 131st Continental Congress of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), met in person in DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C., from June 29 through July 3. More than 4,000 women from 50 states, 12 overseas countries, and one US territory gathered to “Rise and Shine […]
VITAL POLICY – CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a Critical Component of the Court System, Addressing the Needs of Vulnerable Children
Lakeway CASA needs your help to carry out its mission. Kelley Williams will tell you in a heartbeat, one of the most important things for an abused child is to have a solid person they can depend on who has their best interest at heart. This is the gest of what CASA does for the […]
VITAL POLICY – Social Media Hampers Constitutional Education Efforts in Tennessee and Beyond
Nashville, Tennessee based 917 Society distributes pocket copies of the United States Constitution and related educational materials free of charge to eighth grade students in all 50 states. The organization has hundreds of volunteers and operates primarily on donations from patriotic people. Publicity is important to securing donations, recruiting volunteers, and contacting educators. However, getting […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION – SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL), a Slippery Slope of Questionable Education Practices Has Arrived in Jefferson County, Tennessee
This article is intended as a dire warning of how Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is sweeping across the nation, infecting public schools with objectionable and controversial materials and practices, how it is presented to school officials and parents, the methods employed by SEL practitioners, lobbyists, and special interest groups, and most importantly what SEL […]
VITAL POLICY – Tennessee Supreme Court, School Voucher Law Upheld as Constitutional
Changes on the horizon for education in Tennessee Tennessee legislators enacted the “Tennessee Education Savings Account Pilot Program“, commonly known as “school vouchers” on May 24, 2019, legislation that was touted as a way-out for students zoned to attend failing schools. After weeks of negotiating, compromising, and even arm-twisting, the Tennessee General Assembly narrowly approved […]
VITAL POLICY – Tennessee General Assembly Rejects Economic Liberty for Food Truck Operators
A bill aimed at preventing cities and counties from imposing harsh fees and regulations on food truck operators was rejected by the House Health Committee during the 2022 legislative session. Sponsor Representative Michael Curcio (R-Dickson) stated that the bill was about protecting the “purest form of American capitalism”. Food trucks represent “mom and pop” businesses […]
VITAL POLICY – OPINION – Jefferson County High School Should Honor Military Enlistees by Permitting Service Tassels at Commencement
After nearly a week of fact-seeking to help concerned citizens get to the bottom of an issue concerning the wearing of military tassels at the Jefferson County High School graduation ceremony, questions remain unanswered as of the publication time of this article. School system policy has always been a moving target in Jefferson County; but […]
VITAL POLICY – Local Businesses Encouraged to Promote Yes on 1 Initiative with Window Stickers and Signs
Right-to-Work has been law in Tennessee since 1947. Right-to-work simply means workers cannot be fired or penalized for joining or refusing to join a union and pay union dues. On November 8, 2022, Tennessee voters will decide if Right-to-Work becomes a constitutional right under the state constitution. The proposed amendment reads as follows: “It is […]
VITAL POLICY – “STADIUM FEVER” and the Opposition to Taxpayer Funded Sports Venues in Tennessee
With a proposal floating in the Tennessee Legislature to provide half a billion dollars ($500,000,000.00) for a taxpayer funded stadium in Nashville, conservative activists are lining up against the plan. The Tennessee Conservative is reporting that Governor Lee proposed the bond authorization as part of an amendment to the 2022-2023 budget. Last year, the legislature […]
VITAL POLICY – Right-to-Work Constitutional Amendment Among Topics Discussed at Jefferson County Lincoln-Reagan Dinner
Jefferson County Republicans celebrated freedom, promoted local and state candidates, and discussed a variety of topics at their recent Lincoln-Reagan Dinner, including the Right-to-Work State Constitutional Amendment that will appear on the November 8, 2022, ballot. For the first time, primary elections were called by the local Republican Party for county commission and school board […]
VITAL POLICY – Elections and the High Cost of Citizen Apathy
Qualifications for Office The “good ole girl” you knew in high school, or the “good ole boy” you go to church with may not be the best candidate to manage a $110 million-dollar county budget, or a $77 million-dollar annual school budget. It is up to you to be a smart voter and learn the […]
Fashion after the Revolution
After the colonies made the break from Great Britain with the Revolutionary War, the new United States of America exerted its independence in several ways in addition to the choice of a federal republic form of government over a monarchy. Three of those ways were in language, beverage choice, and fashion. Noah Webster standardized new […]
“Thank You” for all that they do to protect our citizens and keep peace in our communities
What do George Washington, Billy Boy (aka Charming Billy), and the law enforcement departments of Jefferson and Grainger counties have in common? Cherries! The young George is supposed to have told the truth about chopping down his father’s cherry tree; Charming Billy’s adolescent fiancé used cherries to swiftly make pies; and the law enforcement departments […]
VITAL POLICY- State Representative Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station) Introduces Legislation Aimed at Reforming Tennessee’s Forfeiture Laws
Tennessee’s civil forfeiture laws enable the government to seize and to forfeit permanently private property on the “suspicion” that it has been used in the commission of a crime, under the lowest standard of evidence and outside the criminal court system, a practice that has constitutional experts alarmed. Most private property and cash forfeited under […]
