Former Knox County 911 Director Tom Key Passed Away

On Wednesday the second Director of Knox County's Emergency Communication District (E911) passed away. Tom Key, a military veteran (Cpt. in the Army). Key was Knoxville's first undercover narcotics police officer, the first OSHA Director for the City of Knoxville. Key also served as CTO/CIO for U.S. Senator Albert Gore, Jr. He designed and implemented international telemdicine for St. Jude Children's research hospital. He served as Director Executive International for Ireland's children and adult care foundation. he implemented nationwide telemedicine for the Isle of Ireland and was recognized by the national legislature of the Republic of Ireland as one of the top five telemedicine experts in the world.

Please remember his wife of 29 years Sherran Bradford Key; daughter and son in law Jessica Rose and Jose Lomeli; daughters Elizabeth Wildsmith, Susan and Barbara Key; his twin brother Charles Joseph Key and the rest of his family and friends.

What Gives With Print Media's Treatment of Mayor's New Hire?

Yesterday at 11:04 a.m. the Big Metal Shed on the Hill published this story online about the hiring of Patricia Robledo by Madame Mayor Madeline. By Bill Lyons own admission on the local liberal blog, Lyons the #3 guy in the Madame Mayor Madeline administration posted "I monitored the comments from the time the article appeared. Literally within a minute or two a comment appeared that was just plain racist and disgusting. I flagged it for removal. Within a short time 8 more comments appeared. They ran the gamut from sanctuary cities to green cards to more overt racist appeals and references to Mexicans. When I checked again in a few minutes the comments were disabled. I breathed a sign of relief and hoped that Ms. Robledo's children had not read the comments while they were still viewable." Should the individual making $150, 030.00 the second highest salary in the administration and $20,030 more than the Mayor herself have the duty of monitoring and flagging "objectionable" comments?  Is his flagging a comment, his opinion or that of the City administration.

The problem that has been communicated to me by at least three people in the community today. Is the Big Metal Shed on the Hill or it's Editor Jack McElroy's decision yesterday that speech with some public officials off limits. From all indications this was a first for a public official. Don Jacob's story last week detailing the high school rank of former Mayoral candidate Ivan Harmon should have been disabled. However, as an elected official and Senior Citizen Harmon should not have been exposed to such tacky reporting, commenting. As for other public officials, former Mayor Mike Ragsdale, former Sheriff Tim Hutchison were never the recipient of disabling tacky, hurtful comments. Former Mayoral candidate Mark Padgett and his family were the subject of many hurtful comments posted on the website of the Big Metal Shed on the Hill and McElroy did not disable the comments. Even myself as a former School Board Member and Knox County Republican Party Chairman have never received the gift of disabling comment that were tacky, hurtful and just plain low class.

Everyone that becomes a public official understands that all comments are unfortunately fair game unless the "official" can prove malice. Mrs. Robledo should have been informed of this prior to accepting the the job. Obviously, Lyons expected it, when he said last night on the local liberal forum "Unfortunately we expected that this might happen." When he said "we" was it he and the Mayor? he, the Mayor and Mrs. Robledo?

As for the controversy of Mrs. Robledo coming to Knoxville in 1980 and becoming a citizen in 1990. However, authored the press release exposed this controversy to Mrs. Robledo and the Big Metal Shed on the Hill including it. Obviously, with it's inclusion in the press release and article everyone "with hands on deck" should have expected the questions.

Now, as for how comments are handled. I have always advocated that comments be listed by the commenter's name. I began using comment moderation, to keep the ill bred, nasty comments off. In addition to comment moderation it allows me to check ip addresses where the comment is coming from. The Big Metal Shed on the Hill has the ip addresses of all comments. So, they know who it is. I support tight requirements on commenting, however I am against the wholesale disable comments by the paper. It is not right.

Trustee Duncan Corrects A Bad Idea

WBIR reports tonight (here) that Trustee John Duncan is requiring the employees that received a bonus this year that had not earned it a six month grace period ( by June 30, 2012) to complete the requirements or return the money. Duncan states that in 2010CTAS had a computer error and that is why the unearned bonuses were paid. WBIR apparently has not confirmed that with CTAS.

Let's just hope that some media stay on top of this story to ensure the taxpayers are made whole. I am sure our "Conservative Taxpayers Watchdog" County Mayor Tim Burchett will do that. Duncan also stated that he has corrected the paperwork that allowed these unearned bonuses to be paid.

I guess his Collections Attorney Chad Tindell had to do a reversal. I guess the recent hire of Larry Van Guilder by the Trustee paid off. Van Guilder probably advised the Trustee that the best thing to do, is follow the rules and reverse bad opinions of others.

Shock And Awe First With Business Liaison Announcement

We were the first to report the business liaison appointment by Madame Mayor Madeline at 10:51 am. Knoxnews was next at 11:04 am and then the local liberal blog was behind us both at 1:06 pm.

Madam Mayor Madeline Names Business Liaison

This morning Madam Mayor Madeline named Patricia Robledo as the City of Knoxville's Business Liaison. Robledo is a small business owner and executive director of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of East Tennessee according to the press release.

Robledo will head the Office of Business Support that Rogero promised during the campaign to create if elected.

The Classic - "Wagon Wheel"

Bob Dylan penned the chorus and Old Crow Medicine Show completed the classic song "Wagon Wheel". Below is Jake at the World Famous Tootsies in Nashville singing "Wagon Wheel" as a cover song.

Below is the "official music video" of the Old Crow Medicine Show. You can interrupt any thing you want to from the words and the video of the song. I see that the band had no crowd until the ladies came out. When the band and ladies went inside and came back out, the crowd was even larger. Take what you will from it.

Where Can You Meet Commissioner Jeff Ownby in 2012

He tells you right here.

Who has the highest paid salary in Knox County?

Some people say that Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of Knox County Schools is the highest paid. Some people say that Dale Smith, the head of the Knoxville/Knox County Public Building Authority is the highest paid. Well, my sources in the Deathstar (aka City County Building) have informed me (and I am attempting to get all the material) that the head of the Knoxville/Knox County Tourism and Sports Corp made over $400,000 last year. That my friends would be the highest paid in Knoxville/Knox County.

Some of that money is from hotel/motel tax. However, I am told that there are also direct contributions from Knox County and Knoxville that fund the KTSC. Will this become an issue at budget time for either new Knoxville Madame Mayor Madeline Rogero or Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett? Stay tuned,

Postcard Pics from Iowa

A friend of mine was out visiting his in laws in Cedar Rapids, IA for CHRISTmas and sent this cell phone pic of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Knox County Schools, Please Proceed With Caution

Today's Big Metal Shed on the Hill has a a story about Knox County Schools proceeding with a volunteer data base where community members can search by grade or needs for volunteer opportunities at all the Knox County schools. I am concerned about perverts seeing this as their way into the school with the kids. Read the story here. My advice to  Knox County Schools, proceed with caution.

Robert Lawrence Smith is Attending What?

Mike Donila over at Screams From The Porch posted what the new meeting notices look like. He posted Robert Lawrence Smith's. On Smith's meeting notice it states he will be attending the "Big Orange Zip Off Club" Do What? It is every Monday & Wednesday at Noon in January & February at Calhouns on the River. You can just go ahead and fill in the blank _____________. Here is the notice

Remember the Reason for the Season!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Trustee Duncan Leaned on Attorney Tindell and Fell

According to Trustee John Duncan III it was Attorney Chadwick B. Tindell that authored the salary suit that disguised the "bonuses". It slipped by Mayor Burchett the first year. But not this year, so now the Trustee finds himself at odds with the popularly elected and "the taxpayer's watchdog" County Mayor Tim Burchett.

The public opinion is clearly against the Trustee based on the comments of the Big Metal Shed's investigative story researched and authored by Mike Donila. Tindell went so far as to award himself $3,000 two years in a row for completing his continued education that he is required to complete in order  to maintain his law license. Clearly this is a case of the entitlement mentality gone awry. They should refund the unearned bonuses immediately.

Congressman Duncan & Mayor Burchett, Conservative to the Core

I have been active in local politics since 1982. I always supported the late Congressman Duncan and now his son U.S. Representative John J. (Jimmy) Duncan, Jr. One thing I have always liked about Congressman Jimmy Duncan has been his staunch Conservative principles. One thing that he does personally is that he carries a notebook in his pocket and writes down every cent he spends. If he buys a soft drink out of a machine, he writes it down. That is discipline.

I know from all the years that I have known Mayor Burchett (about as long) that he too is extremely Conservative with his but especially the taxpayers money. So, for the same reason that I like Congressman Duncan, I too like Mayor Burchett.

The latest generation of Duncan, Knox Co Trustee John Duncan is obviously not like his father at all. Pocketing $6,000 in tax payer funded bonuses without completing the necessary class to receive it is not something his father would have done. I am so disappointed that the Trustee would give away the taxpayers money so freely to nearly a dozen employees without the first thought of "what would dad do?"

2011 has been a tough year, it has been filled with disappointment with a couple of our Knox County elected officials. Congressman Jimmy Duncan and Mayor Tim Burchett's Conservative to the core principles are rare. We should be thankful, that we have a few good ones.

As my grandfather use to say, "one bad apple can ruin a whole basket" The perception will be that all Knox County Officials are not following the rules. That is not true and it is sad that they will be judged by the careless actions of one.

"Larry Van Guilder, Make Take This Go Away!" - Trustee John Duncan III

Just a couple of days ago, it was announced that E.W. Scripps writer/reporter Larry Van Guilder had accepted a Senior Accounting and Public Relations job with Trustee John Duncan III. So, needless to say. When today's story by Mike Donila of the Big Metal Shed on the Hill detailing the unearned bonuses going to Duncan and Duncan's top "employees" you just have to figure that like the "calgon, take me away" commercial. That Duncan screamed out, "Larry Van Guilder make this go away!" Larry may be begging E.W. Scripps to take him back. But at $58,000 a year, Van Guilder may be able to spin with the best of them.

No Christmas Break for Cynthia Moxley, She Will be "Occupying"!

After this here Mike Donila story from the Big Metal Shed on the Hill on Trustee Duncan there will be no Christmas break for Cynthia Moxley. She will be "occupying in" over at the Big Metal Shed to get this squashed quickly.

Haslam Administration Targets Mentally ill & Youth

I have blogged about the proposal by the Haslam administratio to close Lakeshore here in Knoxville. It appears by some to be an attack on the mentally ill. Now here in today's Chattanooga Times Free Press the Haslam administration are looking at closing the Taft Youth Development Center. Come on Governor Haslam! Targeting the mentally ill and youth just ain't like you.

Breaking News: TN Coordinator of Elections Clears Gina Oster to Run for School Board Third District

This afternoon, TN Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins issued his opinion and Gina Oster may be a candidate for the Third District School Board seat. So, the Knox County Law Director who previously opined that Mrs. Oster can run and now the TN Coordinator of Elections has opined that Mrs. Oster can run. Now let the race begin. There are two other candidates in addition to Mrs. Oster. Bobby Edington and Doug Harris. Mr. Harris is an owner of 6 fast food pizza restaurants in Montgomery, Al; 7 fast food pizza restaurants based out of Augusta, GA and 8 fast food pizza restaurants based out of Columbus, GA. In addition, he owns a Huddle House restaurant in Leesville, LA.  Mr. Eddington works with military recruiting. Mr. Goins opinion is below.

The Reason for the Season Story from First United Methodist Church Morristown, TN

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Taria

One of my favorite Nashville entertainers has a video of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Taria and her drummer, background vocals husband Marty will be releasing Taria's first project shortly after the first of the year. Enjoy this for the holidays and I will be introducing you to a preview in a few days of one of her upcoming tunes.