Comments by Ktown

Written on Sunshine laws may apply to Knox County, Schools joint committee:

The largest recipient of taxpayer funds is the school system and the commissioners whose votes are responsible for distributing the money having meetings that are INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED to be non-sunshine is ridiculous. There is only one topic that is being discussed and that is taxpayer money. The school system exists to do nothing more than generate more money in it's budget.... and courting county commissioners in non-sunshine meetings seems like a great way to build relationships that result in more money. I am especially ashamed of Amy Broyles in this.... she has always been a fairly liberal commissioner but she has also been one of the most steadfast for transparency and ethical operations of commission. I think she's had a lapse in judgement on this and I hope she gets her head on straight. These meetings are discussions about money and nothing else and these discussions need to be sunshined. It seems to me that the school system and county commission should be having these meetings. There does need to be more communication between Commission and the school system when so much money is at stake. The school system believes they are exempt from accountability to the taxpayers and commission needs to be in these meetings hammering the schools on reasonable budgets and efficiency, especially in staffing the bloated administration of the Central Office. I would love to see Burchett get one year of control over the School system and watch the dead wood fly. I wish Burchett would build every new school in a manner that keeps Knox County as the owner of the property instead of giving the school board the deed. That would give the county more flexibility to manage the properties and serve as a check against power of McIntyre's Mafia...

Written on Review: Some school video cameras need maintenance, others not functioning:

Is it me or does it seem Jamie Satterfield either quit reporting or was muzzled by the powers that be on the school security stories?

Just when there was an appearance of journalism and true investigative reporting... it stopped as suddenly as it began.... disappointing... but not unexpected.

Its a shame she either gave up on us or gave in to the political pressure to let the school stories slide....

Our kids and our schools are safer with watchdogs instead of lapdogs.....

Written on Knox commission asks school board to fund seed money for armed security guards:

I think the presence of the school security guards will be a deterrent that might have an effect on someone considering what might or not be a soft target. The only thing that worries me is that KPD and the Sheriff would use the presence of the shool guards to remove their officers from the schools and defer to the school system to run the security operations.
I don't think there is a parent in Knoxville or Knox County that would be willing to accept the idea that a 9 dollar and hour security guard that left Target to come to school security for a little extra money is anywhere near the training or protection offered by a trained patrolman. From what I have seen at my kids school that has a security officer already is that he does traffic direction and basic errands throughout the school of the principal etc. Every time I have seen any type of "incident" or heard about anything at the school, the Sheriff's officer was johnny on the spot and most of the time there were two in a matter of minutes. I feel much better having the guards directing traffic and the professional officers handling the crimes and major incidents.... I hate to say this but I really don't trust the school system to police itself... they are too political and I believe having them run all the operations of security without a KPD or Sheriff in the mix is dangerous. I hope the Chief at KPD and the Sheriff understand how important their officers are to the parents who have kids in their care. I would hope the citizen's of Knoxville and the voters of Knox County hold the Sheriff and the Chief as best they can accountable if even one SRO is pulled out of a Knox County school... If a person enters a school with the intent to hurt our kids I trust the school system to get the kids locked down or moved to safety and the Police and Sheriff's to unleash the gates of hell on the person trying to hurt our kids....


in response to knoxknothead:

all city land owners pay county taxes, when was the last time you seen a KCSD car in your community. they could help out in the city instead of setting in areas that never has problems

County taxes are for Mcintyre not JJ. Almost 75% of all county taxes are school money. KCSD doesn't ever come to your neighborhood because you probably live inside the city and KPD is responsible for that area. That's how it works..... pay your taxes for McIntyre and then KCSD drives around the county in all them old beater cars JJ complains about.... I read in a budget story yesterday that 40% of the cars are over 100,000 miles..... I bet thats reassuring to the officers driving to emergencies that their cars are worn out..... Maybe while JJ and Chief Rouche are talking school security with the Mayor they could arrange to buy some of the used KPD cars being replaced with the new makes of cruiser they are getting.. The city always has better equipment than the county..... the kpd cars look like spaceships at night with all the lights on them...... the kcso cars look like they are barely white anymore with all the paint flying off them.... I guess the county cars fit in better with all the primer showing since they have the rural areas of town anyway... Lets face it..... KPD manages equipment better... KCSD needs to fire whoever manages their cars and hire the guy from the city to modernize the KCSD cars... whoever manages their cars probably isn't driving a 150,000 mile car to work... the way the county works it probably a Lamborghini.


I was wondering why it is so much cheaper to hire 58 than 20 myself. Here's what I was told.

Here's my take.... school security guards get around 14-16 hours of training including firearms from a security guard trainer. They are licensed as private security guards and placed in the schools on a 9 or 10 month contract at rock bottom wages. They get laid off at the end of the year and are called back at the next school year. I'm not sure if I remembered all this correctly cause I only had a minute to talk to the guy at my kids school this morning.

The difference between the deputies and the school security guards was that the police guys are trained patrolman from the streets and have a car, rifle, and other expensive equipment and training.

I know the 58 sound like a bargain but do you think a guy with a security guard license is gonna run to a gunfight to risk his life to save my kids or say "screw it...I'm not dying for 9 bucks and hour" The police are more expensive for sure but I have to wonder how safe our kids are really gonna be.

Written on Sex offender offered after-hours gym lessons at Powell High School:

I dont know if the KPD SRO officers work after school hours to be honest except school sporting events. I think the officers out here work from 7 am at 345 or 4ish....Maybe part of using the school after hours should require a fee for school security or kpd or kcso to staff the school event with an officer?
I think Powell has the Sheriffs people there instead of KPd.


Another Quick point....... why has it taken a year for this story to come out?????????


"He also argued that neither the school system nor Knox County government could be held liable for any incidents on school property that occurred during the use by outside groups of that property.

“That’s all private activity,” he said."

Nice to see where the concern is.....liabilty

Since these after hours use of the property are private and don't hold the county liable.... If someone was to carry a gun onto the property would the property be considered private property during that period of time or would it be school property????? NRA and gunowner group meetings at the school may be a great way for people to support the school system by packing a hogleg on and hanging out in the school from 6-8 every monday night...
I bet its considered school property for that purpose but just not for protecting school kids from being asked to sit on the pervert gymnastic coaches lap in the cafeteria after 5pm...

Written on Knoxville's black leaders concerned movement is stalling :

I have every belief that Avon Rollins has seen a side of America that most of us these days wouldn't recognize as we were born after the marches and speeches of Martin Luther King. The faces of the civil rights movement have also changed from what appears to be a struggle for each of us to judge each other other on the content of character but to the civil rights business of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton where civil rights is a cash business built on the never ending threat of being accused of racism. The politicians and new civil rights movement of extortion by threat of being called a racist if you don't support my agenda whether local or national has soured the movement for sure. There has also been a failure in our culture recently to hold our kids to responsible for learning our history in the American culture as a whole. We have failed to teach our kids be they white, black, yellow, or combination of any or all our history as Americans. The Constitution and the Bill of Rights apply to all of us. The history of the Civil Rights movement and the bravery of Martin Luther King and the other leaders of the civil rights movement belong to all of us as country struggling to be better to each other. We are raising entitled children that only worry about themselves and are lucky to have any respect for their parents let alone their neighbor. We are abandoning our churches and our respect for God's teachings unless some politician is saying Jesus was a socialist on some talk show to get more money for his cause. The failure of our culture is looking us in the mirror everyday as we fail to raise our kids to be good citizens and rely on medication to make our children "good kids" instead of our churches and a solid moral underpinning to teach them whats expected of them and how they treat others that makes them see how to be good kids.
One last point.... the whites visiting black parts of town thing...... This is not a race issue.... this is a crime issue..... I have to do business in the Magnolia/East Knoxville area quite a bit.... I don't worry about it being a white or black area.... I worry about the crime. I see young black males and young white males walking up and down the street with their pants hanging down to their knees and their straight brim hats pulled down so you cant's see their faces and every other word if you stop to get gas at the Pilot starts with N and ends in igger. I even heard somebody brag about a fight at the "murderbu 7" club over the weekend. I had to ask the clerk and it turns out its the Malibu 7 but these kids were calling it the MurderBu 7. I was shocked. The gangs dealing drugs and the violent crime of the area make me not want to stop let alone bring money into the area. I'm sick and tired of our youth not having more respect for people like Avon Rollins or themselves to stop the hypocrisy of using the N word in the black culture as a means of endearment and crying outrage if somebody else uses it.

Written on Knox School system defends bidding process:

At least the School Board and McIntyre are using their political capital (and the annoying infocall) to defend the security lapses and their jobs instead of panhandling for another 35 million this year. I keep waiting to see Indya Kincannon and McIntyre each on an I-40 exit with a sign panhandling with the other bums any day now as we start to approach the budgeting season. Attention School Board members...there is a Knox County Ordinance against soliciting in the roadway according to my local cop at the Pilot so beware...The arrogance of our Knox County Education Extortion Board and Superintendent are on display for all to see and you can't help but look at the picture above the story and be thankful you didn't have to pay a dollar for the new Just Busted in that KNS ran this weeks crooks pictures for free.......woohooo. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce decided to sponsor this weeks pictures in KNS and since they can't open their mouths without McIntyre falling out wanting more money this picture is the best they could do...

Written on Crews pre-treating roads, awaiting arrival of ice storm :

Anybody want to bet the schools will take a wait and see attitude....They will wait to call off school until they see the kids stranded at school or buses off in the ditches....Mcintyre should act early and make a decision to allow parents a chance to plan for their kids welfare and adjust work schedules accordingly. If they fail to act preemptively KNOWING an ice storm is coming parents should really reconsider the wisdom of our school board in being able to safely manage our kids schools. SCHOOL PERSONNEL..... PLEASE DON'T WAIT TIL 530 AM TO MAKE A DECISION...... IT SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED ASAP SO THE MEDIA CAN DISTRIBUTE THE NOTICE SO PARENTS CAN PLAN WORK TOMORROW.......PLEASE DON'T LEAVE OUR KIDS STRANDED IN BUSES AT GROCERY STORES FOR HOURS AGAIN BECAUSE YOU FAILED TO ACT EARLY ENOUGH

Written on Tenn. communities consider more safety at schools:

in response to rk40977#297843:

Good to see officials thinking in terms of security rather than just "guns".

How did you miss the point that the most requested security measure being put in place is an officer carrying a gun. Door locks are nice and cameras supplement access control but when the maniac hits the front door and the call for help goes out.... its not for the school psychologist... its for the armed school resource officer.
Schools are training staff and students to lock themselves behind doors and wait for the good guys with guns to show up. Everybody knows this.

With the amazing number of kids on mind altering medications for adhd, depression, authority disorders etc. and the known side effects of these drugs I believe we are lucky to have had so few instances of violence in ours schools. Not downplaying the tragedies that have happened but how many kids can you place in a confined space, administer mind altering meds with known side effects of rage and suicidal thoughts, include a constant barrage of peer pressure to fit in or the never ending 24/7 aspect of bullying with facebook or twitter and not expect the ticking time bomb to go off?

Written on Austin-East students learn new dance steps from Chicago choreographer :

Is there a dance section on the TCAP?

Written on Tim Burchett: Use money from surplus land sales to pay down debt :

It sure seems that every time there is any mention of money the damn school system shows up with their handout expecting the county to dole out million after million to them..... give me a break. If there is excess money from land sales it should be used in a number of ways. Debt reduction is very important to our credit rating so a portion to that is a definite must. I would like to see more KCSO school officers in place. The officer at my kids school is covering several schools so they have to travel from school to school. An investment in our school safety would be prudent and I would much rather KCSO be patrolling our kids hallways than having Steve Griffin's police academy 4 cast doing it. I have heard too many rumors about them hiding stuff to keep the school systems reputation as crime free in place. I just wish the Sheriff would buy a decent car for our SRO... the beast she drives looks like it is 15 years old....its embarrassing to have a heap like that parked in front of our school when I thought the county just bought 75 or 100 new cars for them. I guess the SRO division isn't a real priority.
I believe our Mayor is fulfilling his promise to keep Knox County fiscally sound and I applaud him for it. With all the crazy people out there looking for media attention I just think more officers in our kids schools would be a sound investment.

Written on Some call for changes to Tenn. truancy rules:

Teach'em early that lawyering up and playing the vicitm no matter what will get out of trouble is awesome for kids to learn at an early age.


Why can't the kids go to school to learn to read and write and maybe a little math now and then to get them ready for college and a career. I have no idea how a group of students who are members of the schools Gay-Straight Alliance are claiming they have been wronged. It appears they have a staff sponsor and a school affiliated club to discuss and promote their ideas and express themselves in. I also don't understand how an anti-bullying campaign that asks students to label themselves as part of a group of a particular sexual orientation promotes anti-bullying instead of promoting that we see past labels and stereotypes to treat all men and women as equals.
It is obvious that this "label me as "whateversexual" (gay straight or whatever) sticker campaign was a divisive distraction to the learning process that is the sole purpose of the education system. I also believe there are privacy issues with asking students to pronounce their sexual orientation to the world. Who cares who is gay or straight or whatever....... if this group really wanted to discourage bullying they would be promoting tolerance in the school by promoting a campaign that says we are all alike... ( we are teenagers trying to grow up together....... don't label me as a gay or a straight but as a person who deserves respect) This group was looking for a controversy and got it..... We need to get our kids minds out of the who is what sexual orientation experiment and get them in the MLK judge a person by their character state of mind. I'm glad Scott Walker at Jeff County High School expects his students to be respectful of each other's privacy and to keep distractions like this campaign out of the school. I have no doubt that the Gay-Straight Alliance and their staff sponsor can work with school administration to allow information and tolerance promoting activities to be available for students who want to participate. Schools are tasked with educating.... let's let them do their job and allow students who want to promote any type of sexual orientation or lifestyle to do so after school as they are freely able to express themselves after school.


I think Mayor Burchett had it right when he reigned in the ridiculous 35 million school budget request and the IPAD erotic dreams of the school board a few months ago. Spending reasonable sums and focusing on reading reading reading in the elementary schools is the building block for all Knox County education plans for the future. If the reading scores are in the toilet, then don't ask for new fancy shiny things or other new toys..... cowboy up and teach the kids to read first..... when the reading scores for every kid show they are proficient, talk about tech.... until then... no IPAD for you

Written on Two juveniles attacked on Knoxville College campus :

Not Surprising at all........

Didn't Knoxville College cancel their security?

Every time I was near the campus I always saw a KCSO cruiser at the gate and an officer checking ID's.

I guess saving a few bucks and risking an on-campus assualt with a firearm really didn't work out to well.......

Oh well..

Written on Commissioners, officials in talks about $24.2 million surplus :

Is there any real chance that the money will be saved or used to pay off debt....... NO

The pet projects that were cut during the budget process will be funded without fanfare or the public paying attention as they do during the regular budget process.

The Knox County Schools continue to bleed the county for every penny they can get their hands on with shameless greed and arrogance. There has to be a point where there is enough money being spent on schools to allow improvements to other county needs and departments.

Rumor has it the county is going to hit employees with another 9-10% increase in insurance premiums this year so maybe some money could be spent to offset a portion of the increase like the schools plan to do for their employees with the excess funds they are getting.

Its shameful that the county can't offer programs like tuition reimbursement or education degree salary stipends for 2 and 4 year degrees. I read all the time about city programs to develop a more educated and smarter workforce. It seems the county is behind the times in developing programs to increase efficiency and have a smarter and more educated workforce.

Written on Editorial: Higher scores an indication schools on the right path :

I guess the lack of the $ 35 million dollar teacher salary protection plan didn't cause the school system to collapse after all.......

Its great that these schools are doing well and it reflects the dedication of school staff and parents putting in the time to help with homework and study habits.

Our education funding in Knox County is generous to say the least with a combined local, state, and federal funding mix that is close to half a billion dollars for a county school system each year with tens of millions of dollars in the reserve fund. I was waiting for the lobbying groups and the Superintendent to fire the opening salvo of the "we showed improvement now show me the money" campaign and I got it with "The results indicate Knox County Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre and his staff have the school system as a whole on the right path and capable of improvements given the RELATIVELY LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE"..

I think the certified teachers in our area are compensated fairly and with raises from both state and local governments on a regular basis they have managed better than most through these times of lean budgets.

The true disgrace of how our schools are run is the way the school system lifts its leg and craps all over the secretaries and the aides working just as hard as the "certified" positions in the schools. The aides and secretaries make a pittance of what the teachers do but very seldom see a raise or a "perk" the way the teachers are doted on by the school system and their salary decisions. It is shameful to have an aide with a 4 year degree spending hours of small group and hands on classroom time with our kids making 12,500 -13,000 per year and having no respect given or appreciation from the AJ building downtown or county commission.

Written on Murfreesboro fireman berates beggar on Facebook:

Knox County does prohibit these solicitations on the roadway.... Knox County law enforcement just refuses to enforce it...

Knox County Municipal Code clearly states:

Sec. 54-1. - Solicitation for alms, funds, or contributions on public roadways.

(a) Prohibited. No person shall solicit or advertise for alms, funds, or contributions on any public roadway in the county; nor shall any person solicit or advertise for alms, funds, or contributions to be collected from any person in an automobile while such automobile is being operated on a public roadway.


Penalty. Anyone found in violation of this section shall be subject to a maximum fine of $50.00.

(Ord. No. O-91-9-101, § 1, 11-25-91; Ord. No. O-92-7-101, 9-28-92)

Written on Knox deputy cites Rural/Metro fire truck driver :

I have known Terry Wright for a long time. Anybody who knows him is aware that he is one of the most polite and helpful KCSO officers you could know. Everything I have ever heard or seen of Terry Wright is professional, courteous, and a "what can I do to help" attitude with the public and other officers he works with. Until there is more information released than the few details in the article, those of you wanting to roast Officer Wright should hold your fire. There must have been some event or action that directly led to the citation. If he asked four times for a driver to move an engine there must have been a reasonable time and a reasonable need for the action. I would love to see the video of the events (I think he is a motorcycle cop now so that may be iffy) to clear up the confusion and show us what happened. Give it time for details to emerge before you go after one of the most dedicated officers on the roads of Knox County.

Written on Knox Schools supporters at odds with Burchett budget :

There was a story out of Michigan regarding an education official’s controversial comment that educators — not parents — know how best to serve children. I get the same feeling our Knox County School System has the same sentiment towards Knox County parents paychecks. The sheer arrogance of asking for so much money from a county tax base struggling through a recession is in itself revolting, but to see the arrogance of school officials characterizing other public officials with comments like "The mayor says he's for education and he's not," "He should be putting money where his mouth is."
I think the Mayor has shown thats he is for fiscal responsibility in Knox County Budgeting and I appreciate his efforts to make our county budget responsible.

If the school system thinks the investment in Burchett's reading programs won't help.... take the money back and give it to the deputies who patrol our county and respond to our emergencies. I see them working at grocery stores and it makes me sick to think these guys make so much less than the officers at the city.... and the city guys wear us out with tickets every time they get a chance.. at least the county guys don't ticket us to death...

take a look at the statement made by the Michigan official and tell me she doesn't remind you of Kincannon...

Written on Covenant Health sues Loudon County over $200K medical bill for inmate :

Maybe I read the article wrong but I could have sworn I read that the prisoner in question was released on a furlough for medical treatment. I understood it to mean that the inmate was released from the jail to get treated. This sounds like a smart move on Loudon County's part. I would be willing to bet there is a court order from a Loudon County court granting the release from the jail for a period of time for medical treatment. This move would put the burden of payment on the shoulders of the individual being treated and not the county. Just because the inmate hands over a card and says he's covered doesn't make it true. Sounds like the hospital needs to be calling the individual who received treatment rather than Loudon County for payment.


Written on County pension plans need $1.6 million budget boost :

When in this economy you read that "Officials assume a 7.5 percent rate of return for the three plans" you just have to wonder what the hell they are thinking. I have always wondered why so much money was borrowed when the deputies moved tens of millions into the plan at the beginning that would have covered the expenses for many years without any problem. I haven't heard of many other counties borrowing so much money to fund a pension that had plenty of money from the outset. It almost looks like the large debt burden from the beginning was setting this plan up to fail.

Written on Homeowner surprises burglary suspects; deputies thwart getaway :

Cant believe it took law enforcement 8 minutes to catch a bad guy after he fled the scene in a car going who knows where...... we should take their pension and motivate them to do better.....

Written on Knox County's pension board to review positions eligible for Uniformed Officers Pension Plan :

in response to glockhead:

Corrections is the 1st step to becoming a "real cop" in Knox County. They are sworn officers.

I agreed that bailiffs should be excluded from the pension.

Animal Control investigates and prosecutes any crime involving an animal. They deal with abuse, neglect, noise complaints, etc... basically, the stuff "real cops" would be doing if there was not an animal control division. They serve warrants, write summons, know "real cop" stuff.

For the record, by KNSs own research... a 25 year veteran patrolman only makes 36K/ sure where KTOWN got the 45K number? I guarantee you there is not a single patrolman making 45K/year at KCSO.

If you want rid of the pension so think it is such a waste...why don't you like on $31K/year, face assaults everyday going to work or even being shot, talked bad about and cursed at, all the while maintaining your cool and making a rational decision not based on anger or emotions...walk am mile in their shoes before you run your mouth, because you sure seem ignorant right now...


Goto this website and under the position of "Patrol Officer" search all employees and see if there aren't patrolman making what appears to be the top salary of 45,555.00. It would appear I was off by about 555 dollars. You really need to research your numbers before you spout off...


in response to JFET:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I think 45,000.00 is roughly the top out (highest pay amount he can earn) for KCSO road deputies so I dont think the average officer retiring after 25 years of service is the problem. By my math 45,000 x 68% is 30,600 at full retirement age under the plan now. But rest assured it will be the abuses and big payouts for a few that gut the plan and punish the average road officer or corrections officer.

From the guys I talk to at the Pilot by my house the true outrage is the use of KCSO as the retirement plan for every "buddy" who has already retired at KPD or THP or TBI to fill high ranking positions and deny KCSO officers who have decades of service any chance at promotion because a "buddy" just retired from some other agency and needs a job and a second retirement income. A suggestion that might be considered for the Pension Plan overhaul would be to only allow Sheriff appointment positions to join the 401k based retirement based option used for KCSO employees who are not covered under the pension. To hear the guys I know talk, if you arent POST your not the POLICE. I don't know what POST is but it has something to do with a training certificate. Political appointments are typically short term and this move alone would remove some of the largest salary base positions in the department from pension plan benefits. Another option would be to limit pension plan eligibility to only officers who are not receiving any type of pension from another agency. The pension was never designed to be "The Villages" of east Tennessee law enforcement officers needing a second pension.

For those of you who dont get the "The Villages" reference here is a link and please know ahead of time I am not responsible for you humming the theme song from the website in your head all day.

Written on Lawsuit seeks to resume Knoxville red light camera citations:


I thought the cameras were about safety not revenue......... hmmmmmm

Written on Three juveniles arrested for Powell High School locker room thefts :

in response to Heresmy2cents:

You my friend, are not up-to-date on the School Resource program, there is only ONE officer per school for the schools have have them. Before you start bashing the officers, atleast know what you are talking about. No one can be everywhere at once, except you ofcourse.

I really don't think the officer at the school is responsible for a locker room door being left unlocked and three students helping themselves to the loot. I have always heard the officers in the schools are more or less there for a presence than to make arrests. You never see the officers cracking down on even the most blatant speeders through the school zones because tickets are forbidden for the school security officers according to the officers I talked to at my kids school out here in west Knoxville. The reputations of the schools and the Principals of the schools would freak out if the officers actually arrested somebody and made the school look bad in the paper. The parents of the Powell students not stealing are embarrassed by the incident and the shame on the school it brought. The officers from KPD and the Knox County Schools are doing the best they can to keep from embarrassing a school if they can. We should cut them some slack and put the blame squarely on the shoulders of the students.

Written on Powell 8th grader charged with gun in school :

Kudos to the KCSO officer who was in the right place at the right time to handle the situation. The brave students willing to report the gun are the hero's of the moment and the supporting players, the school staff and the KCSO school officer also played their part. One has to wonder if the past actions of the student were reported to law enforcement as the actions described are clearly something worth reporting to the cops. If the incident with the knife happened as described and the school failed to report this assault "making a jabbing motion towards someone with a knife" to the police someone should have the Principal meet a jail cell. The schools security guards, Steve Griffin and his force are a nice tool for the schools to manage parking and school matters but the reassurance of having an independent and fully trained patrol officer on site at each of our schools should be a relief. As I understand it, the officers from KCSO don't work for the school system and don't answer to the Principals so hopefully they have the ability to leave school politics out of the protection of our students. Thankfully today was a gun with no bullets and no injuries....a good outcome for what could have been a tragedy had a few of the circumstances been different. We should all give our kids a hug and little prayer for their safety tomorrow.

Written on Coming Sunday: Series examines Knox County's Uniformed Officers Pension Plan :

Maybe the Sheriffs deputies ought to follow the Police Departments lead and stuff the county coffers with ticket money like the city does. I see kpd fundraising everyday on the interstate and city roads while I rarely see KCSO officers on ticket duty. Maybe the county ordinance citation and the county funds it would generate should be discussed. Kcso being allowed to generate revenue might quiet the pension critics for awhile if they saw a constatnt revenue stream into county coffers from ticket revenue. Just an idea.

Written on Knox superintendent: Budget options include school closures:

Do you think anyone is thinking that maybe buying all those IPAD 2's for all the principals was not so smart???? Maybe they could have just used the laptop the school system already bought them... just a thought...


You guys are right... a raise for KCSO is way out of line.... I am sick and tired of every hiding spot on a highway or interstate having a KCSO cruiser backed in writing tickets to any driver they can to generate revenue for the county to pay for their raises. No wait.... thats the city... they get a raise every year and are paid much better than KCSO. Maybe we should hush before the county officers figure out that county ordinance citations are a great way to generate revenue for the county coffers and start acting like KPD who we never complain about getting a raise since its automatic and goes on year after year. I am thankful KCSO doesn't use their officers as revenue generators for the county. After reading some of your comments though, I bet some are wondering if taking the high road is worth the sacrifice as they see KPD leave them behind in salary year after year.

Written on Legislators question legality of governor cutting a deal with Amazon :

Amazon is not a company that will pay huge corporate taxes and generate revenue for Tennessee for operating a warehouse. Amazon will be turned into a very efficient tax collection device to make sure every TN resident pays more taxes after this deal than before if they choose to shop on amazon. Sounds like another government success to help us all. If all the people supporting the collection of TN resident's money for Nashville have an extra 9.25% or so to spare, please consider giving a little to charity or another worthy cause. The rest of us working several jobs to make ends meet think lobbying to pay more taxes is a bad thing when looking at the monthly budget. I hope Amazon closes down shop and leaves TN taking their 2000 jobs with it over the principle of the bait and switch our state government is pulling on them. At least the local retailers would feel better about not having to compete unfairly with amazon. They won't have 2000 employees with new jobs and incomes spending money in their stores either.... but like you say.... fair is fair


Can governments thirst for taxes ever be satisfied? The jobs these companies offer and the incomes they would generate would generate a ripple effect through the TN economy that all of us in the state would benefit from. Amazon has shown that their businesses are willing to abandon states not willing to concede that a warehouse is not the same as a retail operation within the state. Our legislators need to allow the private sector to grow and stop worrying about tax revenue for government. I for one would gladly see TN learn to spend less money than see thousands of jobs offering decent wages for families to use and spend and pay taxes with.

Written on DUI bill requires blood draw in certain cases in Tennessee:

Could there not be a change to the implied consent law so that when a drivers license is issued, the new blood draw requirements are included in the consent portion. That way when a new drivers license is issued, the person wishing to drive would have to decide whether the license (which is optional to attain...of course) is worth the tradeoff of consenting to blood draws if they drive drunk. Its not perfect and it would not solve all the problems of DUI but it would be a good start. Maybe the state could offer those with suspended or revoked licenses a much lower fee to reinstate the license if the new criteria are consented to as well.

There are ways to get the new blood draws into TN law... just a matter of how to do it. The key to my idea is that a drivers license is a voluntary step a person takes. In order to get the license we now have the implied consent for DUI testing included in it. Simply change the requirements in the Implied consent portion and have people voluntarily consent to it when the license is issued. There is always the option of increasing penalties for refusing blood test to mandatory 30 days in jail if convicted of crime of violation of implied consent law.

Written on 9 percent of THP spending dedicated to non-traffic:

i do hate to pile on but........... changing the name and the costs related to the change do seem to be really a waste of money...... simply change the duties of the officers and issue new cars in the future with the new markings allowing the older cars and current uniforms with the state trooper markings to continue to be worn and operated. I doubt the life of a crown victoria is very long in a troopers career as they have such large areas to patrol. Uniforms could transition over several years allowing the cost to be spread over several allowances as well.
That would allow greater areas of responsibility for the officers and no additional cost to the taxpayers for uniforms or cars being remarked

Written on Ruling on Knox County pension request delayed :

The citizens of Knox County voted for the pension plan fully understanding that there could be tax increases needed to fund the plan. Citizens understood this and were willing to support a plan for those who serve our community by serving in at risk positions in uniform. It is obvious that the obligation the voters of Knox County undertook with their acceptance of the pension was that this was a benefit for the Uniformed Officers that serve our community. There is no doubt in any voters mind that the four individuals trying to enter the pension system are 1) not in uniform and 2) do not serve in at risk positions. These four are administrative employees and have a 401k type retirement that is provided at a match much more generous than most private sector companies. The arrogance of these four in hiring an attorney to leach off the sacrifice of the officers who serve every day in uniform and bullet-proof vests is revolting. These individuals should withdraw their requests and apologize to the rank and file for being so greedy and selfish. At a time when the rank and file deputies are seeing teachers get raises year after year while they get nothing, the slap in the face of allowing four glorified secretaries get lifetime payouts at taxpayer expense for sitting in a comfortable office and chatting it up at Cracker Barrell on their lunch breaks is a humiliation the officers don't deserve.

Written on Pension Board seeks more info on 4 Sheriff's Office administrative employees:


Written on Knox County job cuts target all areas:

I don't know about anyone else but if there is a "Camelot" in Knox County it has to be the school system and their gluttony of the budget. The school system has shown time after time that they are not willing to "sacrifice" and no matter what threat of layoffs or cuts to positions appear, there is always a last minute maneuver that saves the positions. I am tired of the arrogance of the education establishment in Knox County and think our elected members of the school board should be in front of their budget management in a manner as equally aggressive as Mayor Burchett.... I know it will never happen.......
I believe we have employees in Knox County that don't benefit from the "moblike" protection rackets run by the education establishment to protect every job and the millions of dollars of funding that is paid to the state to finance the teacher pensions...... everybody cracks on the poor deputies for their pension but nobody mentions the millions of Knox County dollars that got to the state for the funding the teacher pensions. The employees of Knox County have been willing to forgo raises and insurance cost hikes and now layoffs to maintain our budgets and Knox County's financial well being (as well as raise education funding 21 million dollars during a recession).
Our county needs to freeze all expenditures (including education) and force hearings during the budget process with the School Board to explain where cuts are coming and reforms in the works to do more with less like everyone else is doing in this economy. I applaud Burchett for being true to his word.... I just get tired of seeing the education establishment making our County Mayors their b@#$ch year after year.

Written on Y-12 will gain from New START treaty:

It sucks having two GOP senators that are moderates. Watching them compromise with radical leftists causes a pain even a Goody powder can't touch. Maybe one day we will have two Senators that understand that if they had waited until January to reconsider this that Obama would have fewer democrat votes and the negotiations would have been held with the GOP having much more influence and a much stronger voice in the treaty's ramifications on our defense. NOPE ours give in..... just another day in the GOP..... ho ho ho's

Written on Knox County makes deal licensing all school gear from caps to T-shirts:

Sometimes you just have to wonder whether the schools are for educating or revenue generation. Between all the sales, the coupon books, and now the licensing deals for high school teams the only focus seems to be on money money money. Its a shame that our county can't properly manage the tens of millions of dollars to educate our kids without having all these sales and kids pushing coupon books year round. Seems like our early generations of Americans in one room schoolhouses were better educated but then again at that time we didn't have administrators and professional educators with lifelong jobs and ridiculous salaries either. Our education system needs reform but not from professional educators or administrators........its time common sense and belt tightening on salaries and ridiculous expenditures on technology when the kids can't even read the words on the smart boards. It may even be time to adjust down the elitist attitudes our educators present when talking to the parents who pay the salaries and benefits they enjoy. Common sense and common courtesy need to get back into education.

Written on UT puts focus on diversity in faculty:

Nothing better to show how far our educational system has come than to measure it not by the success of the students but by the diversity of the faculty. How long will it take for the idea of the best teacher getting the job and leaving all the PC phooey out of it is possible? If this is the measure of "progress" we choose to determine success upon we have failed already.

Ok.... now all you victims of something line up to explain how certain circumstances justify flagrant and outright discrimination in hiring for the purpose of diversity....
The best man or woman should get the job regardless.

Written on Council to consider ice rink funding:

The revenues are expected to exceed the cost of the operation of the event and the public gets to enjoy a very welcomed event each year on the market square sounds like a winner to me.

Written on Haslam supports pension lawsuit :

Did anybody notice...

""This is a non-elected body that has obligated the taxpayers. ... The city Law Department said the pension board has overstepped its authority. Only an elected body can do that."

I agree, only elected bodies should be able to overstep their authority.

Written on Knox superintendent renews pitch to renovate Carter schools:

maybe we should start having kids from hardin valley academy or farragut on the bus to the new Carter Magnet school for government and let the West share the asbestos debris and the mold with the east kids. Changing Carter to a magnet school and sticking the rich kids on a bus east every morning would definitely get the attention of the west and maybe get the school board pressured to get carter a more adequate facility.

Written on Burchett, Chamber tense :

"Government done right is always cheaper because you don't have to make a profit"


sorry was laughing myself silly.......... what ignorance.... look at DC.... maybe if politicians could only pay themselves out of gov't profit they might understand how hard it is for private business to function and stop spending money they don't have

Written on Commission to mull proposal for new school in East Knox :

I guess the redistribution of wealth from west to east is a problem for some huh....

just more hope and change and spreading the wealth around.....

Written on Collins: Prius-driving senator champions electric car incentives :

Just one more thing.... considering we are going broke and our unfunded liabiliy for future obligations is about 130 trillion... does this sound like a good idea just considering the numbers....

"Under the proposal, five to 15 communities would be eligible for grants of up to $250 million each. The money could be used to build plug-in charging stations and other equipment or services needed to integrate electric cars and trucks into the community. The measure also would increase by $2,500 the tax credit available to people in those communities who purchase electric vehicles, raising the total credit to $10,000."

Up to 15 communities receiving 250 million dollars and paying people $ 10,000 to buy a car that won't sell without the rebate...

we cant afford this...... get real... if people are concerned and want to support these programs they should do it through private donations and not use tax money to do it... they should put their money where their green is...