Citizens at board meeting blame Parrott for CHS grade scandal
Ginger Cook and Courney Atnip sit ready to criticize Anderson County Schools and defend teachers accused of manipulating grades at the July 11 Board of Education meeting. - Ben Pounds
Two people attending the June 11 Anderson County Board of Education meeting told the board that they blame schools Director Tim Parrott for the Clinton High School grading scandal, rather than the teachers involved. Courtney Atnip and Ginger Cook spoke negatively about Parrott and the school system’s handling of the incident, and they defended the teachers. Atnip said the school system did not have policies in place to determine how to help students recover grades, and so the teachers could not have violated those policies. She also said she planned to go to state authorities and ask them to intervene. “I think there needs to be clear guidelines of what this credit-recovery program is about and who’s ultimately in charge of it,” Atnip said. Even though several CHS staff members have already resigned or been fired, debate over grade recovery continued at the board meeting. The board spent some time discussing the accusations privately, and an investigation is still ongoing. Publicly, however, at the same meeting, Parrott gave his thoughts and a timeline of events, and said rumors about a “mass exodus” of teachers were false. During its recent investigation, the school system found that “multiple” CHS students were on track for graduation without completing the required course work. Some CHS graduates from the 2022-23 school year may not have finished or passed the required tests.
Read MoreLight turnout marks start of early voting for Aug. 1 election
Early voting for the Aug. 1 state primary and Anderson County general election got underway last Friday (July 12) in three locations, Clinton, Oak Ridge and this one, in the county office building on Anderson- ville Highway in Norris. - G. Chambers Williams III
Early voting for the Aug. 1 Tennessee state primary election and Anderson County general election has begun and will continue through Saturday. July 27, according to the Anderson County Election Commission. Since the polls opened last Friday (July 12) in three locations across the county for early voting, turnout has been light, county Elections Administrator Mark Stephens said Monday. “It’s been a little slow,” he said. “But there are several different things going on — weather, heat. And there are not a lot of races. None of the big offices are up. For the most part, there are not a lot of hotly contested races.” The ballot includes primary races for some Tennessee statewide races, and the general-election choices for several county/city positions. The governor’s seat is not up for election this year. In the state Republican primary, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is facing challenger Tres Wittum; U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is unopposed in U.S. House District 3; state Rep. John D. Ragan is facing challenger Rick Scarbrough for District 33 in the Tennessee House of Representatives; and state Rep. Ed Butler is unopposed in state House District 41. For the state Democrat primary, there are four candidates vying for the chance to oppose Blackburn in the U.S. Senate race: Marquita Bradshaw, Lola Denise Brown, Gloria Johnson and Civil Miller-Watkins, Jack Allen is running unopposed to be the Democratic candidate to face Fleischmann in the U.S. House District 3 race.
Read MoreCommission honors Hahn’s 90th birthday
The Anderson County Commission honored former Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge Executive Director Lawrence Hahn for his 90th birthday by passing a resolution at its July meeting. Hahn served as executive director of that organization from 1958 until 2009. As explained in the agenda for the commission’s July 16 meeting, he led the organization through many changes. “The Oak Ridge club started in an approximately 1,200-square-foot abandoned and dilapidated wooden structure,” the resolution said. “But through Laurence Hahn’s enthusiasm and leadership, he built a productive network of volunteers and influential benefactors and oversaw the construction of modern club facilities with a gymnasium, learning center, and four athletic fields. “Most importantly, Mr. Lawrence Hahn’s commitment and passion for the Boys and Girls Club’s programs positively affected generations of Youth and their families,” the resolution, read by Commissioner Aaron Wells at the meeting, stated. It also thanked him for his founding of the club’s alumni association in 1982. A crowd came out to applaud the recognition. Wells and others shared additional comments. “This man made me who I am today,” Wells said. “Wealth is the reputation and the legacy that someone leaves behind,” he said, adding that Hahn is wealthy by that definition. “I love this man more than I can think of any man I’ve ever loved,” said Oak Ridge High School Athletic Director Joe Gaddis. “He’s the crown jewel of Oak Ridge, but more importantly, he means a lot to Anderson County as well,” said Anderson County Sheriff Russell Barker. The Boys and Girls Club of Oak Ridge manages fitness, education and other activities for children in the area.
Read MoreMarket Night draws a crowd; more events planned downtown
Downtown Clinton merchants reported a good turnout for last Saturday’s Market Night event, and there was also good attendance at the first “Tasty Thursday Food Truck Rally” last week. “We were busy all day,” Stewart White, who was working the register at Granny’s Attic antiques at 341 Market St., said as the evening event got well underway. “We opened our doors at 10 a.m. and have hardly had a break.” The Market Night event ran from 5-8 p.m., with Market Street shut down to vehicular traffic and crowded with visitors partaking of specials in the downtown stores, and vendor booths and food trucks all along the street. It was a hot afternoon, but there was a cloud cover for the evening event that kept the sun from making it even hotter. Merchants up and down Market said they were pleased with Saturday’s event. But that’s not all. Coming Saturday, July 27, will be downtown’s “Christmas in July” event, sponsored by Historic Downtown Clinton from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Market Street. “Beat the heat this summer with a Christmas celebration,” the organization says on its website. “Even Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in a Hawaiian shirt! Kona Ice will be on hand and participating shops will have gorgeous Christmas displays and previews.” That will be followed by the Sip of Summerfest event at the Kincaid House. 710 Eagle Bend Road, from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9.
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