Mayor Terry Frank and Nathan Sweet, Director of the Anderson County Emergency Medical Service (EMS), have teamed up to create an immediate and short-term plan as well as a long-term plan for the future of the Anderson County EMS (ACEMS).
In an audit conducted by Fitch & Associates in the summer of 2017, it was revealed that the ACEMS was vastly underfunded compared to most other counties.
The underfunding has led to poor EMS performance and vital equipment being out of date or over-used to the point of deficiency.
Former mayor, now Trustee, Myron Iwanski has headed up an EMS Advisory committee in order to ensure that the ACEMS is brought up to snuff.
In the last County Commission meeting on April 16, the Commissioners, headed by Chairman Tim Isbel, all agreed that the state of disarray the ACEMS currently finds itself in is the top priority in the county.
In his proposal as to what the next steps should be to begin the rehabilitation of the ACEMS, Iwanski asked Mayor Terry Frank and Nathan Sweet to work together, with the County Commission, to formulate a strategic plan with detailed budgetary requirements for immediate, short-term and long-term steps.
The first of two immediate steps that Frank and Sweet listed was to begin funding and purchasing critical ambulance and equipment replacement needs based on the EMS Immediate Capital Plan.
The second immediate step listed was to determine and get approval for the 2018 – 2019 EMS Operating Budget.
After recently winning the May 1 Primary (assuring re-election with no opposition in August) as Anderson County Register of Deeds, Tim Shelton is continuing his work as if there had been no election at all.
And one of the main projects his office is working on is the digitalization of all of their records that are currently on microfilm.
“For about five or six years, we’ve been back indexing. Which means we’ve been typing in the indexing information and then manually scanning deeds of trust and the documents we have here. Physically doing that.” Shelton said.
Shelton began doing a little research in order to find an easier, more efficient way to digitalize the records in his office.
Monday night Clinton City Council learned about two road projects that will affect motorists.
One is a short term disruption and will take place before the end of summer; the other will “probably” begin by the start of 2019.
The entrance to Clinton Post Office — at the intersection of Longmire Road and Charles G. Seivers Boulevard — will see a change by the end of the summer.
The city will turn the exit of the Post Office into an entrance. The current entrance will be an exit with a right turn only designation.
A simple message but perhaps the most important one ever, anywhere. And it is central to every part of “Grandmomma’s Unsolicited Advice.”
This book, published earlier this year, is Lyndall Stokes Ridenour’s labor of love—for her grandchildren and because of God.
Ridenour grew up in Clinton, her forebears having old-time names such as Peake and Stokes. And she married Roger L. Ridenour, whose family moved many years ago from Campbell County to Anderson County. Roger, Lyndall says, has helped and encouraged her as she put this book together for their nine grandchildren.
Her major inspiration, though, was Sarah Cunningham Stokes, Lyndall’s mother, a quiet, gracious woman. A widow when Lyndall and her siblings were children, she shared with them her unfaltering faith in God. Little by little, as Lyndall matured, it transformed her.
Ground has been broken and a site is being developed for a three to four business plot in Rocky Top.
The site is at 301 Norris Freeway, at the corner of Longfield Rd and Norris Freeway.
Rocky Top City Manager Michael Foster said that from what he understands, the developers already have an agreement with Little Caesars to fill one of the available spaces.
The proposed project could be completed late July, but may be pushed back if necessary.
Also coming to Rocky Top, state licensure pending, is a package store.
The City Council has approved a Certificate of Compliance and issued a new beer license.
“We are very excited about new businesses coming here. It shows that we are doing something right. Some growth is happening in the city,” Foster said.
Mariner steps down from ACHS Navy JROTC after 17 years
by Fred Strohl Special to The Courier News
Retired U.S. Navy Commander Tommy Mariner introduced a new education concept in Anderson County in August 2001 when he and Chief Allen Davis started the Anderson County High School Navy Junior ROTC program. Seventeen years and more than 1,000 cadets later, Mariner is retiring in June with the conclusion of the school year. He was honored last Thursday during a special faculty meeting.
“It was (former Anderson County principal) Bob McCracken’s idea to start a JROTC program and he quickly found the person to lead it when Tommy was interviewed,” said Greg Deal, currently assistant director of Anderson County Schools and an assistant principal at the high school when Mariner joined the ACHS faculty in 2001.
“Bob believed starting a JROTC program would inspire students who could benefit from it. Tommy has had an impact on so many lives here over the years — both inside and outside the NJROTC — including strong support from all of the faculty. He was exactly the person needed to start and maintain the program.”
Mariner, a 22-year Naval aviator with combat service in the Persian Gulf War and off Beirut during his years in the Navy, was living in Norris and farming when he was named NJROTC commander. The rest is history.
Anderson County Community Action is celebrating Community Action Month, dedicated to recognizing the success of the National Community Action Network. America’s Community Action Agencies connect millions of children and families to greater opportunity, transforming their lives and making our communities – and our nation- stronger. This month ACCAC will be engaging in programs and events that showcase our innovative work in Anderson County.
“Community Action Month is a wonderful time to honor and celebrate the impact Community Action has in the lives of families and communities across the country,” stated Susan Bowling, Executive Director. The Community Action Partnership Network offers insight to leaders looking to understand what is working on the ground to help families thrive- creating smarter solutions that can be put to work within communities across the country.”
It’s a valuable resource we take for granted every day.
The people of Anderson County, along with all other residents of the Tennessee Valley, enjoy the benefits of an abundant water supply.
Statistics compiled by the Tennessee Valley Authority from a five-year study speak to the value of the river system in the region.
Consider the following numbers:
• 10 billion gallons of water are used in the valley every day and 95.6 percent of that is returned to the river
• Of the 4.4 percent of water that is not returned, 56 percent is used for public water supply (for more than 5 million people), 15.5 percent for power plant cooling, 14.4 percent for industrial uses, and 14.1 percent for irrigation
Kelly Johnson, Director of Clinton City Schools, addressed citizens at Clinton Elementary School, Tuesday, May 15. Johnson talked about the potential STEAM Academy’s possible location and also detailed what a STEAM Academy is. Johnson stressed that this possible decision, that may or may not be pursued, “is not a Kelly Johnson idea or a Clinton City Schools idea.” The idea was brought to their attention by a group of concerned citizens and it is still currently in the “exploratory phase.” At the end of the presentation, Johnson handed out surveys so parents and concerned parties could voice their opinions.
