You'd think that having lunch with someone that you do business with would not involve an act of congress.
I just called a local business person to have lunch.He is employed by one of the cities in the county in an unrelated capacity.
Since I invited him to lunch, I was expecting to treat. I was surprised when he said, "I'd be happy to have lunch with you but I have to pay for my own lunch."
He went on to say that he had just had a meeting with his staff explaining to them the new ethics laws as a result of the undercover sting operation known as The Tennessee Waltz.
Many people have expressed their concern to me regarding all the new legislation that seems to crop up every time criminal activity takes place.
Apparently a very few individuals dictate total control of the masses.
Take the airline security checks as an example.
A few very sick individuals hijacked some planes and as a result the entire flying population regulations had changed.
Or how about the problems in some courthouses and schools.
Once again, a few sick human beings went crazy and killed people.
As a result, the way kids are treated in schools and courthouses has changed in the entire United States.
The list goes on and on and on, but why.
In my opinion it's because we do not enforce the laws we have and are too lenient with the dispensing of punishment.
This editorial did not start out on the subject of punishment, but in my opinion, it's because of the punishment, that crime is at such proportions.
For every action there should be consequences. Whether they be good or bad isn't the point.
Equally important is that the punishment fit the crime.
I'm not an authority on the law but it appears that the way it now stands, that's not the case.
Why should we, the innocent, have to suffer due to the deviant actions of the criminals?
Why should we be searched every time we want to board a plane, enter certain buildings or carry a favorite back to school?
Why should we have to be the ones to be constantly on the lookout for criminal activity at airports, courthouses, schools, stadiums or other public places?
Why are we, the innocent, the ones to be so inconvenienced that we have to plan for at least an extra hour for plane flights. Not to mention the embarrassment of being searched and treated like criminals.
I know, I can hear you already saying, but it's for our own safety. Exactly. But why should we have to pay the price by being unnecessarily delayed, searched and treated criminally. The guilty ones should be paying the price. Not the innocent public.
The guilty should be dealt with publicly and in a manor that would deter anyone from committing like crimes.
I know that's not popular with some, but I believe our founding fathers would be turning in their graves if they saw how innocent people are being mistreated.
The most distressing thing happening is not the mistreatment of the innocent, but rather the apathy people show towards the most powerful tool they have. Their vote.
It seems the ones that scream the loudest, aren't even registered.
So, here is my solution: Make the punishment fit the crime; adhere to the belief that we are innocent until proven guilty; punish publicly and allow parents to parent. That way, ethics will take care of itself.
Don't get me started on being politically correct.
What's your thought?
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User Comments
The Tennessee State legislature passed some hastily drawn up ethics legislation that actually does very little to stop, alter or address any wrongdoing by local elected officials. Almost every county is now arguing about how to interpret the legislation because it is so vague. The corrupt officials are attempting to weaken the interpretation. The honest politicians are arguing for a stricter interpretation. I believe that the state legislature did the locals no favors at all by enacting this legislation. The state legislators made a declaration that the local laws were to be drawn up and not be any less strict than the state ethic law. That clearly did not happen! The state requires that the state ethics committee be selected by two seperate people with half the committe members being Democrats and the other half being Republicans. The state law says that the committee members can NOT be elected officials or be employed by the state. In Sevier County, Larry Waters selected every member of the committee and they are all either council members or employed by the county in some capacity. I'm sorry, but there is no way that they can be considered objective in ruling on any ethic matters. What Mr. Waters did by staffing the ethics committee was not required but allowed by law. He could have done it differently but I guess that is one interpretation of the "ethics" question. I don't believe that you will ever see any "ethics violations" in Sevier County!! The deck has been stacked against you (the public) from the beginning, by your own elected officials. Sad.
Tennessee is the second most corrupt state in the Union. Changing that will take time and must start on local levels. Phil King, the county dog catcher, on an ethics committee is like putting an elephant in charge of peanuts.
He has no education at all. Just the right "NAME"!
It just amazes me that there isn't a huge crowd in front of the Sevier County courthouse demanding answers for some of this stuff, What will it take? Is this corruption acceptable to you??
I find it hard to believe that an ethics panel consisting of 3 commissioners and 2 county employees that meets in the Mayors office is ethical!
Certainly, this is not what the state ethics panel had in mind.
But, then again, it may be exactly what the state committee wanted!
Sevier County never has been ethical why should they start now! They are STUCK ON STUPID and seem to like it there.
Are there enough concerned citizens out there to nudge them off stupid?
Call Mayor Waters at 868-453-6136. Demand that he hold his cronies to the highest of ethical behavior.
When that doesn't work, contact Sen. Finney (865)-984-1424 , Rep. McCord (865) 984-5881 and Rep. Montgomery (865) 453-1218.
Governor Phil Bredesen can be reached at:615.741.2001
Policy regarding ethical behavior should be more strict rather than written around "loopholes."
Demand only the best from your officials. They work for you, not the other way around!
I think that if you're so tired of "Tennessee being the most corrupt State" and you're tired of being "STUCK ON STUPID" maybe YOU should do something about it instead of b**ching about it so much. WE ALL look forward to seeing YOUR name on the next ballot.
I SO SICK OF SEEING JOHN MEYERS AND TAXPAYER WRITE THINGS IN THIS COLUMN -- DO EITHER OF YOU HAVE A REAL LIFE- APPARENTLY NOT - GET OVER IT OR MOVE!!!! I HAVE NOT BEEN ON THIS SITE IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS AND BOTH OF YOU ALL ARE ON THE SAME OLD SOAP BOX - I'M SORRY LITTLE BOYS THAT EVERY THING HAS NOT WORKED OUT FOR YOU - GO HOME AND TAKE A NAP- IT MUST BE PAST YOUR BEDTIMES-
I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY TO JOHN THE TAXPAYER AND JOHN MEYERS- WHY DON'T YOU LEAVE MR. KING ALONE AND START LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT REALLY MATTERS - LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CITIES IN SEVIER COUNTY HELPING TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS. WHY DON'T YOU CHANGE YOUR NASTY LITTLE COMMENTS INTO DOING SOMETHING POSTIVE? BUT THEN AGAIN WHAT CAN A BITTER LITTLE MAN LIKE YOURSELF DO POSTIVE!!!!!! MR. KING, I PERSONALLY LIKE YOU - I THINK THAT YOUR MORALS AND ETHICS ARE GREAT- DO YOU TRY TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT? YES
DO YOU REALLY CARE THAT YOUR PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT GET TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS? YES
ARE YOU ALWAYS RIGHT? NO
BUT I THINK YOU ALWAYS TRY TO BE HONEST WITH PEOPLE - JUST LIKE YOUR DAD ONCE SAID - YOU CANNOT ALWAYS PLEASE EVERYONE BUT YOU DO HAVE TO LOVE THEM SON AND GO ON!!!!!!JOHN THE TAXPAYER AND JOHN MEYERS STICK THAT IN YOUR LEFT NOSTRIL HOLE AND BLOW FOR A WHILE
to JDB.
I have never belittled Phil. I have met with him many times, like him and think of him as a good representative for all the folks that he represents.
I don't know what nerve I struck with you but, I have always spoken up about how things are run in this county and how they could be (in my opinion - and you know about opinions, everyone has one) better.
An ethics panel should consist of unbiased people. It shouldn't be made up of "cronies." It certainly shouldn't meet in the mayors office unless he isn't present.
So, let me ask you a few of things:
1. What do you think an ethics panel should "look" like? Who do you think should be on it? Who should have made the selection? Should they have any authority? Whould they look into nepotism, cronyism and potential conflicts of interests?
What are your thoughts on the state of affairs in Sevier County? Do you like development like Legacy? Do you think there should be some guidelines for commercial rental cabins? Do you think there should be fire inspections, building codes and other safety protections? Do you think renters should be told about the quality of water in the wells that serve rental cabins?
Do you think that county citizens should pay more in taxes when rental cabin owners are taxed at a lesser rate than other commercial establishments in Sevier County?
Do you think Mayor Waters has been fiscally responsible when you hear about TACIR studies that show hundreds of millions of dollars in defecits? Do you think it wise that our county (and municipalities) spent $60,000 of your money for a study that the is offered at no cost by the Tennessee Growth Readiness Project?
I'd like to see your suggestions for improvements to Sevier County.
Telling me (or others that you don't agree with) to move isn't a valid suggestion. Running away has never solved any issues.
I feel the same way that about Mr. King that he represents his people including myself very well. Let's address the issues as you mentioned- the ethics committee- let's see exactly what they do- if they indeed have ethics. If and when a complaint is filed regarding ethics I feel that they will be fair and judge according to do what is right. I am for zoning- I know that the commission represents people that are totally against development but they also have to respresent people that are for developing- so bringing an outside authority in to do and unbias study proves to be very wise. The problem with restrictions of zoning is that it takes 2/3 of the commission to make changes. With commission being made of so many different folks it is sometimes hard to get everything passed. If you feel a problem is with the zoning issues - maybe voters of Sevier County needs to look into this. Now getting rid of commissioner who are for zoning and trying to do what is right and ethical need to continue to receive our support. Now let's address the water issue- I believe Mr. Meyers if you will check that the commissioners are looking into establishing a water division for Sevier County - all residents- They are accepting contracts on master metering water at this very time. Some contracts are hard to get- just a reminder - we had a contract with the City of Pigeon Forge (Earlene Teaster) they would not honor it. I am very much for water for all folks. Yes, I totally agree that there are alot of valid issues and I do not have all the answers nor do I know anyone who does buttttt if we would all try to work together in a sensible manner including Mr. Waters instead of bashing each other we might see some changes- after all Mr. Meyers you can get more with honey than you get with vinegar. Last but not least by any means Pray for our leaders- some need it more than you might know!!!!! Mr Meyers I might add one more comment- it would help if you and the taxpayer would not personally attack a man that you think represents his people well. To John the taxpayer- Dog Catcher is an incorrect description of Mr. King - he is an animal control officer and as for the education please ask for the documentation of what formal training that he does have- I for a fact know that he has taken at least 45 different classes to become more educated on issues regarding his job and for issues that concern the commission. Mr. Meyers I personally hav enever ran from anything, I jsut sick of hearing the same old soap box- one thing that might help you and the other people who believe things are done unethically in Seiver County is to change your attitudes. Not your way of thinking but the way you approach things
YOU ARE VERY BRIGHT & MAYBE A GOOD PERSON??? YOU LOVE TO MAKE EVERYONE MAD SELLS YOUR PAPER HEE HEE
THE COMMENT I WROTE WAS TO MR JOHN THE TAXPAYER.
Your comment to John Meyers was way over the line. You have no idea how mistreated that individual has been by the powers of Sevier County. He has been dismissed by the very same ethics committee that you think will make the right decisions. The ethics committee is a smoke and mirrors panel of individuals who can take in and then dismiss complaints. They will NEVER hold anyone accountable and even if they did, what is the punishment. This ethics committee bill was Bredesens knee jerk reaction to the Tennessee Waltz, It embarrassed him so in order to save face with the voters, he did this. Ask yourself, better yet, ask your local politician why the ethics committee isn't chosen by the election board and made up of citizens of the county. I can tell you exactly why...because Larry Waters does not wish to have someone or a group of someones looking into the inner workings of the county government. After 28 years of running this county, he has a sense of entitlement. Your commissioner who I'm sure cares about his constituents is no longer qualified to lead a county as a commissioner. The issues we are dealing with now are not the same we dealt with several years ago. Many of the issues that come up at the commission meetings leave our commissioners looking like a lost ball in high weeds. You also see commissioners like P. King, J. Keener, J. Godfrey cowtowing to the wishes of Hurst, Whaley(s), McGaha, Temple, Woods and Watson. Oddly enough the latter commissioners happen to be in the construction business which is why there are very poor zoning laws and an impotant planning commission. So before you decide to go off on John Meyers, you ought to find out what HE HAS done for this community. He has fought all the way to save the mountains, to advise other local groups and has filed a couple of ethics complaints that were dismissed without ever being heard, because quite frankly as Commissioner Warren Hurst told him, they are sick of hearing from people who own a little bit of land and think they have a right to tell the commissioners what to do. Now, how do we fix that attitude JDB? We can't remove any politician in Sevier County until their term is up.
Thank you Mr. Meyers for getting off on another soap box!!!!!!!!
Don't quite understand this last comment.
Don't know who posted the rant supporting me but, I appreciate any people willing to get involved to try to help Sevier be a better place.
Speaking up for ones wishes is the only way to make government work and I've always felt that the locals who run this place need to hear from everyone about the issues.
I may be caustic and say things that others don't have the gumption to express. But, I've never advocated anything about the downfall of Sevier County; just the relenquisment of total power by those who have spent the past quarter of a century not providing the basics that many other areas "give" their citizens. More voice to the folks who care about mountains, clean streams and preserving this beautiful area.
Now lets take a look at the violent very corrupt history of Sevier County that is well documented and then the present day current crime statistics. Nothing has changed in over 100 years. Sevier county is Corrupt and Stuck On Stupid!
http://www.lib.utk.edu/spcoll/manuscript...
http://tnhendersons.rootsweb.com/ms-phot...
http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?...
I know you are trying to hide and conceal the real Sevier County. That's not going to happen anymore. The truth is out to stay out!
I wonder how well the fact of no impeachment will play out when we get some NOT BORN HERES on the next County Commission and Indictments of some of our present leaders! Just how long do you Good Ole Boys think you can be White Caps and push people around. We have had enough! We will fight you in the ballot boxes!
JOHN Taxpaper when you say that Phillip King has no education I would like to remind you that Riley King his father only had an eighth grade education and helped this county to achive more than a man that had 2 college degree! Knowledge doesn't always come from books but thing around you! Apparently you transplants think that we would be better off to have people that live in Cocke County run our goverment so that no one that has a job or anything to do with this county to help in our goverment! I HATE TRANSPLANTS THATS WHY YOU SHOULD GO BACK TO WHERE THE HELL YOU CAME FROM! There are bigger issues in this county going on than this we have kids that go home ever night with no food or a fist in there face! Why dont you stop and look around that we have people with no homes people that are losing ther lives to illness and other issues rather than who was born here! I have had enough about Mr. King you don'teven deserve to wash his feet! He has done NOTHING but try to help his community! He has helped so many kids, people you are the one with NO ETHICS! SHUT UP!!
For all of those who wish to know the truth about Sevier County there is a Book by an invesetigative reporter from Virginia named Sandra Lea that exposes the Cas Walker and Butcher Brothers. There is child slavery and child prostitution going on right now in Sevier County with a wink from local Good Ole Boys in Control at the present time!
Read the book Whirlwind to see what is really going on In Sevier County.
http://www.whirl.biz/
Open your eyes!
Just because his daddy was Riley King that makes him Qualified. No Way! He has to pass the POST commission test or surrender his firearm back to the Sherfiff's Department. After all he is just the DOG CATCHER isn't he?
Riely King was a disaster for Sevier County! Sorry Mr Boggs but the FBI and the TBI will decide what is right for the people of Sevier County not you! "Hate for transplants" very nice talk, are you going to come to my home in your White Cap and run me off? You are a pathetic narrow minded STUCK ON STUPID FOOL to think we are leaving. We now make up almost 40% of the population so get ready for change like it or not. You can not stop it with that limited education and attitude my foolish friend and neighbor! Love Thy Neighbor, you will learn that lesson if it has to be the hard way!
Sevierville police arrest three on prescription drug charges
By: Robin Murdoch, Reporter
Date created: 7/27/2007 5:23:51 PM
Last updated: 7/28/2007 12:00:51 AM
Sevierville Police say three women were trying to get their hands on powerful pain killers, but teamwork between medical professionals and police foiled their plans.
Police first found out about the scheme on Tuesday, but through their investigation learned it has been going on since September of 2006. A concerned pharmacist got the ball rolling.
"It definitely takes that type of cooperation to catch people," said Bob Stahlke of the Sevierville Police Department.
The cooperation started at a Kroger Grocery store on Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville earlier this week. Police say a pharmacist got suspicious when 33-year old Kimberly M. Douglass of Kodak came in and tried to fill a prescription for pain medication.
"Prescription fraud is definitely something that is here," Stahlke said. "It's probably on the rise, and we are trying to fight it as much as we can."
According to a police report, the Kroger pharmacist then contacted St. Mary's Pain Management Center in Powell to see if they had a patient under Douglass's name. The nurse practitioner did not and said she did not write the prescription.
She called the Sevierville Police Department to get to the bottom of it.
"Pain medication on the open market is something very lucrative, and people are making a lot of money doing this," Stahlke said.
Police arrested Douglass on Wednesday and charged her with 29 counts of felony forgery stemming from the fake prescriptions.
The investigation led to two more arrests on Friday. Detectives nabbed 44-year old Janet M. Cunningham who they say used 9 bogus prescriptions. They also arrested 24-year old Amanda J. York who now faces 10 felony forgery counts.
"Anytime we can stop this kind of fraudulent use of prescriptions and keep the drugs off the streets, we are going to be better off," Stahlke said.
A spokesperson for St. Mary's Hospital says the hospital always encourages employees to be vigilant and report anything suspicious to a supervisor.
I wonder how the great Riley King and his 8th grade education would handle this problem.
Did you ever stop and think maybe we got this problem BECAUSE of his wonderful 8th grade education!
Yeah Think?
Now as far as washing any body parts go, I think BUTTS would be much better. There would less brown on a lot of noses around the county and us that have to "Kiss" Them to get anything would not have to put up with such a "Stink"!
I think this opinion section is a good thing. Everyone should be aloud to voice their opinion. The only thing wrong is everyone seems to be afraid to put their name to their opinion. Keep giving your opinion if you can stand behind it. If you can’t stand behind it move back to Michigan or where ever it is your from. We here in Sevier County stand behind our word and are not afraid to let people know it.
To get back to Mr Karl's original question,I can understand his point.I think what we need is prescreening process.One that allows an air passengers to pass thru security at an airport with minimal security checks based on security officials already having done an in depth check on this person.This already exists for frequent travellers for business between Canada and the Usa.I don't see why this couldn't become a practice for most air travellers.An example would be that most people flying from McGhee Tyson are not a big security threat to anyone.Carry a card that gets one thru security faster makes things more efficient.I would say it needs regular updating,possibly yearly to make sure that person has not been involved in a crime that would make air travel a concern.
If you are like me and simply refuse to remove footwear and walk across a floor that thousands of people have walked across in all seasons,just refuse to do it.You will directed to the end of the line where your foot wear will be manually scanned.If enough of us do this,it wont take long to remove this stupid regulation.All it took was one hoople head with some explosives in his shoes to enact this rule.In this case,he was caught because of vigilant passengers.All of us should do out part,not only to protect ourselves,but those like us.The people we entrust to protect us need our help.We can do our part,its called using ones common sense.If something looks out of the ordinary,its our responsibilty to report it to those charged with dealing with such matters
Has anybody seen the new bill in the congress about "no lawsuit for reporting abmormal activity". Congress is trying to prove that they can actually do something besides trying to even for Clinton's Impeachment
I THINK IF WE HAVE ANOTHER CICIL WAR OF THE NORTH & SOUTH.THE SOUTH WOULD WIN.. WE ARE NOT AS COMPASSIONATE AS WE USED TO BE(HA HA)
CIVIL(OOPS)
Maybe we need to fight that Civil War all over again and this time we could make you CIVIL not just house broken!
Someone needs to make a trip to Gettysburg, where memorials to both the North and the South are on every battlefield. In 1938 veterans from both North and South gathered for the 75 reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg.
The local politicians sure hope you all will keep arguing amongst yourselves and leave them alone. Keep your eye on the thief behind the curtain. These good old boys are stealing us blind and they hope you will be distracted.
When are ethics coming to Sevier County?
I, for one, am excited at the promise of ethical behavior!
Is there going to be a parade to celebrate this much needed arrival?
Can the parade ultra-flow around the courthouse?
Ethics...If ethics were a 4 bore shotgun and you aimed at City Hall..you couldn't hit an ethical person with both barrels. What passes for ethics these days are called Situational Ethics. They're even taught in College. What is good for the moment might not be good for tomorrow.
Ethics, adhering to a moral principle, is nothing more than the Golden Rule: "Do for others what you would like them to do for you." Ethics is a system of moral standards.
When a business misleads its customers, can you trust anything that business does? Can you trust the cleanliness? Can you trust the maintenance? Can you trust the security? If they provide food, is the food safe to eat? The answer to those questions is, you cannot trust anything associated with that business.
Once a business shows it will deceive its customers to get their money, the business shows it will do anything for the dollar and therefore cannot be trusted.
Is misleading the customer considered honest behavior? It is past the time for the local businesses to stop acting like carnival hucksters.
Businesses that are dedicated to doing the right thing have a written commitment to social responsibility, and act on it consistently are more profitable than those who don't. Embracing ethical behavior will not automatically make the business owners rich and successful, but ethics plus competence is a winning equation.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS 'AUGUST' ETHICS COMMITTEE TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTION OF A 'FELON' BEING EMPLOYED IN ANY CAPACITY AT THE SEVIER COUNTY JAIL, REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL FORMER SHERIFF BRUCE MONTGOMERY LIKED HIM, WHETHER HE DID A GOOD JOB FOR SHERIFF MONTGOMERY AS AN EMPLOYEE AND 'ENHERITED' BY THE PRESENT SHERIFF SEALS? iF STATE LAW PROHIBITS THE EMPLOYMENT OF A FELON IN SUCH CAPACITY WHO IS TO QUESTION THE HIGH SHERIFF, EVEN ONE WHO HAD SERVED WITH THE FEDERAL MARSHALL'S OFFICE OR THE CRIMINAL JUDGE WHO ORDERED THE SENTENCE? SGOULD SOMEONE BE ASKING IF HE WAS PAROLED OR PARDONED, WHAT DO THE LOCAL OFFICIALS KNOW, IS THIS A 'WINK AND A NOD' SITUATION? iF, POSSIBLY, THRE HAS BEENA COVER UP HERE OR A 'DEAL' STRUCK,WOULD IT BE THE LOWLY ETHICS COMMITTEE DEALING WITH THIS QUESTION, OR DOES ANYONE CARE? WHEN THE COURT RECORDS, WORD FOR WORD = VERBATIM REFLECTS IN THE EVIDENCE THAT REPORTS DEALING WITH THIS SUBJECT RECOMMENDED AND VERIFIED THAT WHILE UNDER BOND HE WOULD NOT, NOR DID HE HAVE A JOB AT THAT TIME WHERE HE DEALS WITH EXPENDITURES, IS THE COUNTY'S RISK AT STAKE WHEN CONFIDENCE IS ONCE AGAIN PUT INTO A PERSON WHO HAS PROVEN HESELF TO BE A RISK (ALL IN THE RECORD, JUST READ IT) THAT WHILE HE FACED TRIAL FOR EMBEZZLEMENT FOR (ADMITTED BY HIM) $900,000 HE ONCE AGAIN STOLE ALMOST $50,000 FROM LOCAL BUSINESSMAN? AS A PART OF A PLEA HE AGREED TO REPAY THE BUSINESS MAN 'EVERY PENEY', YET HE HAS NOT! AFTER APPEAL DENIED, HE WAS ORDERED TO SERVE A SIX-YEAR TERM IN THE PENITENTIARY, YET ON WEBSEARCH OF FBI HE SHOWS NO CRIMINAL RECORD IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE FOR THIS THEFT, ONLY FROM MARBLETON, GEORGIA WHERE THE FIRST OFFENSE OCCURRED: HAS THIS CASE 'HAD SPECIAL TREATMENT' EITHER BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, DIVISION OF CRIMINAL CORRECTIONS? WHEN THERE IS LACK OF SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE TO BRING THESE MATTERS TO YOUR ATTENTION, i'M TALKING ABOUT YOU - WHO ELECT OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND YOU - THE FELLOW WHO 'IS STUCK ON STUPID' - WHEN WILL THERE BE A DEMAND FOR CHANGE AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW? UNTIL THESE SITUATIONS ARE EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND THE SUNSHINE, IT WILL CONTINUE AND FESTER - UNTIL THEY ARE EITHER SHAMED, EMBARRASSED, COAXED BY PERSONAL PRESSURE TO MAKE CHANGE, OR THE SITUATION GETS SO EXTREME THAT LEGAL AUTHORITIES ARE FORCED TO MOVE - WILL THAT BE WHEN THEY HANG THEMSELVES, FINALLY?
SQRPEG - HAVE TO TALKED TO HASS SEALS ABOUT THIS SITUATION? MAYBE HE THINKS THINGS WENT SO WELL UNDER FORMER SHERIFF, HE WAS A PART OF THAT ORGANIZATION, AND WHEN THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS CHOSE HIM UNAMIOUSLY TO FILL THAT POSITION UNTIL THE NEXT ELECTION THAT THEY WERE PUTTING A STAMP OF APPROVAL ON HIS ACTIONS IN HAVING A FELON WORKING AT THE JAIL IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW? I VOTED FOR BRUCE MONTGOMERY LAST ELECTION,BUT, I DIDN'T KNOW HE HAD HAD A FELON AS A PART OF HIS ORGANIZATION, NOW, DEATH DOESN'T CURE ALL ILLS! HAD THIS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLIC PERHAPS OTHER VOTES WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW DOESN'T HURT YOU, RIGHT - BUT IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN MORE, RIGHT? IF THIS PRACTICE IS IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW THEN HOSS SEALS CAN'T HIDE BEHIND THE FACT THAT IF BRUCE DID IT IT'S OKEY FOR HIM, WHERE IS HIS CULPABILITY AND WHAT WOULD BE HIS ANSWERS TO AS HOW AND WHY THIS FELON REMAINES AT THE SEVIER COUNTY JAIL WHILE SERVING THE COURT ORDER/UPHELD SENTENCE OF SIX YEARS. ARE WE TAKING THE LAW INTO OUR OWN HANDS HERE IN SEVIER COUNTY UNDER THE THEORY THAT WHAT IS FAIR FOR THE GOOSE THE SAME IS FAIR FOR THE GANDER - A MISAPPROPRIATION OF GOOD SENSE WHILE TAKING THE CITIZENS OF SEVIER COUNTY FOR FOOLS! IF YOU EVER FIND FROM SPEAKING DIRECTLY WITH JUDGE REX H. OGLE AND LEARN WHY HIS ORDER WASN'T FULFILLED AS HE INTENDED, AND UPHELD BY THE APPELLATE COURT, WOULD YOU FIND ANY SURPRISE ON HIS PART OR DID HE, SOMEWHAT, CONSENT TO THIS MATTER OF PRIOR CONFICTED FELON SERVING ANOTHER SENTENCE IN THE SEVIER COUNTY JAIL? KEEP US INFORMED, PLEASE.
AS I READ YOUR COMMENTS, JUST WONDERING, ALONG WITH SQRPEG - WHAT IF YOU AND I WERE ON THE ETHICS COMMITTEE. WE WOULD NEED SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE COUNTY MAYOR AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY ADVISING US WOULDN'T WE? IF THE COUNTY MAYOR HAD HAND-PICKED YOU, WOULD HE NOT HAVE FIRST GIVEN YOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT IT WAS HE EXPECTED OF YOU? ONCE HE GOT YOU CORRALLED HE COULD SLIP AWAY AND APPEAR TO HAVE LITTLE CONCERN BECAUSE HE HAD 'SALTED IT DOWN', HIS USUAL WAY OF OPERATING, RELAXING WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL WAS IN GOOD HANDS. WOULD YOU HAVE QUESTIONED HIM OR FALLEN PREY AS MANY OTHERS HAVE BY THE POLITICAL MANIPULATION OVER EXCESS OF TWENTY YEARS? WOULDN'T YOU BE REMORSEFUL KNOWING THAT THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS LARGE ENOUGH TO STAND AGAINST EXPECTED SCRUTNY AND LAMBLASTING BUT WITH SERIOUS CONCERNS WERE NOT GIVEN YOUR TIME OF DAY OR AT LEAST SOME REASONABLE SHOWING OF FAIRNESS? HAVING TAKEN THE POSITION AND PERFORMING AS YOU WERE EXPECTED BY THE PERSON IN CHARGE - COUNTY MAYOR - WOULDN'T YOU FEEL LOWER THAN A SNAKE'S ARS, AS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD BE? COME ON ADMIT IT, BY THIS TIME YOU MIGHT BE CONSIDERING RESIGNING AND WOULDN'T THAT BE A GOOD THING? WHAT IF THE WHOLE COMMITTEE THREW THESE APPOINTMENTS BACK ON THE COUNTY MAYOR AND ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WERE LARGER THAN TO BE HIS HENCHMEN AND HIS POLITICAL CRONIES, SUGGESTING HE TAKE IT BACK TO THE BULL BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS? WHAT IF EACH TOOK STOCK OF THEIR FAILURE TO EITHER PERFORM OR ADMIT THE JOB WAS TOO BIG FOR THEM - WHAT IF?
To Mr. John Myers - zudos on your Letter to the Editor, thanks for being a stand-up person. You appear to be knowledgeable in the affairs of this county and concerned enough to speak out, thanks to you and the integrity you bring in this process of complaints before the Ethics Committee. I agree with you 500% in that the entire group is working under a conflict of interest, keep on keeping on! You seem to have much to offer the citizens of this county and since we are not all Blessed in the same ways, you are commended for your actions in using those tallents for the benefit of others, a good man you must be! I hope to see and hear more from you in the near future and will be watching to see if there are other good people who are willing to share their blessings with others. So many folks go along for the ride, will not take an open stand but always expect others to carry the load - I'll join you everywhere I can and any time I see the right opportunity to make a difference. Thank you Mr. Myers.
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