POSTAL CUSTOMER
VOL. 8 NO. 31
www.ShopperNewsNow.com |
IN THIS ISSUE
TCAPs reflect local ed stress
While many school districts celebrated last week, Union County ranked near the bottom when TCAP scores were released by Gov. Bill Haslam and the state Education Department. Sandra Clark has the county’s results and compares them to those from Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger and Scott counties.
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Story and chart on page 2
One of one Jake Mabe has discovered a rare treasure in a garage in Halls. It’s Jim Gombos’ 1932 Ford Boat Tail Speedster, designed and built specifically for Edsel Ford.
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See Jake’s story on page 3
The Class of ‘53 It was a heck of a class when Horace Maynard High School graduated the Class of 1953. Bonnie Peters was there then and just recently when the class celebrated its 50th reunion.
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See Bonnie’s story on page 5
Let there be corn Libby Morgan couldn’t miss the annual Corn Festival and has neat pictures inside.
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August 3, 2013
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Luttrell Rangers face the best By Libby Morgan Things get pretty technical when you’re preparing for a rescue mission. Underground. With the threat of death by breathing. Or by megatons of earth falling on you. Preparation is paramount to a successful mine rescue, and there is a global brotherhood (nonexclusive to gender) of people dedicated to the study, the practice and the recognition of the best techniques to save lives underground. The Luttrell Rangers of Carmeuse Mine are traveling to Reno, Nev., after qualifying at local and regional competitions to show off their mine rescue readiness. Our local rangers are fairly new to the game of rescue team competitions. Ten team members plus mine manager Harold Collins have been working to compete for only two years. In that short time, they have formed the team from volunteers, gotten fully equipped, and learned every detail of mine safety and rescue. And won second place in the regionals and first place in Caryville recently, under the careful scrutiny of competition judges. Competitions are held above -ground in simulated mine conditions, and points count against the team. TJhe team’s “canary,” a handheld device for measuring the level of gases, must be calibrated accurately. Equipment must be in perfect working order, and team members
Jason Brown and Bobby Swisher suited up to go “underground.” Photo submitted
must be experts in its use. Five members of the team are “underground,” notating and relaying conditions to the briefing station, where conditions and measurements are also written on a “map.” Both maps must match exactly to avoid points. The underground team wears full protective gear, with a 40-pound BG4 apparatus on their back, dragging a communication line, with the members tethered
together. First aid specialists are on each team, ready to come to the aid of a “victim.” Real people volunteer to be “injured,” and procedures for treating and transporting them are judged. “If we were to have an emergency at any mine in the area, our team is ready. These competitions To page 2
Mine manager Harold Collins holds a modern-day “canary.” Instead of falling off its perch when gas levels are dangerous, it cheeps. Photo by Libby Morgan
See Libby’s report on 6
NEIGHBORHOOD BUZZ
Board adopts ‘no new tax’ budget
The long road Marvin West says it’s taking as long to write the story of the 33 Bridge as it’s taking to finish the project. One thing’s for sure. When the story comes it will be worth the wait.
Peyton: Lost near Chuck Swan Peyton, mixed Aussie/cattle dog, was lost Sunday, July 21, near Chuck Swan on Sharps Chapel Road. People-friendly, but fears storms. Approximately 30 pounds. Info: Call 865-278-3025.
7049 Maynardville Pike 37918 (865) 922-4136 NEWS news@ShopperNewsNow.com Sandra Clark Libby Morgan | Bonnie Peters ADVERTISING SALES ads@ShopperNewsNow.com Shannon Carey Jim Brannon | Tony Cranmore Brandi Davis | Patty Fecco
By Sandra Clark Union County Commission is the next stop for the almost $24 million budget adopted July 29 by the Board of Education. It was a balancing act, as state revenues dropped for the current year. In the first budget for both Dr. Jimmy Carter, director of schools, and Ann Dyer, the county’s finance director, officials closed a $200,000 shortfall to avoid asking the commission for a tax increase. Teachers and administrators will be dinged, especially those who have previously gotten a break on health insurance coverage. The single employee contribution will rise from $120 annually to about $1,464. That increase will be offset by a $450 one-time bonus from state funds designated for a 1.5 percent raise. Teachers: In a budget workshop, Carter said teachers will get step increases this year, but that will be changed in future years with step increases on only years 6 and 11. “I’m recommending we use the 1.5 percent as a bonus (rather than building it into each teacher’s base pay), so we won’t risk not affording our payroll next year,” Carter said. “Teachers and principals will get the bonus, but not supervisors.” Dyer said the state is sending $850,000 for health insurance that costs the system $1.3 million. “At one time, the state sent enough to pay 100 percent for individuals,” Carter said. “That’s not the case anymore. It was good while it lasted, but it didn’t last.” Carter said $125 per month from each individual is fair and reasonable. He had no proposal to offer an
insurance match for non-certified personnel. Clinics: The school board has contracted with Prodigal Primary Care to staff clinics in three schools: Maynardville Elementary, Horace Maynard Middle and Luttrell Elementary. David Brickhouse, owner, said Prodigal has five Brickhouse offices in Knox County and one in Union County, located on John Deere Drive and headed by Union County native Kayla Brummitte Newcomb, a nurse practitioner. Eddie Graham, school health director, said the clinics will operate at no cost to the school system. They are available to employees of the system and to students at any school and their immediate family. Prodigal will bill patients or be reimbursed by health insurance. School Resource Officers: The school district will transfer four resource officers to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, paying $101,044 annually ($25,261 each for 10 months employment) plus benefits and a uniform allowance. Sheriff Earl Loy Jr. said he has reserve officers available, but he prefers to put an armed, certified officer in a school. Noting that three of the four SROs would lose money under the plan, board member Marty Gibbs voted no. Food Services: At the budget workshop, Carter and Dyer acknowledged problems with the
Dr. Jimmy Carter secures passage of his first budget.
Sheriff Earl Loy Jr. and officer Mike Butcher discuss school resource officers.
school food services department, but Carter asked for patience until the new director, Mary Effler, can get up to speed. The department operated at a loss during the past fiscal year, but its fund balance covered the roughly $70,000 shortfall. Effler Carter said the department had some $12,000 in uncollected charges which contributed to the deficit. “We want to win kids back to eating school lunches,” said Effler, a former teacher at Paulette Elementary School. “No one will work harder than Mary to do this job,” said Carter, “but overhauling the menu won’t happen overnight.” The food services contract is now with wholesaler Reinhart, the low bidder. “Robbing Peter:” Carolyn
Murr and Marilyn Toppins spoke against Carter’s recommendation to require teachers to contribute more toward their health insurance. “You are robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Murr told the board. “Single (teachers) are losing money.” Toppins said the budget would cost each teacher $1,000 this year, causing the county to lose its competitive edge with adjacent counties. “Our retention (of teachers) is already suffering; we’re worried that our recruitment will suffer too.” Toppins produced a chart to show that Union falls below Knox and Anderson counties in teacher salaries, while paying higher than Claiborne, Campbell and Grainger counties. Union County employees currently pay less for health insurance. Under the board-adopted budget, Union County employees will pay $121.78 per month year-round, higher than Anderson, Campbell or Grainger counties. Only Knox County is higher, with employees paying $159 per month.
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