December 31, 2009 by Shawn Breeden

The Mountain Press ■ Sevier County’s Daily Newspaper ■ Vol. 25, No. 365 ■ December 31, 2009 ■ www.themountainpress.com ■ 50 Cents

Thursday

Wet stuff to usher in 2010

INSIDE

5S.F. attractions missing

National park prepared for snow

Famous sea lions in California leaving in droves Page A3

By ELLEN BROWN Staff Writer Photos by Jerry Habraken/The Mountain Press

Chris Stiner, with Pyro Shows, connects sequence wires for the fireworks show on the roof of the Gatlinburg Space Needle.

Smoky Mountain New Year 5Celebrities in the news Actor Patrick Stewart knighted by Queen Elizabeth the II Page A6

Gatlinburg set for spectacular night of festivities By DEREK HODGES Staff Writer

Nation

Thriller preserved Jackson’s historic music video entered into U.S. film registry Nation, Page A15

Weather Today Mostly Showers High: 48°

Tonight Mostly Showers Low: 34° DETAILS, Page A6

Obituaries Amos Lethco, 88 Lillie Woody, 64 Wade Taylor, 31 Leslie Rosenberger Sarah Henry, 76 Michael Taylor, 50 DETAILS, Page A4

Index Local & State . . . . . A1-6 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . A2 Nation . . . . . . . . . . A3-15 Money . . . . . . . . . . . . A5 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . A8-10 Classifieds . . . . . . A11-13 Advice . . . . . . . . . . . A14 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . A14 World . . . . . . . . . . . . A15

Corrections The Mountain Press is committed to accuracy. Please report factual errors by calling 428-0748 Ext. 214.

GATLINBURG — Forget New York, the real rocking on New Year’s Eve will once again take place in Gatlinburg at a celebration that will include everything from a dropping ball of lights to a spectacular fireworks display. The 22nd annual festivities will kick off as the clocks rolls on toward 2010 Thursday evening from the porch on the Cherokee Orchard Road side of the Gatlinburg Convention Center. Though revelers will likely start gathering by early evening, the party will really start rolling around 10, as the countdown to the new year gets into full swing. “It’s going to be really, really exciting,” Special Events coordinator George Hawkins says. “It has become a tradition for families from across America to come back to celebrate the New Year here in Gatlinburg. We expect to have another big crowd to help us usher in 2010 with their family and friends.” Hawkins believes a large part of the celebration’s popularity can be attributed to the fact it’s welcoming to folks of all ages. An alcohol-free event, city officials have worked hard over the years to ensure the New Year’s Eve party, which annually draws tens of thousands of people, remains a place where adults can have fun and parents can feel comfortable bringing their children. “It’s a very family-friendly event,” Hawkins says. “When you really think about it, everything we do through the year in Gatlinburg is like that. That’s something I like and I think a lot of other people like about our city.” Local DJ Kevin McGuire will play some of the biggest songs of 2009 to send the year out in style throughout the evening, while city staffers and other characters will be on the scene to throw out party favors provided by Mr. Tablecloth. Randy Heatherly, the orange dot on the roof of the space McGuire’s selections will also needle, gives perspective of the undertaking of preparing See new year, Page A4 for the show.

As 2009 comes to a close, Sevier County will likely receive snow or rain — or both. According to the National Weather Service in Morristown, a winter weather advisory has been issued for the Smoky Mountains until 9 a.m. today. The New Year’s Eve forecast is cloudy, a 60 percent chance of rain with lows in the mid 20s to low 30s. Snow is “likely” for the area, said NWS spokesman Greg Cole. For Sevierville, New Year’s Eve predictions included cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain, with lows in the mid-30s. New Year’s Day is expected to be mostly cloudy with a chance of rain and snow in the morning and rain in the afternoon. Highs are predicted to be in the upper 30s to low 40s. The Smoky Mountains’ New Year’s Day will be mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow, Cole said. “We’re always prepared,” Bob Miller, National Park Service spokesman, said Wednesday afternoon. “We have sand and salt available, and we have the capability to take care of the conditions if they worsen overnight. Right now, we’re just watching the weather like everyone else.” In Nashville, the NWS predicts a 40 percent chance of rain and snow, mostly before midnight. Meteorologist Douglas Vogelsang reported a 20 percent chance of light snow in Memphis for tonight, but no accumulation is expected. Knoxville and Chattanooga are expected to receive rain today. The Associated Press contributed to this story. n ebrown@themountainpress.com

“We’re always prepared. We have sand and salt available, and we have the capability to take care of the conditions if they worsen overnight. Right now, we’re just watching the weather like everyone else.”

– Bob Miller, National Park Service spokesman

Pigeon Forge gives green light to state road money By DEREK HODGES Staff Writer PIGEON FORGE — City leaders Monday evening had one agenda item to consider and it required them only to make the rather easy decision to accept some free money. The City Commission’s second monthly session was one of the briefest in its history, with much of the regular business of the board down considerably thanks to the holidays. However, one matter that needed quick atten-

tion did get just that. The city was previously told it would be getting federal dollars dispersed by the state through the Surface Transportation Program to use for installing traffic lights and resurfacing city streets. However, state officials later said that wouldn’t be the case as the economy put a crunch on highway monies. Perhaps the folks in Nashville have been taking lessons from on-again, off-again University of Florida Coach Urban Meyer, though, as they recently sent city

leaders a letter informing them they can have the funds if they just re-express their desire to get them by Jan. 1. That meant the commissioners had to vote again to approve using the money for the intended projects in order for Public Works Director Mark Miller to be authorized to accept the funds, Assistant City Manager Eric Brackins explained. The city is set to receive a total of $392,236 from the program. That will be divided up between two projects, one installing a new

traffic signal at the intersection of the Parkway and Music Road at an expected cost of $200,000, and the other part of ongoing maintenance of city roads. “We will be bringing you a list of streets to approve for repaving, as we do every year, after we bid them,” Miller told the commissioners. The resurfacing efforts are set to cost $192,236. The group’s next regular meeting is set for Monday. n dhodges@themountainpress.com

A4 ◆ Local

The Mountain Press ◆ Thursday, December 31, 2009

o bit u a ri e s In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Amos Lethco

Amos Lethco, age 88, of Sevierville, passed away at U.T. Hospital on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. He was born April 26, 1921, in Sevierville, TN, and made his home there until 2006, when he moved to Chandler House Assisted Living in Jefferson City, TN. He was employed at Alcoa Aluminum Company for 36 years. He was a member and deacon of Big Springs Baptist Church, Dandridge, TN. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann Lethco; parents, Zora Ketner Lethco and Charles H. Lethco; and son-in-law, Dale Cox. Survivors include his daughter, Brenda Cox of Jefferson City, TN; son, Marshall Darvin Lethco of North Augusta, SC; grandchildren, Hilary Janish (Matthew) and Vincent Cox of Jefferson City; brother, Elgar Lethco of Sevierville; several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank all of the staff on the Critical Care Unit and 5th Floor South at U.T. Hospital and all of the staff of Chandler House Assisted Living for all their great care. In lieu of flowers memorial donation may be made to American Diabetes Association, Knoxville Office, 900 E. Hill Avenue Suite 240, Knoxville, TN 37915. Funeral service 2 p.m. Friday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. Jerry Colbert officiating. Interment will follow in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends 12-2 p.m. Friday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. n www.atchleyfuneralhome.com

In Memoriam

Wade Taylor

Leslie (Les) K. Rosenberger

n www.atchleyfuneralhome.com

3From Page A1

include crowd participation favorites like the Village People’s “YMCA,” Hawkins says. As the seconds tick down to midnight, a huge lighted ball will be lowered from the Space Needle across from the Convention Center. As it hits the roof of the building below the 342-foot tower, it will trigger a massive fireworks show that will stretch along the Parkway. “It’s really four shows in one,” Hawkins says. “It’s all coordinated to music and we have fireworks going off from the shaft of the Space Needle, from the top, from the roof of the observation deck and from the roofs of several businesses down on the Parkway.” Red flares will twinkle from on top of those buildings, while an aerial show choreographed by PyroShows of LaFollette will fill the sky with bursting bombs. As the city sponsored party roars on, smaller

events will be held at a number of restaurants and attractions. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will offer a “Dance With the Sharks” party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. A ticket includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, a champagne toast, fireworks viewing from Aquarium Plaza, and access to two dance floors, one with an 8-piece band, the other with a DJ. Activities will also be available for children. “Popular hotspots like Blaine’s Restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Lineberger’s Seafood Company and T.G.I. Friday’s are right in the middle of the fireworks area below the Space Needle and offer varying packages which may include music, buffets and a champagne toast,” Hawkins says. For more information on all the city’s New Year’s festivities, call the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce at 436-4178 or visit the Web site www. gatlinburg.com.

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Leslie (Les) K. Rosenberger died Dec. 26, 2009, in Houston, Texas. Survivors: wife, Janet Rosenberger; daughters, Tracey Thomson and husband Kelly of Texas, Melanie Thornton and husband Adam of Texas; son, Timothy Rosenberger and wife Jenny of Morristown; seven grandchildren. Les lived 14 years in Dandridge and worked at places such as Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Ober Gatlinburg, Music Outlet, Allstar Vending and the Visitor Guide. He lived the past two years with his wife Janet in Onalaska, Texas, while attending the Church on the Rock in Livingston, Texas. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be sent to Children Hope of Ministry, P.O. Box 14021, Morristown, TN 37814; or Church on The Rock-Livingston, 1221 Hwy. 59 Loop N., Livingston, Texas 77351.

Michael G. Taylor Michael G. Taylor, 50, of Pigeon Forge, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009. Mike served with the Gatlinburg Fire Department and held the rank of Captain. He was a member of the International Association of Firefighters and the Tennessee Professional Firefighters Association. Survivors: son, Matthew Taylor; daughter, Meghan Taylor; mother, Hazel Ogle Taylor; brother and sister-inlaw, David and Angie Taylor;

sister and brother-in-law, Dee Dee and Bob Trentham; six nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Gatlinburg Firefighters Association, P.O. Box 91, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Funeral service 10 a.m. Thursday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with the Revs. Bill Merritt, and W. A. Galyon officiating. Interment will follow in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens with Gatlinburg Fire Department Chaplain, the Rev. Mitch Ayers, officiating. n www.atchleyfuneralhome.com

Sarah Grace Henry Sarah Grace Henry, 76 of Sevierville, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009. Survivors: husband of 59 years, Ray Henry; son and daughter-in-law, David and Janie Henry; daughter, Linda Worrell; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Iva Clabo; sister, Lula Clabo. Funeral service was held Wednesday in the East Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Elder Shirley Henry officiating. Interment 1 p.m. Thursday in Middle Creek Cemetery. n www.atchleyfuneralhome.com

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Lillie Matoka Townsend Woody, age 64 of Sevierville, passed away Monday, December 28, 2009. In her retirement, she most enjoyed planting her flowers, shopping at thrift stores, spending time with her family and grandchildren, and taking care of her dogs. She was preceded in death by her parents Ophia and Parks Townsend, brothers Eugene Townsend, Argus Edsul Townsend, Robert Townsend, Denver Townsend, and Willis Townsend, and sister Catherine Townsend. Survivors include her: sons, Charles Woody, Jr. and wife Tracey, Brian Woody and wife Sabrina; grandchildren, Colton Woody, Caleb Woody, Cameron Woody, Brenden Woody, Alyssa Woody; brother, Auburn Townsend and wife Peggy; sisters, Joann Valko and husband George, Maxine Dfranck and Peter; dogs, Princess and Bob. Memorial donations may be made to The New Hope Thrift Store, 1900 Winfield Dunn Parkway, Kodak, Tennessee 37764. Family and friends will meet in Happy Valley Memorial Park in Elizabethton on Saturday at 11 a.m. for graveside service and interment. The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m. Friday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. n www.atchleyfuneralhome.com

Wade Taylor, age 31 of Sevierville, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009. He was a member of Kodak Community Baptist Church. Wade was employed by Dunn’s Market and was a former member of the Kodak Volunteer Fire Department. Survivors: mother, Judy Strickland and husband Art; father, Wayne Taylor and wife Arlene; sister, Angel Taylor; step-brothers, Michael Garland, Cody Garland; niece, Taylor Stancil; many friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kodak Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 4, Kodak, TN 37764 (865) 654-6668. Memorial service 5 p.m. Saturday in the Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. Kevin Childs officiating. The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville.

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community calendar Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: The community calendar is printed as space permits. Only noncommercial, public events held in Sevier County will be considered. They are listed by date. To place an item phone 4280748, ext. 214, or e-mail to editor@themountainpress. com. Items may be faxed to 453-4913.

thursday, dec. 31 Blood Drives

9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Food City, Sevierville n 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food City Seymour Donors receive free T-shirt and cholesterol evaluation. n

Midnight Watch

Sevier County Church of God midnight watch starts 9:30 p.m. Refreshments followed by Midnight Watch service. Pastor Steve Dawson, 599-6875.

saturday, jan. 2 Cove Clothes Closet

Cove Clothes Closet, 3238 Pittman Center Road at Old Richardson Cove Church, open 9-3 Saturdays only. Free clothing. 453-4526.

monday, jan. 4 Prayer In Action

Prayer In Action meets 6 p.m. Pigeon Forge UMC for a time of prayer for the United States and its government. Nondenominational.

GateKeepers

GateKeepers menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community Bible study, 6:30 p.m., 2445 Scenic Mt. Drive, Sevierville. (865) 310-7831.

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible Study

Garlands of Grace womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study: n 10 a.m. Seymour Heights Christian Church (enter last door on right), Chapman and Boyds Highway n 1 p.m., Gatlinburg Inn

Photographic Society

LeConte Photographic Society club competition 6:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Sevierville. Judy Cravy to present program on architectural photography in area. lecontephotographic.com.

Seymour Story Time

Preschool story time 11 a.m. at Seymour Library. 573-0728.

thursday, jan. 7 Democrats

Medic blood drive, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Food City Gatlinburg.

Sevier County Democrats meet 7 p.m., third floor of courthouse. Visit sevierdemocrats.com or call 617-2145.

Retired Citizens

Gatlinburg Gardeners

Medic Blood Drive

Retired Citizens of the Smokies meets at 1 p.m. at Gatlinburg Community Center. Program on Porters Creek and spring wildflowers by Kenny Jones. 436-3010.

tuesday, jan. 5 NARFE

National Association Retired Federal Employees meets at 6 p.m., Holiday Inn Pigeon Forge. 453-4174.

Gatlinburg Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. at Community Center. Club will present â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Time Tidbitsâ&#x20AC;? by Kappy Lapides, Black Bear Tea Co. Meeting canceled if weather closes schools.

Hot Meals

Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries provides hot meals 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sevierville.

TOPS

Gatekeepers

Gatekeepers menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study, 6:30 p.m. 1328 Old Newport Highway, Sevierville. 908-0591.

TOPS weight loss chapter meets at 6 p.m., Parkway Church of God in Sevierville. 755-9517 or 429-3150.

Video Contest

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible Study

Sevier County Right To Life video contest open to high school students in Sevier County. Entries due today. 654-7685 or e-mail to sevcrtl@bellsouth.net.

Kindness Counts

Kindness Counts meets 7 p.m. at Sevierville IHOP. 654-2684.

Pokemon League

Sevierville Pokemon Trading Card Game League meets noon to 2 p.m. in community room at Sevier County Library on Court Avenue. 3105140.

Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245.

wednesday, jan. 6 Sevierville Story Time

Preschool story time 10:30 a.m., Sevier County Main Library. 453-3532.

Blood Drive

Medic blood drive, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 1103 Dolly Parton Parkway, Sevierville.

679-6796.

Kodak Story Time

Preschool story time 11 a.m. at Kodak Library. 9330078.

Blood Drive

Medic blood drive at Sevierville Post Office, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Boyds Creek Revival

Boyds Creek Church of God winter revival 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Bishop G.R. Hill from Cleveland to speak.

Lions Club Rummage

Sevierville Lions Club indoor charity rummage sale 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. today and Saturday, 122 Bruce Street, downtown Sevierville. 453-2025.

saturday, jan. 9 Angel Food

Garlands of Grace womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study: n 9 a.m. UMC Pigeon Forge n 2 p.m. Blue Mountain Mist B&B, Pullen Road n 6:30 p.m. Seymour UMC, Chapman Highway, back entrance n 6:30 p.m. Sevierville UMC, conference room

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gum Stand Baptist Church, 3031 Veterans Blvd., Pigeon Forge. 429-2508. n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245. n 10 a.m to 2 p.m. River Of Life Outreach, 110 Simmons Road, Seymour. 679-6796.

Blood Drives

Cove Clothes Closet

Gatlinburg First Baptist Church, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. n Sevier Farmers Co-op, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. n

Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-7 p.m., First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245.

friday, jan. 8 Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Gum Stand Baptist Church, 3031 Veterans Blvd., Pigeon Forge. 429-2508. n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245. n 3 to 6 p.m. River Of Life Outreach, 110 Simmons Road, Seymour.

Cove Clothes Closet, 3238 Pittman Center Road at Old Richardson Cove Church, open 9-3 Saturdays only. Free clothing. 453-4526.

sunday, jan. 10 Boyds Creek Revival

Boyds Creek Church of God winter revival 11:30 a.m. Bishop G.R. Hill from Cleveland to speak.

monday, jan. 11 GateKeepers

GateKeepers menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community Bible study, 6:30 p.m., 2445 Scenic Mt. Drive, Sevierville. (865) 310-7831.

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible Study

Garlands of Grace womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study: n 10 a.m. Seymour Heights Christian Church (enter last door on right), Chapman and Boyds

Highway n 1 p.m., Gatlinburg Inn

Cancer Support Group

Smoky Mountain Cancer Support Group meets at Senior Center. Supper 6 p.m. program 6:45 by Barbara Edwards on stress. 428-5834 or 654-9280.

DAR

DAR Spencer Clack Chapter meets 7 p.m., Sevier County Library. Program on history of silver by Carrie Murphy.

Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 2 to 5 p.m. Gum Stand Baptist Church, 3031 Veterans Blvd., Pigeon Forge. 429-2508. n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245. n 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., River Of Life Outreach, 110 Simmons Road, Seymour. 679-6796.

Gymnasium Closing

Sevierville Community Center gym closing Jan. 11-13th for maintenance. To reopen for regularly scheduled activities at 6 a.m. Jan. 14. 453-5441.

tuesday, jan. 12 S.I.T.

Seniors In Touch (S.I.T.) meets 6 to 7:30 p.m. at MountainBrook Village, 700 Markhill Drive, Sevierville. 428-2445.

Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Support

Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Support group at MountainBrook Village meets from 5-6 p.m. Program by Bobby Fields of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association. 428-2445, ext. 107.

Gatekeepers

Gatekeepers menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study, 6:30 p.m. 1328 Old Newport Highway, Sevierville. 908-0591.

Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gum Stand Baptist Church, 3031 Veterans Blvd., Pigeon Forge. 429-2508. n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., First Smoky

u Michael Scott Blair, 34, of Maryville, was charged Dec. 29 with violation of probation. He was released. u Fernando Jose Garcia, 22, of Knoxville, was charged Dec. 29 with a misdemeanor warrant from general sessions court. He was being held. u Jessica Taylor Kissic, 24, was charged Dec. 30 with a fourth count of DUI, financial responsibility law, and driving on a suspended license. She was being held.

u Summer Lee McCarter, 31, of Sevierville, was charged Dec. 29 with a misdemeanor warrant from general sessions court. She was being held. u Timothy Scottie Stewart, 23, of Dandridge, was charged Dec. 30 with burglary and theft of property. He was

released on $4,000 bond. u James Daniel Taylor, 28, of Knoxville, was charged Dec. 30 with driving on a suspended license and theft. He was being held in lieu of $500 bond. u Michael Glenn Taylor, 24, of 451 W. Mill Creek #12 in Pigeon Forge, was charged Dec. 30 with

wednesday, jan. 13 Garden Club

Sevierville Garden Club will meet at noon at Sevier Senior Center. Lunch served. Tom Leonard, manager of Sevier Solid Waste Inc., to speak on recycling. Board meeting at 11.

Angel Food

Angel Food Orders n 5 to 6:30 p.m., River Of Life Outreach, 110 Simmons Road, Seymour. 679-6796.

thursday, jan. 14 Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible Study

Garlands of Grace womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible study: n 9 a.m., Pigeon Forge UMC n 2 p.m., Blue Mountain Mist B&B, Pullen Road, Sevierville n 6:30 p.m., Seymour UMC, Chapman Highway, back entrance n 6:30 p.m., Sevierville UMC, Conference Room

Hot Meals

Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries provides hot meals 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Sevierville.

TOPS

TOPS weight loss chapter meets at 6 p.m., Parkway Church of God in Sevierville. 755-9517 or 429-3150.

Angel Food

Angel Food orders: n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gum Stand Baptist Church, 3031 Veterans Blvd., Pigeon Forge. 4292508. n 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m., First Smoky Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245.

Blood Drives

Medic blood drives: n 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sevierville Primary School, 1146 Blanton Drive. Bloodmobile.

Want a smile that is beautiful and bright? Come in to Dr. Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office to get your teeth white!

arrests Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: The following information was taken from the intake reports at the Sevier County Jail. All people listed within this report are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Mountain Church of the Nazarene, 2652 Upper Middle Creek Road. 9081245.

Teeth Whitening Specials for December and January aggravated burglary. He was released on $2,500 bond. u Lawrence Douglas Williams, 42, of Newport, was charged Dec. 30 with public intoxication. He was being held. u Nicholas Williams, 24, was charged Dec. 30 with public intoxication. He was being held.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;HISTORICAL MARTHA JANE OGLE CABINâ&#x20AC;? 3IGNED .UMBERED s ,IMITED %DITION s &ITS h X v &RAME

William Ogle was on a hunting trip from South Carolina when his Cherokee companions led him to the Smoky Mountains. He fell in love with the area and felt he had found paradise on earth and planned to move his family to the area. He planned a cabin and even cut the logs in 1803. He returned to the Greenville, South Carolina area to get his family and return with them to their new home. But he got sick with the plague - thought to be malaria - and died the same year. But his dream was kept alive by his determined wife Martha Jane Huskey Ogle. In 1807, four years later, she traveled to Gatlinburg with her 7 teenage children - 5 sons and 2 daughters - and her bother Peter Huskey. She was determined to fulfill the dream of her husband, and with her children and brother, she did. Located in downtown Gatlinburg, the cabin logs are made from American Chestnut, which is now extinct. The logs were hand hewn, squared off an notched on the ends to fit together. The Ogle name is a prominent and well-known name in the Sevier County area of the Great Smoky Mountains. it was said that in the mid 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about 80% of the people who lived in Gatlinburg all their lives could trace their ancestry to the Ogleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s who built and lived in the Ogle cabin. Smoky Mountain native artist, Randall Ogle, traces is family to this first cabin.

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Nation â&#x2014;&#x2020; A3

Thursday, December 31, 2009 â&#x2014;&#x2020; The Mountain Press

Wisconsin manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bank quip earns him liarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title By DINESH RAMDE Associated Press Writer MILWAUKEE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A jab at the woes of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s banks has been named the top tall tale of 2009. The Burlington Liars Club bestowed its highest award Wednesday for this line: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just realized how bad the economy really is. I recently bought a new toaster oven and as a complimentary gift, I was given a bank.â&#x20AC;? The quip earned Larry Legro of Sun Prairie, Wis., the dubious â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but serious â&#x20AC;&#x201D; distinction of being the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Champion Liar.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was ecstatic,â&#x20AC;? said Legro, 58, a state health inspector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I told people all year I was planning to win this contest.â&#x20AC;? Legro told The Associated Press he had been submitting entries for four to five years, even if his wife didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t share his enthusiasm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I told her I won I could see her roll eyes like, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Why do you want to do this?â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s there. Somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got to do it.â&#x20AC;? The Liars Club got its start in 1929 when local journalists Otis Hulett and Mannel Hahn fabricated a news story about a lying contest between the

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I just realized how bad the economy really is. I recently bought a new toaster oven and as a complimentary gift, I was given a bank.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Larry Legro of Sun Prairie, Wis.

Burlington police and fire departments. The police chief won, they said, after he said heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d never be good at lying because he never told a lie. The club is based in Burlington, a town of about 15,000 about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee. It has more than 2,000 members around the world, said

Joel Weis, the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president. Over the years, the top entries have been about random topics. Last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning line was: â&#x20AC;&#x153;My grandson is the most persuasive liar I have ever met. By the time he was 2 years old he could dirty his diaper and make his mother believe someone else had

done it.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;A good lie isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just a tall tale or exaggerating,â&#x20AC;? said Garth Seehawer, 72, the Oconto Falls man who came up with that gem. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You have to have something fun, not believable but impossibly true.â&#x20AC;? But Weis said this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s panel of three judges picked Legroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lie out of more than 100 entries because of its relevance. It alludes to the fact that the government spent more than $700 billion to bail out the banking industry in the last year or so, and more than 100 banks collapsed nationwide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It comes down to tim-

ing,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think historically weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be able to look back at this one and laugh. This definitely will have its mark in time.â&#x20AC;? The four runnersup include a fib about a man who was so speedy that he could have been a baseball superstar. But his dreams were derailed because whenever he hit a line drive to right field, he rounded the bases so fast that the ball hit him as he approached second base â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and he would be called out for interference. Another said this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bug season is so bad that even a photograph of his dog had ticks.

Smokers in 12 states to puff fire-safe cigarettes By BILL KACZOR Associated Press Writer

Associated Press

Tourists watch sea lions on boat docks at Pier 39 in San Francisco in January 2008. Last month, marine scientists counted more than 1,500 sea lions on fabled Pier 39, a record number that delighted tourists and baffled experts.

Famous sea lions in San Francisco leaving in droves By EVELYN NIEVES Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Two mysteries surround a huge herd of sea lions that were hanging out on a pier in San Francisco Bay: Why did so many show up, and why did so many leave at once? Just last month, Pier 39, famous in San Francisco for its sea lions and the throngs of tourists they attract, was groaning under the weight of more than 1,500 of the animals. The record number delighted tourists and baffled experts. Marine experts suspect the sea lions came and stayed for the food, then left largely for the same reason. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most likely, they left chasing a food source,â&#x20AC;? said Jeff Boehm, executive director of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, which runs an information center and gift shop at Pier 39. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably what kept them here in the first place.â&#x20AC;? The animals began leaving in droves the day after Thanksgiving, almost as if someone had issued an order. But Boehm said the fact that so many sea lions stayed for so long is even stranger than their disappearance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They do move off,â&#x20AC;? Boehm said, adding that in the fall, older sea lions head to breeding colonies in the Channel Islands, off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel. Younger sea lions, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind those rules and tend to travel far and wide.â&#x20AC;?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Tennesseeans will be among smokers in 12 states who will be lighting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and relighting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; firesafe cigarettes designed to go out when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not puffed as the result of new laws that go into effect Friday. The states are among the last to require that all cigarettes meet standards first implemented by New York six years ago. The states with laws going on the books this week are Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Wyoming is the only state that hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t passed such a law, according to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes. Fire-safe cigarette laws will also take effect in Mississippi, Ohio and South Dakota by the first week of 2011. Canada has a similar law. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cigarettes are a major cause of fires, especially in residential occupan-

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cies,â&#x20AC;? said Jim Goodloe, chief of fire prevention for the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal. Florida passed its law in 2008. The coalition says cigarettes cause 700 to 900 fire deaths and about 3,000 injuries every year in the United States â&#x20AC;&#x201D; many of them among nonsmokers. The coalitionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s members include fire prevention, consumer and health organizations. The fire-safe standards require cigarettes to burn out 75 percent of the time when not in active use. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tiny, ultra-thin bands of paper that are literally layered on the white part of the cigarette and when the lit end of the product crosses one of those bands it acts like a speed bump and it slows down the burn rate,â&#x20AC;? said David Sutton, spokesman for Altria Group Inc., parent of Philip Morris USA, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest tobacco company. Most tobacco companies have supported the move to fire-safe cigarettes.

Sutton said his company has been working with states to make sure all adopt the New York standards. The maker of Marlboro, Chesterfield, L&M and Virginia Slims plans to sell nothing but fire-safe cigarettes by Feb. 2 regardless of state laws. Most states allow businesses to sell conventional cigarettes past the effective dates of their laws until existing stocks are exhausted. Fire-safe packs are generally marked with â&#x20AC;&#x153;FSC,â&#x20AC;? for Fire Standards Compliant. Some smokers claim the new cigarettes cause headaches and nausea and contain dangerous chemicals. Cigarettes have already been linked

to cancer. David Jaromnak, a smoker from Reading, Pa., has created an organization called Citizens Against Fire Safe Cigarettes to seek repeal of the new laws. He has been gathering petition signatures through a Web site but did not respond to an e-mailed request for an interview. Sutton denied that firesafe cigarettes contain any new materials or present an additional danger to smokers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same tobacco blend,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same kind of paper â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it just has rings on it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same filter. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no additional adhesives or any other materials added to the product.â&#x20AC;? 2nd location in the Gatlinburg Space Needle!

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A4 ◆ Local/State

The Mountain Press ◆ Thursday, December 31, 2009

state briefs

obituaries

Fire extinguished at TVA coal plant

ROGERSVILLE (AP) — A failing circuit breaker caused an electrical arc that started a fire at a Tennessee Valley Authority coal-burning power plant on Wednesday. Agency spokesman Jim Allen says the fire at the John Sevier Fossil Plant near Rogersville in East Tennessee occurred at around 2 p.m. Eastern. It was extinguished before 5 p.m., and no serious injuries were reported. One employee was treated for minor smoke inhalation. The fire happened at one of the plant’s four units, and Allen says TVA shut off the unit as a precaution. He says a TVA fire brigade and police responded. They were assisted by emergency and ambulance units from Hawkins County. According to TVA’s Web site, the plant was built in 1957. It consumes about 5,700 tons of coal a day and generates 5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to supply 350,000 homes.

Public defender appointed for soldier

MARYVILLE (AP) — A judge in East Tennessee has assigned a public defender to represent a Fort Campbell soldier who police say they caught in a motel room with a teenage girl. It was reported Blount County General Sessions Judge Michael Gallegos appointed the county public defender’s office to represent Joseph Michael Pescetelli during a hearing Wednesday. The judge determined Pescetelli’s Army pay had been suspended, that he has no assets, and his bank account is overdrawn. Pescetelli has been jailed in Maryville since his arrest on Dec. 18. He told Gallegos he is unable to post his $400,000 bond. Pescetelli is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and soliciting a minor.

In Memoriam

Amos Lethco

204 convicts among Knox voters

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Knox County election officials say they’ve purged more than 200 convicted felons from voter rolls. It was reported the discovery of 204 felons registered to vote in Knox County came after the Tennessee Department of Correction sent county officials a list of felons’ Social Security numbers. County Administrator of Elections Greg Mackay said 123 of the felons had cast ballots since 2003, but it doesn’t appear enough of them voted in any race to have changed election results. Mackay said a local system of identifying felons trying to register works well, but the ones found recently had convictions in other jurisdictions. He said, “Unfortunately, sometimes felons lie.”

TWRA officer shot investigating car

LAWRENCEBURG (AP) — A Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency officer was shot and wounded as he helped investigate a suspicious car in Lawrence County, authorities said. Officer Jeff Hummel was shot in the left arm and back with a shotgun Wednesday morning and airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. TWRA spokesman Doug Markham said the shooting wasn’t related to a wildlife violation and Hummel’s wounds are not life-threatening. Lawrence County Sheriff Henry Taylor said that Hummel was investigating a car in an area near Summertown where several burglaries had recently occurred. Taylor said one of three men from the car shot Hummel, then the men stole his truck. Taylor said he was responding to the scene when he saw the men get in the wildlife agency truck and drive across farm fields. He said Hummel got into the Sheriff’s Office vehicle with him and aided in the pursuit that ended about a mile away after the suspects wrecked the truck Markham said the suspects are a father and his two sons. The wildlife agency spokesman said no one he spoke to at TWRA can remember any other incident in which a wildlife officer was shot by a suspect.

In Memoriam

Wade Taylor

Leslie (Les) K. Rosenberger

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Audit: Veterans’ board lacks contracts

NASHVILLE (AP) — An audit of the Tennessee State Veterans’ Homes Board found it did not obtain the required approvals for service contracts and in some cases had no contracts with vendors for fiscal year 2008. According to an audit from the state comptroller’s office, the problem has persisted through seven prior audits. The most recent audit, released to the public on Wednesday, found 34 percent of the vendors studied were operating without contracts. Of those with contracts, 47 percent were not signed by the appropriate parties and another 42 percent had not been signed until after the contracts were already in effect. According to the audit, veterans’ homes board managers say they are following a correction plan and progress is being made. The board anticipates improvements in the audit for fiscal year 2009.

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Nation/Money â&#x2014;&#x2020; A5

Thursday, December 31, 2009 â&#x2014;&#x2020; The Mountain Press STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

1 Name

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST

Last

Chg

AFLAC INC 46.88 -0.07 ALCOA INC 16.30 0.27 ALCATEL LUCENT 3.30 UNCH ALLSTATE CORP 30.53 0.20 ALTRIA GROUP INC 19.81 -0.04 APPLE INC 211.64 2.54 AT&T INC 28.32 -0.02 BANK OF AMERICA 15.07 -0.05 BB&T CORP 25.56 UNCH BOEING CO 54.96 -0.25 BRISTOL-MYERS 25.61 0.08 CRACKER BARREL 38.78 -0.47 CHEVRON CORP 77.65 0.44 CISCO SYSTEMS INC 24.18 0.08 COCA-COLA CO 57.68 -0.06 CONEDISON INC 46.13 0.05 DUKE ENERGY CORP 17.42 0.03 EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO61.23 -0.08 EXXON MOBIL CORP 68.77 -0.07 FIRST HORIZON NATIONAL13.50 0.06 FORD MOTOR CO 9.99 -0.12 FORWARD AIR CORP 25.78 -0.19 GAYLORD ENT 20.11 0.07 GENERAL ELECTRIC 15.35 -0.09 HOME DEPOT INC 29.13 -0.14 IBM 132.57 0.72 INTEL CORP 20.59 0.19

%Chg

Name

Last

-0.15% 1.68% 0.00% 0.66% -0.20% 1.21% -0.07% -0.33% 0.00% -0.45% 0.31% -1.20% 0.57% 0.33% -0.10% 0.11% 0.17% -0.13% -0.10% 0.45% -1.19% -0.73% 0.35% -0.58% -0.48% 0.55% 0.92%

JC PENNEY CO JPMORGAN CHASE KELLOGG CO KRAFT FOODS INC KROGER CO MCDONALDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CORP MICRON TECHNOLOGY MICROSOFT CORP MOTOROLA INC ORACLE CORP PHILIP MORRIS PFIZER INC PROCTER & GAMBLE REGIONS FINANCIAL SEARS HOLDINGS SIRIUS XM RADIO INC SPECTRA ENERGY SPEEDWAY MTRSPTS SPRINT NEXTEL CORP SUNOCO INC SUNTRUST BANKS TANGER FACTORY TIME WARNER INC TRACTOR SUPPLY CO TRW AUTOMOTIVE WAL-MART STORES YAHOO! INC

26.89 41.53 53.99 27.49 20.49 62.89 10.38 30.96 7.75 24.93 48.66 18.50 61.37 5.32 84.95 0.58 20.65 17.64 3.78 26.02 20.18 39.60 29.25 53.81 22.90 54.30 16.98

Chg

%Chg

-0.14 -0.52% 0.04 0.10% 0.01 0.02% 0.04 0.15% 0.05 0.24% -0.70 -1.10% UNCH 0.00% -0.43 -1.37% -0.05 -0.64% -0.08 -0.32% -0.19 -0.39% -0.06 -0.32% -0.21 -0.34% -0.04 -0.75% 0.24 0.28% -0.01 -2.32% 0.09 0.44% -0.14 -0.79% -0.03 -0.79% 0.56 2.20% -0.38 -1.85% -0.10 -0.25% -0.20 -0.68% -0.38 -0.70% 0.04 0.17% 0.19 0.35% 0.06 0.35%

U.S.-Mexican border shaken by earthquake By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press Writer SAN DIEGO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A magnitude-5.8 earthquake rocked the U.S.-Mexico border region Wednesday, causing hospitals to evacuate in the Mexican industrial city of Mexicali as buildings swayed more than 100 miles to the west in San Diego and southwestern Arizona. There were no reports of injuries or major property damage. The main quake was centered about 20 miles southeast Mexicali, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was followed quickly by a 4.9 quake and at least nine other aftershocks. In Mexicali, five hospitals were briefly evacuated, 90,000 customers lost electricity for 14 minutes and cell phones failed to work for 20 minutes, said Rene Rosado, director of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s civil defense. City government offices closed for the day after the quake struck at 10:48 a.m. local time. About 300 employees emptied City Hall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People were very frightened throughout the city,â&#x20AC;? Rosado said. There was â&#x20AC;&#x153;minor damageâ&#x20AC;? to several buildings in Mexicali, a city of 750,000 people and capital of Baja California state, said Alfredo Escobedo, the state civil defense director. In Calexico, a California city of 40,000 people across the border from Mexicali, crews found no damage to bridges, buildings or roads, said City Manager Victor Carrillo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basically it was a quick, shake-and-bake, jolt-type of thing that seemed to last 15, 20 seconds, 30 seconds at the max,â&#x20AC;? said Carrillo, who was in a meeting at City Hall during the quake. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have quite a few items on the shelves in my office and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all intact.â&#x20AC;? Citizen reports to the USGS indicated it was also felt in southern Nevada and metropolitan Los Angeles. In Yuma, Ariz., Sally

Zeller, a 31-year-old waitress at Brownieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cafe, said she and most everyone in her restaurant felt the quake for several seconds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It rumbled under our feet and the soup counter rumbled against my hip,â&#x20AC;? Zeller said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The chandeliers were swaying. It was like, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Whoa!â&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The quake was centered in a seismically active desert valley near cities with low-rise buildings. It occurred 4.3 miles deep and was considered a shallow quake. Shallower quakes have the potential to cause more damage than deeper ones.

Poll: 2009 was bad for America Most think â&#x20AC;&#x2122;10 will be better By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; For all their differences, Americans largely agree on two things: 2009 was a lousy year for the nation, and 2010 is likely to be better. Nearly three-fourths of Americans think 2009 was a bad year for the country, which was rocked by job losses, home foreclosures and economic sickness. Forty-two percent rated it â&#x20AC;&#x153;very bad,â&#x20AC;? according to the latest AP-GfK poll. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clearly worse than in 2006, the last time a similar poll was taken. The survey that year found that 58 percent of Americans felt the nation had suffered a bad year, and 39 percent considered it a good year. Fewer than half as many people, 16 percent, said their family had a â&#x20AC;&#x153;very good yearâ&#x20AC;? in 2009 as said that in 2006. Behind the gloominess, however, are more hopeful views that seem to reflect Americansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; traditional optimism or, perhaps, wishful thinking. Even though most said it was a bad year for the country, three in five Americans said their own family had a good year in 2009, while about two in five called it a bad year. Some 72 percent of Americans said theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re optimistic about what 2010 will bring for the country. Even more, four in five, are optimistic about what the year will bring for their families. Curiously, however, nearly two-thirds think their family finances will worsen or stay about the same next year. Mari Flanigan of South Milwaukee, Wis., is one of those who feel fairly optimistic that things will go better at a personal level in 2010 even though her financial situation might grow worse. Flanigan, 36, is unemployed after selling a family business that faced increasing competition. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Financially, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m scared,â&#x20AC;? she said in an interview. Rather than seek new work, however, she is thinking of returning to school to become a social worker. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d rather make less money and do something I love,â&#x20AC;? Flanigan said, noting that happi-

ness and optimism are not strictly tied to finances. Every corner of the country saw steep job losses this year, and the national unemployment rate stands at 10 percent. Millions of Americans saw their savings or retirement accounts shrink, and many are rethinking how long they will have to work, and where they might find income. Marcia Andrews of Blairsville, Pa., was a high school nurse until budget cuts eliminated her job. Andrews, 69, spent $250,000 to convert an old house into a bed-andbreakfast, but the drop in tourism forced her to put it up for sale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was the wrong place and the wrong time,â&#x20AC;? said Andrews, one of those surveyed in mid December. On top of that, she lost money in the stock market. Despite signs that the nation is edging away from the worst aspects of a severe recession, people remain largely downbeat

about the economy. Fewer than half think the economy will get better in 2010, while slightly more than half think it will worsen or stay about the same. Just over a third think their own familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finances will get better, while almost two-thirds think their finances will stay the same or get worse. James Lewis, who just retired in Alton, Ill., called 2009 a â&#x20AC;&#x153;financial disasterâ&#x20AC;? for America, and he fears 2010 wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be much better. Lewis, 62, said of the past year: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything done wrong. Everybody losing their 401(k). Some

people losing their house, their retirement.â&#x20AC;? He is pessimistic about 2010, pointing blame at financial institutions and government officials. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve made a mess and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have a hard time cleaning it up,â&#x20AC;? said Lewis, who calls himself a political independent. Government regulators, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;dropped the ball.â&#x20AC;? Lewis said 2009 wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t too bad for him personally, but some members of his family â&#x20AC;&#x153;canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find a job that pays enough to live.â&#x20AC;? He said he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much hope â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x153;maybe a littleâ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that they will find work in 2010. Americans are not optimistic about the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two wars. Thirty-one percent think the situation in Afghanistan will get better, while 67 percent think it stay the same or get worse. The results were about the same for Iraq. Given that President Barack Obama took office in 2009 and Democrats enjoyed solid majorities in Congress, perhaps itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not surprising that Democrats have a sunnier view of the current and coming years than do Republicans. Only 10 percent of Republicans said 2009 was a good year, compared to about one-third of Democrats and independents.

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A6 ◆

The Mountain Press ◆ Thursday, December 31, 2009

sunrise in the smokies

TODAY’S Briefing Local n

PIGEON FORGE

Offices, services off for holidays

Pigeon Forge City Hall will be closed Friday for for New Year’s. For more information, call 4297312. There also will be no trash collection of any kind. Commercial customers will have their waste picked up today and Saturday, while the residential collection usually done on Friday will be completed on Monday. Carts must be out by 6 a.m.

The following schedules will be in effect for city of Sevierville facilities and services during the New Year’s holiday: Residential curbside garbage collections scheduled for Friday will take place on Monday. Commercial collection scheduled for Friday will take place today. City Hall, the water system and police adminstrative offices will be closed Friday. The Community Center and Civic Center will be open Saturday.

Gatlinburg city offices, including City Hall and the Community Center, will be Friday in observance of the New Year’s holiday. The Community Center will close at 4 p.m. today. The Sanitation Department will run its normal schedule on Friday. PIGEON FORGE

Tree recycling now under way

Christmas trees can be recycled through Monday at the Pigeon Forge Community Center parking lot. Stands and metal objects should be removed. For more information, call 428-3113.

In observance of the New Year’s holiday, all Sevier County Courthouse offices will be closed on Friday and will reopen on Monday. The county’s convenience centers will also be closed Friday. SEVIERVILLE

Women’s Center providing training The Women’s Care Center in Sevierville, is looking for pregnancy and parenting consultant volunteers to educate and empower women in making life-affirming choices for their health, lifestyle, family life and futures. Volunteer training will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 30, 2010, at the Women’s Care Center, 304 Eastgate Road. For further information or to sign up, call 4284673.

By JOE EDWARDS Associated Press Writer NASHVILLE— The year just ending surely brought its share of sad and somber news to Tennessee. But for the glass-halffull types, there was also a lighter side to be found. Here are some of the humorous and offbeat moments from 2009. ——— When the Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama visited Memphis in September, interim Mayor

Myron Lowery greeted him this way: “Hello, Dalai!” ——— A youngster wore this T-shirt at the annual Tomato Festival in Ripley last July: “Homework destroys trees.” ——— It wasn’t your routine home burglary last May in Anderson County. Deputies said 42-yearold Larry Stephen Moore II of Maryville was wearing only a thong when apprehended. ——— State Sen. Charlotte Burks, D-Monterey,

recalled the charm and persuasive skills of former House Majority Leader Tommy Burnett when he died in September. “He could talk a bird out of a tree,” she said. ——— In April, Jay Leno of the “Tonight” show took note of how the recession was affecting Nashville music. “Big and Rich are now down and out,” he said. ——— The Legislature considered a measure last spring to make it a misdemeanor to wear saggy pants. It was dubbed “the anti-

crack bill.” ——— An inmate who escaped in March from a workrelease job in Limestone County, Ala., was found at the Boobie Bungalow strip club in Ardmore, Tenn. Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakely told The Decatur Daily: “I hope he enjoyed his last lap dance.” ——— Authorities in Bedford County said a couple got into a fight in June, but choose unusual “weapons.” The two argued using Cheetos. No one was hurt. ———

TODAY’S FORECAST

Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters and the Sevier County Ambulance Service cordially invite the community to the grand opening of the Sevier County Ambulance Service building at 2 p.m. Jan. 6. The building is located at 718 Middle Creek Road in Sevierville. Event includes the dedication followed by refreshments.

Midday: 6-8-8 Evening: 0-9-8

22 17

Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009 Midday: 9-6-5-1 Evening: 8-2-5-8

21 23

This day in history Today is Thursday, Dec. 31, the 365th and final day of 2009. Today is New Year’s Eve. Locally a year ago:

Sevierville Police got two $5,000 grants from the state Highway Safety Office in the last two years and used the funds to pay for new radar units in many cruisers. In exchange for the grant funds, they agreed to participate in statewide initiatives like the Wide Area Saturation Patrol going on for New Year’s Eve.

LOCAL: Showers

High: 48° Low: 34°

Windy

Today’s highlight:

50%

On Dec. 31, 1909, the Manhattan Bridge, spanning the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn, was officially opened to vehicular traffic by New York City Mayor George B. McClellan Jr. on his last day in office.

■ Friday

Chance of rain

High: 38° Low: 21° ■ Saturday Partly Cloudy

High: 33° Low: 17°

Douglas: 960.0 D1.1

■ Ober ski report Base: 20”-30” Primary surface: Machine groomed

Trails open: Ober Chute, Bear Run, Castle Run, Cub Way, Ski School, Mogul Ridge

national quote roundup “There were bits of information available within the intelligence community that could have — and should have — been pieced together. Had this critical information been shared, it could have been compiled with other intelligence, and a fuller, clearer picture of the suspect would have emerged. ... The warning signs would have triggered red flags, and the suspect would have never been allowed to board that plane for America.” — President Barack Obama demanding answers on why intelligence information was never pieced together about an alleged terrorist and possibly prevent his botched Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Detroitbound airliner.

“Paying for access taints the credibility and neutrality of what you are doing. There is now a motive for people to be helping you, to be telling you what you want to hear.” — Andy Schotz, chairman of the Society of Professional Journalists ethics committee, speaking about NBC News’ decision to charter a jet to carry a New Jersey man involved in a bitter custody battle and his son home from Brazil.

The Mountain Press Publisher: Jana Thomasson Editor: Stan Voit Production Director: Tom McCarter Advertising Director: Joi Whaley Business Manager: Mary Owenby Circulation Distribution Manager: Will Sing (ISSN 0894-2218) Copyright 2008 The Mountain Press. All Rights Reserved. All property belongs to The Mountain Press and no part may be reproduced without prior written consent. Published daily by The Mountain Press. P.O. Box 4810, Sevierville, TN, 37864, 119 River Bend Dr., Sevierville, TN 37876. Periodical Postage paid at Sevierville, TN.

Ten years ago:

People around the world celebrated while awaiting the arrival of the year 2000. Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced his resignation (he was succeeded by Vladimir Putin).

■ Lake Stages:

Staff

On this date:

In 1759, Arthur Guinness founded his famous brewery at St. James’s Gate in Dublin. In 1879, Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent light in Menlo Park, N.J.

Snow Flurries

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SEVIER COUNTY

Ambulance building grand opening set

Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009

SEVIER COUNTY

County closings are announced

Here’s the lighter side of 2009

GATLINBURG

City to observe holiday closings

Lottery Numbers

SEVIERVILLE

City to observe holiday closings

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Five years ago:

President George W. Bush pledged $350 million to help tsunami victims, and didn’t rule out sending even more U.S. aid to help people recover from what he called an “epic disaster.” n

Thought for today:

“No one ever regarded the first of January with indifference. It is the nativity of our common Adam.” — Charles Lamb, English essayist and author (17751834).

Celebrities in the news n

Patrick Stewart

LONDON (AP) — There’s an especially starry knight in Britain’s latest round of royal honors. Patrick Stewart — “Star Trek: The Next Generation’s” C a p t . Jean-Luc Picard — Stewart be-comes Sir Patrick in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year honors list, which also includes a knighthood for theater and film director Nicholas Hytner. “This is an honor that embraces those actors, directors and creative teams who have in these recent years helped fill my life with inspiration, companionship and sheer fun,” said 69-year-old Stewart, who recently returned to the British stage following a long career in Hollywood that included playing Professor Charles Xavier in three “X-Men” films.

Mountain Views

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” —United States Constitution, Amendment One

■ The Mountain Press ■ Page A7 ■ Thursday, December 31, 2009

commentary

Memo to the House: Adopt the filibuster

The filibuster is sure taking its lumps these days. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman says “the Senate -- and, therefore, the U.S. government as a whole -- has become ominously dysfunctional.” The Democrats won the White House and Congress last year and should have had no trouble passing the health care overhaul, yet “the need for 60 votes to cut off Senate debate and end a filibuster — a requirement that appears nowhere in the Constitution, but is simply a self-imposed rule — turned what should have been a straightforward piece of legislating into a nail-biter. And it gave a handful of wavering senators extraordinary power to shape the bill. Why is this “dysfunctional?” I assume Krugman would praise the filibuster if a President Palin and Republican Congress were ramming bills through. Regardless of what senators in the 19th century had in mind, the filibuster is a wonderful antidote to the tyranny of the majority. It’s no argument against it to say that the statists’ favorite piece of legislation didn’t fly through smoothly enough. They’ll have to come up with a better case than that. There is no greater threat to individual freedom and autonomy than government. The threat from private freelance crime is small potatoes compared to the daily usurpations of the state, with its taxation, regulation, privilege-granting, inflation and war. Pierre-Joseph Proudhon’s immortal passage has never been topped: “To be governed is to be watched, inspected, spied upon, directed, law-driven, numbered, regulated, enrolled, indoctrinated, preached at, controlled, checked, estimated, valued, censured, commanded, by creatures who have neither the right nor the wisdom nor the virtue to do so. To be governed is to be at every operation, at every transaction noted, registered, counted, taxed, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, authorized, admonished, prevented, forbidden, reformed, corrected, punished. It is, under pretext of public utility, and in the name of the general interest, to be place(d) under contribution, drilled, fleeced, exploited, monopolized, extorted from, squeezed, hoaxed, robbed; then, at the slightest resistance, the first word of complaint, to be repressed, fined, vilified, harassed, hunted down, abused, clubbed, disarmed, bound, choked, imprisoned, judged, condemned, shot, deported, sacrificed, sold, betrayed; and to crown all, mocked, ridiculed, derided, outraged, dishonored.” That just about covers it. So I favor any procedural methods that can slow down government’s legislative juggernaut. During the health care debate, commentators often referred to the lawmaking process as sausage-making, a reference to this quote, usually misattributed to Otto von Bismarck but spoken by poet John Godfrey Saxe: “Laws, like sausages, cease to inspire respect in proportion as we know how they are made.” What those commentators overlooked is that it’s the taxpayers who get ground up. Of course, the filibuster and other stalling methods can be used to stop bills that would advance liberty, like tax cuts and the repeal of restrictions. But I’ll play the odds. On any given day, what is Congress more likely to do: violate or expand liberty? As 19thcentury New York Judge Gideon Tucker put it, “No man’s life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” Libertarian science-fiction writer Robert Heinlein had a good idea. One of his novels depicted a bicameral legislature with one chamber needing a supermajority to pass laws and the other needing only a minority of votes to repeal them. By the standard of protecting freedom and keeping government caged, that’s not a bad idea. It should be easier to repeal laws than to pass them. After all, look at what Congress has been up to lately. Our “leaders” are on the verge of passing a Rube Goldberg-like contraption that would raise insurance prices, compel everyone to buy insurance, increase America’s debt, destroy jobs and limit innovation. Low-income people, as usual, will get the worst of it -- despite the politicians’ boast that they are “covered.” If any piece of legislation is worthy of procedural burial, this is it. One need not be a fan of Republicans to be pleased that they gave the filibuster a try. — John Stossel hosts a show on the Fox Business Channel and is the author of “Myth, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel — Why Everything You Know is Wrong.” (C)2009 JFS Productions Inc.

Editorial

Who needs Times Square?

Gatlinburg’s New Year’s Eve celebration more than holds its own It won’t have the national recognition or the star power of New Year’s Eve bashes in such metropolises as New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Chicago or L.A., but tonight’s event will be every bit the first-class event for which the folks in Gatlinburg have come to be known. Special Events Coordinator George Hawkins heads up a top-notch staff that always makes sure all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed and always looks for the added wrinkles that make the Gatlinburg events so special. They study what others are doing and self-examine their own product to make each event even better the following year. Tonight’s 22nd annual New Year’s Eve bash promises to be no different — bigger and better than ever. Making it more special is the fact that it is fami-

ly-friendly, a non-alcoholic, wholesome event where parents can feel comfortable bringing their children without fear of confrontations by drunken hooligans. City staffers will toss party favors to the a crowd that is expected to number in the tens or thousands. A local DJ will play many of the favorite songs of 2009 along with perennial oldies favorites . The crowd promises to be a mix of tourists who return year after year to the area to usher in the new year, and locals who know what to expect when they venture up the Parkway. Ripley’s Aquarium will offer a “Dance With the Sharks” party beginning at 9 p.m., and other businesses and restaurants will also offer specials throughout the evening. Unquestionably, the festive atmo-

sphere will begin early in the evening, but officials expect the spirit to slowly begin building to a crescendo around 10, with the center of activity on the Cherokee Orchard Road side of the Convention Center. A huge lighted ball, coordinated to music, will be lowered from the Space Needle across from the convention center, much like the one that drops in Times Square. When the ball reaches the roof below, it will ignite a huge fireworks display up and down the Parkway. It promises to be a cold, crisp evening, the kind of night to say farewell to the old and embrace a new and hopefully better new year. There will be all the trappings of the big-city events, only nestled in our backyard in the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains. We wouldn’t trade our event for any.

Political view

Public forum Gatlinburg family is grateful for Christmas utility efforts

Editor: I live in Gatlinburg with my wife and four children, all under 6. As you would expect, I was up on Christmas morning before daybreak. Unfortunately this Christmas the wind storm that blew through Sevier County Christmas Eve took out our power. We scuttled to find flashlights and candles and led the kids downstairs “Wee Willy Winkie” style by candlelight. They opened their presents by the light of a camp lantern as I made cof-

fee for my wife and me outside on a camp stove. This made for an unusal but pleasant Christmas morning. By 10 o’clock, however, we were getting worried. The turkey was in an everwarming refrigerator and a dozen hungry relatives were getting ready to descend on us. As luck would have it, power was restored at 10:30, just in time to get the cooking started. Of course, luck was not the cause of the return of our power. It was due to the dedication of the employees of the Sevier County Electric System. The men and women who

work at power companies around the world are often taken for granted by people such as myself who have never been without electricity for more than a few hours. Some of these folks gave up their Christmas morning, drove into Gatlinburg, and saved our Christmas from being a turmultuous one. I would like for you to know that they were not taken for granted by me this time. My family and I would like to thank them and wish them the happiest Christmas season possible. Laurence Evans Gatlinburg

Letters to the editor policy and how to contact us: ◆ We encourage our readers to send letters to the editor. Letters must contain no more than 500 words. No more than one letter per person will be published in a 30-day period. Letters must be neatly printed or typed and contain no libel, plagiarism or personal attacks. All letters are subject to editing for style, length and content. Statements of fact must be attributed to a source for verification. All letters must be signed and contain a phone number and address for verification purposes. No anonymous or unverified letters will be printed. No letters endorsing candidates will be considered. The Mountain Press reserves the right to refuse publication of any letter. E-MAIL LETTERS TO: editor@themountainpress.com or MAIL LETTERS TO: Editor, The Mountain Press, P.O. Box 4810, Sevierville, TN 37864. For questions, call (865) 428-0748, ext. 214. The Mountain Press and its publishers do not necessarily agree with the opinions expressed in letters and columns on this page.

Editorial Board:

State Legislators:

Federal Legislators:

◆ Jana Thomasson, Publisher ◆ Stan Voit, Editor ◆ Bob Mayes, Managing Editor ◆ Gail Crutchfield, Community News Editor

◆ Rep. Richard Montgomery

◆ U.S. Sen. Bob Corker

1-800-449-8366 Ext. 1-5981; 207 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

◆ Rep. Joe McCord

(202) 224-3344; Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., B40A, Washington, D.C. 20510

◆ U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander

(202) 224-4944; S/H 302, Washington, D.C. 20510

1-800-449-8366 Ext. 1-5481; 207 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov

◆ U.S. Rep. Phil Roe

1-800-449-8366 Ext. 10981; 320 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

◆ U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.

◆ Sen. Doug Overbey

(202) 225-6356; 419 Cannon House Office, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5435; 2267 Rayburn Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515

Sports

Visit: The Mountain Press.com View/Purchase Sports & News Photos

■ The Mountain Press ■ A8 ■ Thursday, December 31, 2009

NCAA GRIDIRON

No. 12 Hokies have respect for unranked Vols By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA — One score really got the attention of Virginia Tech’s coaches as they prepared for Thursday night’s matchup with Tennessee in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Alabama 12, Tennessee 10. The Vols’ narrow loss at No. 1 Alabama on Oct. 24 impressed Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Bryan Stinespring. Alabama opened its season with a 34-24 win over the Hokies but couldn’t reach the end zone against Tennessee. “Alabama managed four field goals,” Stinespring said. “There it is right there. You understand what’s in front of you.” Virginia Tech returns to the Georgia Dome, the site of the loss to Alabama, to face Tennessee, another Southeastern Conference team. The No. 12 Hokies (9-3) are favored against the unranked Vols (7-5), who have won four of their last five games. Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said the Vols developed into an elite team at the end of the season. “I go back to the final results. It’s not where you start, it’s where you end up,” Beamer said Wednesday. “Anyone that looked at it would say this team’s right at the top of the SEC. They have won four of their last five. “We played Alabama and I saw how they played Alabama, and they took it right to them. ... The bottom line is that we’re playing one of the best, if not the best, teams in the SEC, and we understand that.” Beamer also was impressed by Tennessee’s strong play in its 23-13 loss at Florida. “You look at how they played the good teams,” Beamer said. “They crank it up.”

Erik S. Lesser/AP

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, left, and Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin pose with the winner’s trophy during a news conference for the Chick-fil-A Bowl game on Wednesdayin Atlanta. The Hokies also finished strong, winning their last four games. The bowl matches two of college football’s most respected defensive coordinators. Bud Foster’s Virginia Tech defense allowed no second-half points in the four consecutive wins and ranks 14th in the nation in total yards allowed. Monte Kiffin, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin’s father, has a 16thranked defense led by star safety Eric Berry. The Vols are 10th in the nation against the pass. Stinespring said he’s motivated by the matchup against Monte Kiffin’s defense, and said facing

Foster’s unit in practice is good preparation. “Every day when you hit the field, when you’re going against Bud and the caliber of defense he puts on the field every single day, you better bring the ’A’ game,” Stinespring said. “You better prepare yourself for a tough day at the office and play as well as you can play or it’s not going to go well for you. It’s the same way when you get ready to play Tennessee and Monte Kiffin. “It’s a great defense, a great defensive coordinator. He’s proven it over the test of time, the same way Bud has. You know what

you’re going to get. You’re going to line up against one of the best defenses in the country, as we do in Blacksburg. It excites you.” Each team has a running back on the verge of setting a school record for yards rushing in a season. Tennessee senior Montario Hardesty needs 156 yards to set the Vols’ single-season mark. Virginia Tech freshman Ryan Williams needs only 109 yards for the Hokies’ record. Williams’ 1,538 yards rushing is the eighth-most by a freshman in NCAA history. He won Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year honors and scored 20 touch-

downs to set a conference record for a freshman. Monte Kiffin can’t focus only on Williams. Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor passed for 2,102 yards this season with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. “They’re very, very balanced,” Monte Kiffin said. “That quarterback, I just think he’s special. ... Tyrod Taylor has really come a long way. He’s really a seasoned veteran quarterback. He’s a leader out there now. He’s very confident in what he does.” Hardesty has 1,306 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. He finished the regular season with a career-best 179 yards and three TDs against Kentucky. Tennessee’s starting offensive line includes four seniors. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who threw for 26 touchdowns, also is a senior. “We’ve got our hands full from a defensive standpoint,” Foster said. “I think this is one of the better offensive lines that we’ve faced this year as well as one of the outstanding tailbacks in college football today.” Foster, in his 23rd season at Virginia Tech, said Monte Kiffin is “one of the legends of all of football.” The two sat together at a dinner for assistant coaches on Tuesday night. “That’s a lot of knowledge right there, at lot of good coaching at that table,” Beamer said. The 69-year-old Kiffin said he often is asked about working for his son. “I say he’s the head coach and I’m the assistant, so I call him ’Coach,”’ Kiffin said. “As long as he calls me ’dad’ we’ll get along fine.” The matchup produced the bowl’s 13th consecutive sellout.

PREP HOOPS

SCHS Bears hoops squad earns championship contest By COBEY HITCHCOCK Sports Writer SPARTA, Tenn. — The Sevier County High School Smoky Bears boys’ basketball team earned a spot in the Sonic Shootout White County

Christmas Tournament championship contest with a 56-38 win Tuesday night over the McMinn County Cherokees. The Bears (12-1 overall) were led in scoring by Zac Carlson with 15 points, followed by Austin Nave

with 14 ticks. Josh Johnson also added eight points in Sevier County’s winning effort. But despite some quality offensive production, SCHS coach Ken Wright said the real star of the

night was the Smoky Bears team defense. “We played excellent defense throughout the game on Tuesday night,” said Wright. “I thought our guys gave a great effort, and they came away with another win.”

The Bears were slated to take on the Daniel Boone Trailblazers (7-3) in a tournament championship game scheduled for Wednesday night. Daniel Boone defeated the Cannon County Lions (8-4) 55-52 on Tuesday

night to earn the chance for a tournament championship against the Bears. The Bears next host Science Hill Thursday, Jan. 7. chitchcock@themountainpress.com

NCAA GRIDIRON

Texas Tech fires football coach Leach following suspension By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press Writer LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech fired coach Mike Leach on Wednesday, two days after he was suspended by the school as it investigated his treatment of a player with a concussion. The school handed a termination letter to Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, minutes before the two sides were to appear in court for a hearing on the coach’s suspension. Liggett said Texas Tech general counsel Pat Campbell approached him outside the courtroom and told him that win, lose or draw in the hearing, Leach was out. Liggett told the judge there was no need for the hearing on Leach’s request that he be reinstated to coach the Alamo Bowl. Texas Tech plays Michigan State on Saturday in San Antonio. As for Leach’s reaction, Liggett said, “Well, he’s not thrilled.” Liggett said he planned to file a lawsuit on Leach’s behalf against the school “soon.” “We can guarantee that the fight has just begun,” he said. Liggett said Leach’s side has evidence that shows the decision to suspend the coach was without merit.

Mike Leach “So they pulled the trigger,” Liggett said. “They don’t want that coming out.” In February, Leach and the school agreed to a fiveyear, $12.7 million contract. According to terms of the deal, Leach was due a $800,000 bonus on Dec. 31 if he were still the head coach at Texas Tech. Leach was suspended by the university on Monday as the school investigated his treatment of receiver Adam James. The sophomore alleged the coach twice confined him to small, dark spaces while the team practiced . James is the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James. “We appreciate that the university conducted a fair and thorough investigation,”

said a statement from the James family. “From the family’s point of view this has always been about the safety and well being of our son and of all the players on the team.” Texas Tech officials seemingly laid out their case against Leach in a letter to the coach that was included in court papers filed in response to his motion for a restraining order against the school. The letter set out guidelines for dealing with student-athletes that the school wanted Leach to agree to. He refused to sign the letter. Among the guidelines were: — “Decisions regarding whether an injury warrants suspension from practice and/or play will be determined by a physician without pressure from you or your staff.” —“There will be no retaliation against any student who has suffered an injury.” Liggett said Leach wanted to keep his job. “Coach Leach has never, ever hidden his desire to coach the Texas Tech Red Raiders,” Liggett said. “His accomplishments, his actions, his graduation rate all prove that.” Leach likely will speak publicly soon, though Liggett said he did not know when

and declined to say where Leach was Wednesday. “It’s pretty hard to keep him quiet,” he said. Liggett read the termination letter aloud in the packed courtroom. When he reached the part that made it clear Leach was fired, many in the gallery gasped audibly. Several fans called out that they wouldn’t be renewing their season tickets. Outside the court, after the firing had been announced, a motorist yelled out his vehicle window, “Fire Myers,” referring to athletic director Gerald Myers. Leach and Myers did not always see eye-to-eye, as was the case in last year’s contentious contract negotiations. Myers was not happy that Leach met with University of Washington officials about their job opening without informing the university. Myers did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday. Bill Dean, executive vice president of the 28,000member Texas Tech Alumni Association, said he has been bombarded by e-mail and phone calls from alumni who are angry about Leach’s firing. “I think people are wanting an explanation for this,” Dean said. “I’m sure the university will give them one.

That’s my hope. That that will happen very soon.” Tech is the second Big 12 school to launch an internal investigation into a coach’s treatment of his players. On Nov. 16, Kansas investigated Mark Mangino, who got a big raise after he was national coach of the year and went 12-1 in 2007. Some players said he was insensitive, though others defended him. Mangino resigned Dec. 3 after reaching a settlement with the school that was later disclosed as a $3 million buyout. In an affidavit included in Tuesday’s court filing, Leach said he “would never intentionally harm or endanger a player” and that he has been “forced into this situation without being afforded any process.” He also said “absolutely” no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards. Several former and current Texas Tech players and coaches defended Leach and harshly criticized Adam James’ work ethic in e-mails obtained by CBSSports.com. Among those were former Texas Tech wide receiver Eric Morris, who wrote that James was “never known as a hard worker” and “seemed to have a negative attitude toward the football program

the majority of the time.” Morris told The Associated Press on Wednesday the letters were written as school administrators began looking into the incident, before Leach was suspended. Morris said they wanted to show their support for Leach and show James’ possible motives. Leach’s dismissal comes a year after he was Big 12 coach of the year and led Tech to the best season in the history of the program. The Red Raiders went 11-2 last season. A quirky, nonconformist with a pass-happy offense, Leach arrived in West Texas in 2000. Since then, he has become the winningest coach in school history and Texas Tech has had eight quarterbacks lead the nation in passing. He parlayed his penchant for pirate lore into his coaching, telling his players they need to “swing their swords” to perform at their best. He stopped acknowledging players’ injuries to the media in 2003. Not unlike Bob Knight when he came to coach the Red Raiders basketball team for 6 1/2 years, Leach has raised the profile of the city and the school. He appeared on “60 Minutes” and was profiled in the New York Times Magazine.

Sports â&#x2014;&#x2020; A9

Thursday, December 31, 2009 â&#x2014;&#x2020; The Mountain Press NFL GRIDIRON

Woodley predicts Patriots, Bengals will lay down By ALAN ROBINSON AP Sports Writer PITTSBURGH â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Linebacker LaMarr Woodley predicts the New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals will â&#x20AC;&#x153;lay downâ&#x20AC;? for their virtually meaningless games Sunday because they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want the Super Bowl champion Steelers to make the playoffs. The Steelers (8-7) would reach the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons if they beat Miami, the Patriots defeat Houston, and the Bengals beat the New York Jets. There are other combinations that would get them in, but all include either a New England or Cincinnati victory. Pittsburghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s problem: The Patriots (10-5) and Bengals (10-5) have little at stake other than which team will be seeded No. 3 in the AFC. With a wild-card playoff game awaiting both teams next week, New England and Cincinnati are expected to rest some starters to avoid possible injuries. New England coach Bill Belichick hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t revealed who will play. Woodley,

last weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AFC defensive player of the week and a Pro Bowl alternate, thinks he knows already. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All of them lay down,â&#x20AC;? Woodley said Wednesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;No one wants to see Pittsburgh in it. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just how it is. Everybody knows weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a dangerous team once we get into the playoffs, no matter how we played the whole year. Once we get into the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers is a playoff team.â&#x20AC;? The Steelers were No. 6-seeded in 2005, only to win three consecutive road playoff games and the Super Bowl. One of those road victories was in Cincinnati; now a Bengals loss to the Jets (8-7) could help keep Pittsburgh out. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cincinnati is probably going to go into New York and lay down for the Jets and not play them hard just because theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not going to want to see Pittsburgh in it,â&#x20AC;? Woodley said. Woodley emphasized the Steelers played their regulars during a season-ending 31-0 win over Cleveland last year, despite having nothing to gain other than staying

sharp. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sustained a concussion but, after a bye week, returned for the playoffs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We definitely wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lay down because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a pride thing with us, going out there winning ballgames and shutting teams down,â&#x20AC;? Woodley said. Woodley was a lone voice among the Steelersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; players, none of whom said they agreed with him. Safety Ryan Clark laughed off the notion Cincinnati doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to play Pittsburgh again. The Steelers have lost five of their last seven. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To say Cincinnati doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to face us, that would kind of be a little dumb, being that they beat us twice this season,â&#x20AC;? Clark said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure they have a lot of confidence if they do have to play us.â&#x20AC;? The Steelers beat the Ravens twice in 2008, Clark pointed out, then won again a third time in the AFC championship game. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think when you say that (teams will lay down), it calls into question the character of the players on their team.

And I think all those guys are character football players and competitors,â&#x20AC;? Clark said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now if it were last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Steelers team), yeah, they probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to play us. But this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think strikes fear in anyone.â&#x20AC;? Several players said the Steelers need to focus on beating the Dolphins (7-8) rather than worrying what the Patriots and Bengals do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a team you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t look past at all,â&#x20AC;? right tackle Willie Colon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to have pride and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to be ready for us to get after them.â&#x20AC;? Nose tackle Casey Hampton and running back Willie Parker will understand it if New England and Cincinnati rest their starters in what Parker called â&#x20AC;&#x153;a game you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Coaches have to do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best for their team,â&#x20AC;? said Hampton, who laughed when told of Woodleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being healthy going into the playoffs, I think, is their main focus. If the game doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean anything, why risk getting hurt?â&#x20AC;?

Gene J. Puskar/AP

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley (56) hits the arm of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) who releases a pass in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh on Sunday. The pass was intercepted by Steelers linebacker James Farrior.

Plenty still at stake as NFL season concludes this weekend By BARRY WILNER AP Football Writer How boring is the NFC, with all six playoff participants already decided? Well, the conference is pretty spicy, actually, with the East crown about to be decided in Dallas, the Vikings capable of being seeded second, third or fourth, and the topranked Saints suddenly struggling. The AFC already has all four division winners and has concentrated its frenzy on the wild-card race, which has seven teams still in the scramble. The Ravens and Jets are in control, but if either slips, the Broncos, Steelers, Jaguars, Texans and Dolphins remain possibilities. Denver has 10 scenarios by which it can get a wild card, half of those not even requiring the Broncos to win Sunday against Kansas City. Most intriguing are the Eagles (11-4) at the Cowboys (10-5) and the Bengals (10-5) at the Jets (8-7). Dallas won 20-16 at Philadelphia on Nov. 8, seemingly taking charge of the division. But the Cowboys went 4-3 after that, while Philly went 6-1 to take the NFC East lead. Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winner gets the title and perhaps a bye in the first round of the postseason. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a perfect picture right now,â&#x20AC;? Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think it was set up real great. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a good situation to go in and show everybody what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re made of. Doing it (against the Eagles) is even better. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in a great situation.â&#x20AC;? Of course, they were in the same situation a year ago in the wild-card race, went into Philadelphia and got routed 44-6. An Eagles victory earns them that bye. Dallas needs a win and losses by Minnesota and Arizona to get the week off. Most people, including Jets coach Rex Ryan, thought the Jets would have the postseason off after a loss to Atlanta two weeks ago. Then everything New York required to remain viable for the playoffs happened last weekend â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the Colts waving an unbeaten season goodbye by sitting nearly every starter in the third quarter of a close game. The Jets rallied to hand Indianapolis its first loss, and with a

victory Sunday night over the AFC North champion Bengals, who also might rest their regulars, New York gets in. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had a lot of tough games this year, a lot of tough losses, games that we thought we would win and we ended up coming up short,â&#x20AC;? running back Thomas Jones said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For us to have an opportunity to even get in the playoffs at this point in the season says a lot about our coaching staff, says a lot about Rex and the commitment that they have to us. It says a lot about the character of our team and guys not giving up.â&#x20AC;? It also says a lot about having a favorable schedule at the end of the season. In other games Sunday, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Baltimore at Oakland, Pittsburgh at Miami, New England at Houston, Indianapolis at Buffalo, New Orleans at Carolina, Jacksonville at Cleveland, the New York Giants at Minnesota, Washington at San Diego, Green Bay at Arizona, Chicago at Detroit, San Francisco at St. Louis, Atlanta at Tampa Bay, and Tennessee at Seattle. ___ Baltimore (8-7) at Oakland (5-10) Like the Jets, the Ravens began the year 3-0, then fell to 3-3. Unlike the Jets, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve remained in the playoff conversation throughout the schedule. They could have secured a wild-card berth by beating Pittsburgh last Sunday, and now face a potential spoiler in the Raiders. Of Oaklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five victo-

ries, four came against winning teams: Philadelphia, Denver, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Pittsburgh (8-7) at Miami (7-8) How badly will the defending Super Bowl champions be kicking themselves if they win this week, finish 9-7 and get left out of the postseason parade? A five-game slide, including losses to Kansas City and Oakland, will become the identity marker for 2009 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at least for those who have short memories and overlook what happened back in early February. Miami won the AFC East a year ago by riding the wildcat and protecting the ball. The wildcat pretty much has disappeared and the Dolphins are a minus-7 in turnover differential. Kansas City (3-12) at Denver (8-7) If Pittsburgh is lamenting what might have been, what about Denver, which once was 6-0? The Broncos have stumbled so badly that San Diego surged into control of the AFC West by early December. That stingy Denver defense has crumbled down the stretch. Kansas Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first season under coach Todd Haley and GM Scott Pioli has been all about building a foundation, so the record is not surprising. New England (10-5) at Houston (8-7) Another team that DISC PADS OR BRAKE SHOES

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might rest key players is New England; does Bill Belichick care all that much about being a No. 3 or No. 4 seed? The Patriots must play in the wild-card round regardless, and they arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t likely to fear any potential opponent. Houston never has been to the playoffs and hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a winning season since entering the NFL in 2002. With the right results, the Texans could sneak in and face the Patriots again next weekend. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won three in a row. Indianapolis (14-1) at Buffalo (5-10) Peyton Manning always starts, never missing one since he joined the Colts 11 years ago. Whether he is on the tundra in Orchard Park for more than one series is pure speculation. If Indy was willing to sacrifice the shot at a perfect record last week, why would any key players provide more than a cameo appearance in this one? Buffalo was hoping to close well under interim coach Perry Fewell, but is 2-4 since he replaced Dick Jauron. New Orleans (13-2) at Carolina (7-8) Ordinarily, the Saints could be expected to rest everybody and get ready for what they hope is the march to their first Super Bowl. After all, they own home-field advantage throughout the NFC. But New Orleans has

dropped two in a row and hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t played lights-out on offense or defense since November. So coach Sean Payton might want to work out some rough spots here. If the Panthers finish at .500 after starting 3-0 and then being 5-8, it should help John Fox keep his coaching job. NY Giants (8-7) at Minnesota (11-4) On Oct. 11, these teams were a combined 11-0. The Giants plummeted so far that they already have been eliminated from contention, their defense a shell of the unit that helped win a Super Bowl less than two years ago.

The Vikings waited until December to go into their dive, losing three of four and wasting an open road to a playoff bye. Most troubling is a defense that suddenly has sprung leaks, allowing 92 points in the three defeats. Jacksonville (7-8) at Cleveland (4-11) Three straight losses dropped the Jaguars from control of the AFC wildcard dash to needing lots of help. They needed to close the way Cleveland has with three wins in a row, at least raising the possibility Eric Mangini See NFL, Page A10

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A10 ◆ Sports

The Mountain Press ◆ Thursday, December 31, 2009

nfl

3From Page A9

will be retained as coach by new team boss Mike Holmgren. Washington (4-11) at San Diego (12-3) Jim Zorn’s final game as Redskins coach. Norv Turner once coached in Washington, too, and he’s headed into the postseason with the AFC

LEGALS NOTICE This is a notification of a sale to be made for personal property belonging to Mary Loveday Wilson 1006 Cee Cee Way, Sevierville, TN 37876 Unit 17-A Joe Brown 160 Murrell Meadows Apt. 3, Sevierville, TN 37862 Unit 49-A Vickie Reynolds 126 Gray Slate Circle, Sevierville, TN 37876 Unit 94-B. For Elco Mini Warehouses. 919 Dolly Parton Pkwy, Sevierville, TN 37862. Sale date, Friday 01/08/10 @ 9:00am. On the grounds of the storage facility. 12/31/2009 01/01/2010

West champion, the league’s hottest team. San Diego has won 10 straight, but figures to sit its regulars for much of this game. Green Bay (10-5) at Arizona (10-5) These teams could meet in the wild-card round next weekend, too. But the Cardinals have a shot at a bye, needing a victory and losses by Minnesota and Philadelphia. Arizona

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showed last winter how dangerous it can be in the playoffs, and this is a better team than the one that lost to Pittsburgh in the final minute of the Super Bowl. Green Bay is locked into playing in the wild-card round after winning six of its last seven. Chicago (6-9) at Detroit (2-13) Detroit can’t look at this year as successful, but at

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eighth 1-15 season in league history. Atlanta (8-7) at Tampa Bay (3-12) When the Falcons joined the league in 1966, who would have imagined they’d go 43 seasons without consecutive winning records? They can end that ignominious string by beating Tampa Bay, which comes off a stunning upset of the Saints. Tennessee (7-8) at

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Seattle (5-10) The Titans want to finish off their remarkable turnaround from 0-6 with a .500 record and a nice boost for next season. Seattle merely wants to finish another injury-ravaged flop.

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least it’s not 0-16. The Bears looked like a contender in their Monday night overtime victory against the Vikings. So where was that all season? San Francisco (7-8) at St. Louis (1-14) Six straight losing seasons for the Niners could end if they handle the dreadful and banged-up Rams. St. Louis earns the No. 1 overall draft pick if it completes the

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The Mountain Press Thursday, December 31, 2009 LEGALS

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated December 1, 2006, executed by Shelley L. Palmer, conveying certain real property therein described to Tri State Land Title, A TN Limited Liability Company, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee recorded on December 11, 2006 at Book/Instrument No. 2685, Page 200-220; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to BAC Home Loans Servicing LP f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., having been appointed by as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on J anuary 14, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the SEVIER County courthouse door where the foreclosure sales are customarily held at the SEVIER Courthouse, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE FIFTH (5TH) CIVIL DISTRICT OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF SEVIERVILLE AND BEING UNIT 412 OF THE VILLAS, A HORIZONTAL PROPERTY REGIME, AS THE SAME IS SHOWN AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AND DEFINED IN THE MASTER DEED OF THE ORCHARDS VILLAS CONDOMINIUMS OF RECORD IN VOLUME 1106, PAGE 606 AS AMENDED IN VOLUME 1152, PAGE 1 AND VOLUME 1248, PAGE 28, ALL IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, TO WHICH MASTER DEED, AS AMENDED, SPECIFIC REFERENCE IS HERE MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO SHELLEY L. PALMER FROM GERIC SMITH, MARRIED AND GAYLON SMITH, UNMARRIED BY WARRANTY DEED DATED DECEMBER 1, 2006 OF RECORD IN BOOK 2685, PAGE 198 IN THE SEVIER COUNTY REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE. PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 519 Orchard Valley Way Pigeon Forge, TN 37862 In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): Shelley L. Palmer OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: MERS/BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular us or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Everett L. Hixson, Jr., Substitute Trustee Rubin Lublin Suarez Serrano, LLC One Park Place, Suite 380 6148 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 WWW.RUBINLUBLIN.COM/PROPERTY-LISTINGS.PHP Tel: (888) 890-5309 Fax: (423) 296-1882

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2BR 1.5BA Townhouse

SEVIERVILLE RENTALS

NICE, CLEAN

WHEREAS, default having been made in the payment of the debts and obligations secured to be paid by that certain Deed of Trust executed on October 18, 2006, by Donald N. Weckesser and Sharon Weckesser to Priority Trustee Services of Tennessee, LLC, Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee, under Book No. 2649, Page 100, (“Deed of Trust”); and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Trustee for Option One Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-1 Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-1; and WHEREAS, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Trustee for Option One Mortgage Loan Trust 2007-1 Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-1, the current owner and holder of said Deed of Trust, (the “Owner and Holder”), appointed the undersigned, Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., as Substitute Trustee by instrument filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee, with all the rights, powers and privileges of the original Trustee named in said Deed of Trust; and NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable as provided in said Deed of Trust by the Owner and Holder, and that the undersigned, Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, or his duly appointed attorneys or agents, by virtue of the power and authority vested in him, will on Thursday, January 21, 2010, commencing at 2:00 PM at the steps of the Main entrance of the Sevier County Courthouse, Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: Situated in District No. Four (4) of Sevier County, Tennessee, and being all of Lot 63 Willow Trace, as shown by map of same of record in Map Book 36, Page 72, in the Register s office for Sevier County, Tennessee, to which map specific reference is hereby made for a more particular description thereof. This conveyance is made subject to any applicable restrictions, easements, TVA Transmission Line Easements, waterline easements, etc of record in Map Book 36, Page 72, Volume 2021, Page 540 and Volume 2330, Page 601, in the Register s Office for Sevier County, Tennessee. Being part of the same property conveyed to Donald N. Weckersser and wife, Sharon Weckersser from Golden Willow, LLC, a Tennessee Liability Company by General Warranty Deed, dated October 18, 2006 of record in Book 2649, Page 98, in the Register s Office for Sevier County, Tennessee. PROPERTY ADDRESS: 1333 William Holt Blvd Sevierville, TN 37862

CURRENT OWNER(S): Donald N. Weckesser and Sharon Weckesser The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plan; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This sale is also subject to the right of redemption by the INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE U.S. TREASURY, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7425(d)(1) by reason of the following tax lien(s) of record in: Book 2746, Page 21. Notice of the sale has been given to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 7425(b). SUBORDINATE LIENHOLDERS: Option One Mortgage Corporation OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: N/A All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee c/o IMR Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc. 1587 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA 30329 (770) 234-9181 (ext. ) File No.: 226.0936115TN

Central H/A. All appliances + W/D. Very nice. Great location. PF City Limits. $650/mth + damage dep. No pets. 428-1951 Ask for Ron

Apartments, mobile homes and trailer lots for rent

453-2959

1 BR / 1 BA IN SEVIERVILLE $380.00 + DEPOSIT NO PETS 865-712-5238

LEGALS

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE AND SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S SALE Default having been made in the terms and conditions of payments, pursuant to a certain Deed of Trust executed by Lorraine V. Ogle aka Lorraine V. Adams and Larry E. Ogle, to Jerry D. Kerley, Guaranteed Land Title Co., dated the 25th day of November, 2002, and being of record in Book 1579, page 444, Register s Office for Sevier County, Tennessee, referred to herein as the deed of trust, which conveyed certain real property, appurtenances, estate, title and interest therein in trust to secure the indebtedness described therein, which indebtedness is now due and unpaid and has been declared in default by the lawful owner thereof, Household Financial Center, Inc. Appointment of Substitute Trustee having been duly executed by the holder of the note and beneficiary of said Deed of Trust, and appointing William Timothy Hill as Substitute Trustee. NOW, THEREFORE, I, William Timothy Hill, Trustee, pursuant to the said Deed of Trust, having been requested by the owner and holder of said indebtedness so to do, by virtue of the authority and power vested in me by said deed of trust and appointing of Substitute Trustee will on the 7th day of January, 2010, at 12:00 noon, on the front door of the Sevier County Courthouse, Sevierville, Sevier County, Tennessee, sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash (or credit upon the indebtedness secured, if the holder is the successful purchaser) the following described property located in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: Situate in the Third (3rd) Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee, and being Lot 7 Thomas Acres as the same appears on a plat of record in Map Book 31, page 358 in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee to which reference is here made for a more particular description. Subject to restrictions, reservations and easements of record in Misc. Book 365, page 369, Large Map Book 2, page 137 and Map Book 31, page 358, all in said Register s Office. Subject to any and all applicable restrictions, easements and building setback lines as are shown in the record of the Register s Office. BEING the same property conveyed to Lorraine V. Adams, nka Lorraine V. Ogle, by deed recorded on 3/30/01 in Book 1205, page 340, in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. This is improved property known as 3625 Audrey Jo Lane Sevierville, TN If there is any discrepancy with the street address, the legal description will control. The sale is subject to liens, easements, encumbrances, property tax and other matters, if any, which are prior in right to the lien of the deed of trust subject of this foreclosure and declared to be in default by the lawful holder thereof. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. If the highest bidder cannot pay the bid within twenty-four (24) hours of the sale, the next highest bidder will be deemed the successful bidder. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Other interested parties: Citifinancial, Inc. This 11 th day of December, 2009. William Timothy Hill Substitute Trustee December 17, 24 and 31 ,2009

December 24, 31, 2009 and Jabuary 7, 2010

December 17, 24 and 31, 2009

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE LEGALS

LEGALS

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated August 12, 2004, executed by Jimmy Edward Wilkins, Jr. and Cheri Ann Wilkins, , conveying certain real property therein described to Robert M. Wilson, Jr., as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee recorded on September 2, 2004 at Book/Instrument No. 2058, Page 675-686; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to The Bank Of New York Mellon fka The Bank Of New York As Trustee For The Certificateholders Of CWABS 2004-09 who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., having been appointed by as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on J anuary 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the SEVIER County courthouse door where the foreclosure sales are customarily held at the SEVIER Courthouse, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: SITUATE IN THE SIXTEENTH (16TH) CIVIL DISTRICT OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND BEING LOT 85 OF PINEHAVEN SUBDIVISION NO. 2 AS THE SAME APPEARS ON A PLAT OF RECORD IN MAP BOOK 14, PAGE 5 IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HERE MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, RESERVATIONS, AND EASEMENTS OF RECORD IN MISC. BOOK 28, PAGE 252 IN SAID REGISTER`S OFFICE. ALSO SUBJECT TO ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE RESTRICTIONS, EASEMENTS ADN BUILDING SETBACK LINES AS ARE SHOWN IN THE RECORDS OF THE SAID REGISTER`S OFFICE. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO CHERI ANN WILKINS AND HUSBAND, JIMMY EDWARD WILKINS, JR. FROM GLADYS MORGAN, A SINGLE PERSON BY WARRANTY DEED DATED DECEMBER 12,2000, AND OF RECORD IN DEED BOOK 1150, PAGE 279, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated October 6, 2005, executed by Donald L. Belanger, conveying certain real property therein described to Robert M. Wilson, Jr. & Assoc, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee recorded on October 17, 2005 at Book. 2367, Page 555-578; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to The Bank Of New York Mellon fka The Bank Of New York As Trustee For The Certificateholders CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan Trust 2005-66 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-66 who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., having been appointed by as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on J anuary 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the SEVIER County courthouse door where the foreclosure sales are customarily held at the SEVIER Courthouse, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE FIFTH (5TH) CIVIL DISTRICT OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF PIGEON FORGE AND BEING LOT 45 OF ALPINE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE PHASE 3 AS THE SAME IS SHOWN BY PLAT OF RECORD IN MAP BOOK 34, PAGE 30, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, TO WHICH PLAT SPECIFIC REFERENCE IS HERE MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO DONALD LLOYD BELANGER, A SINGLE PERSON, BY WARRANTY DEED FROM CODY FARMER, ET UX, DATED OCTOBER 6 ,2005, AND OF RECORD IN VOLUME 2367, PAGE 553, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 3032 Pine Haven Drive Sevierville, TN 37862 In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): Jimmy Edward Wilkins, Jr., Cheri Ann Wilkins OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: Countrywide Home Loans of Tennessee, Inc.; Household Financial Center, Inc. The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular us or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Everett L. Hixson, Jr., Substitute Trustee Rubin Lublin Suarez Serrano, LLC One Park Place, Suite 380 6148 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 WWW.RUBINLUBLIN.COM/PROPERTY-LISTINGS.PHP Tel: (888) 890-5309 Fax: (423) 296-1882 December 31, 2009, January 7 and 14, 2010

PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 2605 Tree Top Way Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): Donald L. Belanger OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. acting solely as nominee for BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP. The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular us or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Everett L. Hixson, Jr., Substitute Trustee Rubin Lublin Suarez Serrano, LLC One Park Place, Suite 380 6148 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 WWW.RUBINLUBLIN.COM/PROPERTY-LISTINGS.PHP Tel: (888) 890-5309 Fax: (423) 296-1882 December 31, 2009, January 7 and 14, 2010

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated July 8, 2005, executed by James Auston Leatherwood and Christy S. Leatherwood, conveying certain real property therein described to FMLS, Inc. Hamilton County, as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee recorded on July 12, 2005 at Book/Instrument No. 2289, Page 791-799; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., having been appointed by as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on J anuary 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the SEVIER County courthouse door where the foreclosure sales are customarily held at the SEVIER Courthouse, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: SITUATED IN THE 9TH CIVIL DISTRICT OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND BEING ALL OF LOT 300-R9 OF THE RESUBDIVISION OF LOT 300 OF CHILHOWEE VIEW SUBDIVISION AS SHOWN BY MAP OF RECORD IN LARGE MAP BOOK 5, PAGE 54, IN THE SEVIER COUNTY REGISTER`S OFFICE, TO WHICH PLAT SPECIFIC REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION. THIS BEING ALL OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO JAMES AUSTON LEATHERWOOD AND WIFE, CHRISTY S. LEATHERWOOD BY DEED OF DARRELL KEENE, BENNY BYRD AND WARREN HURT, EACH A 1/3 UNDIVIDED INTEREST DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND OF RECORD IN BOOK 2289, PAGE 789, IN THE SEVIER COUNTY REGISTER`S OFFICE. FOR FURTHER REFERENCE THIS BEING A PORTION OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO DARRELL KEENE, BENNY BYRD AND WARREN HURST, EACH A 1/3 UNDIVIDED INTEREST BY DEED OF BARRY SHULAR AND WIFE, KIMBERLY W. SHULAR DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2005 AND RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2005, AND FOUND OF RECORD IN BOOK 2185, PAGE 142, IN THE SEVIER COUNTY REGISTER`S OFFICE. SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, RESERVATIONS AND EASEMENTS AS SET FORTH IN MISC. BOOK 8, PAGE 466; ROW BOOK 17, PAGE 323; LARGE MAP BOOK 5, PAGE 54 AND LARGE MAP BOOK 6, PAGE 59 IN THE SEVIER COUNTY REGISTER`S OFFICE. PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 534 Academy Drive Seymour, TN 37865 In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): James Auston Leatherwood and Christy S. Leatherwood OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular us or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Everett L. Hixson, Jr., Substitute Trustee Rubin Lublin Suarez Serrano, LLC One Park Place, Suite 380 6148 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 WWW.RUBINLUBLIN.COM/PROPERTY-LISTINGS.PHP Tel: (888) 890-5309 Fax: (423) 296-1882 January 31, 2009, January 7 and 14, 2010

The Mountain Press Thursday, December 31, 2009 LEGALS

Classifieds 11 LEGALS

696 APARTMENTS FOR RENT

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S SALE

2BR 1.5BA Townhouse

SEVIERVILLE RENTALS

NICE, CLEAN

Central H/A. All appliances + W/D. Very nice. Great location. PF City Limits. $650/mth + damage dep. No pets. 428-1951 Ask for Ron

Apartments, mobile homes and trailer lots for rent

453-2959

1 BR / 1 BA IN SEVIERVILLE $380.00 + DEPOSIT NO PETS 865-712-5238

LEGALS

December 24, 31, 2009 and Jabuary 7, 2010

December 17, 24 and 31, 2009

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE LEGALS

LEGALS

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE

Classifieds Â&#x2039; 13

The Mountain Press Â&#x2039; Thursday, December 31, 2009 SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SALE Sale at public auction will be on January 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, at the front door, Sevier County Courthouse, Sevierville, Tennessee pursuant to Deed of Trust executed by Thomas Carl Frangipani and Crystal Faith Frangipani, husband and wife to Quality Title, Inc., Trustee, on June 1, 2005 at Volume 2271, Page 287conducted by Shapiro & Kirsch, LLP Substitute Trustee, all of record in the Sevier County Register s Office. Owner of Debt: Saxon Mortgage Services, Inc. The following real estate located in Sevier County, Tennessee, will be sold to the highest call bidder subject to all unpaid taxes, prior liens and encumbrances of record: Described property located in the Fourteenth (14th) Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: Lot 122 of River Meadows Subdivision, Phase 1, Unit 2, as shown of record in Map Book 35, Page 102 to which map specific reference is here made for a more particular description.THERE MAY BE A MANUFACTURED HOME LOCATED UPON THE ABOVEDESCRIBED PROPERTY WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO SAID PROPERTY.IN THE EVENT IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE MANUFACTURED HOME IS NOT PERMANENTLY AFFIXED TO THE PROPERTY, IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PURCHASER TO UNDERTAKE ANY AND ALL LEGAL STEPS NECESSARY TO OBTAIN TITLE TO SAID MANUFACTURED HOME. Street Address: 2216 Binginham Island Road Sevierville, TN 37876 Current Owner(s) of Property: Thomas Carl Frangipani and wife, Crystal Faith Frangipani The street address of the above described property is believed to be 2216 Binginham Island Road, Sevierville, TN 37876, but such address is not part of the legal description of the property sold herein and in the event of any discrepancy, the legal description herein shall control. SALE IS SUBJECT TO TENANT(S) RIGHTS IN POSSESSION. All right of equity of redemption, statutory and otherwise, and homestead are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. If the highest bidder cannot pay the bid within twenty-four (24) hours of the sale, the next highest bidder, at their highest bid, will be deemed the successful bidder. This property is being sold with the express reservation that the sale is subject to confirmation by the lender or trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. This office is a debt collector. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Shapiro & Kirsch, LLP Substitute Trustee Law Office of Shapiro & Kirsch, LLP 6055 Primacy Parkway, Suite 410 Memphis, TN 38119 Phone 901-767-5566 Fax 901-767-8890 File No. 09-020301

WHEREAS, default has occurred in the performance of the covenants, terms and conditions of a Deed of Trust dated May 31, 2007, executed by Andrew N. Hester, conveying certain real property therein described to ReconTrust Company, N.A., as Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee recorded on June 11, 2007 at Book/Instrument No. 2840, Page 275-290; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to The Bank of New York Mellon f/k/a The Bank Of New York, As Trustee For The Benefit Of The Certificateholders, CWABS, Inc. Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-11 who is now the owner of said debt; and WHEREAS, the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., having been appointed by as Substitute Trustee by instrument to be filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee. NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable, and that the undersigned, Everett L. Hixson, Jr., as Substitute Trustee or his duly appointed agent, by virtue of the power, duty and authority vested and imposed upon said Substitute Trustee will, on J anuary 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM at the SEVIER County courthouse door where the foreclosure sales are customarily held at the SEVIER Courthouse, located in Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: SITUATED IN DISTRICT NO. TWO (2) OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND BEING ALL OF LOT NO. 33, SECTION C, OF OAK VALLEY SUBDIVISION, AS THE SAME APPEARS ON PLAT OF RECORD IN THE SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, REGISTER`S OFFICE IN MAP BOOK 16, PAGE 22, TO WHICH PLAT REFERENCE IS HERE MADE FOR A FURTHER DESCRIPTION. BEING A PART OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO ANDREW N. HESTER, AN UNMARRIED MAN, BY WARRANTY DEED FROM CHARLES L. TEAGUE AND WILMA L. TEAGUE, HIS WIFE, DATED DECEMBER 27, 2006, RECORDED IN BOOK 2702, PAGE 462, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE. FURTHER REFERENCE ALSO BEING A PART OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO CHARLES L. TEAGUE, JR. AND HIS WIFE, WILMA L. TEAGUE, FROM SAM GHORLEY AND HIS WIFE, JANICE GHORLEY, BY WARRANTY DEED, DATED MAY 22,1997 AND RECORDED ON JUNE 4,1997, IN BOOK 598, PAGE 648, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE. SITUATED IN DISTRICT NO. SECOND OF SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, AND BEING LOT 34, SECTION C, CLASS NO. A, OAK VALLEY SUBDIVISION, AS THE SAME APPEARS ON A PLAT OF RECORD IN THE SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE, REGISTER`S OFFICE IN MAP BOOK 16, AT PAGE 22, TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HERE MADE FOR FURTHER DESCRIPTION. BEING A PART OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO ANDREW N. HESTER, AN UNMARRIED MAN, BY WARRANTY DEED FROM CHARLES L. TEAGUE AND WILMA L. TEAGUE, HIS WIFE, DATED DECEMBER 27, 2006, RECORDED IN BOOK 2702, PAGE 462, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE. FURTHER REFERENCE ALSO BEING A PART OF THE SAME PROPERTY CONVYED TO CHARLES L. TEAGUE, JR. AND WILMA L. TEAGUE, BY WARRANTY DEED FROM GATLINBURG INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DATED JANUARY 3,1973, RECORDED JANUARY 4,1973, IN BOOK 227, PAGE 661, IN THE REGISTER`S OFFICE FOR SEVIER COUNTY, TENNESSEE. THIS CONVEYANCE IS MADE SUBJECT TO ANY AND ALL EXISTING EASEMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS OF RECORD. PROPERTY ADDRESS: The street address of the property is believed to be 959 N Highland Drive Gatlinburg, TN 37738 In the event of any discrepancy between this street address and the legal description of the property, the legal description shall control. CURRENT OWNER(S): Andrew N. Hester OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: The sale of the above-described property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plat; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and to any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. This property is being sold with the express reservation that it is subject to confirmation by the lender or Substitute Trustee. This sale may be rescinded at any time. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The Property is sold as is, where is, without representations or warranties of any kind, including fitness for a particular us or purpose. THIS LAW FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Everett L. Hixson, Jr., Substitute Trustee Rubin Lublin Suarez Serrano, LLC One Park Place, Suite 380 6148 Lee Highway Chattanooga, TN 37421 WWW.RUBINLUBLIN.COM/PROPERTY-LISTINGS.PHP Tel: (888) 890-5309 Fax: (423) 296-1882

PROPERTY ADDRESS: 427 Cades Cove Way Gatlinburg, TN 37738

CURRENT OWNER(S): Verna Bontrager The sale of the abovedescribed property shall be subject to all matters shown on any recorded plan; any unpaid taxes; any restrictive covenants, easements or set-back lines that may be applicable; any prior liens or encumbrances as well as any priority created by a fixture filing; and any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. SUBORDINATE LIENHOLDERS: MERS for Countrywide Home Loans OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: N/A All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, but the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The right is reserved to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time, and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee c/o PLG Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc. 1587 Northeast Expressway Atlanta, GA 30329 (770) 234-9181 (ext. ) File No.: 432.0938019TN December 24, 31,2009 and January 6,2010

LEGALS

NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SALE TENNESSEE, SEVIER COUNTY DEFAULT having been made in the terms, conditions and payments provided in certain Deed of Trust executed by Harold Allen and Pat Allen to J. Michael Winchester, Trustee dated January 29, 2002 in the amount of $91,000.00, and recorded in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee in Deed Book 1380, Page 371, (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deed of Trustâ&#x20AC;?); and, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust having been last transferred to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association fka The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as Trustee by assignment; and, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association fka The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. as Trustee, as the current owner and holder of said Deed of Trust (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Owner and Holderâ&#x20AC;?), has appointed as Substitute Trustee the undersigned, Patrick A. Taggart, Laura A. Grifka, Sidney A. Gelernter, or J. Michael Dugan, any of whom may act, by instrument filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee with all the rights, powers and privileges of the original Trustee named in said Deed of Trust; therefore, NOTICE is hereby given that the entire amount of said indebtedness has been declared due and payable as provided in said Deed of Trust by the Owner and Holder, and the undersigned as Substitute Trustee, or a duly appointed attorneys or agents, by virtue of the power and authority vested by the Appointment of Substitute Trustee, will on Thursday, January 14, 2010 commencing at 12:00 PM at the front steps of the Sevier County Courthouse in Sevierville, Tennessee; sell to the highest bidder for cash, immediately at the close of sale, the following property to-wit: Being the property located at 4063 Locust Ridge Road, in the City of Sevierville, TN Zip Code: 37876. Sevier County, Tennessee. Situated in the 13th Civil District, Sevier County, Tennessee, and being on the North side of Locust Ridge Road and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point in the corner of Locust Ridge Road; thence with Locust Ridge Road South 69 deg. 30 min. West, 215.8 feet; thence North 0 deg. 47 min. West, 137.59 feet to a 6 inch pine; thence North 61 deg. 15 min. East, 54.7 feet to a white pine; thence South 58 deg. 3 min. East, 174.1 feet to the beginning corner containing 0.401 acres more or less by estimation. Being the same property conveyed to Harold Allen by deed from Robert Allen and wife, Pat Allen dated 8/30/72 filed for record on 12/02/72 in Book 226, Page 659, Registers Office for Sevier County. Map & Parcel No.: 87 005.00 PROPERTY ADDRESS: 4063 Locust Ridge Road Sevierville, Tennessee 37876 CURRENT OWNER(S): Harold Allen SUBORDINATE LIENHOLDERS: N/A OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES: Internal Revenue Service This sale is also subject to the right of redemption by the I NTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF U.S. TREASURY, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 7425(d)(1) by reason of the following tax lien(s) of record in:Volume 2606, Page 116 Notice of the sale has been given to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with 26 U.S.C. 7425(b). All right and equity of redemption, statutory or otherwise, homestead, and dower are expressly waived in said Deed of Trust, and the title is believed to be good, however, the undersigned will sell and convey only as Substitute Trustee. The sale will be held subject to any unpaid taxes, assessments, rights-ofway, easements, protective covenants or restrictions, liens, and other superior matters of record which may affect said property; as well as any prior liens or encumbrances as well as priority created by a fixture filing; and/or any matter that an accurate survey of the premises might disclose. If the U.S. Department of Treasury/IRS, the State of Tennessee Department of Revenue, or the State of Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development are listed as Interested Parties in the advertisement, then the Notice of this foreclosure is being given to them and the sale will be subject to the applicable governmental entities` right to redeem the property, as required by 26 U.S.C Ă&#x; 7425 and T.C.A. Ă&#x; 671-1433. The sale will be conducted subject (1) to confirmation that the sale is not prohibited under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and (2) to final confirmation and audit of the status of the loan with the holder of the Deed of Trust. Substitute Trustee reserves the right to adjourn the day of the sale to another day, time and place certain without further publication, upon announcement at the time and place for the sale set forth above. THIS LAW FIRM IS ACTING AS A DEBT COLLECTOR AND IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. Patrick A. Taggart, Laura A. Grifka, Sidney A. Gelernter, or J. Michael Dugan McCurdy & Candler, L.L.C. (404) 373-1612 www.mccurdycandler.com File No. 09-13170 /CONV

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NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE`S SALE

WHEREAS, default having been made in the payment of the debts and obligations secured to be paid by that certain Deed of Trust executed on November 29, 2006, by Verna Bontrager to Robert M. Wilson Jr., Trustee, as same appears of record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee, under Book 2678, Page702, (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deed of Trustâ&#x20AC;?); and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest of said Deed of Trust was last transferred and assigned to BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP FKA COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS SERVICING LP; and WHEREAS, BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP FKA COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS SERVICING LP, the current owner and holder of said Deed of Trust, (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Owner and Holderâ&#x20AC;?), appointed the undersigned, Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., as Substitute Trustee by instrument filed for record in the Register s Office of Sevier County, Tennessee, with all the rights, powers and privileges of the original Trustee named in said Deed of Trust; and NOW, THEREFORE, notice is hereby given that the entire indebtedness has been declared due and payable as provided in said Deed of Trust by the Owner and Holder, and that the undersigned, Nationwide Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, or his duly appointed attorneys or agents, by virtue of the power and authority vested in him, will on Thursday, January 14, 2010, commencing at 2:00 PM at the steps of the Main entrance of the Sevier County Courthouse, Sevierville, Tennessee, proceed to sell at public outcry to the highest and best bidder for cash, the following described property situated in Sevier County, Tennessee, to wit: Situate in the Eleventh (11th) Civil District of Sevier County, Tennessee, and being within the corporate limits of the city of Gatlinburg, and being all of Lot 10 of Forest Springs, a Planned Unit Development, as the same appears in the plat map of record in Map Book 34, at page 2, in the Sevier County, Tennessee Register of Deeds Office, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Subject to easements, restrictions, reservations, setbacks, notations of record in Map Book 34, at page 2, WB Book 624, at page 703 and Book 1823, at page 406, all in the said Register s Office. Being the same property conveyed to Verna Bontrager, unmarried from Sandra G. Woody unmarried by deed dated 11-29-06 of record in book 2678, at page 700, in the said Register s Office.

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LEGALS

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A: A Yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

â&#x20AC;?

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: CRESS BEFIT DISMAL HELMET Answer: When he was selected â&#x20AC;&#x153;freshman of the yearâ&#x20AC;?, he was in a â&#x20AC;&#x201D; CLASS BY HIMSELF

A14 ◆ Comics Family Circus

The Mountain Press ◆ Thursday, December 31, 2009 Close to Home

Advice

Wife feels marriage coming undone

Zits

Blondie

Baby Blues

Dear Annie: I have been married to “Tom” for five years. We had a shaky start, and now it is just horrible. Tom makes decisions for his own benefit, his job is out of town, he works night shifts, and when he gets home, he is a growling bear. I have a son from my first marriage, and Tom treats him terribly. He barely notices our baby. But our 4-yearold is the spitting image of his father, and Tom spoils him rotten. Tom and I no longer have anything in common. We have spent no time together in the past eight months. He has even set up his own bank account and deposits his paychecks into it. I have no access to that money. We tried counseling, but Tom didn’t like it and never went back. We have done Bible studies, read books and attended marriage retreats, but nothing has helped. I am a Christian, and there is so much pressure to stay together. I love the Lord, but I do not think Tom wants to be married. I want to be able to enjoy my children and not be berated all the time and told that all of our problems are my fault and my responsibility. Tom is overbearing, controlling and apparently doesn’t like a single thing about me. I think we would be better off living separately. How do I keep our kids from getting hurt? -- Never Enough in Canada Dear Canada: Your children -- certainly your oldest son -- are already being hurt by living in a home where the parents dislike each other and

the children are emotionally mistreated. Go back to your counselor, alone if necessary, and work on ways to create a healthier environment for yourself and your children, even if it is separate from Tom. Before doing anything, however, make sure you talk to a lawyer and protect yourself financially. Dear Annie: I belong to a birthday club that meets each month on one of the members’ birthdays. The birthday girl picks the restaurant, and we all bring cards and socialize. This started out as a small group of eight. Lately, different members have invited others to join. The club has now grown to the point where we take up a long table and you cannot carry on a conversation with anyone except the person next to you. In other words, the reason I joined has been lost. I’m starting to dread going, and I resent wasting an evening when all I do is buy dinner and I can’t talk to my friends. Would it be petty of me to stop? I would hate it if my friends were angry with me. -- Crying Carol Dear Carol: You can separate yourself from this group without creating ill will. Simply tell your friends, with sincere disappointment, that it’s become too dif-

t o d ay ’ s p u z z l e Beetle Bailey

Garfield

Barney Google and Snuffy Smith

For Better Or Worse

Tina’s Groove

ficult for you to attend. You are not obligated to give a reason, and there’s no harm in letting them assume it’s the economy or other obligations. But if you tell them the truth, you might be surprised how many agree with you. Dear Annie: This is for “Used and Neglected,” who is the caregiver for her mother, and whose other relatives don’t help or include her in their gatherings. It is a hard and often lonely journey for caregivers. After all the excuses from other family members for why they cannot help, we have decided we are the angels our parents deserve to have at the end of their journey. “Used” should cultivate the friends she still has and the new ones she makes, get to know her neighbors, keep sharing pictures and updates with her family, and find local resources and use them. And “Used,” know that when your mother leans over to tell you a secret “I love you,” you are the one truly blessed to be with her. -Caregiver of Four Years Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailbox@comcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, P.O. Box 118190, Chicago, IL 60611. To find out more about Annie’s Mailbox, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Nation/World ◆ A15

Thursday, December 31, 2009 ◆ The Mountain Press

n a t i on / w or l d br i e f s Russian craft may intercept asteroid

Sledding in Saginaw

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia is considering sending a spacecraft to a large asteroid to knock it off its path and prevent its collision with Earth — a collision NASA considers highly unlikely — the head of the country’s space agency said Wednesday. Anatoly Perminov said the space agency will hold a meeting soon to assess a mission to Apophis, telling Golos Rossii radio that it would invite NASA, the European Space Agency, the Chinese space agency and others to join the project once it is finalized. When the 885-foot asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated the chances of it smashing into Earth in its first flyby in 2029 were as high as 1-in-37, but have since lowered their estimate. Further studies ruled out the possibility of an impact in 2029, when the asteroid is expected to come no closer than Associated Press 18,300 miles above Earth’s surface, but they indicated a Steven Culver, 5, with his father Jim Culver, 36, small possibility of a hit on subsequent encounters. react as their friend Tim M. Blankenship, left, 18, all of Saginaw, Mich., puts a sled in their path while sledding down a hill in Saginaw this State rep may deploy to Iraq KNOXVILLE (AP) — Rep. John Mark Windle may week. spend the 2010 session in Iraq on deployment with the Tennessee Army National Guard. I further understand that the 278th will be deployed overWindle, D-Livingston, also missed the 2005 session seas in early February,” said Burney Durham, chief clerk of due to another deployment to Iraq. Windle is a lieutenant the state House of Representatives. colonel with the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the state’s largest National Guard unit, which has orders to Sheens still want to reconcile deploy next year. DENVER (AP) — Attorneys for Charlie Sheen and The unit is currently training for the deployment at Camp Shelby, Miss., but Windle has not notified legislative his wife say they want to reconcile even though Brooke Sheen told police her husband put a knife to officials about his possible deployment. “I’m led to believe that Col. John Mark Windle of House her throat and threatened to kill her. Attorney Yale Galanter, who represents Brooke District 41 is currently in Camp Shelby with the 278th and

Sheen, said Wednesday the couple is “very much in love” and “they want to try to work it out.” Charlie Sheen’s lawyer, Richard Cummins, confirms that the 44-year-old actor wants to reconcile. Sheen was arrested on Christmas Day in Aspen, where the couple was on vacation. The 32-year-old Brooke Sheen told police he threatened her during an argument that started when she said she wanted a divorce.

Ancient artifacts found at plant site

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio (AP) — Native American artifacts believed to date back thousands of years have been recovered from the planned site of a new industrial plant in southwest Ohio. SunCoke Energy Inc. found some items as it prepared to build a plant to help supply coke for AK Steel’s Middletown Works. The Knoxville-based company hired an archaeological firm to excavate two sites near a creek. Officials say several hundred prehistoric artifacts were recovered, mostly fragments from arrowheads, spearheads, and evidence of stone tool making. They are believed to be from the era between 8000 B.C. and 1200 A.D.

Oil prices up as supply falls

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices edged above $79 a barrel Wednesday as the nation’s crude supply fell for the fourth week in a row. Gasoline supplies also fell unexpectedly and futures neared a high for the year for January delivery, a contract that closes Thursday. After weeks of declines, prices at the pump prices appeared to be catching up to crude, which has risen 7.3 percent since Dec 21.

‘Thriller’ among 25 in U.S. film registry By BRETT ZONGKER Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON — Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video, with that unforgettable graveyard dance, will rest among the nation’s treasures in the world’s largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings. The 1983 music video directed by John Landis, though still the subject of lawsuits over profits, was one of 25 films to be inducted Wednesday for preservation in the 2009 National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. It’s the first music video named to the registry. It had been considered in past years, but following Jackson’s death, the time was right, said Steve Leggett, coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board.

evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift, which was the development of the music video,” he said. Joining the King of Pop in the 2009 class will be the Muppets from 1979’s “The Muppet Movie” — the first time on the big screen for Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy — and the 1957 scifi classic “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” among other titles. The library works with Associated Press film archives and movie Michael Jackson with studios to ensure original unidentified danccopies are kept safe. It also ers performs during acquires a copy for preservain this 1988 photo tion in its own vaults among taken at the Grammy millions of other recordings Awards ceremony at New York’s Radio City at the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Music Hall. Conservation Center in the “Because of the way hills near Culpeper, Va. “By preserving the nation’s the recording industry is

films, we safeguard a significant element of our cultural patrimony and history,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. Congress established the registry in 1989, which now totals 525 films. They are selected not as the “best” American films but instead for their enduring importance to U.S. culture. The library selects films that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant after reviewing hundreds of titles nominated by the public and consulting with the National Film Preservation Board. In “The Muppet Movie,” Kermit leads his fellow TV characters on a road trip to Hollywood where they meet Steve Martin, Mel Brooks and other actors with the magic of creators Jim Henson and Frank Oz.

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A16 â&#x2014;&#x2020;

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