Top Stories In This Week's Fentress Courier, Jamestown Tennessee

Man Wanted For Armed Robbery In Crossville Captured In Clarkrange

Fentress County Sheriff’s Office personnel, working in cooperation with the Cumber-land County authorities, apprehended a man last week who was sought in connection with an armed robbery and other charges in Crossville.

According to reports, on Thursday, January 19, officers from the Crossville Police Department responded  to an area of Hwy. 127 North at a pain clinic to investigate a reported armed robbery.

A lady at the clinic told the officers that a black male had come into the pain clinic and walked to her counter where he handed her a note stating that he had a gun and wanted all of the money.  When he was told that the pain clinic did not have any cash, they only took credit cards, checks, and money orders, the man asked her to “show him,” and when she picked up some of the checks and money orders to show him,  he grabbed the items and began backing up, and told her that if she moved, he would shoot her. 

The man reportedly then left the building and ran away.

After further investigation by the officers, they obtained a license number of a vehicle which had been at a nearby service station, driven by a man who matched the description given of the robber, and the number matched a vehicle registered to an address in Clarkrange.

The Fentress County Sheriff’s office was notified that the subject may have been traveling into Fentress County, and officers were dispatched to the address where they were met by Crossville Police Office Detectives Danny Harris and J.C. Hancock, and took the subject, identified as Deddric Antjuan Polk, 34, of 615 Page Road, Clarkrange, into custody, after which he was transported back to Crossville to face charges there.

Local Officers assisting in the arrest were Sheriff Tony Choate, Lt. David Slaven, Detective Al Daniel and Deputy Billy Sewell.

Evidence was reportedly recovered which connected Polk to the crime.

In addition to the Aggravated Robbery charge, Polk was also charged with?Passing a Forged Instrument in connection with another incident earlier in the week.

Mr. Polk was lodged in the Cumberland County Justice Center awaiting a preliminary hearing.

According to an article in the Cookeville Herald-Citizen on Monday, January 23, Polk is also a suspect in connection with an armed robbery in Putnam County.

More details will be available next week.

New Emergency Notification System Being Implemented

Through the efforts of the Fentress County Emergency Communications District, Fentress County now has a new Emergency Notification System that replaces the old reverse 911 system that had been in operation for several years.

The new Emergency Notification System is provided by a company called Hyper-Reach, which is a mass notification system which enables the 911 center to repidly send telephone, voice and text messages to any number of people via a world class digital calling system.  One call does it all.  Unlike the old system that was used, the new system allows those citizens who have cell phones to sign up for the service and receive voice notifications, text notification and also notification via emails on their computers.  They can choose any or all ways to receive emergency notification.

Fentress County Emergency Services Director Gary Peters explained the new system to members of the local news media on Thursday last week, stating:  “For those folks that have a land line through the local telephone cooperative, their phone numbers have already been entered into the system.  However, under-standing that most people have cell phones and it would be very difficult for anyone to keep track of them, there has been a link set up on the Fentress County Home Page web site (www.fentressco.com) as a courtesy of John B. Mullinix where anyone that has a cell phone and wants the Emergency Weather Alerts can click on the link and scroll down to the very bottom of the homepage that says Fentress County, TN Community sign up/ weather alerts.  It takes only one to two minutes to put your information into the system.  You can select the type of notification that you want --Voice, Text, or Voice and Text -- and also by placing your email address, you will get an email when severe weather alerts are issued for Fentress County.”

“Realizing not everyone that has a cell phone may not have a computer or the Internet, I spoke with Leslie Pullins, Director of the local library, and she agreed to assist anyone that needed to use their computers and also assist anyone who needed help in putting their information on the site,” Peters added.  “The Fentress County Library has 20 computers.  There is no charge for using the system, and the information provided will not be used for any purposes other than community announce-ments and weather alerts.  This is a secure site,” Peters concluded.

For additional information about the system, contact Fentress County Emergency Services Director Gary?Peters at (931)397-3651.

Teacher Evaluation System Headlines Capitol Hill Week

By Senator Ken Yager

 (NASHVILLE, TN) -- It was a busy week on Capitol Hill as lawmakers prepared and finalized their legislation in anticipation of the General Assembly’s January 26 bill deadline. The Senate’s eight standing committees are up and running.   One such committee was the Education Committee where the teacher evaluation system was debated.

 The Senate Education Committee heard testimony regarding legislation that would give the State Board of Education the option to allow principals and teachers producing superior student growth to use those scores to comprise 50 percent or more of their evaluations.  Senate Bill 2165  would change the present system where students’ value added growth is 35 percent of a teacher’s evaluation score, with another 15 percent tied to some other measure agreed upon by the teacher and his/her supervisor to evaluate student achievement.  A vote on the bill was deferred as discussion on the plan continues.    I have signed on as a co-sponsor to this bill with Sen. Mike Faulk in response to the many concerns expressed by teachers throughout the district.   If there are legitimate additional tools to demonstrate teaching effectiveness, then we should consider them. 

 Reforming the state’s teacher evaluation process was an important part of Tennessee’s receiving $500 million in federal Race to the Top funds, which was based on four pillars:  enhancing standards and assessments, improving the collection and use of data, increasing teacher effectiveness, and turning around struggling schools.  The changes to the evaluation system were made during the administration of former Governor Phil Bredesen and approved by the Legislature in January 2010.  The subsequent evaluation process was designed by teachers and other education practitioners, who were integral in designing the evaluative tools.   However, unintended consequences have occurred during the implementation of the new law.  Many teachers and principals argue that the new rules are excessively burdensome and take time from teaching.

Commission, Chamber & ID Board Meet With Industrial Prospect

The Fentress County Com-mission, Chamber of Commerce, and Industrial Board representatives gathered at the Fentress Co. Courthouse on Monday, January 23 to talk with owners of a business which has shown interest in locating a manufacturing operation in the Clarkrange Business Park.

County Executive Frank Smith, all ten County Commission members, along with Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Walt Page and Industrial Board members Delilah Clark, Walter Davis and Scott Sandman listened as Mike Lamoreaux and his son explained their operation, which produces “scent related products” used in the hunting industry, as well as possible commercial applications.

“We are one of the largest scent companies in the country,” Mr. Lamoreaux told the group, stating products made by his company, Scented Soils, are currently being marketed through Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s and recently by Wal-Mart.

His operation is currently located in Cumberland County,  but he said he felt that the rural location of the Clarkrange Business Park was a “better fit,” for his company, and he is looking at acquiring a 10,000 to 12,000 square foot building and about 3 acres of land in the new industrial complex.

Scott Sandman, former Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and currently member of the Industrial Development Board, explained that this meeting was a follow-up from previous contacts with the company, and was hopeful that this meeting could be used to evaluate where they were in their business plan and see if expansion to Fentress County was a viable option, and open doors for them it they were still interested.

“We’re going to assess where they are and what their needs are, and try to put some numbers together to see if it makes sense for them to locate in Fentress County,” Sandman added.

Walt Page, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, commented:  “We’re excited about the opportunity of bringing a new business here.  Anything that brings new business into the area and provides productivity and new jobs, we’re 100% behind at the Chamber,” he said.

County Executive Frank Smith also spoke on the importance of obtaining new businesses and industry to Fentress County, stating:  “It’s a big plus to get new businesses in the new industrial park.  Acquiring new industry is a lot like fishing.  You have to keep fishing until you catch something, and we’re going to keep fishing hard to hopefully land something good.”

County Commission Meeting Held Tuesday, January 17                

The Fentress County Com-mission met Tuesday, January 17 in regular monthly session and took action on a number of items of business in a very brief 16-minute session.

With all members present, the meeting was called to order by County Executive Chairman Frank Smith, followed by the presentation of the Colors by the YAI JROTC, pledge to the flag, led by Commissioner Leonard Bilbrey and prayer by Commissioner Ray Buck.

After approval of notaries on a motion by Rodney Jones and seconded by Gary Peters, Commissioners Bob Pile and Gary Peters gave a brief report on the progress for the USDA Rural Development Loan application to finance the new jail/justice center, reporting that all the application process had been completed and it was now working its way through the various agencies involved.

The Commission then unanimously approved a resolution vesting the duties of the County Coroner in the County Medical Examiner, with all present voting for except Gary Peters, who passed.

They also approved a request by County Medical Examiner Mark Clapp, M.D., to appoint Gary Peters and Michael Stephens as Medical Investigators to act in Dr. Clapp’s absence to ensure a continuation of services to the residents of the county.

After approving the Fentress County Highway Department Road List, as submitted by Road Supervisor Butch Blevins, they approved a resolution supporting the funding of construction of Sections 1, 2, and 4 of the U.S. Highway 127 (SR-28) Corridor between Interstate 40 in Crossville and Highway 62 in Clarkrange, TN in the 2013 State Transportation Improvement Plan.

They also approved a Parks and Fair Boards Budget Amendment to transfer $500 to the Fentress Co. Fair Board which the State of Tennessee had deposited into the county’s bank account.  This money was supposed to go to the Fair Association for the Century Farms program.

The Commission also approved the adoption of Rules of Procedure for County Commission Meetings on a motion by Leonard Bilbrey.

During discussion, Com-missioner Bilbrey stated:

“Contrary to what some say, any person may address the commission, but they must go through the proper procedure, which is set out in the Rules of Procedure.  A non-commission member who wishes to address the Board should have his/her name placed on the commissioner’s agenda by the Chairperson or a Board member.  They should state the subject matter on which they wish to address the Board and submit any documentation they wish the Board to review with their request.  Then the non-commission member may address the Board at the appropriate time unless a Board member objects, then the Board will vote whether or not the non-commission member can participate.  The Chairperson may set a limit on the time a non-commission member may be allowed to speak.”

Commissioner Bilbrey also went over other aspects of the resolution.

Following this discussion, a vote was taken, with the resolution passing with all members voting for except Commissioner Donel Williams, who voted against.

The meeting then recessed.