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Chamber of Commerce Banquet raises nearly $9,000
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Johnathan West receives recognition of service as Chamber President from incoming President Stacey Brawner.
Johnathan West receives recognition of service as Chamber President from incoming President Stacey Brawner.
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Nestle Waters Plant Manager Anthony Dexter receives the Large Business of the Year award from Johnathan West.
Nestle Waters Plant Manager Anthony Dexter receives the Large Business of the Year award from Johnathan West.
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Miles and Ginger Gibson receive the Small Business of the Year award from Johnathan West.
Miles and Ginger Gibson receive the Small Business of the Year award from Johnathan West.
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Lori Jones (right), mastermind behind much of what goes on at the Chamber of Commerce, blushes in reaction to Johnathan West's acknowledgement of her accomplishments this year.
Lori Jones (right), mastermind behind much of what goes on at the Chamber of Commerce, blushes in reaction to Johnathan West's acknowledgement of her accomplishments this year.
slideshow
Auctioneer Ben Bray revs up the bid war.
Auctioneer Ben Bray revs up the bid war.
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Miles Gibson provides live entertainment before the dinner.
Miles Gibson provides live entertainment before the dinner.
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The Macon County Chamber of Commerce hosted its largest annual fundraiser on Tuesday night, November 13, raising over $8,815.00. The evening featured a beef tenderloin dinner catered by Linda’s Cakes & Catering, live music by Miles Gibson of Gibson’s Cafe, an awards ceremony, and a long evening of live and silent auctions.

The guest speaker was Don Rigsy, a long-time Air Force Veteran and President of the Four Lake Authority. Rigsy explained that The Four Lake Authority was created in 1986 after the failed TVA nuclear site was shut down. The Authority, which was established to promote commerce in a region consisting of Macon, Wilson, Trousdale, Smith, and Sumner Counties, now owns the approximately 554 acres in Hartsville where the nuclear site used to be.

Rigsy praised Macon Co. leaders for recent developments, such as the purchase of the tract of land by the Lafayette airport, which is currently being prepared and advertised so that outside developers can find and use it. He also praised the Chamber itself: “Whenever a business comes into a new town, that’s the first thing they look for—a Chamber of Commerce. It’s where the community is.”

After Rigsy’s brief talk, there was a round of presentations and awards. The Large Business of the Year award went to Nestle Waters, the water packaging plant in Red Boiling Springs. The Small Business of the Year award went to Gibson Cafe, a country-style restaurant located off the square in Lafayette. The Individual of the Year award went to Terri Lynn Weaver, the State Representative whose area of jurisdiction was recently re-zoned, to the loss of Macon County.

The Chamber of Commerce President for 2012 was Johnathan West. Replacing him for 2013 will be Stacey Brawner, who served as Vice President this year. The 2012 Board of Directors consisted of West and Brawner, as well as Charlie Adams, Ben Ballou, Kannethia Brown, Clint Carter, Daneta Shoulders, Marcus Smith, and LeAnne Whittemore. Outgoing Board Members LeAnne Whittemore, Kannithia Brown and Marcus Smith will be replaced by incoming Board Members Diana Hernandez, Phillip Matthews and Billy Snyder.

The Leadership Macon Class of 2012 was honored: Mayor Richard Driver, Lori Gocha, Barry Hiett, Lukas Smith, and Billy Snyder.

The silent auction, which went on throughout the evening, was sponsored by the following businesses: Gibson’s Cafe, Sophia’s Nails, Bobby Sircy, Heavenly Hands, Starr Mortgage, Banka Media, Mert’s Gift Gallery, The Thomas House, Donoho Hotel, Hometown Foods, Comprehensive Rehabilitation, North Central Security, Eden’s Knives, Suncrest Home Health, and the Nashville Predators.

Table sponsors, who provided gifts for every individual seated at their table, as well as a large centerpiece to be auctioned, were the following businesses: Alexander Funeral Home, American Exterior Supply, Anderson Funeral Home, Armour’s Hotel, Cathy’s Florist, Citizens Bank, City of Lafayette, Mayor Driver’s Office, Cobb-Vantress, D.T. McCall & Sons, Grandpa’s House, Knollwood Manor & White House Assisted Living, Macon Bank & Trust, Macon County General Hospital, Measure Up, Modern Structures, LLC, North Central Telephone Cooperative, Powell & Meadows, Raum Family Dentistry, State Farm Insurance, Stonecrest Assisted Living, The Palace Care & Rehab, Tri-County Electric, Webbtown Propane Company, and Friendship Home Healthcare.

Auctioneer Ben Bray led the live auction, and auctioneer sponsorship and assistance was also provided by Coley Real Estate & Auction and Gene Carman Real Estate & Auction.

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whateverjones
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November 15, 2012
Thank you for this awesome article! We appreciate you sharing with everyone. You guys are super and your constant support of the Chamber of Commerce is unreal! Love you guys!!!!

Lori Jones
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D. Coram
D. Coram
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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
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A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
slideshow

A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
slideshow

A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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by Tilly Dillehay
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Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
slideshow

A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
slideshow

A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

Comments
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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
slideshow

A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

Comments
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Comments-icon Post a Comment
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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Willie Don Barrett
Willie Don Barrett
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D. Coram
D. Coram
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Lafayette sex offender arrested for violation of terms
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 19, 2013 | 100 views | 0 0 comments | 11 11 recommendations | email to a friend | print
D. Coram
D. Coram
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A Lafayette resident was arrested by TBI on June 11 and charged with violating the terms of his status as a registered sex offender.

Coram, who was convicted of possessing child pornography in Wisconsin, was charged with one count of violation of residential restrictions, three counts of violation: offender registration-reg. forms, and one count failure to report-sex offender.

The affidavit states that on June 11, 2013, it was noticed by electronic monitoring that Coram had spent several hours per day at 101 Walton Avenue in Lafayette, for five days in a row. Coram’s registered place of residence is 605 John Street in Lafayette.

Sex offenders are required by law to give notice when they change residences. According to the Tennessee Sex Offender registry, a secondary residence is a place where an offender regularly abides for at least four days in a row.

It was then discovered that Coram had purchased this new residence at Walton Avenue, and he was seen working in the yard there by several law enforcement officers.

During a search, it was found that Coram had created two email addresses, anthony64tn@gmail.com and silvertoungedevil21@gmail.com, which had not been placed on the TN Sex Offender Registry as required by law.

Coram was held without bond for a June 12 General Sessions court appearance.

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download June 18, 2013
Hwy 10 project fully funded
by Tilly Dillehay
Editor
Jun 18, 2013 | 1737 views | 0 0 comments | 16 16 recommendations | email to a friend | print

The Macon County Mayor’s Office received a letter on Friday stating that the Highway 10 construction project has received full funding and is formally scheduled for bid opening in spring of 2014.

The letter, sent from TN Commissioner of Transportation John Schroer to all local representatives at the state and county level, states that funding for the project has been officially allocated from a state safety program.

The letter cites a public meeting held on May 23 at the Macon County Chamber of Commerce, during which TDOT’s Paul Degges gave an update on where the project stood.

“I understand that Mr. Degges… discussed that the right-of-way acquisition is underway,” writes Schroer, “and that from a schedule perspective, the project will be ready for a bid opening in the spring of 2014, should the funding be available.

“The department has been monitoring crash reports occurring on SR-10 in this vicinity and working with the local Division Office of the Federal Highway Administration, and I am pleased to report that we have been able to identify funding under one of our safety programs to deliver the project.

“I can certainly appreciate your position and share your goals in wanting to provide the safest roads possible for all Tennesseans. I have directed my staff to accelerate the schedule from the fall of 2014 and ready this project for construction in a spring 2014 bid opening.”

County Mayor Shelvy Linville had written TDOT urgently in May complaining that the Hwy 10 project had been put on a backburner, because it did not appear on a three-year budget plan released by TDOT in April.

More recently, Linville said he cut out a front page article from the Macon County Times (June 13 edition) about an accident involving a mother and three minors on Hwy 10, and sent it to TDOT.

“I highlighted ‘mom’, ‘3 children’, and ‘Hwy 10’, and I wrote underneath, ‘This time we were lucky’ and I sent it to them,” said Linville.

Ironically enough, Degges reports that this recent accident contributed to the final numbers necessary to qualify a project for the safety funds that Hwy 10 just received.

“I hate to say it that way… but it’s true,” said Degges. “That this project just barely qualified for safety funds, by the numbers. I know it can seem like this road is the most dangerous stretch in TN, but it simply is not.”

Linville, who admitted after the public meeting that he may have misunderstood the meaning of the three-year plan, stated that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the project moving forward on the schedule that Degges had outlined. Now, he says, “this is good news. That 4th paragraph [in Schroer’s letter] is a sure commitment… I feel good about it now.”

Linville said that he believes the saying ‘the squeaky wheel gets the grease’ and added, “I regret not being squeakier earlier.”

Linville also prepared a written statement, thanking the Commissioner and Governor for their commitment to the project: “I believe the commissioner realizes the danger that the highway 10 hill poses, and has found a way to help us sooner rather than later… I certainly look forward to seeing orange barrels and bulldozers on that hill.”

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Willie Don Barrett
Willie Don Barrett
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