Dismissive attitudes, intimidation, arrogance, incompetence, a looming IRS scandal, Justice Department subpoenas, Benghazi and Lois Lerner’s lame attempt at the Fifth Amendment are but mere examples of the troubles plaguing an already abysmal Obama administration.Unfortunately, while all this is taking place, Obamacare — helped along by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius’ fundraising underhandedness — is quietly moving toward full implementation in 2014.By utilizing former President Richard Nixon’s book, “Beyond Peace,” let’s take a historical look back at what he had to say about the 1994 Clinton health care proposal and how explosively similar it is to Obamacare. Of course, there are those who will find fault for my taking the Nixon route. Such are the dangers of writing opinions. Nixon began by saying, “The litmus test applied to every federal program should be whether it advances freedom or restricts freedom. America’s health care system does need improvement, but it does not need replacement.”If that was and is the case, why Obamacare?Nixon went on to say that, “(America) set the standard of health care quality for the world,” and “we lead the world in medical research and development. We (also) make health care services available, one way or another, to virtually everyone, whether insured or not.”Furthermore, “Most people of the older generation in America grew up without health insurance,” and “the costs of medical care were handled directly by doctors and patients. If patients could not pay for care, doctors provided it free. But one way or another, patients got care and doctors got by.”As we know now, medical insurance is the norm, and some form of insurance coverage has become increasingly necessary. In 1994, while referring to the Clinton plan (all 1,324 pages), Nixon stated, “(it wasn’t a) prescription for better health care (but rather) a blueprint for (a) take-over by the federal government ...”While not trying to sound overly cynical, but isn’t this the formula of Obamacare?“If we go down (this) road,” Nixon said, “we will destroy not only our health care system but the underpinnings of our free society. “Under (Clinton’s) plan, Americans (will) be denied their basic right to buy the health care they want, even if they are willing to pay for it. This is the medical equivalent of establishing fairness in a basketball game by amputating the taller players’ legs at the knees. “This sort of mass-produced, compulsory universal conscription flies in the face of everything it means to live in a free society.”Again, mandatory Obamacare.Moreover, one begins to wonder who the real architect of this so-called current health care bill really was or is.Ah, but of course. We must first pass this bill in order to find out what’s in it.Thank you, Nancy Pelosi.As Nixon reminded us though, “(America has) the world’s best medical care because we have free markets in a free society. To throw that away in an orgy of politically correct egalitarianism would be a self-inflicted wound for which there would be no cure.”We must then assume those who voted in favor of Obamacare were not concerned about self-inflicted wounds or cures, but only their self-interests. Thank you, members of Congress.Besides, “any sensible reform of the nation’s health care system must start with the patient,” Nixon said, and “not with the government.”Naturally.Nixon also warned, “The (Clinton) plan would reduce the high quality of health care that most Americans now enjoy (while) payroll taxes the administration proposes in order to pay for the plan would cripple small business and increase unemployment.”And, because the 2012 Supreme Court’s ruling on Obamacare relied on a technical explanation of how the individual mandate could be categorized (the government’s power to tax), we are now beginning to witness those crippling effects.“Study after study has shown that government health care schemes end up costing more and delivering less,” Nixon said. Scheme being the principal word here.Forty years ago, President Nixon proposed to Congress a comprehensive health care reform that included requiring employers to provide health insurance coverage for their employees, just as the government sets requirements for minimum wages and Social Security participation. Nixon did not endorse a wholesale federal takeover of the nation’s health care system, either.He did, however, say, “employers would have been required to help pay for their own employees, not for all the indigent in the entire community.”In other words, there would have been no redistribution of wealth.Nixon’s proposal did not contain anything remotely like Clinton’s (or Obama’s) scheme of government-imposed monopolies to control the insurance process, government-imposed limits on private health care spending or a governmental body of absolute power to regulate what services can be provided.It’s here that everyone over the age of 65 familiarize themselves with Section 3001(a) of Obamacare.Clinton’s 1994 plan (and the current administration’s plan), by contrast, focuses less on improving health care delivery than it does on centralizing health care control.The Nixon program was about health. The Clinton and Obama programs give every indication of being about power.After signing the bill into law on March 23, 2010, Obama gloatingly said, “After a century of striving, after a year of debate, after a historic vote, health care reform is no longer an unmet promise. It is the law of the land.”And so the lingering question remains: Is it a mere coincidence that Obamacare is a mirror image of what Clinton proposed in 1994, or is it really more about an administration set on power and destroying a 237-year-old nation?In case those in the Beltway forgot, our government is still of, by, and for the people.Larry French of Butler teaches composition and literature at East Tennessee State University and Northeast State Community College. You can reach him at FrenchL@etsu.edu.
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President Richard Nixon made wise remarks, offered good health care fix
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Charges dismissed against Johnson City man accused of killing mother, having sex with corpse
A Washington judge this morning tossed out charges against a man accused of killing his mother and having sex with her corpse four years ago as a teenager.Codey Miller was charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse for the May 2009 strangulation death of his mother, 36-year-old Sherry Cooper. Investigators and prosecutors also say he had sex with his mother’s corpse then dumped her into a large trash can to be picked up by sanitation workers.This morning, the case against Miller was dismissed. Authorities said his co-defendant, Christopher Johnson, apparently absconded from probation.Miller was originally charged as a juvenile because it happened when he was 17, but the case later was moved to adult Criminal Court. The prosecution was dealt a major blow in the case in December 2011 when Judge Robert Cupp threw out Miller's confession to the murder. Cupp said police had coerced the confession.Keep visiting JohnsonCityPress.com for details.
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Obama failed to give the ‘Iron Lady’ her due respect
For people around my age, Margaret Thatcher was an iconic figure of our formative years. As prime minister of Great Britain from 1979-1990, she was a ground-breaking, glass-ceiling-shattering woman. But the way she conducted herself — with self-assurance, confidence and class — took the focus off her as a woman and kept it on her as a leader. Thus, it didn’t really seem so remarkable that she was the first female prime minister (in a time before we even had a female secretary of state) — we were more wowed by her as a person than as a woman specifically. And isn’t that the way it should be?A married mother of two, Thatcher worked as a research chemist and lawyer before winning a seat in the House of Commons in 1959. She gradually rose through the political ranks until she was elected prime minister. During her time in office, she overhauled the British economy and privatized industry. President Ronald Reagan was one of her firmest allies. It was their connection that allowed Americans to know the Iron Lady in those pre-24-hour news, pre-Internet days. Thatcher was a key part of the defense policies used to topple the Soviet Union. The pressure she put on the U.S. helped convince us to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait. The sweeping changes she facilitated in Britain (along with her strong personality) made her a polarizing and often unpopular figure among her own people, though she was a superstar to much of the world. She was always dignified and always in control, though she did not flaunt her power. As she famously remarked, “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” Thatcher was both charismatic and stoic — an interesting and effective combination. A highly visible leader, she set the stage for future females in powerful positions, even in other countries, such as Madeline Albright and Condoleezza Rice. Her influence is immeasurable. Potently quotable, she summed up modern society succinctly when she observed, “One of the great problems of our age is that we are governed by people who care more about feelings than they do about thoughts and ideas.” Those words, spoken three decades ago, seem almost prophetic now.After leaving office, Thatcher was appointed to the House of Lords in 1993. Her health gradually declined over the years and she suffered several small strokes. She retreated from public life in recent years, partly due to memory problems caused by the strokes. Baroness Thatcher died April 8 at age 87 after a more severe stroke.Typically, when a respected world leader or head of state dies, our president attends the funeral or sends a delegation in his place, but President Barack Obama did not make the trip to London. Former presidents are often dispatched to such events — none were. Obvious choices such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were not sent. It was widely — if quietly — reported Obama did not send an official representative at all. In fact, he sent a “low-key delegation” led by two Thatcher-era secretaries of state, George Shultz and James Baker. While both were reasonable choices because of their connection to Thatcher, it was clearly not important to the president to send current or recent leaders. There is no explanation for the president’s blatant snub of our allies in the United Kingdom, particularly considering he sent a delegation to attend socialist (and borderline communist) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s funeral in March. The distinction of Chavez being a sitting president versus Thatcher no longer being in office is meaningless. Chavez was extremely critical of the United States and relations between us and Venezuela were strained at best.On the other hand, Thatcher was perhaps our greatest ally since Winston Churchill. She deserves our collective respect whether or not we agreed with her politics, which were, of course, radically conservative. Thatcher’s unwavering confidence in her own convictions was so well known that she often said she was a “conviction politician” rather than a “consensus politician.” She was extraordinarily thick-skinned and never faltered in her beliefs, no matter how much anyone disagreed. Her sharp wit showed when she declared, “When I’m out of politics I’m going to run a business; it’ll be called rent-a-spine.”Most other politicians could learn a great deal from her example — instead of changing opinions with the wind, stand firm. As Thatcher herself said, “To those waiting with bated breath for that favorite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say. You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.” Margaret Thatcher’s influence on Britain will be felt for many years. On our side of the pond, we can appreciate her influence and alliance without a connection to politics. Whenever we witness history, there is so much we can learn. Rebecca Horvath of Johnson City is a wife, mother and community activist.
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Dr. Hezekiah Hankal should get his due in Johnson City
There’s effort afoot to see that Dr. Hezekiah Hankal finally gets the recognition he so deserves.You might be asking: Who is Dr. Hezekiah Hankal? My answer is: One of the most brilliant and accomplished individuals ever to live in Washington County. Sadly, there is no school, no government building not even a street named for Dr. Hankal.His name is on a state historical marker near a church in Johnson City that served as a school for black children when Hankal founded it in 1889. But as I noted in a column last year, it seems too small a gesture of remembrance for a man some historians say helped make Johnson City what it is today.The words on the historic marker in front of West Main Street Christian Church sum up Hankal’s life nicely:Dr. Hezekiah Hankal1825-1903Minister. Physician.Educator. Politician. Raised by a Dutch family, Hankal would become the first black man in Washington County to hold a teaching certificate. He was an educator who established the first school for blacks in Johnson City. He was also a minister who started a number of churches in the area.Dr. Hankal was a gifted physician whose skills were sought by both black and white patients. He was credited with saving many lives during the devastating cholera epidemic of 1873.His many talents earned him prominence in Johnson City. He served on the local grand jury (something that few black citizens were asked to do in the South at the time) and he was elected as a city alderman in the late 1880s (also something unheard of at the time).Remarkable is the word I’ve heard Mary Alexander — a local historian and member of the Langston Heritage Group — use in discussing Dr. Hankal. Alexander learned a lot about him while doing research for her thesis on African-American history in Johnson City. She found he was very much responsible for helping Johnson City grow and become an important center of commerce and trade.Alexander has described Dr. Hankal as a “true renaissance man.” She’s right.For several years now, Alexander has been asking that Hankal be paid the respect he so richly deserves. She thinks it would fitting for a local school, medical facility or government building to bear his name.Some officials at Johnson City’s Municipal and Safety Building agree with her. Alexander was recently contacted on behalf of City Manager Pete Peterson, who has suggested the Washington County Health Department building on Princeton Road might be an appropriate place for Dr. Hankal’s name.Alexander agrees, and hopes to convince her former colleagues on the Washington County Commission to name the health department building for Hankal. The building is owned by the county, and Alexander believes county commissioners will want to honor a man as accomplished as Hankal.“His name on the health department building would be a perfect fit,” she said. “He lived in the city, but he was ordained as a minister in the county. Boones Creek, to be exact.” Robert Houk is Opinion page editor for the Johnson City Press. He can be reached at rhouk@johnsoncitypress.com.
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English proficiency might not be enough
One of the greatest accomplishments of my life has been learning to speak English fluently. According to my baby book, I began with “da da.” From there I went on to learn the names of thousands of things, including water, bottle, puppy, kitten and Coke.In the early days, I mimicked my parents’ very Southern accents. Butterfly was pronounced buttah-fly. Caterpillar was cattah-pilla. The nuns at my elementary school got to work on my accent, rubbing out parental influences. What they didn’t undo, television took care of. I do have a Southern accent, but it’s not as strong as it would have been without intervention.Not only do I speak English fluently, but I can also read and write English. Throughout my school years, I scored well in the vocabulary and comprehension sections of standardized tests, which made up for my dismal scores in math and science. I am not fluent in math. On a scale of one to 10, my math fluency is perhaps a 3 — if by math you do not mean geometry. In geometry, I am a -5.Math is a universal language. English is another matter altogether. It is a wonder how anyone learns, much less masters, English if it is their second language. How does one sort through the endless homophones? Words that sound alike but have different meanings include ail, ale; lead, led; spade, spayed; sale, sail. And there are homographs (words that are spelled alike but pronounced differently): wound, object, present, bass, close, desert are just a few.Our sense of humor is another thing.A guitarist whose native language was Spanish told me he knew he was becoming fluent in English when he started to get our jokes. “Take my wife — please,” is meaningless to someone just learning the language. My parents and their friends made sure I mastered jokes; my sisters taught me irony.English is said to be the most difficult language to learn. It’s not, but it’s in the top 10. I have tried to learn French. I know some words and how to construct basic sentences, but I would be lost in a French-speaking country. A friend of mine was born in Cuba to German parents. She was fluent in both Spanish and German when her family was forced to leave after Castro’s takeover. She started at an American high school not knowing the language, and though she is a very bright person, she failed every subject the first six weeks. She speaks English fluently now but has not lost her proficiency in Spanish and German. I asked her once if she thought in English. “It depends on what I’m thinking about,” she said. “If I’m thinking about music, I think in German.” For the first time I realized English wasn’t enough.Perhaps in the day-to-day world it is, but when one speaks of love or music, art or philosophy, our lovely language only scratches the surface. I shouldn’t have stopped at one language.Jan Hearne is the Press Tempo editor. Reach her at jhearne@johnsoncitypress.com.
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1940s USO Show marks its 10th anniversary
It’s a red, white and blue banner year for the 1940s USO Show at The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre. The 10th anniversary of the patriotic production is filled with funny skits, music and a heart-warming salute to veterans.The USO Show is portrayed as live radio broadcasts similar to the ones Americans crowded around their radios to hear during the 1940s.The show features some local flavor with references to Jonesborough and other familiar people and places, but each production is just a little different than the last. Director Jennifer Schmidt has led the USO Show since its inception and has no trouble tweaking it.“I knew there was a wealth of material to choose from,” Schmidt said. “Every year there are new pieces that are fun and enjoyable.”This year, there are 23 songs in the show, and, for the first time, professional tap dancers.Schmidt says the pace is fast, which makes the show perfect for the whole family. Grandparents leave with a sense of nostalgia, while the children are giggling.And everyone leaves with chills. It’s all because of the moving and uplifting finale — The Armed Forces Medley, which honors each branch of the military. It’s become a tradition, much like the show itself.“It became so popular in the community,” Schmidt said. “People really relate to it. The time period is 1940s, but I feel like people want to go back to that time when everyone supported God and country.”Early in the USO Show’s existence, numerous local World War II veterans attended. Since then, that number has dwindled.“There were veterans with tears in their eyes because it was such an important time in their lives,” Schmidt said. “It is entertainment, but it’s more than that.”Initially, when Schmidt directed the first production, she said the cast was rehearsed and ready for the special Armed Forces Medley, but it proved to be far too powerful.“The first time, we were prepared, but we weren’t prepared for real-life veterans,” she said. “It was so moving that some of us just couldn’t sing. We had no idea of seeing some of the reality of this. I will never forget that.”New audiences discover the 1940s USO Show each year, but Schmidt says there are many who return year after year. They probably remember when the cast was a mere 10 actors. Now 27 cast members and about 130 costumes are required to pull off this extraordinary production.Schmidt says she has more 1940s clothes than modern-day attire. And each year, costumes are recycled and new ones are created, such as the red, white and blue costumes, and the Women’s Army Corp uniforms they’ll debut for the 10th anniversary production.Schmidt’s family has been right alongside her during the USO Show’s multiple runs. Her husband does sound and set design, and their son Lucas has been in all 10 productions along with Sharon Squibb, Janette Gaines and Josh Baldwin.“More than anything, we just want people to feel good when they leave,” Schmidt said. “They can’t help but leave feeling uplifted.”The annual 1940s USO Show will debut June 27 and run through June 30 and again from July 4-7. Show times vary and tickets are available online at www.jonesboroughtheatre.com or by calling the Jonesborough Visitors Center at 753-1010.Tickets are $14 for general admission and $12 for seniors (65 and up) and students.
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Covered Bridge Festival brought back memories this year
ELIZABETHTON — While admiring the geese and children playing in the Doe River, which runs underneath the Queen of the Doe, Tom and Valerie Grill said they were just arriving for the last day of the 47th annual Covered Bridge Celebration on Saturday.
The Grills were taking time to reminisce that day while the rest of the community was busy with other activities at the event.
“Back when we lived here before, we got to drive across the bridge,” Tom said. “Over the years they have, probably wisely, stopped traffic from going through there.”
Click here to view a gallery of photos from Saturday at the festival.“We came back because we wanted to check out the cars, crafts and music,” Valerie said. “This is really nice.”
Since 1973, the Grills have owned a farm in Carter County, but moved to Florida for 20 years.
“We kept our farm in Carter County so that when we were finished with Florida we could come back to where we really want to live and this is the place,” Tom said.
While they were in Florida, the Grills said they noticed there have been a lot of changes to the Covered Bridge Celebration to which they used to bring their children.
“They’ve changed the festival from the first time we were here,” Grill said. “The covered bridge is very scenic and the water is scenic and now that they’ve put the vendors in with the trees, it’s really nice because it’s almost like being in the woods. It’s a lot different from when you’re walking on the main street with the hot asphalt.”
Just like on the Covered Bridge, traffic was stopped, but only temporarily, on East Elk Avenue to allow the community and visitors to enjoy a festival atmosphere and activities.
Gate City resident Michelle Thomas said her whole family came to the celebration, which was a bonus because they come to Elizabethton at least once a month for the Cruise-In. The Cruise-In was in conjunction with the festival this month.
Thomas said the event had a lot of variety in their vendors and she enjoyed having many things to look through.
“I like live music and all the vendors and food,” Thomas said.
She also praised the organizers for having something for every member of her family to do.
“I like that it’s family-oriented,” Thomas said. “The kids really like all the inflatables.”
A detail unique to the celebration this year, said Covered Bridge Celebration Events and Marketing Coordinator Stephanie McKinney, is that the festival was expanded to four days.
“Originally, it started off being called Country Music Days,” McKinney said. “There were no vendors involved whatsoever. Over the years, committees changed and they carried on the festival. They actually cut it down to a three-day festival then the Chamber of Commerce took it over and started incorporating arts and crafts around 1983. This year we actually expanded it back to a four-day festival so we’re kind of jumping around and playing around with it.”
McKinney said organizers have hopes to bring the festival back to its original time span.
“The festival used to be a weeklong festival when they first created it,” McKinney said. “We’d like to get it back to the way it originally was.”
No matter the festival’s length, McKinney said the tradition keeps people coming back to see each other while recalling and creating happy memories.
“I think it’s really exciting for the public and community of Elizabethton and Carter County,” McKinney said. “This is one of the biggest events annually that takes place in Elizabethon and Carter County. It a really great way for everyone in the community to come out, be involved and get to see each other.”
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Eric Myers' Man of the House - I Want You To Want To Help!
I Want You To Want To Help!By Eric MyersThose who know me best know I love movies. I love them for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is what you can learn from movies. Not only can you learn historical or factual information, but you can also learn relational information. Such was the case one night when I watched the movie, The Breakup. Now, The Breakup is a terrible movie. If you've not seen it, don't waste your time. I am going to share with you the only really significant moment in the whole thing. The movie stars Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn as two unhappy people trying to make their relationship work. But, because of selfishness, bad decisions, and disfunction (among other things) they can't stay happy. It really is a bad movie. However, most things have at least one redeeming quality and this movie has one moment that is truly informative for men in helping us understand a hugely important element of our wives and of family life.It's a Friday night and both work and both are tired when they arrive home. The last thing they want to do is prepare food and their apartment for a dinner party, but a dinner party is the plan, guests are arriving soon, and so she sets about the preparations without his help as he sits uninterested on the couch drinking a beer and watching TV. She chops, tosses, bakes, dusts….all as he sits. She asks for his help but is ignored. Her frustration builds. She says nothing. With each unmissable trip into the room to tidy up (at one point moving his foot to place flowers) the tension builds. The guests arrive and he springs into entertainer mode and is the life of the party. She drinks her wine with anger and disgust in her eyes. When the party ends and the guests leave, a monumental cleanup job is required. She begins the process and he retreats back to the couch and TV. She's exits the kitchen and confronts him. "What are you doing?" she asks. "I'm relaxing," he replies, "I've worked all week and I'm tired." "Well, I'm tired too and I've worked all week too, and cooked the food, and cleaned the apartment. But, we've got a mess to clean up in the kitchen." "So what do you want?" he says as his voice rises in a defensive tone, "Do you want me to help you clean the dishes?" "No, I don't want you to help me clean the dishes. I can clean the dishes by myself," she says, defiantly, matching his tone. Then she pauses and her tone changes, it softens slightly, and she drops the key for we men, "What I want is for you to want to help me do the dishes." "Why would I want to do the dishes?" he says and, incredibly, he sits back down to his TV. Men, that nugget was worth the whole movie. Did you catch it? What your wife wants more than anything is for you to want to be with her. She wants you to choose her…first and operate with her in mind. If she is behind your job or your hobbies or your friends, you are damaging your relationship and preventing it from being what it could be. So what are the "dishes" of the moment? Maybe it is dishes (literally), or maybe it's cleaning the house, or planting flowers, or getting up with the baby, or cooking a meal, or maybe it's going to her family's for the holidays. Whatever it may be, we men need to listen better and choose to do more of these things because by doing them you are doing so much more that the activity itself, you are recognizing her and honoring her and loving her, and THAT is our calling as husbands.
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Arrest warrant filed for man accused in Johnson City bomb incident
Police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of a man accused of making a homemade bomb on Lamont Street earlier this month.The warrant charges David Collins, 49, 310 Hamilton St., with attempt to manufacture an explosive devise and felony reckless endangerment.Court documents indicate Collins called 911 the night of June 14 telling dispatchers he had a homemade bomb and that he wanted to kill his ex-wife's boyfriend.Collins used ammonium nitrate fertilizer mixed with lamp oil and placed it in a plastic bottle with nails and screws, but the device lacked a fuse, police said in the court record.The Johnson City Police Department's Bomb Squad cordoned off the area, found the backpack containing the device, removed the bottle and "rendered it safe."The backpack was found on the sidewalk in front of 420 Lamont Street, and the bomb squad used a device called a disrupter to determine the contents of the backpack, JCPD Capt. Brian Rice said after the incident. Items in the backpack suggested that Collins was attempting to make a complete bomb, Rice said.The road was blocked off to traffic during the investigation Friday as part of the bomb squad’s protocol. Police notified residents around the sidewalk where the bomb was found.Keep visiting JohnsonCityPress.com for more information.
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Hot Topic: The mother of all dinner strategies
The mother of all dinner strategiesBy Lee Svitak DeanStar Tribune (Minneapolis)(MCT)One certainty of life for mothers is this: The kids will be hungry at dinnertime and, well, probably before and after, too. Of course, mothers aren’t the only ones who notice this. And we certainly don’t want to leave dads out of the mealtime equation. Mom can share the pots-and-pans angst, or not.Katie Workman is trying to take that stress out of the nightly ritual. She’s the author of “The Mom 100 Cookbook: 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket” (Workman, $16.95).“We need to figure out how to capture some joy in the kitchen, because guess what? We get to make dinner just about every night! And we can approach this task as though we are being asked to re-grout our bathtub nightly, or approach it with a certain amount of joie de vivre. We might as well pick that joie thing because ... we have to do it anyway,” she notes in her delightfully opinionated book.The mother of two sons, ages 10 and 13, thinks it’s too easy to be hard on yourself as a cook, especially when you’re a novice. “Give yourself a break. Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect,” said Workman in an interview.“Set realistic, doable goals for yourself that make you feel great when you achieve them. Then you’ll feel more like doing this again. Go for the easy wins and build on them,” she said.Like any cooking mom, she’s busy. “No two dinner nights are alike. I made lasagna the night before. We’re eating at 7 p.m. and it’s lovely. But other times I’m peering into the pantry and it’s a scramble. Or I might be looking at leftovers.”The difference between her kitchen and the empty one facing many of us?“Even on nights when I’m scrambling, I have things ready,” Workman said.That means she preps for meals. And, yes, that means she’s thinking ahead when she reaches for the food processor or a sharp knife on a Sunday afternoon and dices up onions, garlic and parsley she’ll need during the week, peels carrots or readies other ingredients that she will undoubtedly use.“Sometimes the simplest things will stop you when you’re tired,” she said. If the usual ingredients are ready, she can do a last-minute stir-fry, or make a soup or casserole.And the best thing about cooking on a regular basis, well, beyond the very pleasurable meals and at least temporarily filled kids?“You get comfortable with cooking. You understand how to make other dishes. You know that to make a soup, you sauté some member of the onion family, add some liquid and other ingredients, and that’s it. There are no tricks,” said Workman.But to get to that comfort zone, you need to practice.“I have some people saying to me, ‘I really don’t cook.’ Or ‘I’m a terrible cook.’ For some, cooking dinner has become the enemy, too huge and overwhelming,” said Workman.Take a deep breath and reach for a recipe. “Find one,” she said. “Buy the ingredients, follow the directions and make the recipe.”Workman, like so many others who prepare dinner, is a big fan of big-batch cooking. “If I make a meatloaf recipe that is just the right size, it’s heartbreaking. If it feeds only the four of us, that’s sad. I should make it to feed someone later in the week.”Maybe that means preparing a meat sauce to use for pasta one night and lasagna the next. Or a big pot of rice with extra to use for fried rice later in the week. If you’re roasting a chicken, why not make two?“I’m always thinking ahead. There are certain foods that you don’t want a lot of, but plenty that can be repurposed,” said Workman.Even the experienced cook can pick up a tip or two from her. “We all get stuck in ruts. Maybe we’re stuck in a flavor profile. If you’ve been cooking all Mediterranean flavors, pull out a Thai recipe. We all get palate fatigue. No matter how great your lasagna is, if you’ve been cooking Mediterranean for two weeks running, your family may like to try sesame noodles. Keep yourself fresh by jumping around from cuisine to cuisine.And make the most of the seasons. “Grab those fiddlehead ferns you see at the farmers market. Take advantage of your skills as a cook.”Workman, of New York City, earned her author credentials as a cookbook editor for a dozen years; this is her first book, a practical guide to getting dinner on the table. Her past experience working with Pillsbury cookbooks in Minneapolis and as a founding editor-in-chief of Cookstr.com, an online collection of cookbook recipes, may have given her the credentials, but her kids gave her the best reason to write.They were hungry.TIPS FOR EXPANDING YOUR CHILD’S PALATE1. Don’t say, “You’re probably not going to like this,” as you serve something new.2. Even if your kids don’t like new foods, keep on trying. (The alternative is that in 50 years, senior communities will be filled with people who only nibble on chicken nuggets.)3. Start with small portions. Fall back on a two-bite effort, if necessary.4. Don’t beg kids to eat something. (They will resist it even more.)5. Use peer pressure when possible. Another child who is a good eater (or an older child) may have a positive influence simply by eating at the same table.— Katie WorkmanRECIPESSESAME NOODLESServes 8 as a side dish, 4 to 6 as a main dish with add-ins.Note: It took quite a few attempts to get the right balance of flavor and consistency for this perennially popular Asian noodle dish. Success had clearly been attained when my son took a first bite and said, “Put this in the book — I command you.” After a gentle reminder about the best and most appropriate ways to ask people to do something, here it is. You can prepare noodles ahead of time and let them sit for up to three hours, but if you’re using add-ins, toss them in right before serving. From “The Mom 100 Cookbook,” by Katie Workman (Workman Publishing).For the sesame sauce:1 (2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger3 garlic cloves2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar1/3 cup creamy peanut butter2 tablespoons rice vinegar or sherry vinegar2 tablespoons regular or low-sodium soy sauce½ to 1 teaspoon chili pepper sauce, sauce as Sriracha or Tabasco3 tablespoons vegetable, peanut or canola oil2 tablespoons Asian (dark) sesame oil, dividedFor the noodles:Kosher or coarse salt, optional1 (16-ounce) package dried thin spaghetti, or any pasta you like, such as rotini or linguineFor garnish, pick and choose:2 green onions, both white and light green parts, thinly sliced1 tablespoon toasted sesame seedsFresh cilantro leavesDirections:Make the sesame sauce: Place the ginger and garlic in a food processor or blender and run the machine until they are finely minced. Add the brown sugar, peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, chili pepper sauce, vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil. Process until smooth and reserve the sesame sauce in the food processor.Prepare the noodles: Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add salt and let the water return to a boil. Add the noodles and cook them according to package directions until just tender. Set aside 1 cup of the noodle cooking water, then drain the noodles. Rinse them quickly with warm water and drain them again.Add the reserved cup of cooking water to the sesame sauce and process to blend. Place the warm drained noodles in a large bowl and toss them with the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, then add the sesame sauce and mix everything until the noodles are well-coated. Taste for seasoning, adding salt if necessary.Let the noodles cool to room temperature; they will absorb more sauce as they sit.Serve the noodles garnished with green onions, sesame seeds and/or cilantro, if desired.To serve with add-ins: Set out a variety of add-ins for people to customize as they please. Suggestions include: shredded chicken; sliced seedless cucumbers; shredded carrots; cooked broccoli florets; or slivered red, orange or yellow peppers.Nutrition information per each of 8 servings: Calories, 406; Fat, 15 g; Sodium, 503 mg; Carbohydrates, 55 g; Saturated fat, 3 g; Calcium, 24 mg; Protein, 12 g; Cholesterol, 0 mg; Dietary fiber, 4 g.Diabetic exchanges per serving: 3 ½ bread/starch, 3 fat.——— SOY-GINGER FLANK STEAKServes 6 to 8.Note: The combination of garlic, soy and ginger with a bit of brown sugar is just a complete home run; there’s a simplified teriyaki quality to the whole thing. Serve with generous scoops of rice and roasted asparagus or broccoli or a big green salad. Flank steak is a thin and somewhat chewy cut of meat, so you’ll want to broil or sear it quickly. Skirt steak or London broil will work, too. You also can prepare this steak on a grill or use a grill pan and sear it on top of the stove. From “The Mom 100 Cookbook,” by Katie Workman (Workman Publishing).1 tablespoon vegetable or canola oil1 ½ tablespoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger1 tablespoon minced garlic2/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce, or ½ cup regular soy sauce and 3 tablespoons water½ cup lightly packed light or dark brown sugar½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional1 (2 ½ to 3 pounds) flank steakFreshly ground black pepperThinly sliced green onions, both white and light green parts, optional for servingLime wedges, for servingHot cooked rice, for servingDirections:Preheat the broiler and, if you have an adjustable rack, make sure it is as close to the heat source as it can get.Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until you can really smell everything and the garlic turns golden, about 3 minutes. Add the soy sauce, brown sugar and red pepper flakes, if using. Increase the heat to medium-high and let the soy glaze simmer until slightly reduced and syrupy, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Set the glaze aside to cool for about 5 minutes.Season the flank steak lightly with black pepper. Brush the top side of the steak with some of the soy glaze, then broil it for 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the steak, then brush the second side with the glaze. Broil the flank steak until it is done to your liking, about 4 minutes longer for medium-rare. Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it sit for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the remaining soy glaze to a simmer over low heat.Thinly slice the flank steak across the grain and brush the slices with some of the reheated soy glaze. Transfer the sliced steak to a platter and scatter the green onions, if using, on top. Arrange the lime wedges on the edge of the platter for people to squeeze over their steak if they like. Put the rest of the soy glaze in a small pitcher or bowl to serve at the table for drizzling over rice.Nutrition information per each of 8 servings: Calories, 310; Fat, 7 g; Sodium, 770 mg; Carbohydrates, 16 g; Saturated fat, 2 g; Calcium, 22 mg; Protein, 42 g; Cholesterol, 102 mg; Dietary fiber, 0 g.Diabetic exchanges per serving: 1 other carb, 6 lean meat.———HOMEMADE CHICKEN TENDERSServes 4 to 6.Note: Here are four versions of chicken tenders (or nuggets or fingers, or whatever you want to call them). One is super simple. The next is a bit crunchier (and only involves adding a couple of eggs). The third, even crunchier, version has some bread crumbs as a final coating. And the fourth is the “Mom, that’s so cool!” showstopper — Chicken Parmesan on a Stick, which we have yet to encounter on a kiddie menu. You’ll need about 10 to 15 wooden skewers if you want to serve the tenders on a stick. From “The Mom 100 Cookbook,” by Katie Workman (Workman Publishing).For the chicken:1 pound chicken tenders, or 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs¾ cup flour1 teaspoon kosher or coarse salt¼ teaspoon black pepperAbout 3 tablespoon olive oil, dividedFor serving, optional:KetchupYellow, brown or honey mustardBarbecue sauceDirections:If using pieces of chicken, not tenders, cut them lengthwise into strips 1 inch thick. There should be between 10 and 15 pieces.Place the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl and, using a fork, mix them together. Coat the chicken strips in the flour mixture.Heat about 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook half of the chicken until lightly browned and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the browned chicken to a plate. Add the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil and cook the rest of the chicken strips the same way.Insert a skewer lengthwise into each of the chicken strips, if desired. Serve the chicken with ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce or whatever other dipping sauces your kids like.To make the Crispy Chicken Version: Lightly beat 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. After coating the chicken pieces with flour mixture, dip them into the eggs, let the excess drain off, then dip the chicken back into the flour mixture to coat. Proceed with cooking the chicken; you may need a bit more olive oil in the skillet and you will need to cook the chicken strips for 30 seconds to 1 minute longer on each side, 3 ½ to 4 minutes per side.To make the Crispier Chicken Version: Place ¾ cup of panko (Japanese bread crumbs) in a shallow bowl. Then follow the instructions for the Crispy Chicken Version, but instead of the second dip in the flour mixture after the egg dip, make the final dip in the panko crumbs. You may need a bit more olive oil in the skillet to achieve the crispiest crust for this version, and you will likely need to cook the chicken strips for 4 minutes per side for them to be done through.Chicken Parmesan on a Stick: You’ll need ½ cup of marinara sauce; ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese, preferably fresh; 2 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and 10 to 15 wooden skewers. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.Make the Crispy Chicken or the Crispier Chicken by cooking it for only 2 minutes per side for Crispy Chicken, 3 minutes per side for Crispier. Insert a skewer lengthwise into each strip of chicken, making sure it’s secure. Place the skewered chicken on a baking sheet with a rim. Spoon a bit of marinara or spaghetti sauce down the center of each strip of chicken. Line up a few pieces of the shredded mozzarella down the center of each strip, on top of the sauce. Evenly sprinkle the Parmesan over the mozzarella. Bake the skewered chicken until the cheese is melted, 4 to 5 minutes.Nutrition information per each of 6 servings of Crispy Chicken: Calories, 211; Fat, 11 g; Sodium, 255 mg; Carbohydrates, 8 g; Saturated fat, 2 g; Calcium, 16 mg; Protein, 20 g; Cholesterol, 88 mg; Dietary fiber, 0 g.Diabetic exchanges per serving: ½ bread/starch, 3 lean meat, ½ fat.———
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Smithfield drops Paula Deen as spokeswoman; QVC reviewing merchandise deal, too
NEW YORK — Paula Deen lost another part of her empire on Monday: Smithfield Foods said it was dropping her as a spokeswoman.The announcement came days after the Food Network said it would not renew the celebrity cook's contract in the wake of revelations that she used racial slurs in the past.Smithfield sold Paula Deen-branded hams in addition to using her as a spokeswoman. In a statement, the company said it "condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. Therefore, we are terminating our partnership with Paula Deen."QVC also said it was reviewing its deal with Paula Deen Enterprises to sell the star's cookbooks and cookware."QVC shares the concerns being raised around the unfortunate Paula Deen situation," QVC said in a statement. "We are closely monitoring these events and the ongoing litigation. We are reviewing our business relationship with Ms. Deen, and in the meantime, we have no immediate plans to have her appear on QVC."Sears said the company "is currently exploring next steps as they pertain to Ms. Deen's products." Wal-Mart, which sells Deen's cookware, was expected to have a statement later Monday.The rapid downfall came after revelations that 66-year-old Food Network star admitted using racial slurs in the past in a deposition in a discrimination lawsuit. Deen was asked under oath if she had ever used the N-word. "Yes, of course," 66-year-old Deen said, though she added, "It's been a very long time."Deen insisted she and her family do not tolerate prejudice, and in a videotaped apology, she asked fans and critics alike for forgiveness. It had been posted online for about an hour when the Food Network released a terse statement that it "will not renew Paula Deen's contract when it expires at the end of this month." The network refused to comment further.Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment Corporation, which has Deen's restaurants in some of its casinos, said Friday that it "will continue to monitor the situation." Publisher Ballantine, which has a new Deen book scheduled to roll out this fall, used similar words.Earlier Monday, NBC's Matt Lauer said Deen would appear Wednesday on "Today." Last week she abruptly canceled on the morning show before posting her videotaped apologies.
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Accident at University Parkway and Cherokee Road
A two vehicle accident at the intersection of Cherokee Rd. and University Parkway sent one vehicle onto Pine Oaks Golf Course about 10:45 Monday morning. No injuries were reported.Ron Campbell/Johnson City Press
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Columnist offers East Tennessee news briefs from late 1800s
I maintain a running log of area news briefs for occasional use in my column. Today’s 10 entries cover a variety of subjects spanning from 1872 to 1889: n March 1872: Elcanah Hoss, Esquire, completed an elegant and spacious hotel (unnamed but likely the City Hotel, later renamed the Piedmont Hotel) just a few steps from the location of the city’s car shed. He featured an impressive menu of tasty items for his patrons. A witty ad in rhyme states, “Elcanah is a good hotelier and otherwise a bully feller. He’ll give you chicken, ham or beef. He’ll give you coffee, milk or tea or anything you wish to see and will not bring your cash to grief.”n March 1872: A 14-inch snow that blanketed the area produced as much as 25 inches of mud in some places. Overall, business was good that year considering the scarcity of money in the country. There was talk of resuming work on the railroad from Johnson City to the Carolinas. Iron was the great staple here. Several improvements were under way in the city.n Oct. 1872: Dr. Daniel Kinney, one of the oldest physicians in upper East Tennessee, died on this day. Also, a small son of Major Tipton of Roan County fell from a wagon loaded with pumpkins. The wheels ran over his body, causing serious but not life-threatening injuries. William Perry, a worthy citizen of Sullivan County, was severely injured after being kicked on the right knee by a horse, confining him to his home with severe pain. n April 1873: Favorable signs were discovered at the foot of Buffalo Mountain near Johnson City, which proved the existence of bituminous coal in large quantities. A company was organized and began drilling a shaft for further development. Mica was also discovered near the same site and another company was contacted to pursue it. Iron ore was also found to exist there in abundance. n April 1873: Mr. John C. Blakely, a 40-year-old resident on Horse Creek about 18 miles from this place, has lived in the same settlement ever since he was a child. He made his first visit to Jonesboro that month. For the first time, he saw a train of railroad cars. He admired the massive engine of a passing train and commented that it could “blow its horn louder than a cow could bawl.” n April 1873: The rumor mill began buzzing over news that an undisclosed company had bought property and organized at the old downtown Union Depot for the purpose of erecting buildings to provide a cotton manufactory.n July 1873: A number of farmers in the vicinity of Johnson City met for the purpose of organizing a “Farmers’ Association.” Mr. Tipton Jobe donated 15 acres of land as a suitable location for a fairground. Mr. Sam Miller was elected temporary president of the Association. n Oct. 1, 1873: The Washington County Fair opened for a two-day engagement. The gathering was described as being a large one for the first day, with more than 1,000 persons in attendance. The ladies were out in full force and were deeply interested in the activities of the event. The display of stock, farm products and ladies’ handiwork was judged to be excellent. The fair was a complete success. C.W. Charlton (editor of Brownlow’s National Wig) spoke for about one and a half hours, with those in attendance listening to him with “marked respect and attention.”n July 1874: Professor Gale’s School in Blountville ended its school year with an entertaining concert. It was accompanied with charades with all of the students participating. The admission fee was 10 cents. The blurb noted that the school was large and doing well. The professor was described as an excellent teacher. n April 1889: Contractors were ready to begin work on the CC&O Railroad pending the issuance of bonds. They were placed in the hands of a trust company to be delivered to the railroad, at which time the mayor of Johnson City and the chief engineer of the line deemed that the terms of the contact had been met. It was noted that Johnson City had more enterprise to the square inch than any town in the South and could be relied upon when a significant occasion like the railroad issue presented itself. Reach Bob Cox at boblcox@bcyesteryear or go to www.bcyesteryear.com.
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Update: No injuries reported in auto repair business fire
Firefighters were on the scene of a large business fire in Limestone north of Washington College Academy on Monday.The fire at Loyd's Garage, 2235 Old State Route 34, was reported just after 3:30 p.m. At the scene, Tim Jaynes, Limestone Volunteer Fire Department firefighter and commander on the scene, said heavy smoke and fire were visible and had made its way into the attic area of the business. The blaze caused the roof to peel back and created extensive damage throughout the entire structure, he said."It pretty well was a total loss," Jaynes said.Employees were working at the time of the fire, Jaynes said, but no injuries were reported.Jaynes said it's possible that a fire was started inside the business and went out of control, but how the fire was inititally started is unknown at this time."We have an idea, but we're going to do some further investigation," Jaynes said.It took firefighters about a hour and a half to get the blaze under control and then another approximately two to three hours to extinguish it.Limestone Volunteer Fire Department, along with Jonesborough Fire Department, Nolichuckey and Sulphur Springs Volunteer Fire departments and Limestone Fire Corps and Johnson City's Rehab vehicle and crew assisted with the fire.Kayla Carter contributed to this report.Keep visiting JohnsonCityPress.com for more on this developing story.
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City in national spotlight for 1928 presidential candidate’s visit
On Oct. 6, 1928, newspapers around the country proclaimed that the picturesque little mountain city of Elizabethton would play host to presidential hopeful Herbert Hoover. Hoover became the 31st president of the United States in 1929 largely because of his favorable national reputation, a booming economy and deep splits within the Democratic Party. The future president, well satisfied with the political outlook and the functioning of the machine he built to carry the Republican message to the country, included a strategy to target Southern states.In fall that year, Hoover traveled to the Southland to make his fourth major address of the campaign — a personal appeal to the voters of Democratic Dixie to support his Republican candidacy. After leaving national headquarters in the nation’s capitol, the nominee traveled down the Valley of Virginia to Bristol, Va., where he made an impromptu address to the crowd that had gathered at the station. Republican leaders of Virginia were invited to join the party. When Hoover arrived at 10 a.m. at the flag station of Childers, located four miles away, he was greeted by a large motorcade of specially decorated cars. During his drive to the city, he passed through a crowd of 7,000 schoolchildren who tossed flowers in his path. After traveling the principal streets of the town, the entourage guests were hosted to a luncheon provided by the Chamber of Commerce. Politics was essentially set aside as Democrats joined hands with Republicans. Even the Al Smith Club that had recently organized suspended activities until after Hoover’s departure. The event was described as a “great show” that attracted those who had never visited Elizabethton, or for that matter, had never heard of the town. Thanks to the soon-to-be president, the city was ushered into the limelight overnight. Three tons of decorations provided a splendid costume for the city that day. The streets were ornamented in red, white and blue decorations with flags plenteously hanging at residences and businesses. Some 495 deputized patrolmen, recruited from Elizabethton’s citizens, significantly augmented the police department’s normal force of five men. Badges were ordered for the “policemen-for-a-day” recruits. Also, a squad of State Troopers as well as local Boy Scouts added their services to the event. After presentation of a huge city key by City Manager E.R. Lingerfelt, Hoover witnessed an impressive re-enactment by the Tennessee National Guard, comprising of two batteries of artillery, a machine gun company, aviation corps, light artillery and two companies of infantry. Further, factory whistles within the confines of the city sounded and rock quarries, of which there were many, ignited a barrage of dynamite. While all this was happening, numerous airplanes flew over the battle site dropping a white column of smoke around the pseudo-warriors. Following a reception for Mrs. Hoover, the Republican nominee rode in a parade headed by more than 100 pure-blooded Cherokee Indians. This was followed by covered wagons and floats depicting historic epochs in the progress of this section. A modern Indian camp was erected on the banks of the Doe River, equipped with an Army field kitchen, Army tents, electrically lighted streets and expert chefs ready to provide meals. The facility was large enough to seat 12,000 people, with additional seating in front of the platform and on the slope behind the stand. Two large nearby fields provided overflow space for those unable to find seating. The speakers’ stand, built on the side of Lynn Mountain, one of the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, was ready for arrival of its welcomed guest. To handle the expected influx of reporters, a vacant building near the platform was equipped with wire facilities and typewriters that also served as a transmitter for radio broadcasts. At 3 p.m., 81-year-old famed former Tennessee Gov. Alf Taylor introduced the president, after which Hoover began his 45-minute speech. Subsequently, other features of the day included a football game; the first automobile races ever held in this section, for which a special dirt track had been built; a street dance; and a “Hoover Ball” at the Armory. Hoover’s visit to Elizabethton concluded with two final events: a commemoration of the Battle of Kings Mountain and the dedication of the town’s second artificial silk (rayon) mill — American Glanzstoff.After Hoover’s exhaustive visit to Elizabethton concluded, his schedule called for a second address at Soldiers’ Home at Johnson City and dinner as the guest of the Chamber of Commerce before beginning the return trip to Washington. Hoover’s key focus on the South paid off; he won 58 percent of the vote, defeating challenger Al Smith. However, he would not be so fortunate four years later in a bid to seek re-election due to the Great Depression that would descend upon the country and thwart his chances for a second term.Email Bob Cox at boblcox@bcyesteryear.com or visit www.bcyesteryear.com.
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Washington County jail officials looking into carbon monoxide detection system
A local security firm will examine the Washington County Detention Center to determine what kind of carbon monoxide detection system is needed after nearly two dozen inmates were sickened by the invisible gas this past weekend.
A carbon monoxide leak from a malfunctioning gas-powered water heater at the jail early Saturday sickened the prisoners and a guard, according to Washington County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Leighta Laitinen.
“We have smoke detector and fire alarm,” Laitinen said. “We just want to add the carbon monoxide factor to it.”
Fleenor Security representatives were scheduled to be at the jail Tuesday morning.
“The maintenance supervisor and the jail administrator have been going through the facility, they’ve made the phone calls to the people, the necessary people, that we need to come in and look at it,” Laitinen said Monday morning.
Officers became aware of the problem Saturday after several inmates began complaining about headaches and nausea, Laitinen said. Fifty-one inmates in the two cell blocks were immediately removed from the affected areas - some into a recreational yard and others into booking - and treated with oxygen as needed, she said.
One inmate was unconscious and was taken to the hospital, but returned a few hours later.
The officer who got sick had a bad headache but was OK, Laitinen said. The officer was given oxygen on the scene.
Laitinen said that to the knowledge of anyone at the jail, carbon monoxide detectors are not required, and none were installed at the jail.
Tennessee Corrections Institute passed the jail on a recent inspection.
“And to my knowledge, nothing was ever mentioned about carbon monoxide detectors,” she said.
The jail would need a carbon monoxide detection system that would tie in with the fire alarm system, Laitinen said.
She said the state fire marshal inspected the water heaters, and the one that malfunctioned is only about a year old.
“The system that went faulty on us is shut down,” Laitinen said. “I’m not turning it back on until I have one (carbon monoxide detector) in place.”
There are actually two big water heaters that supply those two jail pods where the leak occurred, so there is still one functioning water heater for those inmates.
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Drug reaction results in child endangerment, meth charges for Stoney Creek woman
ELIZABETHTON — An investigation into an apparent drug reaction led to several drug charges being placed on a Stoney Creek woman.
Selena Michelle Fenner, 35, 188 Old Stoney Creek Road, Lot 1, was arrested Thursday on charges of initiation of a process intended to result in the manufacture of methamphetamine, felony aggravated child endangerment for a child of 16 years old, and 10 counts of promotion of methamphetamine manufacture.
The charges stem from an investigation that began Thursday when Carter County deputies responded to an apparent fight between two women at 189 Old Stoney Creek Road. Sgt. Harmon Duncan said the apparent fight was actually Fenner struggling to restrain another woman who was having a violent reaction to an unknown drug. The woman was transported to the emergency room at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Duncan said Fenner told him she and the other woman had been using bath salts, but had quit over a month ago. She also said they were both using Suboxone and were "coming down."
Duncan said there was also evidence of methamphetamine activity at Fenner's mobile home. He found plastic bottles in the kitchen trash can that were determined to be "gassers." There were also empty blister packs of cold medicine containing psuedoephedrine. He said a 16-year-old boy was also at the residence.
Fenner appeared in Carter County General Sessions Court on Monday, where she was appointed a public defender on those charges and the case was continued to Oct. 8.
She was also charged with two counts of violation of probation. On the first count, Judge John Walton ordered Fenner to serve 30 days in jail, with credit for time served. One the second violation, Walton ordered Fenner to serve 109 days, consecutive to the first violation.
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Treyvon Martin murder case: Zimmerman's jury done for 1st day; heard openings
SANFORD, Fla. — Jurors in the George Zimmerman murder trial have been dismissed for the day after listening to opening statements from the prosecution and the defense.Judge Debra Nelson had the jurors leave Monday as they were listening to the fourth witness for the prosecution. The witness was a custodian of police dispatch calls.During her testimony, prosecutors started playing police calls Zimmerman had made in the months before he fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year.Defense attorneys objected, claiming the calls were irrelevant.The judge said she would address the matter Tuesday and sent the jurors to their hotel where they are being sequestered for the duration of the trial that could last up to a month.Zimmerman is pleading not guilty to second-degree murder.
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Rucker gladly joins the cause at Niswonger Golf Classic
BRISTOL, Va. — If you happen to be looking for Darius Rucker these days, he shouldn’t be difficult to find. Chances are if he’s not on stage, he’s on the golf course.“I love the game,” Rucker said. “I’ve been playing since I was 14. I love being outside. I love hitting that little ball.”Rucker, the former frontman for the band Hootie and the Blowfish, has reinvented himself as a country music star with three consecutive No. 1 albums. He was at the Virginian on Monday with numerous celebrities from the world of sports for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital Golf Classic.“It’s just amazing how much money you can raise through golf tournaments,” he said. “ It’s just great to raise that much money for charity.”Rucker’s love of golf is well documented. He plays five times a week when he’s home in South Carolina, and two or three times a week when he’s on the road. His Pro-am called Monday After the Masters has raised more then $4 million for charity. He also sponsors college tournaments for men’s and women’s teams and has put on a fund-raising tournament in Nashville for the past four years.He sang at Tiger Woods’ wedding and played Augusta National with Arnold Palmer.“It’s my only hobby,” Rucker said. “It’s the only thing I do when I’m not playing music or hanging out with my family. I love golf.”One of Rucker’s hit country songs is a remake of Wagon Wheel, the Old Crow Medicine Show tune that features a line “Johnson City, Tennessee.”Hootie and the Blowfish played in Johnson City, at Quarterbacks, several times during the 1990s. The bar has been leveled, but the memories still remain.“Quarterbacks,” Rucker said with a laugh. “I remember it like it was yesterday. We played Quarterbacks probably eight, nine times.”Rucker has another tie to Johnson City. He’s friends with South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier, who grew up here.“He’s a great dude,” said Rucker, who formed Hootie and the Blowfish in the late 1980s while he was a student at South Carolina. “I’ve played golf with him. He’s a great guy. We’re blessed to have him at South Carolina. He’s a great coach, but he’s a better man. He’s really great to have around. He’s always willing to help. I’m proud to know Coach Spurrier.”The Niswonger event, including Sunday night’s concert by Rucker and Monday’s golf outing, was a success, raising in the neighborhood of $700,000.The list of celebrities included Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, NFL sacks king Bruce Smith, Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, the NFL’s all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith, former NBA sharpshooter Del Curry, Falcons head coach Mike Smith, new ETSU football coach Carl Torbush, former Tennessee coaches Phillip Fulmer and Bruce Pearl, Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and pro golfers Corey Pavin, Larry Mize and Tom Purtzer.“We get to go out and have a fun time and raise money for kids,” Marino said. “That’s the great thing about golf. The affect it has on the community is important, and that’s what makes you feel good.”At 51, Marino says golf is a good outlet for his competitive nature.“There’s no senior league for football, so that’s over,” he said. “The only other way to be competitive is ‘Let’s play some golf and see how you stand up to other people.’ ”Emmitt Smith is more known for being a three-time Super Bowl champion and a former winner of Dancing With the Stars, but he’s getting more and more involved with golf.“I try to get out at least once a week,” Smith said. “I’m trying to become a better golfer. I ain’t trying to become Tiger Woods, but I’m trying to shoot the best round I can possibly shoot.”Once Smith started playing golf, he was quickly hooked by the challenge.“Golf is one of the most difficult sports I’ve played in my life,” Smith said. “It’s something you can never master. Golf is one of those sports that can never be tamed, never be controlled, never be mastered.“That’s crazy. I love it.”
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Torbush gets into swing of things
BRISTOL, Va. — The Niswonger Golf Classic continues to draw Hall of Fame Hokies and Vols, and now the Niswonger Children’s Hospital fundraiser is generating a few Bucs.Monday’s gallery of stars at The Virginian Golf Club included Tennessee’s Jason Witten, Phillip Fulmer, Condredge Holloway and Bill Bates, as well as Virginia Tech’s Bruce Smith, Frank Beamer and Dell Curry.But East Tennessee State had unprecedented presence at the annual event thanks to Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith and new Buccaneers football coach Carl Torbush. In fact, Fulmer, who led the search that landed Torbush and continues to aid ETSU football’s reboot, is now representing the Bucs, too.The 61-year-old Torbush grew up in Knoxville and has known Fulmer since not long thereafter. Torbush was a defensive coordinator at Ole Miss when Fulmer was an offensive line coach for Johnny Majors, and Torbush was coordinating against Fulmer’s Vols while at Alabama (2000-01) and Texas A&M when UT played the Aggies in the Cotton Bowl during the 2004 season.“Of course, Phillip and I have been friends and competitors for many, many years,” Torbush said. “But over this process, to really get close to him as a friend has been special to me. … I think one of the best things East Tennessee did was get Phillip Fulmer involved, because there’s nobody with more name recognition, especially in the East Tennessee area.”Torbush has also known Smith the majority of his coaching career, and he was an assistant for Louisiana Tech and Southeast Louisiana teams that played ETSU when Smith was an ETSU linebacker.“I knew Mike since he was coaching at Tennessee Tech,” Torbush said. “And I was coaching against him when he was playing at East Tennessee. He’s still as humble as he was back when he was an assistant at Tennessee Tech.”Torbush, like many other coaches have said in recent years, remembers Smith being ahead of the curve with computers.“He was one of the first guys that truly knew how to make a computer work way before computers became famous,” Torbush said. “So I was kind of mesmerized and interested in that. I think I was at Ole Miss at the time. He was way before his time in that respect.”Smith has led the Falcons to the playoffs four out of five years since taking over the mess left with the Bobby Petrino and Michael Vick controversies, and the Falcons were within minutes of reaching the Super Bowl this past season.Smith was eager to see his alma mater bring back a football program that hasn’t fielded a team since the 2003 season, and appears pleased with the defensive-minded coach ETSU president Brian Noland and athletic director Richard Sander have hired to do it.“Coach Torbush is, without a doubt, I think, one of the most respected coaches in all of college football,” Smith said. “He’s got a great defensive mind and I think he’s gonna do very well. He’s from the region here, from Knoxville.”Indeed, Torbush knows the region. He recruited Science Hill’s Toby Patton to play receiver at North Carolina, and recalls Patton being in line to become a Tar Heels starter the week the small-but-swift receiver gave up college football.“He played for Mike Turner at Science Hill,” Torbush said. “Mike and I played together (at Carson-Newman). And (former ETSU player) Greg Stubbs was coaching up there at Science Hill.”Torbush was somewhat concerned with then-UNC coach Mack Brown’s potential reaction when he saw the puny Patton. But Patton’s state championship speed (100 meters) loomed larger.“I figured Mack was gonna wear me out for bringing him over there,” Torbush said, “but after Mack saw the highlight tape on him — he could fly.”Torbush also mentioned former Science Hill player Van Williams, who played at ETSU, Carson-Newman and in the NFL, and other exciting ETSU players from that era such as quarterback Mark Hutsell, Earl Ferrell and Johnny McFall.Torbush smiled while bringing up Dobyns-Bennett coach Graham Clark, and pointed out signing D-B players Mike Faulkerson and Shane Pierson while he was at North Carolina.“There’s always been great football up here,” Torbush said. “And that’s the thing I’m excited about recruiting — getting them back where they’re supposed to be.”ETSU will begin play in 2015, but Torbush’s first signing class is some eight months away from being announced.Torbush knows he’s beginning to climb a mountain. He played at Carson-Newman when it beat ETSU three straight seasons (1971-73).But he knows it could provide a great view. He coached at Louisiana Tech, where a decade earlier Terry Bradshaw’s Bulldogs were sacked convincingly in a Grantland Rice Bowl loss to ETSU.Torbush emphasized he was using the comparison loosely, but likened ETSU football’s rebirth to a cure being found for a previously fatal disease.“To see the people that fought so hard so many years, to see them be rewarded for it, the amount of excitement is unbelievable,” he said. “Of course, you’ve got the perfect president in Dr. Noland. He wants East Tennessee State to be something special academically, athletically, socially.”So does Smith, and he indicated Torbush being a step in that direction.“I think Dr. Noland, coach Fulmer and Dr. Sander,” Smith said, “have got the right guy to lead our football program back.”
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