Top Ten Reasons We've Been Off the Air for a Year

10. Kelvin's been busy getting in shape for American Idol

9. Spent a whole year correcting the grammar on Hornback's blog...if we had started on the spelling it would have been 2.

8. Been busy writing grant proposal for Cynthia Finch.

7. Still recovering from ouster suit at last station.

6. Kelvin got confused when the court said "need more sunshine": thought they said "need more moonshine", spent a year in a Cocke County jail cell with a one-eyed cock fighter.

5. Lloyd's weekly appearance on the Grand Ol' Opry took more time than he thought.

4. We’ve been too busy going around town show-boating with Lewis Cosby.

3. Kelvin refused to come back to work unless he got a p-card.

2. Took a year to convince Frank Cagle to quit ZZ top and join our band. And the Number One Reason We've Been Off the Air for a Year… 1. We won America's biggest loser and we weren't even on a diet!

Cas Walker "The Ole Coon Hunter"

Cas Walker Video

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OUR STORIES: Love him or hate him, you couldn't ignore Cas Walker

ORTON CASWELL WALKER
1903-1998

KNOX COUNTY LAW DIRECTOR INFORMALLY OPINES ON THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS.

AND ALSO AVAILABLE HERE

COUNTY COMMISSION WORKSHOP

Knox County residents have one chance and one chance only to have their voice heard by Knox County Commission on the nine Knox County Charter Amendments that will change the structure of our County Government. A workshop will be held at the City County Building in the room used by County Commission on Wednesday March 12th at 8:00 am. Seven of these nine Charter Amendments have already passed first reading without public debate. If they pass second reading on March 24th they will appear on the August ballot to be voted on.
 
This is your only opportunity to have your voice heard on whether the Mayor can appoint all the fee offices and the Law Director effectively taking away your right to vote for these offices.
 
Another Charter Amendment will take away half of our County Commissioners, effectively taking away your right to vote for two Commissioners instead of one. This Amendment will double the workload for each Commissioner.
 
A third Charter Amendment will make it so that no school teacher can serve on County Commission, effectively making school teachers less than full citizens.
 
At this point in time you can only find information on these nine Charter Amendments at the "Knox Charter Petition" website or the Knoxville News Sentinel. So far there is no place for opposing or different viewpoints.
 
http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/26/getting-organized/

We have been told to trust the people. Yet our County Commission allows only one workshop and refuses to allow a public debate before the final vote on March 24th in the full County Commission meeting.
 
If you can take the time, and you want to have your voice heard, you need to attend this workshop Wednesday March 12 starting at 8:00 am

INFORMATION ON MAKING COMPLAINTS TO THE KNOX COUNTY ETHICS COMMITTEE:

Knox County Ethics Committee Chairman
P.O. Box 7302
Knoxville, Tennessee  37931 

The complaints may involve county government officials, employees, members of any board, agency, commission authority or corporation.

Complaints must be submitted in writing. They also have to be signed and include what the county calls "reasonable facts" the complaint is based on.

Anonymous submissions won't be considered.

Copies of all complaints will be filed with the Knox County Clerk's Office.

The Knox County Ethics Committee only handles complaints about violations of the ethics policy or any violation of state law governing ethical conduct.

Complaints of any other type will be forwarded to the appropriate county official.

KNOX COUNTY PETITION FUNDRAISING LETTER

Dear “person on mailing list”,

The winds of change are blowing in Knox County! You only need to look at the results of February's Knox County primary election to understand the significance of this time.

A citizen driven movement, called KnoxCharterPetition.com, building on the work of Knox County - One Question and the best practice research of UT's Howard Baker Center for Public Policy has organized to put charter amendments on the November ballot to reform Knox County government by:

Eliminating nepotism and conflicts of interest;

Eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse; 

  Streamlining and making Commission more responsive by voting for 3 of 11 Commissioners (1 district/2 at large) beginning in 2010 rather than 2 of 19 (district only);

 Streamlining the Executive Branch in 2010 (after the present Mayor is term-limited) and providing appropriate checks and balances through Mayoral appointment and Commission approval and removal of Department Directors, thereby utilizing over $8.9 million in County fees more effectively each year.

For the details of the proposed Knox County charter amendments, the history, and research behind the recommendations, goes to www.knoxcharterpetition.com.

I believe that this is a watershed moment in our community, and the business and funding community needs to support this effort. If successful, it will restructure Knox County government to face the urban/suburban challenges of the 21st Century. And it can be a major positive step that will create the environment, if the community desires, for future consolidation of overlapping and duplicative functions of our local governments. That is why I have made a substantial commitment to this effort. My purpose in writing is to ask you to do the same.

To get these issues on the ballot for the November election will require a massive effort of collecting almost 40,000 valid signatures for each petition, and will require a major educational campaign. Many people with self-interest in power, position, and paychecks are already yelling and screaming about these changes, and the opposition will be fierce.

I am asking that you consider making a contribution of $5,000.

In an issues-oriented campaign such as this, there are no limits on the amount of contributions an individual can make. Additionally, there are no legal restrictions on corporate funds being donated for a charter petition campaign. Any amount that you can provide will be extremely important and greatly appreciated. You should make your contributions payable to Knox Charter Petition, Inc. and either give it to me or send it to:

Knox Charter Petition, Inc.

c/o Culver Schmid, Treasurer

625 Market Street, Suite 700

Knoxville, TN 37902

As the timing on this is crucial, I will be following up with you if we have not heard from you within the next week. This effort is too important to ignore.

Thank you for your crucial help.

Sincerely,

"Unnamed Person"
Knox Charter Petition

625 Market Street Suite 700

Knoxville. Tennessee 37902

p. 865-673-4207
www.knoxcharterpetition.com

 Don't let the forces of Metro Government get away with back-door consolidation.ake your voice heard!

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