Rep. Donna Rowland’s Bible Theme Park Update

  by Christian Grantham - January 24th, 2008 - 8:37 am| County Government, Property, State Government | 6 comments

WGNS in Murfreesboro passed this along. The proposed Bible Theme Park in the Blackman community takes another step behind the scenes toward becoming a reality.

Dear Friends:

Many of you have asked in passing for any update on the proposed Bible Theme Park.  I promised to keep you informed as new information was provided to me.

I was recently copied on a letter dated 1/17/08 from TDOT to Mr. Bar-Tur.  The letter acknowledged receipt of the concept drawing providing access to the proposed Bible Park USA.  In the letter, TDOT states that, based on the conceptual drawing, it would be able to permit the construction of a roadway across State Route 840 in the vicinity of Manson Pike.

Should you need additional information on the status of this project, if any information is available, the local planning department or county commission may have be of assistance.

Sincerely,
Donna Rowland
[Bible Theme Park UPDATE - WGNS Radio - 01-24-08]

‘The biggest burglary in the history of Metro’

  by Christian Grantham - January 11th, 2008 - 11:26 am| City Government, Consumer Alert, County Government, Crime | one comment

The identification of more than 337,000 Davidson County residents was stolen on Christmas Eve, but to date no one in Metro government has been held accountable. Tune in to News 2 at 5 as Andy Cordan unleashes his anger.

And here is the symbolic sand in the eye to me. The break in happened on December 24th. Today, as I write this, it is January 11th.

I visited the Election commision this morning, and that damn window is still not fixed. A big board still marks the break in point, like an X marks a pirate’s treasure. Is there not a piece of glass in the entire city that could have been located by this time, some 18 days and counting.

To me it represents everything that is wrong with this story and the way it has been handled.
[MESSED UP METRO - That Is Messed Up - 01-11-08]

“Please help me” - pit bulls viciously attack two women

  by Christian Grantham - December 27th, 2007 - 6:32 am| Animals, City Government, County Government, Crime, EXCLUSIVE, Public Safety | 2 comments

WKRN EXCLUSIVE: Animal control says there will likely be “vicious dog” charges in connection with two pit bulls who attacked 80 year old Miriam Coes and her neighbor Patricia Martin.

“I fell on the ground and when I fell on the ground one dog went behind me and grabbed the back of my coat and I said I’ve got to get up from here because if I don’t get up these dogs are going to kill me. I got down, I grabbed my food and I threw it to the dog and said take this, take this.  So the dog grabbed the food and he ran with the food and the other dog ran behind. That gave me enough time to get to my car and close my door before one of the dogs came back after me again,” Martin said.
[Women Recover From Neighborhood Pit Bull Attack - WKRN - 12-26-07]

Hero fired for spying on women in a restroom

  by Christian Grantham - December 6th, 2007 - 6:17 am| County Government, Crime, Public Safety, Weirdness | no comments

Joe Reed was called a hero for being among the first responders to a national tragedy in Minneapolis in August. Now Reed has been fired from his job with the Rutherford County Emergency Management for allegedly placing cameras in the women’s restroom.

The firing comes after hidden cameras were found in a women’s restroom at the emergency center.

The hidden camera incident occurred at the Emergency Management Headquarters in Rutherford County.

After Reed was fired, the TBI was called in to look at the case.
[Rutherford Co. Official Fired, Facing TBI Investigation - WKRN - 12-05-07]

Oak Hill City Manager voted 10 times despite felony conviction

  by Christian Grantham - November 30th, 2007 - 3:50 pm| BREAKING, City Government, County Government, EXCLUSIVE, Politics | one comment

A Davidson County voter registration form posted on News 2’s VolunteerVoters could put Oak Hill City Manager Bill Kraus in more legal jeopardy.

Kraus, who pled guilty to federal mail fraud in 1987, did not file to restore his voting rights as a convicted felon and has voted 10 times since registering to vote in Davidson County.

Kraus did not answer question #9 on the voter registration form which asks “HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME WHICH IS A FELONY” but signed the document affirming “I have never been convicted of a felony, or I have had my rights restored as required by law.” Kraus told News 2 he did so intentionally.

“I was told both by the court and by lawyers at the time that [the felony conviction] would place no restrictions on my civil or voting rights.”
[Oak Hill City Manager Bill Kraus Left Felony Question Blank On 2003 Voter Registration Form - VolunteerVoters - 11-30-07]

Above Kraus’s signature appears a warning stating: “Giving false information to register to vote or attempting to register when not qualified are felonies punishable by not less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years’ imprisonment or a fine of $3,000 or both.”

Oak Hill recently retained a law firm to investigate Kraus’s criminal record when it resurfaced on News 2’s political blog. The city has not concluded its investigation.

Williamson County Sheriff defends pot smoking officer

  by Christian Grantham - November 19th, 2007 - 10:48 am| County Government, Crime, EXCLUSIVE, Justice, Law, Public Safety | 4 comments

Williamson County Sheriff Ricky Headly says officers caught using drugs under his watch “should be given a second chance” after the son of a close friend tested positive for marijuana use.

Sheriff Headly recently pled not guilty to a four count grand jury indictment on illegal prescription drug charges in Williamson county. He was arrested in late January on prescription drug charges in Davidson County accused of obtaining 1,900 painkillers within a four-month period. 

Headly, 43, is now under fire for allowing Williamson County Corrections Officer Bryan Ward stay on the job after testing positive for using marijuana. Headly told News 2’s Christine Maddela that “the sheriff has the final say” despite explicit guidelines on illegal drug use by officers.

“Policies are in place, but they’re just guidelines,” he said.  “The sheriff has the final say, and it must be done on a case by case basis.”

Officer Ward is the son of Hickman County Sheriff Randal Ward.

“His father is a dear friend, but it plays no role whatsoever,” said Sheriff Headley.  “He tried marijuana and given a drug test, came back positive for marijuana. Failing a drug test is not illegal.”

Smoking marijuana, however, is.

Sheriff Headley said, “Smoking marijuana and taking illegal drugs is a crime, yes, but failing a drug test is not a crime.  I’m a firm believer that a young person who makes a bad choice should not have their career ruined. They should be given a second chance.”
[Sheriff Defends Officer Who Tested Positive For Marijuana - WKRN - 11-16-07]

Elected officials aim to weaken state Open Meetings law

  by Christian Grantham - November 12th, 2007 - 6:24 am| City Government, County Government, Politics, State Government | one comment

Tennessee’s Sunshine Law provides transparency in government by preventing elected officials from doing the people’s business behind closed doors. But new rules could make it easier for some elected officials to evade the public’s interest and strip the media’s right to access records.

Last month a subcommittee from that group voted 7-2 to make it legal for two or more members of a panel to deliberate in private as long as a quorum of the body is not present. A quorum is the number of members required for a panel to legally conduct business.

Supporters of the proposed change say it’s not meant to circumvent public meetings laws, but instead to let a few members of a public body discuss important issues without having to call a public meeting. Detractors worry the change would allow private dealmaking.
[Proposed open meetings changes could weaken current law - AP - 11-11-07]

More info:

• Tennessee Municipal League
• Tennessee Coalition for Open Government

BUSTED: Sumner County veterinarian loses his job

  by Christian Grantham - November 7th, 2007 - 3:39 pm| Animals, County Government, Crime | no comments

Sumner County veterinarian Bill Baber won’t be euthanizing animals for Sumner County any longer, according to Sumner County Executive Hank Thompson. A decision today by the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners could strip Baber of his state license all together. Baber is the subject of community protests and outrage after a disturbing video showed Baber euthanizing animals with a shot to the heart.

“I didn’t like what I saw at all,” Thompson said.

Thompson admits he received complaints earlier this year about the heart shot, known as intracardiac euthanasia.

“I called him and told him, I understand you’re using this procedure, but I don’t want you to use that anymore. I assumed that he wasn’t,” Thompson said.

The procedure is illegal in the state of Tennessee unless the animal is sedated.
[Sumner County Stops Vet From Euthanizing At Shelter - WKRN - 11-06-07]

- 11-05-07 - Concerned Citizens Protest Alleged Animal Abuse
- 11-04-07 - Video Shows Shocking Killing Of Animals

UPDATE 3:03p.m. - Check out the terrible reviews on Yahoo! of private practices that use Dr. Bill Baber since this story aired.

UPDATE 4:30p.m. - Dr. Bill Baber’s license has been temporarily suspended

Oil company withdraws plan to expand in Rutherford county

  by Christian Grantham - October 9th, 2007 - 6:34 am| County Government, Environment, Public Safety | no comments

FOLLOW UP: An oil company whose tanker exploded yesterday has withdrawn its proposal to expand in a Rutherford county neighborhood. Shortly after a Volunteer Oil Service tanker exploded at the BP gas station on the corner of Lebanon Road and McGavock Pike, Volunteer Oil Services removed its rezoning request from the Rutherford County Planning Commission. The proposal would have been voted on last night by the commission.  The Rutherford County Future Development Committee rejected the company’s plan on Oct. 4. The oil company wanted to build an oil storage facility in the Buchanan area of Rutherford county.

The Daily News Journal reports this isn’t the first time the company has had an accident.

On March 13, 2006, a Volunteer Oil Service President tanker truck carrying approximately 6,500 gallons of recycled oil overturned as it hit the concrete railing of a bridge along Highway 240, crossing the Buffalo River near Henryville in Lawrence County, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
[No oil storage in Buchanan - Daily News Journal - 10-09-07]

- 10-08-07 - Oil Tanker Explodes During Morning Rush Hour At Busy Intersection

Oil company seeks approval to expand same day tanker explodes

  by Christian Grantham - October 8th, 2007 - 1:20 pm| County Government, Environment, Public Safety | one comment

A Murfreesboro company that wants to build an oil storage facility in a Buchanan neighborhood spilled hundreds of gallons of oil in an early morning explosion. A Volunteer Oil Services tanker exploded near the intersection of Lebanon Pike and McGavock Pike Monday morning. The driver was seriously injured.

Volunteer Oil Services wants to build an oil storage and recycling facility on Miller Road in Rutherford County’s Buchanan neighborhood. The Rutherford County Future Development Committee rejected their plans on Oct. 4. The company faces the Rutherford County Planning Commission for a final vote tonight at 6.