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Cocke County Legislative Body takes up Webb situation
Members of the Cocke County Legislative Body (CLB) meeting Monday evening took up the issue of Heather J. Webb and her candidacy for the school board seat from the Fourth District. After she qualified to run for the seat, the state Comptrollers Office discovered that Webb's home on New Cave Church Road is actually in the Sixth District, and apparently has been for years. Webb says she and her neighbors have always voted in the Fourth District and she asked the commission to agree to put her home in the Fourth District. Webb said she recently received a new voting card putting her in the Sixth District, meaning she cannot vote for herself in the upcoming August 7 election. Jason Mumpower of the comptroller's office told the CLB the situation has three alternatives; the candidate can run for office and if she wins could move to a residence in the Fourth District, she can run for the position and if elected, resign the seat or she can run and if she wins, petition the CLB to re-district her into that district. Webb indicated the 15 voters in the eight homes that would be affected by the redistricting, want to be in the Fourth District because that is where they have voted for years. Commissioner Michael McCarter made a motion to allow the candidate to run and if she is elected to consider a redistricting before Webb is sworn into office. Tommye Dean Jones of Del Rio, also expressed similar concerns, saying her home now is in a different district from her farm property. She said 38 people are affected by the recent finding,so the commission agreed to also consider that situation after the election. The body recognized Cocke County Firefighters Rick Gregg and Martin "Coby" McGaha, who on June 21, rescued Sherry M. Jarnagin from her burning home on Friendship Road in Cosby. When the firemen arrived on the scene Ms. Jarnagin was not outside, so they donned air packs and entered the home to find the victim "unresponsive and barely breathing." Mayor Vaughn Moore said if the men had not taken quick action it is very likely Jarnigan would not have survived. Fire Chief William Smallwood told the commission the fire totally destroyed the kitchen where the victim was found. " When things are dark and scary, the house you are trying to save is full of smoke, just when you think you are alone you feel a hand on your shoulder and know your brother firefighter has your back," Chief Smallwood said as he read the citation. The chief said both firefighters are " Cocke County hometown heros" because of their unselfish service. Partnership President Don Hurst talked about the ten acres owned by the county at the new intersection of Highways 25/70 and 411 in Reidtown. The site is to be divided into six parcels and recently was appraised at a price of $350,000 to $650,000 per acre. He said the plans are to put the money from the sale into an account for the purchase of additional industrial property. Members voted to support a motion by McCarter that, because the site is county owned property, the county mayor and the chair of the CLB be on the committee that determines the sales price and where the receipts should go. The commissioner said the county may decide to keep some of the acreage for a fire substation in the future. The body also discussed the status of the Ace Products site on Industrial Road which recently reverted to the Partnership after the owner defaulted on the lease/purchase payments.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
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Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
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Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
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Newport drug roundup
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