PRESS

LaFollette
INSiDE TODAYS EDiTiON
Dropped Hatmakers driving charges dismissed. Page 2A
By PETER SAWYER psawyer@lafollettepress.com Friday, LaFollette city council member Hansford Hatmaker and interim city administrator Cade Sexton wrecked a city vehicle on Interstate 40 East in Haywood County. I wasnt injured; Mr. Hatmaker wasnt injured, Sexton said. Im just thankful nobody got hurt. Hatmaker was driving the vehicle at the time.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER

Campbell County High Schools opens new sports to students- fishing. For details see Page 1B.

www.LaFollettePress.com Thursday, January 10, 2013

75 Cents

Hatmaker and Sexton involved in accident

City vehicle destroyed in West Tennessee crash
A non-city employee should not be driving a city vehicle, said Councilman Bob Fannon on Tuesday referring to Hatmaker being in control of the vehicle. Hatmaker and Sexton both said they were in Memphis for a meeting. We took a trip to Memphis, Hatmaker said. Had an appointment at 9:30 in the morning. Hatmaker declined to give details about the meeting. I dont want to let out yet what we were down there for, Hatmaker said. It could have an impact on what were trying to get if it gets out here. However, Sexton said he and Hatmaker met with the Tennessee Department of Corrections. The department of corrections wants to open, or start, a halfway house or (some See CRASH, Page 6A

Calling all captains Relay for Life plans kick off. Page 2A

Back to business

Up and around Ethan Miller making strides following accident. Page 3A

IRS could levy Jellico accounts

By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com Jellico could see its bank accounts levied if the IRS isnt paid today. In a Dec. 19 memo from part time CMFO, Sondra Denton, the board of mayor and alderman was advised that overdue payroll taxes and fines in the amount of $15,000 are due today. Payment for the second quarter of 2012 was submitted, but the third quarter payment has not been issued. Mayor Les Stiers hopes for mercy. Hopefully we can get the penalty eliminated, he said. Denton and Stiers have both been in contact with the IRS. They did also tell me just to call them back if the city needed more time, Denton said. The missing tax money is not expected to affect the employees ability to file their income tax returns. I dont think that will have any bearing on the employees. Its just a matter that the IRS will come down on the town of Jellico, said town attorney Terry Basista. As to where the missing money could be, the mayor See IRS, Page 6A

Applicants Six throw name in ring for chancellor spot Page 5A

Put yourself in the picture: Snapshots Page 1C

(Left) Cade Sexton and (right) Mayor Mike Stanfield at Tuesday nights workshop. With the start of the new year the council resumed its regular work. See Page 2A for coverage of the meeting. Photo by Peter Sawyer

WHERE TO FiND iT
Churches 2C Classifieds 6B Crossword 4B Kids Page 4B Living 10A Legals 8B News Notes 3A Obituaries 12A Opinions 9A Public Record 11B Sports 1B Television listings 4C

Jellico works to clear up gas card issues

By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com Jellico is operating with 20 fewer Fuelman cards after findings from the comptroller. This came about because the comptroller pointed us in that direction, said Jellico Mayor Les Stiers. In mid-December, the town had 38 fuel man cards. That number is now at 18. The town only has 20 employees. Records from Jellico indicate on Dec. 12, there were 33 employees and 38 vehicles eligible to use Fuelman. By Dec. 20, that number was down to 16 employees and 19 vehicles. The cards were cut up with scissors, according to the mayor. Destroyed cards included those held by people that no longer worked for the town, or cards that were assigned to vehicles no longer owned by the town. Alderman Alvin Evans was one of the individuals who previously had permission to use a Fuelman card, according to the report. Records indicate his card was issued Oct. 10, 2008, and last used on Sept. 14, 2011. Evans said he hasnt had a Fuelman card. I didnt ever have one. I was the one that questioned why everybody had one, he said. Evans also said its been years since he used a Fuelman card. One of the cards was assigned to vice mayor, according to records. Stiers declined to specifically name Vice Mayor Venita Cissco Johnson as the cardholder. Just want to leave it as vice mayor, he said. Records indicate the card was last used May 6, 2011. The card is also assigned to the police department, according to the roster. See FUELMAN, Page 7A

Volume 102, Number 2 LaFollette, TN 37766 34 Pages, 3 Sections

Copyright 2013

Customers to see changes in Jellico garbage fee

By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com Some Jellico Electric and Water System customers may notice higher bills after the town tacked formerly unpaid sanitation fees onto the charges. During a Dec. 4 special called meeting, the mayor and board of aldermen was presented a list of 34 residential and 27 commercial customers who have not paid sanitation fees. That was set to change with the bills mailed out in December. Jellico resident Amanda Gurganas was one of the citizens listed. She has rented her home for almost four years. Sanitation has not been on [the] bill, and if it was on my bill, I gladly would have paid it, she said. Her bill for service dates Sept. 15 through Oct. 29 did not have sanitation charges. The bill for dates Oct. 30 through Nov. 27 added a sanitation charge of $15. Im just sorry this is going on. I had no idea, she said. There is an ordinance on the books that says residential and commercial customers must pay sanitation fees if they receive other utility service, according to Mayor Les Stiers. A response to a Freedom of Information Act request was unanswered as of press time, though Stiers said he was making a concerted effort to find the ordinance. The University of Tennessees Municipal See FEE, Page 7A

s, e r u ict eo P ad , Vid o l Up ews N

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

www.LaFollettePress.com
Saluting our newest subscriber: Tim Johnson of Claireld

Subscribe Online: Pay Bill Online Blog Much Much More