SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Visits to U.S. national parks set a record in 2016 for the third consecutive year as landmarks such Zion, Yellowstone and Rocky Mountain experienced historic levels of popularity that brought collateral headaches stemming from overcrowded roads and trails and increasing visitor misbehavior.

At many parks, visitors waited an hour or more in cars to get through entrance gates and then spent the day trying to outmaneuver fellow visitors for parking spots and room on popular trails. They left behind enormous amounts of trash and sometimes, human waste.

Encountering a crowded, Disneyland-like situation when people were expecting peaceful serenity can lead to aggression and bad decisions, park officials said.

“The level of frustration, we’ve certainly seen an increase in that,” said Kyle Patterson, Rocky Mountain National park spokeswoman. “Sometimes they take it out on each other and sometimes they take it out on the park.”

It created a good news-bad news story for park managers. They praise the increased interest but are struggling to preserve iconic mountains, slot canyons and wildlife habitat for future generations. The National Park Service budget has remained basically the flat, leaving parks to grapple with the problems without higher staffing levels.

“We love having people come to the park,” said John Marciano, Zion National Park spokesman. “But our No. 1 goal, our mandate, is to preserve the park into perpetuity and to ensure our visitors have a best of kind and safe experience.”

Overall visitation to national parks is on track to surpass 325 million in 2016, breaking last year’s all-time high of 307 million, federal figures show. The record-breaking three-year stretch came after parks visitation ebbed and flowed between 255-287 million for nearly three decades.

The National Park Service launched a major marketing campaign to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2016, including free passes for every fourth-grader and their families. That renewed attention coupled with reasonable gas prices and an improved economy likely fueled the increase, said National Parks Service spokesman Jeffrey Olson.

The agency’s “Find Your park ” campaign will continue this year and officials expect to surpass 300 million visitors again even if there’s no record, Olson said.

Absent December totals, the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona hit 5.9 million visits. Yellowstone, which stretches into Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, had 4.3 million visits.

The final year tally for Rocky Mountain in Colorado was 4.5 million. Zion in southern Utah had 4.3 million visitors — nearly double the 2010 total.

Cramming all those people into the narrow confines of Zion where most visitors want to see the same iconic slot canyons and trails has led many days to hour-long waits to get in the park, lots that fill up by 9 a.m. and crowded shuttles, Marciano said.

“Then, you hike like ducks in a row up the trail because there are so many going up the same trail,” Marciano said. “That’s not what we want.”

One employee spent her entire summer hiking every day to the popular Angels Landing trail to clean and put more toilet paper in two portable toilets designed for 40 visits daily that had 200, he said.

Both Zion and Yellowstone are reassessing how to create better crowd plans and Zion is considering a reservation system for park entries and a daily visitor limit.

Even though it is prohibited, more people are taking dogs on trails in the Rocky Mountain park. Visitors are also parking cars on native vegetation or fragile alpine tundra and leaving human waste right near backcountry trails, Patterson said.

This summer, the park on certain days for the first time limited the number of cars allowed on two popular roads, she said.

After Yellowstone hit 4 million visitors for the time in 2015, park spokeswoman Morgan Warthin said the park last year began the “Yellowstone Pledge” urging visitors to follow guidelines that include not stopping on the side of the road to look at bears and staying on boardwalks. A man who stepped off a boardwalk died last year after falling into a boiling, acidic spring.

Yellowstone has also implored visitors to take “safe selfies” by staying far away from wild animals.

“That want that perfect picture so they’re driven to get closer and closer to the point they’re risking their own safety,” Warthin said.

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) — The original Kentucky Fried Chicken still draws them in, just as it has for the last 76 years.

Back in 1930, Harland Sanders opened a service station for travelers in Corbin, Kentucky, off the new Dixie Highway, which ran from Cleveland, Ohio, to Miami. Sanders served food in the back of the service station and it became so popular that he opened the Sanders Cafe in 1937.

After the structure was destroyed by fire, he opened Sanders Court at the present location. It included a hotel and a restaurant, which served such staples as country ham and red-eye gravy. But the signature food was the fried chicken, with the 11 different herbs and spices.

Now off U.S. Highway 25, all that remains from the original structure is the Sanders Cafe Museum, where you can see how the food was prepared years ago, and a modern KFC restaurant.

These days with the interstate system, U.S. Highway 25 isn’t nearly as busy, but the Corbin location still attracts several out-of-town folks. They literally come from all over the world.

Stopping by the restaurant on the Sunday after the ETSU-Dayton basketball game back in December, the customers started trickling in around 11 a.m.

They included one man and his two grown sons, who came all the way from Japan, just to eat at the original KFC and pay homage to the man later known as Colonel Sanders. It seems they love the chicken, gravy and biscuits as much in Tokyo as they do in America.

But there are also the familiar faces. It’s like the Tri-Cities locations on any given Sunday. The customers soon started piling in around noon, as it’s still a popular destination for the after-church crowd.

The original location is different from many newer franchises in that there is no buffet offered. The meals still come in the familiar boxes with a typical dinner consisting of two pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, cole slaw and biscuits.

While waiting on your food, it’s a chance to check out the memorabilia surrounding the Colonel, who has become one of the most well-known figures ever in the mountain region.

Something you might learn is that Harland Sanders made a bid for state Senator in 1951. He also owned a motel in Asheville, N.C., and worked as a cafeteria manager in Oak Ridge during World War II.

You can also see the original recipes for many of the foods, liked scalloped tomatoes, offered at the Sanders Cafe. There is also a Colonel Sanders mask for Halloween and a set of comic books on display.

The dining room sits next to the museum, which includes the plates, utensils, pressure cookers and other items used to prepare what has become one of the world’s most well-known foods.

Down the road from the restaurant is Cumberland Falls, once a popular tourist attraction known as the “Niagara of the South.” For many of the locals visiting the falls, it’s still a tradition to pick up a box of the chicken and fixins’ for a picnic lunch.

Because it’s like the old motto. In Corbin, Kentucky, they still do chicken right.

Judge Robert Estep heard several plea agreements recently in Claiborne County Sessions Court.

Jeremy Todd Allen, 31, charged with two counts of domestic assault, was granted a one year deferred judgment and sentenced to a concurrent 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Allen must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines. He is scheduled to appear on March 23 for a diversion of sentencing hearing.

James David Brown, 46, charged with resisting arrest, was sentenced to six months unsupervised probation. As a condition of his probationary status, Brown was ordered to pay all court costs in full on the date of his hearing.

Derek J. Brown, 27, charged with possession of methamphetamine (a schedule II drugs), theft under $500 and driving on a suspended license, was sentenced to a concurrent 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with 51 days confinement. Brown was given credit for 51 days of jail time already served. He must pay at least $150 per month in court costs and fines and forfeits $75 to the Economic Crime Fund. Brown must pay $33.79 in restitution to the Tazewell Food City Store and is barred from the premises of the store. His driver’s license is revoked per the Department of Safety.

Tracy Adams, 47, charged with possession of a schedule VI drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days unsupervised probation due to his residing in another state. As a condition of his probationary status, Adams must pay all court costs and fines in full by the date of his sentencing hearing on April 13.

Johnny Leach, 29, charged with possession of a schedule VI drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Leach must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 2.

John Junior Pridemore, 30, charged with possession of a schedule IV drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days confinement. Pridemore was given credit for 11 months, 29 days of jail time already served in another state.

Mary Wallace, 34, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Wallace must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 9. She is eligible for unsupervised probation once all monetary obligations are met and she is found fully compliant.

Jacob Logan Turner, 20, charged with theft under $500, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Turner must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines and forfeits $75 to the Economic Crime Fund. He is responsible jointly and severally for $76.32 in restitution to the New Tazewell Walmart and is barred from the store property. Turner is eligible for unsupervised probation once all monetary obligations are met and he is found fully compliant.

Monica Marie Gonzales, 24, charged with theft under $500, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Gonzales must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines and forfeits $75 to the Economic Crime Fund. She is responsible jointly and severally for $76.32 in restitution to the New Tazewell Walmart and is barred from the premises of the store. Gonzales is eligible for unsupervised probation once all monetary obligations are met and she is found fully compliant.

Alice F. Huckleby, 54, charged with attempted theft under $500, was sentenced to six months confinement. Huckleby was given credit for jail time served since July 11. She must pay $13 in restitution to the Food City Store. This case runs concurrently with all prior ones.

Lee Lincoln Evans III, 27, charged with falsifying a drug screening result, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with 45 days confinement. Evans was given credit for 12 days of jail time already served (per the CCSO). He must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on March 2.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

A wrongful termination lawsuit, filed on Jan. 17 in Claiborne County Chancery Court, alleges illegalities by Powell Valley Electric Cooperative (PVEC). Jo Ann Dillingham, who was employed for the last 25 years as the PVEC director of accounting and finance, was allegedly terminated after disclosing “illegal activities” to the auditing committee.

Dillingham, who was, according to the lawsuit, a cancer patient with ongoing health problems, had her health insurance terminated on Jan. 6 – the same day she was fired.

“…Powell Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc. had no justifiable reason for terminating (Dillingham), other than her failure and/or her refusal to remain silent about or participate in illegal activities by its defendant (PVEC), through its agents, servants and employees, and more specifically its general manager, Randell Meyers,” states the lawsuit, in part.

Dillingham is suing PVEC for a total $4 million in compensatory and punitive damages, plus costs and attorney’s fees. She is also demanding restoration of her position, salary, credits, fringe and other employment benefits.

When asked for comment on the pending lawsuit, the Claiborne Progress was referred to PVEC general counsel David Stanifer.

“We deny all allegations in her complaint and we are looking forward to our day in court,” he said.

Powell Valley Electric Cooperative was formed in 1938 to provide electrical services at the lowest possible costs to eight counties in Tennessee and Virginia. The Cooperative purchases power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) at wholesale prices and supplies electricity as a product to over 31,000 members. Approximately 78 cents of each dollar acquired through its member-owners and customers goes toward purchasing TVA power. The balance is used for construction, line and tree trimming maintenance, salaries and other operational and maintenance expenses. The Rural Utility Service, a federal agency that loans low-interest, long-term funds to PVEC and other rural companies, provides the Cooperative with the money to build power lines, according to the complaint.

As a public benefit corporation, PVEC exists because of the Tennessee Nonprofit Corporation Act. Tennessee Codes Annotated §65-25-203 requires the Cooperative services to be furnished at the lowest cost consistent with sound business principles.

Beginning in 2015, Dillingham alleges she began noticing several areas of concern in violation of federal, state and local policies, regulations, procedures and requirements of the TVA, the Internal Revenue Code, established practices of the Internal Revenue Service and PVEC.

“The plaintiff (Dillingham) discussed many issues and concerns with an outside auditing firm, Rodefer-Moss & Company, and trusted that these outside auditors were going to make audit recommendations to insure the financial stability of the defendant (PVEC), but none of (Dillingham’s) recommendations were noted in the final audit report issued for fiscal year ending June 30, 2016,” reads the Complaint, in part.

The lawsuit claims that, contrary to the auditor’s advice, Dillingham found instances during the last 25 years of ongoing understatements of taxable benefits for company provided vehicles.

Dillingham also claims that the general manager “had made several decisions that appeared to be for his personal gain and which otherwise would impact the financial standing” of the Cooperative.

In fiscal year 2014, PVEC proposed a policy for a 25 percent buyout of the company sick leave bank. The complaint claims the general manager increased the buyout to 50 percent, which allegedly benefited the general manager for his own personal agenda, resulting in significant costs to the Cooperative and its members, including ongoing annual payouts.

Dillingham claims that PVEC began in August of 2014 to keep surplus cash funds in Citizens Bank – a move that could very well be seen as a conflict of interest. At that time, the same person chaired the boards of both entities.

In August of 2014, the Cooperative had in excess of $7 million in Citizens Bank. By September of last year, PVEC had in its Citizens Bank account approximately $11 million in cash balances.

According to Dillingham, she could not find any instances in the PVEC board minutes to prove the board of directors had ever adopted a resolution allowing excess funds to be kept in Citizens Bank.

“While closing the June 30, 2016 fiscal year, (Dillingham) noted that National Rural Utilities Cooperative Financing Corporation (CFC) was paying a higher rate of interest on invested funds than Citizens Bank for which (Dillingham) thereafter brought to the attention of (PVEC) general manager,” reads the lawsuit, in part.

The Cooperative, according to Dillingham, had previously invested its surplus funds in CFC investments prior to the PVEC board chairman’s request that the funds remain in Citizens Bank.

Dillingham claims she recommended that the Cooperative resume investing its excess funds in CFC commercial paper since anything over $250,000 in any banking institution is not secured.

According to Dillingham, the renovation of the new PVEC offices had never been bid, resulting in a $1.4 million construction cost.

An individual had been hired as a temporary employee to oversee the construction project, at a salary of $156,000 per year. When construction was completed late last year, the general manager “created a new position and added that same individual as a permanent employee to perform maintenance work for (PVEC) at an annual salary of $78,000 with benefits,” reads the complaint, in part.

According to the lawsuit, the Cooperative wound up paying the maintenance man more than $126,000.

The complaint further alleges that relatives of the general manager had been hired to assist this individual during the construction phase.

The maintenance man had been provided a golf cart to traverse the building. And, repair costs for his private vehicle had been paid by PVEC funds, Dillingham alleges in her lawsuit.

Dillingham claims this man is a convicted felon.

The suit claims the general manager has provided “special privileges and special billings” to select customers. The complaint alleges the general manager “adjusted” more than $300,000 on jobs for one selective customer, resulting in increases to other customers who were forced to absorb the loss. Dillingham claims some entities, who are members of the Cooperative, have been charged almost double for the same type of services.

Dillingham says in her suit that the general manager has donated approximately $65,000 to an agency for which he was the executive director.

The general manager, the lawsuit claims, has spent more than $250,000 of member’s earnings for legal and consulting fees in an attempt to purchase Sunset Digital’s cable and internet system despite being aware that, by state law, the Cooperative cannot legally participate in that type of business.

The lawsuit cites eight projects that were never bid, which resulted in significant costs for PVEC and its members. Further, the suit alleges that the Cooperative contracted “with a select number of entities” without consideration of other contractors, creating a “monopolization of trade and monopolization of services” resulting in a restriction of trade in violation of Tennessee’s established policies.

The lawsuit claims PVEC is allowing “price fixing” to occur by failing to consider competitors.

“…by allowing a monopolization of its services in the eight counties that it serves, (PVEC) has allowed inefficiency in the marketplace to exist and has otherwise encouraged unnecessary high prices to its consumers for the goods, products, or services being supplied,” reads the lawsuit, in part.

These practices, the suit alleges, is in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act as found in T.C.A. §47-18-101.

In March of last year, Dillingham began noticing millions of dollars expended on the Cooperative’s right-of-way tree trimming program. She claims in her lawsuit that the Cooperative spent $1,442,986 in the space of five months’ time, despite apparent yearly monetary caps placed on the program by the PVEC board of directors.

On March 28, Meyers allegedly recommended to the board that $1.25 million be spent on the right-of-way tree trimming program with $704,000 of that amount to be spent on the ‘hack and spray method.’

As of Nov. 25, the Cooperative had already paid the hack and spray contractor $1,140,899, according to the lawsuit.

Dillingham claims the contractor had overbilled PVEC to the tune of at least $240,596 for two invoices billed in September.

The contractor had been paid $1,608,856 in total, since 2005, according to Dillingham.

She claims she also discovered that the same vendor had had the “right to audit” and “hold harmless” clauses removed from his recent contracts.

Dillingham insists that field checks of right-of-way services were not being done, prior to invoice approval. A field audit conducted in 2015 allegedly revealed overbilling by a tree trimming contractor who had been paid in excess of $13,000,000 since 2004.

Dillingham claims in her lawsuit that a line contractor, one of the Cooperative’s largest vendors, had been paid a total $11,486,731 during its services dating from 1996.

The lawsuit also claims that labor and equipment belonging to the Cooperative was being used on behalf of a PVEC board member.

On Nov. 28, Dillingham met with the PVEC Audit Committee to address her concerns. According to her lawsuit, she was suspended not long after that meeting and subsequently fired less than 60 days later.

“She filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court after she was suspended with pay and with benefits while we were doing our due diligence and checking out her allegations,” said Stanifer, representing PVEC.

Dillingham was “later discharged for cause as the result of her conduct,” he continued, adding that she then filed a second lawsuit in Chancery Court.

Attached to the original Complaint in the lawsuit are plaintiff’s interrogatories to the Cooperative. An interrogatory is a legal way for one side to ask the other side in a lawsuit for additional information not specifically ‘spelled out’ in related documents or not yet clear from the case.

Interrogatory number five apparently addresses remarks in the letter of termination, dated Jan. 6. The interrogatory requests the name of the fellow employee that was allegedly “pressured” to sneak copies of the Cooperative’s confidential business records for Dillingham’s personal use. It also asks what type of records and when this event allegedly occurred.

Number five also asks for the name of the person who allegedly heard Dillingham say that she wanted to “take down” the Cooperative. It also requests the name of the person who allegedly heard Dillingham say she had “considered shooting the General Manager, Board Chairman and other PVEC employees.”

Lafollette attorney David H. Dunaway is representing Dillingham.

The Claiborne Progress is watching this case closely, and will have more information as it becomes available.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

Amy Greene will give her first reading from her third novel, “The Nature of Fire,” on Feb. 4 at 10:15 a.m. at Walters State Community College’s Morristown Campus. The reading is part of the college’s two-day Mildred Haun Conference, which celebrates Appalachian culture, literature and scholarship. The conference honors the the author of “The Hawk’s Done Gone,” considered by many to be a classic among Appalachian literature.

Greene is the bestselling author of “Bloodroot” and “Long Man.” Both are set in East Tennessee and have received critical acclaim. Greene said her new book has some similarities to earlier works, but is also much different.

“I wanted to write something about contemporary Appalachia. The story is told from the point of view of a 15-year-old girl whose parents have been killed by a chemical spill. The story has some elements of a coming-of-age story, but also deals with the impact of the spill on the community,” Greene said.

“I started this book as a woman looking back on my life. I realized that I wanted to do something set this present moment in Appalachia. Some people live in big cities and live in a bubble. I want to say this is what is happening right now.”

The idea first came to Greene while she was working on “Long Man,” which centers on a child who goes missing in the days before TVA flooded parts of the region to expand electric service.

“TVA is both a blessing and a curse. It brought power and factories, but it also made us a dumping ground.”

The book doesn’t have a release date, but Greene is working on final edits and hopes it will be published next year. In the meantime, she’s looking forward to giving a hometown crowd a sneak peek.

“I consider Walters State my home and I am very loyal. When I read this out loud, I want to be in a safe place. I want to be among friends,” Greene said. She gave her first reading from “Bloodroot” at the college several months before publication. That original manuscript with all of her editor’s notes are now stored in the R. Jack Fishman Library on the Morristown campus.

Greene also has a lot of respect for the conference’s namesake. Mildred Haun is considered among the best in Appalachian literature. Her one complete writing, “The Hawk’s Done Gone,” is often cited as critics as a classic in the genre.

Haun grew up in the Dover community, near the Hamblen and Cocke border. While critics loved her book, the community in general had a very different reaction.

“When she published the book, many people in this area were very offended. The book was very honest and many did not appreciate her depictions of East Tennessee life,” said Dr. Viki Rouse, professor of English at Walters State and one of the foremost scholars on Mildred Haun.

“The Hawk’s Done Gone” is Haun’s only work. Her family has said she wrote a second book entitled “Diamond Hill.” That book was destroyed in a fire and Haun never attempted to rewrite it.

The Mildred Haun Conference is free. For more information, visit www.ws.edu/special-events/.

Over 5,900 credit and 4,000 non-credit students attend Walters State. The college has campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville and Tazewell. It offers over 100 associate degrees and technical certificates. Visit Walters State’s website at ws.edu.

Photo submitted Amy Greene at a reading and book signing at Walters State Community College following the release of her second novel, “The Long Man.”

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_amyglongman.jpgPhoto submitted Amy Greene at a reading and book signing at Walters State Community College following the release of her second novel, “The Long Man.”

Happy anniversary to us! This year marks the 130th anniversary of the Claiborne Progress! To commemorate our anniversary, we will be kicking off a year-long celebration on Feb. 1. Beginning with that issue, we will include historical stories and photos in each issue for the rest of this year. We need your help, though – there is so much history here in Claiborne County and we want you to share yours. Send us your stories and/or photos, and we will use as much as possible in print and/or online. If you know of someone who has a story to tell, let us know. We want to highlight Claiborne County’s colorful history. Send your ideas and submissions to manders@civitasmedia.com.

Judge Robert Estep cleared his daily docket recently of plea agreements during hearings in Claiborne County Sessions Court.

Ivan D. Kanefsky, 36, charged with assault, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with 17 days confinement. Kanefsky was given credit for 17 days of jail time already served. He must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines. Kanefsky is barred from any contact with his victims and must stay away from their residence.

Dawn Michelle Kitts, 44, charged with driving under the influence, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with two days confinement. Kitts was given credit for any jail time already served. She must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines and must attend the MADD Victim Impact Panel. Her driver’s license is revoked per the Dept. of Safety.

John C. Marlow, 30, charged with violation of the Big Game Tagging Law, was sentenced to 90 days unsupervised probation. As a condition of his probationary status, Marlow must meet all monetary obligations by April 13.

Chelsie E. Johnson, 37, charged with violation of the Big Game Tagging Law, was sentenced to 90 days unsupervised probation. As a condition of her probationary status, Johnson must pay all court costs in full by a hearing on April 13.

Casey Lee Johnson, 35, charged with violation of the Big Game Tagging Law, was sentenced to 90 days unsupervised probation. As a condition of his probationary status, Johnson must forfeit a pair of seized antlers and must pay all court costs in full by April 13.

James Tristen Rouse, 19, charged with reckless endangerment and possession of methamphetamine, was sentenced to a concurrent 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with 30 days of confinement. Rouse may be given credit for jail time if he completes an inpatient rehabilitation program. He must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines beginning on March 19. He must have no contact with his victims and is barred from their property.

James Paul Harrell, 40, charged with criminal impersonation and possession of a schedule II drugs, was sentenced to a concurrent 11 months, 29 days TDOC supervised probation with 100 days confinement. Harrell was given credit for 48 days of jail time already served. He must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines upon release. This case runs concurrently with a prior violation of probation one.

Lawrence Parks, 32, charged with criminal impersonation, was sentenced to six months ETHRA supervised probation. Parks was given credit for any jail time already served. He must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines. Parks is eligible for unsupervised probation once found fully compliant.

Joshua Noe, 31, charged with resisting arrest without a weapon, was sentenced to six months ETHRA supervised probation. Noe must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 10.

Michael D. Reece, 48, charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine, was sentenced to two years ETHRA supervised probation with 90 days confinement. Reece was given credit for any jail time served since Oct. 17. He must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 9.

Joseph Micheal Martin, 38, charged with possession of methamphetamine, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation with 30 days confinement. Martin was given credit for 30 days of jail time already served. He must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 9.

Melissa Sue Clark, 29, charged with possession of a schedule II drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Clark was given credit for any jail time already served. She must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 10. Clark forfeits all drugs and money seized by the New Tazewell Police Department.

Dustin Benny McDonald, 25, charged with possession of a schedule VI drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days TDOC supervised probation with 90 days confinement. McDonald was given credit for four days of jail time already served. He must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines within 30 days after release. This case runs concurrently with prior ones.

Michael Parker, 25, charged with simple possession of a schedule VI drugs, was sentenced to 11 months, 29 days ETHRA supervised probation. Parker must pay at least $75 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb. 10.

Nicholas A. Blackwell, 37, charged with two counts of theft under $500, was sentenced to two years ETHRA supervised probation. Blackwell must pay at least $100 per month in court costs and fines beginning on Feb 10. He forfeits $150 to the Economic Crime Fund.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

Claiborne County Habitat for Humanity has presented keys to new home owners, the family of Michael, Jordyn and Jacob Parker.

Volunteers from three states, colleges, board members, churches, family and friends gave their time and effort to the project, as Habitat for Humanity homes are built with volunteer labor.

Jordyn Parker, 21, was critically injured on June 14, 2012. She and her older brother Jared, then 17, were in a wreck and were both airlifted to the University of Tennessee Hospital in Knoxville, the nearest trauma center. Jared died Dec. 20, 2012 as the result of his injuries.

Jordyn survived but is dependent upon around-the-clock nursing care, as she is a quadriplegic and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

The Parker family’s new home is handicap-accessible to accommodate Jordyn’s needs.

Michael Parker is a single father and a minister in New Tazewell.

According to Beverly Rhyne, Michael Parker’s mother, the churches actively involved in the project were New Tazewell Methodist Church, New Tazewell Christian Church, Albermarle Presbyterian Church from Charlotte, North Carolina, Liberty Church of Christ from Liberty, Indiana and Greenville Cumberland Presbyterian Church from Greenville, North Carolina.

Rhyne added that many local businesses provided help with food and other services: Corner Café, Sweet as Honey Donuts, Fresh and Low grocery, Cumberland Lanes, McDonald’s, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Pizza Inn, Pizza Plus, Red Door Chinese Restaurant, Mike and Suzanne Barrett, Dave and Stephanie Newcomer, Carol Dunifer and Ken and Emily Wier.

“There were also cash donations from many family and friends to help with other food costs,” she said.

Others provided moral support and help in many ways, she said, including Duncan Lumber, Lakeway Habitat for Humanity from Morristown, Knoxville Habitat for Humanity, Sheriff David Ray, Claiborne County trustees and officers from the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department, Claiborne County Highway Department, A-1 Porta-John and past and present Habitat board members. National sponsors for Habitat include Dow Chemical, Plygem Corp., Allen Jackson Foundation, Yale Corp., Whirlpool, Valspar Paint, Cree Lighting and Schneider Electric.

“Claiborne County Habitat for Humanity and the Parker family want to express their thanks for all the kindness and support given,” Rhyne said.

Reach Marisa Anders at 423-254-5499 or on Twitter @newsgirl88.

Photo submitted Michael Parker and his daughter Jordyn in the doorway of their new home.

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_IMG_0330.jpgPhoto submitted Michael Parker and his daughter Jordyn in the doorway of their new home.

Photo submitted Many volunteers gave their time to help build a home through Habitat for Humanity for the family of Michael, Jordyn and Jacob Parker.

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_IMG_0335.jpgPhoto submitted Many volunteers gave their time to help build a home through Habitat for Humanity for the family of Michael, Jordyn and Jacob Parker.

Photo submitted Numerous donations of money, materials and labor went into the building of the Parker family’s new home.

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_IMG_0328.jpgPhoto submitted Numerous donations of money, materials and labor went into the building of the Parker family’s new home.

DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting Area Happenings, Church Events, Cemetery News, Reunions or Society items is Thursday at noon. See our website each week for a full listing of local events: www.claiborneprogress.net.

Driver License Safety Checkpoints

The Tennessee highway Patrol will be conducting driver license roadside safety checkpoints during the week of Jan. 22-28 on Cave Springs Road and State Route 33 in Claiborne County. Recognizing the danger presented to the public by unqualified drivers, Troopers will concentrate their efforts on vehicles being operated by drivers who would violate the driver license laws of Tennessee. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has found these driver license roadside safety checkpoints to be an effective means of enforcing driver license laws of Tennessee while ensuring the protection of all motorists.

Bee Friends

Spring is just around the corner. If you are thinking about keeping bees, whether you are new to the idea, have been around bees a lot, or anywhere in between please join us at our next meeting on Feb. 2. All are welcome. This month Bodie Osborne will be speaking about bee nutrition and making more honey. We are BEE FRIENDS, the local beekeeping group. We meet monthly, on the first Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Tazewell Campus (the old high school) of Walters State Community College. As you enter the parking lot for Walters State, there will be a banner at the door to the auditorium. Coffee and dessert will also be available at no cost.

Joint Operating Commission

The Joint Operating Commission (JOC) of the Claiborne Economic Partnership will be meeting Feb. 3 at noon at Old Town Grill. The public is welcome to attend.

Benefit Chili Supper

The Broken Spur Dance Club will be having a chili supper on Feb. 4 from 4-7 p.m. for Dylan Bray and his family to help out with medical expenses. Anyone who wants to cook please contact Heather Tarver or Lisa Tarver. Tickets will be $5 per person. The ticket includes a bowl or cup of chili, side dish, dessert and drink. Vendor tables may also be set up for various items, such as cookies, cakes, crafts or something handmade such as scarfs or hats. There will also be a raffle for a few prizes. Everyone is invited to come out and help to show the family love and support.

NTVFD Meeting

The North Tazewell Volunteer Fire Department will hold its monthly meeting Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. This is the annual election meeting. We will have nominations and election of officers and board members for 2017. If you are interested in becoming an officer or board member, please attend this meeting.

Claiborne County Planning Commission

The Claiborne County Regional Planning Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 at the Chamber of Commerce Office, 1732 Main Street, Tazewell. The public is welcome to attend.

New Tazewell Little League Signups

Signups for the New Tazewell Little League will be held every Tuesday in February at Hardee’s in Tazewell from 6-8 p.m. The dates are Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21 and Feb. 28. The tryout date is March 4 and opening day will be held April 1. Tryout times will be announced at signups. Tryout and opening day rain dates will be announced later, and opening day game times will be announced later as well. Anyone who has an interest in becoming a paid umpire for the 2017 Little League season, please stop in at Hardee’s during the signup nights for more information.

Bass Fishing Tournament

Mark your calendars — the Claiborne County Volunteer Rescue Squad’s 16th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament is scheduled for April 1. Entry forms are available by email (roghager@yahoo.com), pickup at Claiborne 911 center at the Claiborne Justice Center, at Rigsby’s Bait & Tackle, at Southern Outdoors, boat docks in Claiborne County or by calling 423- 626-5339. Come out and support your volunteer Rescue Squad.

Alzheimer’s Support Group

Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice, Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Laurel Manor Nursing Facility. Community partners: Alzheimer’s Tennessee; Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice; Laurel Manor Nursing Facility; Lambert Bookkeeping & Financial Services; Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, Inc.; Claiborne-Overholt Funeral Home; Eastridge Apartments LLC; Claiborne County Office on Aging. Everyone welcome.

Free Smoke Alarms

Springdale Volunteer Fire Department in partnership with the American Red Cross and the Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) will provide and install free smoke alarms to eligible households. If you live in the Springdale VFD district and need smoke alarms in your home, please provide the VFD with the following information: name, address, number of bedrooms, (number of children, handicapped living in house), daytime and evening phone number, and if you presently have any working smoke alarms. If you are unsure what fire district you are in, send the information anyway and we will make that determination. (DO NOT CALL 911.) Send the information to: Springdale Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. 327, New Tazewell, TN 37924. Someone will contact you when we will be installing the alarms. If may take some time to compile the information and get to all the qualifying homes. However, this is a two-year project, so please be patient. The American Red Cross and Springdale VFD will decide the order of installation.

Narcotics Anonymous

NA meetings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Middlesboro, Kentucky. For more information call 606-670-4356.

Sycamore Valley FCE Club

The Sycamore Valley FCE Club still has pecan pieces for sale at $9 per pound. This is our fundraiser to help 4-H Club and CEASE shelter. Contact Jane Fugate at 423-626-7496.

Weight Watchers Meetings

Weight Watchers meetings began Jan. 3 in the fellowship hall of the New Tazewell United Methodist Church. The meetings will be held each Tuesday at 5 p.m. The church is located across from Coffey Funeral Home. For more information call 423-489-9987.

American Legion Post #109

All veterans are invited to attend monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Activities begin at 6 p.m. with a meal. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at 335 Fulkerson Street in Tazewell.

Arthur Community Center Association

The Arthur Community Center Restoration Organization has regular meetings the second Thursday and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Arthur Community Center. All residents of Arthur Community are encouraged to attend. The ACCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the Arthur Community Center for the public to use for meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions, etc.

Beginner’s Computer Class

The Claiborne County Public Library is hosting a beginner’s computer class at the Harrogate Senior Citizens Center every other Friday at 1 p.m. For more information call the library at 423-626-5414.

City of Harrogate Meetings

The following meetings are held at Harrogate City Hall, 138 Harrogate Crossing: Board of Mayor and Aldermen – fourth Monday each month at 6 p.m.; Work Sessions – each month on the Tuesday prior to the BMA meetings, at 6 p.m.; Parks and Recreation Committee – second Monday of the month at 6 p.m., on an as-needed basis; Planning Commission – second Monday each month at 6:30 p.m. The Book Station Committee meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Harrogate Book Station, 310 Bristol Road. All meetings are open to the public.

Cumberland Gap Meetings

The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Historical Zoning Commission will be held the first Tuesday (following the first Monday) of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.

The regular monthly meetings for the Cumberland Gap Planning Commission will be held the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town, 330 Colwyn Street Cumberland Gap (if no items are to be discussed a meeting will not be held). The public is invited to attend.

The regular monthly meetings for the Town of Cumberland Gap Board of Mayor and Alderman will be held the first Monday evening of every month at 7 p.m. at the Cumberland Gap Town Hall, 330 Colwyn Street, Cumberland Gap. The Cumberland Gap Beer Board meeting follows the board meeting each month. At least one week before the regular scheduled meeting the board meets in a study session to review and finalize the agenda. That meeting starts at 6 p.m. and is usually held the Monday before the regular scheduled meeting. Both meetings are open to the public.

Free Adult High School Classes

The Claiborne County Adult High School is now offering free classes for students to earn credits to receive their Tennessee state high school diploma. Flexible scheduling is available for both day and evening classes. For more information, contact the Adult High School at 423-626-8222.

Free Spay and Neuter

The Animal Welfare League of Claiborne County is sponsoring a free spay/neuter for dogs and cats in the Claiborne County area for families with income less than $30,000 per year, depending upon the number of people in the household. Pick up applications at Harrogate Hospital for Animals, Russell Veterinary Services or Rowland Veterinary Services. You can also request spay applications at awlccspay@gmail.com . Complete application, including proof of income and mail to AWLCC, 200 Hatfield Morgan Lane, New Tazewell, TN 37825 or scan/email to email address above. Be sure to include a phone number.

Free Tech Classes at Library

Need help with technology? Would you like to learn more about your mobile device? You can now schedule an appointment at the Claiborne County Public Library for free help sessions. The library will be able to help with the following: Computers, tablets, phones, use of apps, etc.

Come prepared with: The device you need help with; any necessary usernames and passwords needed to access your device and/or accounts; the device fully charged, if not, please bring a charger; questions and/or concerns about your device.

The library staff will not: Run diagnostics; troubleshoot or fix any malfunctioning devices (unless related to library services); run antivirus scans; computer maintenance; replace parts on a device; credit card transactions.

Call for information, more details or to schedule an appointment at 423-626-5414 or email at claibornelibrary@gmail.com. One-on-one or group appointments are available.

Greene County Skills

Greene County Skills, Inc. is seeking individuals in Tennessee that have developmental or physical disability. Tennessee has a grant program offering assistance. For more information, call Greene County Skills, Inc. at 423-798-7137, ask for Karin Hagenburger or 423-798-7144 Teresa Crawford, Family Support Coordinator.

Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project

Outreach workers Tommy Brooks and Erin Haverland will be available to assist eligible veterans with enrollment in HVRP. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project helps veterans find secure employment through case management, job training, and referrals and links with other local service providers. Outreach workers can arrange visits with veterans in outlying areas who are unable to travel to the program office.Veterans Can Help is located at 511 Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917. Phone: 865-524-3926. In Knoxville, call 865-546-4813 for more information.

Town of Tazewell Meetings

The board meetings for the Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of Tazewell are conducted at Tazewell City Hall at 1830 Main Street, the second Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. The BMA Workshops are on Wednesday, prior to the scheduled board meeting at 6 p.m. as needed. The Planning Commission Meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month. The public is invited to attend these meetings.

There will be a GAP training for all burley tobacco growers on Feb. 2 at the Claiborne County Farm Bureau in New Tazewell.

Good Agriculture Practices or GAP training addresses grower expectations and requirements in the areas of recordkeeping, training and production practices. This training is offered by UT/TSU Extension and is open to all interested tobacco producers regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability, or national origin.

Dr. Eric Walker, tobacco specialist for the University of Tennessee, will be conducting the training. Pre-registration is required for this meeting so call 423-626-3742 to register as seating is limited. If you received a GAP handbook last year, please bring it to this training so it can be updated. If you are a new grower, you will receive a complete GAP handbook at this training meeting.

All major buyers require their contractors to be GAP certified. If you have questions concerning requirements or recommendations for GAP training, please contact your tobacco company representative.

Round two of the infamous ‘shock collar’ case got underway in Claiborne County Criminal Court on Monday with a bond reduction of $100,000. If Wayne C. Burkhart Jr., 47, is able to secure that amount, he will be a free man until his next status hearing, set for Feb. 27.

Burkhart, whose conviction in September of 2008 made national news, was given a ‘second chance’ late last year when the state agreed to set aside his conviction, effectively returning the case to square one.

The grand jury initially indicted Burkhart in December of 2007 after his then 17-year-old daughter filed allegations of sexual and physical abuse with authorities.

The true bill returned 41 counts against Burkhart that included five counts of aggravated child abuse, 14 counts of rape and 14 counts of incest.

The grand jury also indicted the defendant’s wife, Rebecca Lynn Burkhart, on eight counts of aggravated child abuse. She was later charged with two counts of aggravated child neglect and failure to report abuse.

The matter apparently came to a head when Burkhart allegedly used the animal shock collar on his daughter the day after she had accepted a date with a boy, according to the initial allegations filed with authorities.

The Burkhart trial was extensively covered by media across the country as the public learned the sordid details of incest and child abuse, including the routine use by Burkhart of the shock collar to ‘control’ his two teenage daughters.

The elder daughter testified during the trial that she had been raped on several occasions over the course of some three years. She said she finally decided to report the incidents when she realized her younger sister would be next in line to endure her father’s abuse.

Burkhart was sentenced to 70 years in prison. However, his sentence was subsequently reduced to 50 years.

In January of 2011, he filed an appeal. The Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the initial court conviction that led to his incarceration on three counts of aggravated child abuse, 11 counts of rape and 11 counts of incest.

The appeal challenged the sufficiency of the convicting evidence, the denial for a mistrial and the use of consecutive sentencing when determining the length of his prison term.

Burkhart was ordered by the state to be released from the penitentiary on Nov. 7. He was remanded to the Claiborne County Jail and was being held under a $500,000 bond. Judge Shayne Sexton reduced that bond to $100,000 during a hearing on Jan. 23.

Burkhart is barred from any contact with his victims, if he should be released.

The Claiborne Progress is following this case and will have more on this story as information becomes available.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

Wayne Burkhart

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_WAYNE-BURKHART.jpgWayne Burkhart

The Bulldogs have had a successful and busy month since returning from Christmas break.

Recently, GEAR UP recognized 28 seniors who achieved all of their benchmarks on the ACT.

Friday night, the Lady Bulldogs had an intense game against the Lady Yellow Jackets and won in overtime after an intense battle in the fourth quarter. The Boy’s basketball also pulled a win over Middlesboro in their game.

Yesterday was the annual CHS Sport Queen event with Madison Eversole winning this year’s queen position. All of the candidates who ran for Sport Queen and Princess would like to thank all of their sponsors.

February 3 will be Senior Night for basketball, cheerleading and the dance team. February 6 will be the Ninth Annual Pink Out at Claiborne. T-shirts for the event are now on sale at CHS and home games.

The Claiborne County Grand Jury returned several indictments during its Jan. 13 session, including one for Toby Turner, 36, indicted on one count of domestic assault during an incident allegedly occurring on Nov. 13.

A true bill was returned on James Howard Owens Jr., 60, indicted on one count of violation of the sexual offender registration act. According to the document, Owens allegedly failed to report in a timely manner to the designated law enforcement agency upon incarceration for another offense on or about July 5 of last year. Owens was previously convicted for second degree sexual assault, according to the true bill.

Joshua Andrew Osborne, 27, was indicted for allegedly violating the sexual offender registration act, on or about Aug. 16 of last year. The true bill states that Osborne failed to report to the designated law enforcement agency to update his registration as a sexual offender.

The grand jury returned an indictment on Theresa Gayle Grace, 51, on one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon allegedly occurring on or about Oct. 13. According to the indictment, Grace was previously convicted of a felony drug offense in which she was sentenced for sale of a schedule II controlled substance.

Eddie R. Lawson Jr., 31, was indicted under four separate true bills for one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, vandalism under $500, theft under $500, accessory after the fact and possession of a schedule II and a schedule IV controlled substances. These events allegedly occurred during incidents on Nov. 2, Aug. 29 and Dec. 1. According to the indictment, Lawson unlawfully possessed a firearm after having been convicted of a felony drug offense.

A true bill was returned on Brandon Wayne Powell, 39, indicted on 14 counts of fraudulent use of a debit card under $500 and two counts of theft over $500 during events allegedly occurring from March 7 through March 9.

Danny Paul Brock, 58, was indicted on one count each of driving under the influence (third offense) and driving on a revoked license during events allegedly occurring on March 19. Brock was previously convicted of driving under the influence on Aug. 23, 2011, in Knox County, Tennessee and on Jan. 12, 2012, in the District Court of Kentucky.

The grand jury returned an indictment on Michael David Ayers, 27, on one count each of burglary and vandalism over $500 allegedly occurring on Aug. 14.

Grady William Dockery, 37, was indicted on one count of theft over $1,000 during an event allegedly occurring on Nov. 3.

An indictment does not indicate guilt. It does indicate that the grand jury found enough evidence to warrant handing the case over to trial.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

Roy Michael Ford was found guilty as charged of second-degree murder Thursday afternoon by a Claiborne County Criminal Court jury.

Ford, 60, of Speedwell, was charged after an altercation with Billy Scott Brogan, also known as Scotty, that occurred along the shoulder of Hwy. 63 on May 30, 2015. The location was near the turnoff to Powell Valley School in Speedwell.

According to a report by Det. Bradley Duncan of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office, his investigation revealed that Ford fatally shot Brogan with a .38 special handgun during the course of the incident. The report states that after the shot was fired, Brogan attempted to flee from Ford. The victim collapsed near the rear of his own vehicle, landing face down in a ditch, the report states.

Duncan retrieved the handgun and three spent .38 shell casings at the scene.

Brogan, also of Speedwell, was 44 at the time of his death.

Ford was arrested at the scene and booked into the Claiborne County Jail under a $500,000 secured bond.

Later, while under care in the Claiborne Medical Center, Ford reportedly assaulted a duty nurse and two sheriff’s deputies during a disruption on June 3, 2015.

Deputy Randy Wilmoth stated in his report that Ford struck the deputy on his chest, swung at him and attempted to reach for his firearm prior to the arrival of fellow officer Andrew Sturgill.

“The defendant (Ford) failed to comply with the commands of both officers and, trying to intimidate the officers, began slinging trays and tearing items off the wall in his room,” the report reads, in part.

The officers deployed tasers, according to the report, “with little to no effect on the defendant and force was ultimately employed by the officers in an effort to subdue him.” Once restrained, Ford was given a sedative, the report says.

In September 2015 a grand jury indicted Ford for second-degree murder, attempted escape and three counts of assault.

Based upon Thursday’s verdict, Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton revoked Ford’s bail and he was taken back into custody at the Claiborne County Jail, according to the 8th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.

This case was prosecuted by Duncan of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Claiborne County E-911, Claiborne County EMS, Speedwell Volunteer Fire Department, Claiborne County Rescue Squad and Tennessee Highway Patrol assisted in the investigation.

At trial, the State was represented by District Attorney General Jared Effler and Assistants District Attorney General Graham Wilson and Matthew McClung.

Attorney Wesley Stone represented Ford.

Ford’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24.

Reach Marisa Anders at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @newsgirl88.

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Breaking-News2-2.jpg

Roy Michael Ford

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Roy-Michael-Ford-1.jpgRoy Michael Ford

A former Claiborne County Jail corrections officer pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to acting as a drug ‘mule’ by carrying contraband into the facility on behalf of inmates.

Terry Cody Hill, 24, was indicted late last year by the grand jury for official misconduct, introduction of contraband into a penal facility and possession of a schedule III controlled substance.

An incident report, penned on Oct. 28 by CCSO Detective Bradley Duncan, states Hill was intercepted upon entering the Claiborne Justice Center prior to his work shift.

Duncan, CCSO Detective Tim Shrout and Captain Larry Martin conducted an interview with the former officer.

“During the interview, the defendant (Hill) stated to the investigators that he had on two occasions met with a relative of Joshua ‘Trucker’ Barnett, an inmate at the Claiborne County Jail, to receive cash payments for the delivery of narcotic drugs to Barnett in the jail,” states the incident report, in part.

According to Duncan, the corrections officer had been unsuccessful in delivering the narcotics to Barnett on both those occasions. However, Hill apparently admitted to the investigators that he had delivered a package he believed to be drugs to John Collins, another inmate of the Claiborne County Jail.

During the interview, Hill apparently denied having illegal drugs on his person. However, he was later caught on video surveillance taking ‘something’ from his boot and placing it into the trash can during a break in the interview, according to the initial incident report.

Hill admitted to bringing Subutex into the facility when confronted with the package retrieved from the trash can, which was wrapped with masking tape. Hill claimed he had smuggled the narcotic for his own personal use, according to Duncan, in his report.

Hill pleaded guilty to official misconduct and introduction of contraband into a penal facility. The possession charge was apparently dropped during the course of the plea hearing.

Criminal Court Judge Shayne Sexton sentenced Hill to three years of unsupervised probation. A judicial diversion hearing will occur on Feb. 27, meaning Hill could be given extra time to get his ‘house in order’ prior to serving his sentence.

As part of his plea agreement, Hill must pay court costs in the amount of at least $100 per month, beginning on Feb. 24.

Both counts in his plea agreement are felonies. Introduction of contraband into a penal facility is a class C felony and official misconduct is a class E felony, according to Tennessee Code Annotated.

Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.

Terry Cody Hill

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_32701F-terry-hill.jpgTerry Cody Hill

UT-TSU Extension Partnership in Claiborne County is offering a basket workshop on Feb. 18 at Harrogate Senior Center from 10 a.m. until they’re complete.

This basket is a great basket for storing your grocery bags to use again. The basket has a leather handle to hang on a wall or door and a hole in the wood bottom to retrieve the next bag. Participants will be learning the heritage skill of basket making as they make this basket.

The cost for the workshop is $25, which covers the supplies to make the basket. Call the extension office at 626-3742 to register or for more information. You must register for this workshop by Feb. 8.

Participants will need to bring a dishpan, 7-8 heavy duty spring type clothes pins or clamps, old scissors, tape measure, pencil, case knife and pocket knife, an awl, needle-nose pliers, an old towel, and your lunch and any snacks to this workshop.

This workshop and all programs offered by Extension are open to anyone who would like to participate. If you would like to learn more about how UT-TSU Extension serves Claiborne County you can visit the office, call us at 423-626-3742, visit our website at claiboren.tennessee.edu, like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/extensionclaiborne), or follow us on Twitter @ClaiborneExt.

http://claiborneprogress.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_basket-workshop.jpg

Tax preparers do a big chunk of America’s tax returns — more than 80 million a year, according to the IRS — but if you’re nervous about handing confidential information to someone in a largely unregulated field, you’re not alone.

Here are some tips to help you find a good tax preparer and reduce the risk of expensive errors and exposing your finances.

First, decide if you really need a tax preparer. Everyone’s tax situation is different, but many millions of them are simple enough — some W-2s from work, mortgage interest or a few other obvious deductions — to handle in-house. If that’s the case, it might be cheaper and faster to buy software and do your taxes yourself .

“Obviously the more you have going on, the more I would say go see a preparer,” says Trish Evenstad, president of the Wisconsin Society of Enrolled Agents.

If you do need a preparer, be choosy. “I wouldn’t just simply go through the phone book and pick someone randomly,” says Melissa Labant, director of tax policy and advocacy at the American Institute of CPAs. Asking friends, family or colleagues for recommendations can quickly reveal a preparer who’s caused headaches, she said.

Tax attorneys and enrolled agents specialize in or have passed exams on tax rules, and many certified public accountants also specialize in tax preparation. At a minimum, Labant says, a legitimate preparer should have a Preparer Tax Identification Number, or PTIN, from the IRS.

Never assume that because someone works at a big tax-prep company he or she must be an enrolled agent or a certified public accountant, Evenstad warns. And don’t assume a PTIN is valid, either — a 2014 Government Accountability Office study caught some unscrupulous preparers using fake PTINs or ones that didn’t belong to them. You can verify PTINs and professional credentials on the IRS website , and you can check accounting and law licenses on state-level CPA and bar association websites. The National Association of Enrolled Agents also maintains a directory.

Know what to look for. The IRS requires paid tax preparers to put their name and PTIN on returns they prepare. Not doing so, or asking you to sign a blank return first, suggests a preparer is up to no good, Evenstad said. Directing your refund to a bank account that’s not yours is another red flag. And make sure your return doesn’t say “self-prepared.”

Good preparers will also ask for last year’s return, Labant says. “If they don’t, then you’ll know right away this person is not exercising due diligence and they could easily be missing several key items that need to be reported on your tax return.”

The preparer should provide a secure portal for sending information, too.

“If someone called me and said, ‘Just email me a copy of your driver’s license,’ that would make me a little nervous about how well they’re protecting taxpayer identification information,” Labant says.

Report bad apples. If, despite your efforts, a preparer wrongs you, you have a few options. You can complain to the IRS by filling out Form 14157 and sending along supporting documents. Alerting the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the National Association of Tax Professionals and other professional groups might also spark an internal investigation if the preparer is a member, Evenstad says.

Getting restitution, though, might be harder. According to Council of Better Business Bureaus data, just 66 percent of customer complaints against tax preparers in 2015 were resolved — well below the national average of 79 percent across all industries, according to BBB spokesperson Katherine Hutt. By comparison, the cellular industry and banks usually have 98 percent and 97 percent resolution rates, she notes.

“Most of the time, when people are unhappy with a service like that, it’s because they didn’t check out the company ahead of time. Their complaints are usually the same thing that previous customers have complained about,” Hutt says.

If a preparer steals from you, call the police and file a complaint with the IRS.

“If they’ve stolen your identity, you definitely want to turn them in to the (IRS) Office of Professional Responsibility,” Evenstad says. “Because if they’ve stolen yours, they’ve probably stolen other people’s.”

Good preparers who make honest mistakes usually will pay your penalties, though any extra taxes will likely be on you, Evenstad adds.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet . Email staff writer Tina Orem: torem@nerdwallet.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s acknowledgement last fall that he had not paid federal income tax in years left some questioning why they should have to pay taxes.

“I think you pay taxes because it’s the right thing to do,” National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson says.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t take tax benefits to which you’re entitled.

“It’s easy to point to some of the provisions that you may feel are in the law that are written to let some people pay zero taxes and ignore that you are getting significant benefits delivered to you through the Internal Revenue code to you, yourself,” she said.

Among those:

“If you’re an employee, you might be benefiting from employer-provided health insurance or tax-deferred retirement savings,” she said. “If you own a home, you may be benefiting from the deduction of mortgage interest, and those are significant.”

People tend to focus on special interests during discussions of tax reform. But Olson said, “the biggest special benefits go to the middle class, or anybody who owns a home or has a retirement account or gets employer-provided health insurance.”

Tax experts say many people over-pay their taxes because they are not taking advantage of all the credits and deductions to which they are entitled.

Greg Rosica, a tax partner at Ernst & Young, says that could include things like deducting mileage if you drive to volunteer at a charity or drop off a donation of goods.

If you’re self-employed, add up your business expenses. “There are many deductions, items that are directly deductible against wages,” Rosica said.

That can include things like the phone bill or paper for the printer — or for the room in your house where you conduct your business. But if you want to take that deduction, “you must regularly use part of your home exclusively for conducting business,” the IRS says.

There are two ways to compute home office deductions — one a simplified method of $5 per square foot for up to 300 square feet, and the other based on the actual costs of using the home office.

The “EY Tax Guide 2017” lists 50 of the deductions that people are most likely to overlook.

If you took out a new mortgage or refinanced an existing one and paid points, those may be deductible, but they have to be amortized over the life of the loan. If you suffered a major uninsured loss, that may qualify as well.

Contact lenses, eyeglasses and hearing aids qualify as medical deductions. So do breast pumps and lactation supplies and contraceptives, if bought with a prescription. The cost of travel to get medical care also may be deductible. But you can only deduct medical expenses that exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income — or 7.5 percent if you are 65 or older.

However, the guide cautions, “the IRS has ruled that the cost of marijuana or any other federally controlled substance, even if recommended by a physician in a state whose laws permit such purchase and use, is not deductible.”

Trump has not released his tax returns. But The New York Times reported last year that he claimed more than $900 million in losses in 1995, enabling him to pay nothing in taxes for as many as 18 years.

Asked during a presidential debate in October whether he used the loss to avoid paying taxes, he said, “Of course I do.”

The Tax Policy Center estimates that about 44.5 percent of taxpayers will pay no income taxes for 2016.

“Just because people don’t pay federal income tax doesn’t mean they don’t pay any tax,” center fellow Roberton C. Williams wrote on its website. “In fact, nearly everyone pays something. Three-fifths of those who don’t owe income tax work, and thus pay Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes. And almost everyone pays state and local sales taxes, excise taxes or some other levy.”

Penalties for non-payment of taxes can add up.

There are penalties for failing to file your tax return and failing to pay your taxes.

The IRS advises people to file their tax returns even if they can’t afford to pay what’s due. The agency will work with taxpayers to set up installment plans if they are unable to afford the tax bill all at once.

“In most cases,” the IRS says, “the failure to-to-file penalty is 10 times more than the failure-to-pay penalty.”

Last summer, Cindy Hockenberry decided she’d had it with threatening phone calls claiming she was behind on her taxes.

“One day — I’m not kidding you — I got called three times,” she said.

Sometimes the calls were automated. But once, when she got a call from a live person, Hockenberry — who happens to be the director of education and research at the National Association of Tax Professionals — decided to play along.

The caller told her she owed over $5,000 in back taxes. “He was pretty convincing,” Hockenberry recalls. “”He was saying the right things … using the right tax lingo.”

“Then I said to him, ‘Do you realize that it’s not lawful to impersonate an IRS employee?’ … He came back and said, ‘Well, do you realize it’s unlawful not to pay your taxes?’ I said, ‘Yes, as a matter of fact, I do — which is why I know for a fact I have paid all my taxes.’”

There was a pause, she said. Then the caller cursed at her and hung up.

Hockenberry’s story is just one example of how brazen tax scammers can be. In roughly the last three years, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the body that oversees the IRS, has received more than 1.8 million reports of calls from people impersonating IRS employees, and almost 10,000 victims have lost a total of nearly $50 million. Tax-related email phishing and malware incidents shot up 400 percent in the 2016 tax season, according to the IRS.

Recent schemes include calls threatening arrest for an overdue, fictitious “federal student tax,” emails with fake tax bills attached and IRS impersonators demanding payment via gift cards or prepaid cards.

Portland, Oregon-based CPA Joe Seifert says even tax preparers receive emails from scammers, asking for the usernames and passwords that let them access special IRS online tools.

Criminals pose as state tax officials to make a buck, too. For example, the Kansas Department of Revenue has received complaints about calls from employee impersonators, according to a department spokesperson. Scammers are also issuing letters and emails under the state’s name.

As tax season approaches, people will likely see more scams, the Federal Trade Commission warns. There’s little to prevent a criminal from picking up the phone or sending a bogus email, but there are four things you can do when these fishy communications arrive:

1. Know how the IRS initiates contact. “The IRS should never, ever be contacting you by email, ever. They should never ever be contacting you by phone. They should only be contacting you via letter,” Seifert says.

2. Report creepy messages. You can forward shady tax-related emails to phishing@irs.gov and report suspicious phone calls to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. Collecting these reports recently helped the Department of Justice indict dozens of people in an alleged international call-center fraud scheme.

3. Verify issues with the IRS or your state tax authority. Question out-of-the-blue communications about alleged tax balances. If you owe back taxes , or think you might, call your tax professional, the IRS or the state tax department directly, Seifert says. A new online tool at IRS.gov also lets you look up unpaid taxes, penalties and interest.

4. Never pay over the phone. Even if you owe, the IRS never asks for credit, debit, prepaid card or bank information via phone, email, text or social media.

If someone does, “Just hang up on them,” Seifert says.

This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet . Email staff writer Tina Orem: torem@nerdwallet.com.

GREENEVILLE — Jason Wayne Helton, also known as Crack Baby, 33, of Morristown, was sentenced to serve 262 months in federal prison following a conviction for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in East Tennessee.

Helton was sentenced on Jan. 31 by the Honorable R. Leon Jordan, U.S. District Court Judge.

According to his plea agreement on file with U.S. District Court, Helton sold quantities of methamphetamine to an individual working on behalf of law enforcement on three occasions between December 2015 and March 2016. In February 2016, a federal search warrant was executed at a residence in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where Helton was present and scheduled to obtain and transport an ounce and a half of methamphetamine back to Tennessee. Another federal search warrant was executed at Helton’s residence in Morristown in March 2016 which resulted in the seizure of an additional quantity of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grainger County Sheriff’s Office, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, Morristown, Tennessee Police Department and the Third and Fourth District Judicial Drug Task Forces. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Taylor represented the United States.

This case was a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.