Alice Cooper will perform at the Tennessee Theater June 12.  

  Early in his career Alice Cooper was searching for a persona for his hard rock heavy metal music. As an architect of the music genre, cooper was looking to develop an image that would endear him to fans of hard rock. Influenced by old black And white horror movies, Cooper hit upon a persona that electrified the fans, earned him numerous gold and platinum records and won him a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

  “I enjoyed sitting late at night watching horror movies about the wolf man, Dracula, Frankenstein,” Cooper said in a telephone interview. “There was no monster in rock and roll, so, I decided to personify the bad guy, the monster. I decided to be the villain.”

  Cooper brings his elaborate stage act to the Tennessee Theater June 12, at 8 p.m.

Cooper currently hosts the popular radio show “Nights with Alice Cooper” and is promoting his 25^th studio album. During his radio show, Cooper relates anecdotes of his long illustrious career touring with many of iconic bands of the’ 70s and ‘80s.

 “Dick Clark hired me to do that show,” Cooper said. “I know almost everyone who plays the old classic rock and that makes for a lot of funny stories. I collaborated with several artists on my latest album ‘Welcome to my Nightmare.’ Vince Gill plays the guitar on ‘Runaway Train.’ That guy can really jam. I think those country guys like to let loose some time and belt out a little rock and roll.”

  As the summer months approach, kids everywhere will be hearing the classic Alice Cooper anthem that has become a tradition as a prelude to summer vacation. Across the nation the song “School’s Out” will be blasting from radios everywhere. After more than 35 years the song still carries a message every student in the nation can identify with.  

  “When I first heard that song I knew it was going to be a hit,” Cooper said. “I wanted to follow it up with something similar. Maybe, ‘School’s Back in.’ But, nobody wants to celebrate that.”  

   Cooper’s music continues to attract a new legion of fans with each passing year. “What I do is classic rock. Heavy metal is rock with an attitude. Kids want to hear that old rock and roll. The songs still work. Kids are still listening to the bands of the ‘70s such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath.”

 Without Alice Cooper, there might never have been Nine Inch Nails, Motley Crue, Slipknot or Rob Zombie...maybe not even David Bowie. Cooper invented the concept of the rock concert as theater. With his influence on rock and roll long since acknowledged, there is little that Alice Cooper hasn't achieved in his remarkable career.

   A Sevier County man was listed in critical condition at UT Medical Center Wednesday after being shot in an altercation at a home on Yellow Breeches Road. According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals,  Sheriff’s Officers responded to a 911 call at 1015 Yellow Breeches Road after the caller stated that her boyfriend, who lived nearby, was enroute to her parents’ home, where she was staying, and he had called and threatened to kill them.

      The subject, David Heuman, 29, arrived at the home while the caller was still talking with 911 dispatchers and the caller’s Father encountered Heuman outside the home. He told Heuman to leave but he refused and advanced on the father. After an altercation he fired a gun striking Heuman in the abdomen. Heuman was transported to U.T. Hospital where he was admitted into the trauma surgery intensive care unit. Detectives were called to the scene where and investigation was conducted. The case will be presented to the District Attorney General’s Office for review. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

     George Washington, the father of our country, could arguably be regarded as the first action hero. While he garners much respect and reverence, his humble beginnings were, at times, somewhat comical. Early politics in America was vastly different by today’s standards. There were things politicians could do then that they are absolutely forbidden to do today. Following two successive political defeats, Washington quickly learned a thing or two about campaigning. He learned that to win an election sometimes a politician had to stoop to the level of his opponent.  

     The first election George Washington won was not for President of the United States. It was for a seat in the Virginia House of Burgesses under British Colonial rule. His technique for winning the election was questionable. He got many of the voters drunk.

     The House of Burgesses was the first elective assembly Great Britain established in its overseas possessions. In 1755, before the United States declared her independence, 23-year-old George Washington decided to run for burgess in Frederick County, Virginia.

     Winning would not be an easy task. He was unpopular with the voters because, as commander-in-chief of Virginia’s frontier forces, he had seen it necessary to seize horses and wagons from the locals to bolster his own forces. He had also conducted a campaign against the local saloons where his soldiers became unfit for service. Washington lost in 1755.  He tried again in 1757, but, to no avail. He began to study his opponents and their tactics for winning. He noticed that his opponents would appear at the polling place as the votes were being cast. Here they would do a little last minute campaigning. Most often his opponent was armed with a jug of whiskey or rum. His opponent would offer the voter a quick drink to ease their thirst and remind the voters to vote for him.

     In   1758, Washington ran for burgess again. This time he had a political strategy he knew wouldn’t fail. He would simply outdo his opponents in their offering of whiskey. In the process he would get the voters thoroughly liquored up. Whether or not he intended to get the voters thoroughly inebriated is subject to debate. But, the fact remains a lot of liquor was consumed that day.                                                  

     On Election Day, Washington was away with the militia. Therefore he sent a friend, Lieutenant Charles Smith, to tend to the election in his absence. Smith appeared at the polling place in Frederick County ready for some last minute campaigning. Unlike Washington’s opponents, who showed up armed with a single gallon of liquor, Smith arrived with a horse drawn wagon loaded with 160 gallons of various liquors. This included 28 gallons of rum, 50 gallons of rum punch, 34 gallons of wine, 46 gallons of beer and two gallons of hard cider. He also had a number of mugs from which the voters could drink.

   Washington had spent several weeks making the liquor himself. That’s right! George Washington, like many farmers of the day, was a moonshiner. He was ready to kick this campaign into high gear and give new meaning to the term political party.  

   As the voters appeared Smith offered them a few drinks to quench their thirst. He invited them to drink to their heart’s content. Many of the voters who appeared that day clearly were not Washington supporters. But, after a few large mugs of whiskey they began to warm up to ol’ George. Smith took this last opportunity to make one final speech on Washington’s behalf to the inebriated constituents. The drunks, that is, the voters who had only hours before disliked George Washington, were now applauding him. No one knows how many voters got drunk that day. But all 160 gallons of liquor was consumed in the festive event. 

      Washington won the election receiving 310 votes. He beat out 3 other opponents.  One has to wonder if the voters woke up the next morning with a hangover and asked, “I voted for whom?”

     In 1761, Washington was reelected to the House of Burgesses. This time there was no drinking involved. He employed a different tactic. He had a dinner party complete with fiddler in which he entertained his constituents. Today, handing out drinks at the polls is strictly forbidden.

This is one of 50 strange but true stories in a new book written by Michael Williams. The book is entitled "Stranger than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

    Michael Williams has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

    The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864. For more information click on this link http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Than-Fiction-Lincoln-Volume/dp/1463714858/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337860320&sr=1-1

                     Styx will perform in Knoxville June 1.

     The iconic rock group Styx is coming to the Tennessee Theater June 1, at 8:00 P.M. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater.

    The band became famous in the 1970s and 80s for such hits as "Lady", "Come Sail Away", "Babe", "The Best of Times", "Too Much Time on My Hands",  "Mr. Roboto”,  "Show Me the Way", "Don't Let It End",  and "Renegade.” The band has four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum by the RIAA.

  “We’ve been touring since January hitting both coasts,” said Bassist Ricky Phillips in a telephone interview. “We toured the UK last year with Journey and Foreigner. I am looking forward to playing Knoxville. We have played there before.”

  Currently, the band is promoting two new projects including a Blu-ray DVD and a compilation album.

“Our newest CD is a compilation of Regeneration Volumes one and two,” Phillips said. “Our Blu-Ray DVD is entitled ‘Grand Illusion.’ In the bonus features it includes interviews with our road crew. Although, they are behind the scenes and out of the public eye, they are a big part of our show and we couldn’t do what we do without them. They are as dedicated as we are.”

  Phillips joined Styx in 1999. Since then the band has performed more live shows than all of the previous years of its career combined. During the interim the band has performed in two Super-Bowl appearances, Pollstar Box Office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Bad Company and others, as well as two studio albums and no end in sight. STYX continues to attract a new legion of dedicated fans with each passing year.

  “ I am sometimes surprised when I meet some of our fans,” Phillips said. “I have met young fans who obviously weren’t alive in the ‘70s and ‘80s and some that were obviously not around in the last century. But, the younger fans want to return to the roots of rock and roll. They want to hear Hendrix and the big arena bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s. They want to hear this music and see where it came from. This is classic rock.”

   The Tennessee Theatre is located at 604 South Gay Street in Knoxville. Tickets can be purchased online at  http://www.tennesseetheatre.com  or by calling 865-995-4444 or 877-995-9961.

     Walters State Community College invites prospective instructors to attend the 2012 Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fair from 5-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29, in the Dr. Jack E. Campbell College Center on the Morristown campus. Deans and department heads will be on hand to meet applicants, discuss teaching requirements and review applications.

     “We’re looking for adjunct faculty members for both day and evening classes throughout our service area. We have campuses in Morristown, Greeneville, Sevierville and Tazewell. We teach classes in several other counties and we have many online courses,” said Linda Roberts, dean of distance education and assistant vice president for academic affairs at Walters State.

     Roberts said the fair began several years ago as an effort to draw more adjunct instructors and to make people aware that opportunities to teach part-time are available at the college. The fair has been so successful that it’s now an annual event. Roberts said the fair has added a diverse group of people to the teaching ranks.

     “People who are successful in fields outside the academic arena bring much to the classroom. Many of our adjunct faculty members are stay-at-home moms. Others own a small business or work for non-profit organizations,” Roberts said.

     Most courses do require a master’s degree to teach. The college also requires 18 graduate hours in the subject taught. Some technical courses only require a bachelor’s degree. Those attending the fair should bring completed application, resumes and transcripts. A Walters State application is available at www.ws.edu/about/jobs.

     Roberts said adjunct faculty members play a big role in providing classes to students in different formats: dual enrollment (offered at high schools), accelerated courses (five-week semesters), videostreaming and web-based courses. The college offers many classes online and as hybrids, with the class meeting a few times a semester while most of the work is completed online.

    Elesha Goodfriend was recruited in the first adjunct faculty fair and is teaching 13 hours this summer. She likes the flexibility and the extra time to spend with Haley, 6, her daughter.

    “Being an adjunct faculty member is very flexible. You can do as much or as little as you want to do. I teach three or four classes, but many have full-time jobs,” Goodfriend said. She teaches biology 1, 2 and concepts of biology. She also helps plan science courses aimed at middle school students through Walters State’s Kids College and Talented and Gifted (TAG) programs.

  “I enjoy helping students. Walters State has a good mix. Some students are right out of high school and others are returning to school. You have a chance to get to know students,” she said.

   Goodfriend also appreciates the chance to use new technology.

   Walters State is looking for adjuncts in many areas, including: American government, anatomy and physiology, art history, biology, chemistry, computer science, English, first aid, geography, health information technology, mathematics, nursing (with MSN), philosophy, political science, psychology, Spanish, special education, speech, violin and voice.

    Division deans and department heads will be at the Adjunct Faculty Recruitment Fair to meet with prospective instructors. For more information, contact the Office of Distance Education at (423) 585-6996 or e-mail Roberts at Linda.Roberts@ws.edu.

 Kaley Shepherd, left, and Courtney Bohanan stand with Ronnie Taylor, director of educational services at the Walters State Sevier County Campus. The students earned an associate degree from the college before earning their high school diplomas.

  The sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” may become too familiar for two Sevier County scholars. Both Kaley Shepherd of Gatlinburg and Courtney Bohanan of Sevierville are participating in two graduations this month. The pair graduated from Walters State Community College on May 4. This weekend, they'll graduate from Gatlinburg Pittman High School and Sevier County High School.

The two enrolled in dual enrollment college, a program that allows students to take Walters State Community College courses while still in high school. The college courses meet requirements for a high school diploma and an associate’s degree. Many students take a few dual enrollment courses. Area high school graduates often leave high school with a semester of college credits. Popular courses include English, psychology and history.

Shepherd and Bohanan are full participants. Both took one or two courses during their freshman year. Most of their junior and senior years were spent on the Walters State Sevier County Campus.

Why add the stress of college to what are often referred to as the best years of your life? Both wanted more challenging classes and both saw it as a way to save money on college courses.

“This has saved me more than $50,000 and two years,” said Bohanan. She will enter Carson-Newman College as a junior in nursing.

“My mom is a nurse and I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field. I did think about medical school, but I want to have a family, too. I thought being in school for so long would interfere with my desire to be a mother. Nursing requires many of the same traits and enables you to positively impact many lives,” Bohanan said.

Shepherd plans on entering the University of Tennessee this fall and has been awarded prestigious Pledge and Volunteer Scholarships. She then plans on attending graduate school to study the psychology of corporations and organizations, leading to a career in marketing or human resources.

“At first, taking a full dual enrollment schedule was challenging. I had to learn how to manage my time,” Shepherd said. Gatlinburg-Pittman High School required her to be there for the first period, but that class was almost always a dual enrollment class offered at the high school. Most of her time was spent on campus.

 “I got to know the faculty members and administration very well. Now, I consider many of them friend,” Shepherd said. She wanted to thank two particular faculty members: Dr. Timothy Holder, associate professor of history, and Dr. Terry Rawlinson, assistant professor of psychology.

 “They were a big help inside and outside the classroom. Dr. Rawlinson gave me different strategies for choosing where I would go after Walters State and for graduate school,” Shepherd said.

 Likewise, Bohanan became good friends with Amanda Barnes, student service coordinator and Ronnie Taylor, director of educational services the Sevier County Campus.

 "I knew whatever question or problem I had, they would be able to answer it,” Bohanan said.

   The two think dual enrollment college is great, but warn that the program’s advantages do come with extra responsibility.

  “Make sure that getting your education now is your priority.  I did get out of high school early everyday, but I spent so much time studying and even had some night courses,” Shepherd said.

     Floyd's Market, located at 12221 Chapman Highway was robbed at gunpoint Thursday.    

   According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, On Thursday May 17, at approximately 10 P.M., a man brandishing a handgun entered the store and robbed the clerk of an undisclosed amount of money.  

   The clerk told officers that the perpetrator entered the store and presented a black handgun and made her open the cash register and give him the contents before he fled on foot. The robber is described as being a white male between 5’9” and 6’0” tall, thin build, brown medium length hair, wearing a brown “Carhart” baseball type cap, faded blue jeans and a green long sleeved T-shirt that had “Carhart” in large letters across the front. The suspect also had a blue surgical mask on his face.

No vehicle was seen by the clerk after the suspect fled the scene. Anyone with information about the identity of the robber is asked to call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 865-428-1899 or 865-453-4668.

    An early morning drug round up has netted several arrests in Sevier County. The arrests came after a Sevier County Grand Jury handed down the sealed presentments this week. The presentments are the results of an undercover operation conducted by Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals and the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit. At the present time the following suspects have been arrested. More arrests are expected throughout the rest of the day and into the night.

Dorothy Lethco,  age 52, 742 Pine Mtn Rd., Pigeon Forge, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery Sch. II- Oxycodone

David C. Johnson,  age 49, 3068 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, Tn. 2 cts sale & delivery Sch. II-Oxycodone

Tommy K. Floyd, age 47, 1410 Floyd Rd., Sevierville, Tn. Poss. w/ intent to sell Sch. II-Oxycodone

Teri D. Elliot, age 26, 1401 Floyd Rd., Sevierville, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery of Sch. II- Oxycodone

Steven S. Phillips, age 41, 125 W. Paine St. Sevierville, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery of a counterfeit Substance.

Minda D. McCracken,  age 38, 230 Murrell Meadows Drive, Sevierville, Tn. 1 ct Tenncare Fraud

Mitchell D. Collins,  age 34, 479 Ledo Rd. Sevierville, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery Sch. VI-Marijuana

Jennifer L. Parton,  age 36, 1224 Jayell Rd., Sevierville, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery Sch. II-Morphine

David S. Abbott, age 38, 4020 French Broad Cir., Sevierville, Tn. 2 cts sale and delivery of Sch. II-Morphine.

Kevin Shults. 562 Rocky Flats Rd. Cosby, Tn. 1 ct sale & delivery of Sch. III-Hydrocodone and 1 ct. casual exchange Sch. VI-Marijuana.

Cory A. Weber, age 18, 206 Victoria Landing, Sevierville, Tn. 1 ct Aggravated Burglary, 1 ct Theft.

Garret M. Buckner, age 19, 2850 Jones Cove Rd., Sevierville, Tn. 1 ct Aggravated Burglary 1 ct Theft.

            Abbott                                

             Buckner

              Collins

                   Elliot

                  Floyd

             Johnson

                 Lethco

              McCracken

                 Parton

                Phillips 

                 Shults

                  Weber

    May Pierstorff became the only child in history to be mailed  

   Throughout the history of the U.S. Post Office, postal regulators have been forced to write a postal manual comprising numerous rules and regulations. This was as a result of abuses in the postal system. Throughout the years, numerous patrons have attempted to mail items that were not intended to be mailed. But, because there were no rules in place in the early days of the post office, many items that should not have been mailed were delivered by the post office. Perhaps, the most unusual items mailed were a child and a building.

   In 1914 the parents of 4-year-old May Pierstorff needed to send their daughter to stay with her grandmother in Lewiston, Idaho. The Pierstorffs lived in Grangeville, 100 miles away. There were no airplanes in the area, nor did the Pierstoffs own a car and a train ticket was out of their budget. There was only one way to get their daughter to her destination. They would have to mail her.

  The couple took the little girl to the post office and told the clerk they wanted to mail the daughter. The clerk thought the couple was insane. He explained it was against postal regulations to mail a child. Mr. Pierstorff asked him to show him it was against the regulations. The clerk thumbed through the postal manual of rules and regulations and could not find a rule against mailing children.

  Left with no options the clerk glued 53 cents in stamps to her coat lapel. May’s mother gave her a sandwich for her journey. She was now the property of the U.S. Postal Service. May said goodbye to her parents and went to the shipping room where she sat with other packages. Later that afternoon, she and other packages were loaded onto a wagon and transported to the train station. Hours later, the train pulled into the train station in Lewiston and the precious cargo was delivered safely to her grandmother’s house.    

  Since then the postal code has been amended making it against regulations to mail people.

  W.H Coltharp became the only man in history to mail a building. Coltharp was put in charge of building a bank in Vernal, Utah. He found the brinks he needed in Salt Lake City, 127 miles away. He realized that shipping the bricks by wagon freight would be too expensive. But he soon discovered he could mail the bricks through the mail for a fraction of the money. He had the bricks packed into 50 pound boxes and sent to the post office. Before long, 40 tons of bricks were moved through the post office. The bricks were delivered and the bank was constructed. Since then the post Office has adopted a rule stating no more than 200 pounds of parcel may be sent in a single day.

    This is one of 50 strange but true stories in a new book written by Michael Williams. The book is entitled "Stranger than Fiction: The Lincoln Curse." The stories will leave the reader convinced that perhaps Mark Twain was right when he said "truth is stranger than fiction."

    Michael Williams has written for more than 30 newspapers and magazines including the Civil War Times Illustrated, The Civil War Courier, the Associated Press and the Knoxville Journal.

    The book is 187 pages in a softbound edition with numerous photos. The book can be purchased from amazon.com for $19.95 plus shipping and handling or you can save shipping cost and save $2 on the purchase price by ordering a signed copy directly from the author. Send $17.95 to P.O. Box 6421 Sevierville, TN. 37864.

  Kevin Sorbo is one of many stars that will appear at Fanboy    

The Fanboy Expo has been rescheduled for the fall. No specific date has been set for the event. The original scheduled date for the show was June 15-17 in Pigeon Forge.

   The Fanboy Expo is a comic book convention for comic enthusiasts to meet their favorite comic book artists and many of their favorite TV and movie stars.

  Among the stars that will be appearing is Kevin Sorbo of “Hercules” fame, Martina Sirtis of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” George Lazenby, who played James Bond, Bruce Boxleitner and many others.

  Marvel and DC comic book artists will be on hand to sign copies of their comic books. Among the artists expected to attend  include  Steve Scott, who illustrates The Hulk, and X-Men, Arthur Suydam, Rob Hunter and several others.

  Professional wrestling fans can meet many of their favorites including Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Stacy “Miss Kitty” Carter, Kizarny and many more.

  Fans can meet the stars and get their photos taken with them and get autographs. The event will feature film screenings, meet and greets and many other activities.

Guests that have already purchased a ticket can get a refund or they may use their ticket at the rescheduled fall convention. For more information call 865-280-2023 or visit the web Site at www.fanboyexpo.com.

The Gatlinburg Inn where the tune "Rocky Top" was penned in 1967.   

    Susan Whitaker, the director of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development was on hand Tuesday at the Ole Smokey Distillery to dedicate the Rocky Top Trail. The trail is the 14^th of 16 trails developed to get the tourist off the beaten paths so that they may enjoy other aspects of the Volunteer State along the back roads. 

   The Rocky Top Trail is the result of a partnership between multiple state agencies and city and county officials. The end product is a brand new tourism asset - a 282 mile trail made up of sites and attractions in Knox, Sevier, Blount, Cocke, Jefferson, Loudon and Monroe counties showcasing East Tennessee’s history, culture, landscape, music and cuisine.

   Executive Director Vicki Simms of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. Both Commissioner Whitaker and Assistant Commissioner Toks Omishakin, Tennessee Department of Transportation, made special remarks. Bluegrass band, Monroeville, performed, including a rousing rendition of “Rocky Top,” which has been adopted as one of the state's official songs, to close the ceremony.

    “The trails initiative is one of the most comprehensive programs ever to be launched from our department,” said Whitaker. “We know millions of visitors are traveling to this region every year. Our goal with the Rocky Top Trail is to encourage travelers to get off the beaten path and explore some of Tennessee’s hidden gems. We want more visitors, staying longer and spending more in Tennessee.”

    The trail officially begins in Gatlinburg at the Gatlinburg/Great Smoky Mountains National Park Welcome Center where guests can pick up brochures, maps and coupons before heading out to discover Tennessee’s back roads. Included on the trail is the Gatlinburg Inn where the song “Rocky Top” was written in 1967 by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant during their stay at the hotel. Visitors can stop in the hotel lobby and pick up brochures and see artifacts relating to the region's colorful history. The song became popular at the University of Tennessee's sporting events since the early 1970s.

    Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation’s Knoxville Visitor Center on Gay Street is also a primary trail hub. However, visitors can choose to begin their trip at any point along the path. Once on the trail, travelers can explore 282 miles through East Tennessee.

    Appalachian arts and crafts are abundant on the Rocky Top Trail. Visitors can hone in on their artistic skills with staff and artists at the Arrowmont School of the Arts and Crafts, or visit Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, the nation’s largest organization of independent artisans with more than 100 members. Spirit of the Hand in Dandridge features the work of 150 artisans from around the region and country.

   On Rocky Top, travelers can explore Greats Smoky Mountains National Park, catch an exhilarating class 3 or 4 ride on the rapids of the Pigeon River in nearby Hartford; see the beautiful scenery from up above on one of the many zip lines in the area or for a cooler experience, go below into Forbidden or Tuckaleechee Caverns.

   For more information about the Rocky Top Trail and other Tennessee Trails and Byways, visit the  web Site at www.tntrailsandbyways.com.  The 27 page Rocky Top brochure highlights 130 points of interests.

  Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis today announced a new jobs database to help connect job seekers with Tennessee employers.

   Jobs4TN Online is a virtual recruiter, automatically notifying job seekers when jobs they may qualify for are posted and notifying employers when candidates who fit their needs register.

   The online database contains positions from job orders placed directly by Tennessee employers, from corporate Internet sites, and from major job search engines. Jobs4TN Online also identifies available green jobs.

   “The unemployment rate for Tennessee is at its lowest since November 2008 and has fallen below the national rate, but it is still too high,” Haslam said. The governor committed to developing a new jobs database during his gubernatorial campaign. “With Jobs4TN Online, those without a job will have quicker and better access to job openings related to their skills, and as we work to make Tennessee an even better place to expand and start a business, we want to help employers find the employees they need.”

   Jobs4TN Online makes available labor market information, including demand occupations, education requirements and salaries for positions, labor force projections, and training program graduates. Information can be tailored to focus on specific communities, metro statistical areas or statewide. Employers and job seekers are encouraged to log in to Jobs4TN Online at www.jobs4tn.gov.

   “This system is much more than a traditional job search engine,” Davis said. “Jobs4TN Online offers extensive information for interviews, lists of local training providers, and the capability to create and send resumes.”

   The state’s previous job search site, the Source, included job orders received by Tennessee Career Centers and jobs listed by Fortune 500 companies. Jobs4TN Online uses a more robust search that provides first-run jobs from newspapers, government sites and private job boards, and the amount of jobs listed in Tennessee has gone from 30,000 to more than 85,000.

   Jobs4TN Online can be accessed anywhere with a computer and Internet access. Tennessee Career Centers across the state have free computer resource rooms with guidance on job searching. For anyone not comfortable with using a computer, referrals can be provided in person at the center once they have registered for services. To find the nearest Tennessee Career Center visit http://www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/cc/cccounty.shtml.

   Also, Tennessee Career Coaches are another available resource. They are mobile career centers with computer workstations and access to the Internet anywhere by satellite. Three mobile units operate in east, west, and middle Tennessee to provide job searching resources to those attending job events or to those that don't have access to the Internet. The Career Coaches’ schedules can be found at http://www.getonthecoach.tn.gov/.

   According to Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals, The identity of a Sevier Co. woman that perished in a house fire on Sunday morning has been confirmed. Seals states that the autopsy confirmed that the victim was Jessica R. Myers, age 30, who resided at the address where the fire occurred. The autopsy also confirmed that Myers died of smoke inhalation and there were no signs of foul play found. The cause and origin of the fire is still being investigated by the Sheriffs office Fire Inv. Unit and State Bomb and Arson investigators.

      Jimbo Whaley will be among several bluegrass acts to perform at the eighth annual Bloomin' Barbecue and Bluegrass festival in Sevierville.

    Sevierville, TN – The streets of Sevierville will come alive with great music, activities and delicious barbecue from all over the United States this Friday and Saturday at the eighth annual Bloomin’ Barbeque and Bluegrass festival.

    This family-friendly event is free to the public and will bring barbeque cook teams from all over the United States to Sevierville to compete for $15,000 in cash and prizes and the title of Tennessee State Champion in the Bush’s Best Tennessee State Championship Cook Off. Rounding out the event is toe-tapping bluegrass music, incredible arts and crafts, kids’ games and the Mountain Soul Vocal Competition honoring Sevierville’s favorite hometown girl, Dolly Parton.

    Friday night, take a little time to visit with the barbeque cook teams you’ve seen on cable TV stations, such as the Food Network, as you stroll through the “Que Zone.”  

    Then make sure you bring a lawn chair for the free bluegrass concerts with rising stars and legends of the bluegrass genre. Past headliners have included Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Del McCoury and more.

     Saturday morning, start the day early and watch as championship cook teams turn in their competition meats. Then stay for the announcement of winners at 4 p.m. During the competition the teams will cook an estimated 2,832 pounds of meat including 20 pounds of pulled pork, 24 pounds of brisket, five pounds of chicken and 10 pounds of ribs each. Winning teams will receive recognition in Chicken, Ribs, Pork and Brisket as well as specialty categories like “Anything Bush Beans”, “Anything Wampler’s Farm Sausage”, Sauce and Dessert.

    An expanded Kids’ Zone and the Bluegrass Music Tent, sponsored in part by The Music Outlet, add fun and enrichment for the kids and families who attend the festivities. The Kids’ Zone includes attractions like climbing walls, bounce houses and old-time toys while the Bluegrass Music Tent gives kids and kids at heart the chance to touch and play bluegrass instruments such as banjos, fiddles and more. Instructors will be on site to help. Both of these attractions will be open until 9 p.m. each day of the event.

    A highlight of  the event is the 8th Annual Mountain Soul Vocal Competition Finals held on Saturday. Finalists from around the nation will sing their hearts out for a chance to win prize money, a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee and a guitar autographed by Dolly Parton. This competition, the only one of its kind that festival organizers know of, honors the songwriting of Dolly Parton. Competitors, male and female, must sing a song written by Dolly Parton who has recorded more than 3,000 songs. Contestants must perform the song their own style whether it’s rock, rap, country, bluegrass, swing, soul, or other genre.

   Admission and concerts are free. For more information about Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass, call (888) 889-7415 or visit us online at www.BloominBBQ.com.

  A body has found in a home that burned Saturday night in Sevier County. Sevier County Sheriff Ron Seals states that the fire occurred at 4236 Meadow Drive in the Kodak Community and during a search through the rubble Sunday the body was found by members of the Northview/Kodak Vol. Fire Department.

   Investigators from the Sevier Co. Sheriff's Office and the Tennessee  State Bomb and Arson Section were on scene this morning and most of the day trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire. The body was removed and transported to the U. T. Forensic Center for identification and cause of death. The victim is believed to be that of a female resident of the home but a positive identification is pending the results of the autopsy. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

This week's winner of the make me laugh for the movies contest is Jack Smart of Pigeon Forge.

Last week's funny pet photo featuring a funny pet costume prompted Jack to send in a photo of his dog Paco who is dressed as Yoda from Star Wars.

Make Me Laugh For The Movies is a weekly contest sponsored by Reel Theaters. The rules are simple. Send us a funny story, funny photo or anecdote about a personal experience and if we publish it we will send you two free tickets to Reel Theaters Movies on the Parkway.

Please make the stories brief and suitable for the family. The Sevier County News reserves the right to reject any story for objectionable content. Winners will announced each Wednesday.

Send all entries to Sevier County News

635 Wall Street,

Sevierville, TN. 37876 or e-mail themto seviercountynews@gmail.com

Reel Theaters is located at 713 Winfield Dunn Parkway in Sevierville. For more information call (865)453-9055 or visit them on the Web at reel-theatres-sevier.com.

    Dolly Parton Will Be Grandmarshall of the homecoming parade

Great American Country to include event in show about military family

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (May 10, 2012) – Dolly’s Homecoming Parade, Pigeon Forge’s annual salute to hometown superstar Dolly Parton on Friday (May 11), will get national television exposure when the Great American Country cable network includes it in a show being shot this week in the Great Smoky Mountains resort town.

GAC cameras will capture some of the parade festivity for “Operation Pigeon Forge: A Family’s Story,” the working title of a special about a military family facing an overseas deployment. The special will air this summer.

The family is expected to trade the anxiety of deployment for the excitement generated by thousands of spectators who come to see Parton on parade.

It is the 27th annual Dolly’s Homecoming Parade, the largest in more than a decade, according to organizers. It will include everything from a submarine to a NASCAR racecar to a float themed to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” movie.

It will cover a three-mile route on the Parkway starting at 6 p.m.

“Dolly, of course, is the biggest attraction, and the theme of her float always is a secret,” said Leon Downey, executive director of the Pigeon Forge Department of Tourism, which organizes the parade.

“However, I’m not going to be surprised if this year’s float involves eagles, since Dolly just inaugurated Wild Eagle, a $20 million roller coaster, at Dollywood,” he continued.

Guaranteed attention-getters include the Smoky Mountain Submarine – a 65-foot-long replica that will carry veterans of submarine service – a NASCAR racecar belonging to Knoxville native Trevor Bayne and the “9 to 5” float entered by the Rogersville Playhouse.

Also in the mix are the human-powered Tennessee Party Bike, antique vehicles, floats from various Pigeon Forge theaters and attractions, twirling groups, equestrian units and beauty queens in convertibles.

Marching bands from Pigeon Forge High School, Sevier County High School and Lexington High School in Lexington, Ala., will provide traditional parade music and pageantry.

The parade will occupy the northbound lanes of the Parkway, starting at Traffic Light 6 and ending at Traffic Light 3.

“The entire route is available for spectators, and everyone will get to wave to Dolly. Her float includes a speaker system, and she chats with fans all along the parade route,” Downey said.

For information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge and other city-sponsored events, visit MyPigeonForge.com or call toll-free to 1-800-251-9100.

 

                                  The Woods Family

  Most people that know Mike and Kim Woods describe the couple as caring, selfless and hard-working.   

    The couple started Helping Hands for Sevier Kids in 2009, an organization that provides Christmas gifts for many Children in the Area that otherwise would have done without.  The couple is usually the first in the community to volunteer when there is a need in the community.

  Now, the Woods family needs the community to step up and provide a helping hand. On February 29, Mike was cutting wood when the saw hit a knot hole. The saw blade sprang back and ripped deep into Mike’s hand severing several Fingers. Matters soon went from bad to worse because the couple had no medical insurance and the bills quickly escalated. Currently, the bills are a staggering $50,000 and rising. Mike is unable to work and is currently undergoing painful rehabilitation.

   This weekend the community the Woods family has so frequently volunteered to help is returning the favor by organizing a fund raiser to help the family with medical bills and costs of living.

   The fund raiser is an all-day event that begins at 2 p.m. on May 12, at the Sevier County Rescue Squad located at 1171 Dolly Parton Parkway.  The event will feature food plates, drinks, a bake sale, a cake walk, bounce houses, vendors, crafters, lots of Kids Activities and live entertainment.

    Raffle Tickets will be on sale to win tickets for many of the local attractions here in Sevier County.  There will be a silent auction for a variety of items donated from all over Tennessee. Some of the items will likely come as a surprise to many attendees.

   The couple’s sons, Bryson and Benjamin will be selling Limbstrong Bracelets to help support their father. Currently, they have already sold more than 150 of the bracelets.

   This will be a Long Recovery for Mike and he needs all of our Support at this time. In his typical selfless nature, Mike is thinking of needy children during his darkest hours. Mike is asking everyone that attends the event to bring a stuffed animal to be donated to the Sevier County Police Department for Children in Crisis. He has arranged to have an officer to pick up the Donations of the stuffed animals.

   The fund raiser starts at 2 pm and continues until the last person leaves, so come on out and visit with the Family and enjoy all the surprises his friends have in store for everyone. Bring a lawn chair and just sit and enjoy the day with the family and friends.

   Out of town guests can speak with organizers to get a discount on motel or cabin accommodations.

   Everyone is encouraged to come out and support Mike and see how he has handled calamity in such an incredible manner. His boundless faith has not been shaken and the family is glad to share their story as a witness to God for what they have been through.

  Please come out on May 12 at 2 p.m. to the Rescue Squad at 1171 Dolly Parton Parkway and support a family that has given so much to so many.

     The Sevierville Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance identifying a man suspected of committing fraud.

    According to SPD Detective Dweese Milliron, the suspect apparently made three separate withdrawals at two local Tennessee State Bank ATM’s in late March. This person is also suspected of using the victim’s debit card at the local Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores. The total amount of money and merchandise believed to have been fraudulently obtained from the ATM’s and local stores is over $4,000.

    Anyone with information regarding this suspect is requested to contact Detective Milliron at 865-453-5507.

     The Sevier County Sheriff’s Department is seeking help in identifying and apprehending a suspect in the robbery of Domino’s Pizza.

     According to Sheriff Ron Seals, On Monday May 7^th, at app. 2:30PM ,deputies with the Sevier County  Sheriff’s  Office responded to a reported armed robbery at Domino’s Pizza located on Chapman Highway in Seymour. Officers arrived on the scene and the clerk stated that a white male entered the store and displayed a handgun and demanded money. The employee gave the perpetrator an undisclosed amount of money and he then fled on foot. The robber is described as being 5’7”-5’8” in height with a slender build, wearing sunglasses, black hat with U.T. insignia, red shirt and blue jeans. An investigation is ongoing at this time. Anyone that has any information is asked to call the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 865-428-1899 or 865-453-4668.