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Archives
04-19-2000 News Rickman Man Dies In Collision
Trooper James Sells and Sgt. Jim Beaty of the Tennessee Highway Patrol investigate the scene of a head-on collision that took the life of a Rickman man. According to reports, Ronda Sullivan, of Rickman, was driving a white 4-door 1965 Ford Falcon west on Hilham Highway as William Gore, of Hilham, was driving a red and gray 1984 Ford pickup east around 3:15 p.m. Monday, April 17. As the truck entered an uphill curve at the end of the Flatt Creek stretch, it crossed the centerline of the road and collided with the Falcon. A passenger in the car, Teddy Sullivan, 59, also of Rickman, died at the scene. Ronda Sullivan, 36, was transported from the scene via LifeForce to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Neither were wearing seatbelts, according to THP Sells' report. Trooper Sells said, "Seatbelts would have made a difference." William Gore, 68, was transported by Overton County Ambulance Service to Livingston Regional Hospital where he was treated and released. Gore was wearing a seatbelt, according to the report. (Photo by Russell Garrett)
Large Group Supports
Wilson Principal
Rose Hyso addresses the Overton County Board of Education. The
small conference room at the Central Education Office was packed
with supporters of Wilson Elementary Principal Alice Reed.
The cramped confines of the Overton County Central Education Office conference room proved once more a poor venue for the School Board to meet as it was packed wall-to-wall with supporters of Wilson Elementary Principal Alice Reed on Thursday, April 13. Reed supporters crammed into the conference room and many more stood in the hallway throughout the meeting. Their bone of contention was the absence of Reed's name on the list of principals hired for the 2000-2001 school year. All other schools have principals hired for next year. Though Rose Hyso and Edith Key addressed the Board on the matter earlier in the meeting, the beginning of discussion began after a motion to adjourn was made. People in the crowd asked Director of Schools Eldon Davis why Reed was not being rehired as the principal at Wilson. Davis addressed the crowd, beginning by saying, "I may make a lot of mistakes, and I certainly have over the years, and if somebody wants to stand up here and talk about my shortcomings in life, we don't have enough days to take care of that. But the decisions that I try to make, I do base those decisions on the interests of the children of Overton County." Addressing Reed's abilities, Director Davis said, "At no time has the words ever come out of my mouth that Alice Reed was unfit." Asked if the position was being posted, Davis said, "The Wilson Elementary principal position will be posted." Pressed further for a reason Reed is not being rehired, Davis commented, "It has to do with evaluations and observations." Director Davis would not divulge any specific reason for her imminent removal as principal. Board members were asked if they could do anything about it. They informed the crowd that the School Board only has the ability to hire the director of schools, all authority over personnel matters belongs to the director of schools. From the beginning of the meeting, the School Board moved quickly through its agenda. In executive action, Brenda Cook's letter of resignation as a teacher at Rickman Elementary School was accepted, and Angela Dickerson was hired to finish the 1999-2000 school year to replace her. Ashley Spears was hired for the TAPS program. Carol Gilpatrick's letter of resignation as the bookkeeper at Livingston Academy was accepted, and Charlotte Dillon was hired to replace her. The Director of Schools announced the hiring of the following principals for the 2000-2001 school year: A.H. Roberts - Matt Smith; Allons - Donnie Holman; Hilham - Shirley Myers; Livingston Academy - Gary Ledbetter; Livingston Middle - Melinda Beaty; Rickman - David Linder; C.L.U.E. - Steve Robbins; and GED - Teresa Johnson. The School Director announced the hiring of the following supervisors: Supervisor of Attendance/Maintenance - Ben Oakley; Vocational/Technology - Donna Matthews; Supervisor of Instruction/Curriculum Coordinator/Federal Projects Title I, Title II, and Title VI - Diane Sadler; Special Education Supervisor - Sheila Pemberton; School Nutrition - Sarah Hogue; Supervisor of Transportation/Title IV (Safe and Drug Free) - Terry Melton. Director Davis also announced that all tenured teachers were hired for the 2000-2001 school years. They will be placed at a later date. In new business, permission was given to the Livingston Middle School seventh grade to take a trip to Cherokee, NC, on May 19-20. The Livingston Academy Science Club was given permission to take a trip to the Smokey Mountains on May 10-12. The Rickman Elementary eighth grade was given permission to go to the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area May 4-5. Maternity leave was granted to Vickie Eldridge, effective April 24 through May 12. The 2000-2001 school calendar was revised to accommodate block scheduling at Livingston Academy. Textbook adoption was approved for the 2000-2001 academic year as recommended by the textbook committee. Marla Dailey was hired as a secretary/receptionist at Livingston Academy to replace Charlotte Dillon. Local Amendment #19, State Amendment #1, Safe and Drug Free 00.01 was approved. Director Davis announced the hiring of Lori Presley and Paul Berta as substitute teachers, after both passed the TBI-FBI background check. Davis also announced the hiring of Kellie Hayes as a certified substitute teacher, after passing the background check. Director Davis issued the Director's Report to the School Board. In it he announced that the Overton County Board of Education has been approved by the Underground Storage Removal Program. The fund should pay 90 percent of the cost for the removal of tanks at the bus garage. Bids are being advertised for lawn care for all schools. GED Academy has graduated 16 students with GED degrees during this school year. Coca-Cola Co. has constructed a new baseball scoreboard at LA. Rickman Principal David R. Linder addressed the School Board to give an update on the school. Principal Linder said the school has 531 students, 34 teachers, and 20 paraprofessionals. Rose Hyso addressed the Board. She read a letter published in the newspaper and she also read a letter signed by Anna Ruth Ramsey and Carol Matheney. The letters questioned Director Davis' ability to lead the school system and made a plea to keep Alice Reed as principal at Wilson Elementary.
Two Hired As Judicial
Commissioners The Overton County Legislative Body held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 11 with Commissioners Billy Phipps and Wayne Sells absent. Two people were hired to fill the judicial commissioner's position. Kameron Bates, who is also the only constable in Overton County, and Denzell Gore were hired to share the duties of judicial commissioner. The salary will be split in half to pay each man. The two were hired under a 90-day probationary period and for a 1-year term. Commissioner Stanley Carter Jr., public safety committee chairman, said, "That way, if things are not working out for either party, it's an easy out. If in the 90-day period they don't like what is going on, they can resign, and, of course, if they're not working out, we can take action as well." The Commission did not say whether Bates, serving as both a judicial commissioner and constable, could write out a warrant and serve it. The Commission approved Budget Amendment #6 to the County General Fund. Expenditures in the amendment covered paying the constable for transporting prisoners, payments on vehicles at the Sheriff's Department and the Ambulance Service, and equipment for the Veterans Office. Revenues added in the amendment included an insurance recovery and money the Veterans Office has collected to help pay for equipment. The amendment calls for $1,449 to be taken from the Fund Reserve to cover the balance of the cost of the computer equipment for the Veterans Office, and for the prisoner transportation cost. County Executive Richard M. "Ossie" Mitchell informed the County Commission that bids have been received for roofing of the fairgrounds stadium or grandstands. Of the bids received, Turner Roofing of Crossville had the lowest bid at $37,500. Executive Mitchell said, "All these proposals are a little bit different. We put minimum standards on them, but they could add anything they wanted to add. None of them are exactly alike. Some of them's got more material and some's got less." He also said the warranties were different on the bids. At Executive Mitchell's suggestion, the Commission voted to give the budget committee, along with the Fair Board's recommendation, authority to select the lowest and best bid so the work could be finished by fair time. The Commission gave approval for the school system to use a portion of county property adjacent to Rickman Elementary School for part of the school parking lot and to place portable classrooms. Road names approved for emergency purposes only are New Lane, Rock Springs Lane, and Old Thompson Road. The Commission adopted a resolution to urge the General Assembly to enact Senate Bill 2765 regarding railroad crossings. Approved as notaries were Brenda Clark, Curtis Officer, Margaret Stout, and Kenneth E. Dodson. The meeting adjourned.
Overton County News |
