Opinion »
EDITORIAL Driving some crazy: Pigeon Forge must make changes so rod runs are less divisive
So what do you think of those rod runs that overtake Pigeon Forge several times a year? You either like them or hate them. There is no ambivalence when it comes to those gatherings. Every couple o...
4 hrs 38 mins ago | 1 1 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL The science of testing: State students have to do better — much better — on national science test
Some encouraging news came out this week about how well Tennessee’s eighth-graders did on national science tests. Eighth-grade students in Tennessee scored higher in science than they did two year...
1 day 4 hrs ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Thanks, Reese Ripatti: This generous, giving person made her mark and legacy on the county
She never sought attention or publicity. She actually was rather shy and reserved. She just had a deep sense of community and of being generous with what she had. The death over the weekend of Ree...
2 days 4 hrs ago | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Salute to foster parents: May is Foster Care Month, time to shed light on these dedicated people
More than 6,500 children are in foster care in Tennessee now. That doesn’t mean they are orphans. It means that for some reason they have been removed from their homes and placed in state custody a...
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EDITORIAL Here we go again: A November liquor vote in Pigeon Forge sure to be just as emotional, heated
When it comes to a vote in your town on liquor sales, there is no pleasing both sides at the same time. These are always contentious, emotional battles. Both sides want to win. Each side has a hard...
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Editorial: Three Cheers
’Burg’s Cinco de Mayo another great celebration Congratulations to Gatlinburg for putting on another spectacular and entertaining Cinco de Mayo celebration. The event, the second one in the c...
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EDITORIAL Movie magic: New incentives should draw more film productions to Tennessee
What do the movies “Walk the Line,” “Hustle and Flow,” “October Sky,” “Cast Away” and “The Green Mile” have in common? All were filmed, at least in part, in Tennessee. Many states are going after f...
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EDITORIAL United we (should) stand: All 3 cities should come together to attract sporting events, tournaments
It sounds like a great idea. Put together a group to go out and attract sporting events to town. It helps local businesses and utilizes local facilities. It’s as good as a convention — maybe better...
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EDITORIAL No blaze of glory: Arson Awareness Week points up serious issue of purposely set fires
Arson Awareness Week is being observed in Tennessee this week, an appropriate time to draw attention to a serious and recurring problem not just in this state but across the country. Fire and emer...
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EDITORIAL Feed bag: Take part in Saturday’s annual letter carriers food drive
It is such a simple gesture of compassion and good will. It’s easy. And it helps so many people. On Saturday the postal carriers around the country, including Sevier County, will hold their annual...
9 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: Your input, ideas critically important to a successful 'vision' project
After two or three months of planning and coming up with a strategy, not to mention crafting a new name, organizers of an effort to develop a vision for Sevier County are now ready to get started.
10 days ago | 2 2 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: Time for Department of Justice to end probe of local officials or clear those implicated
It’s been about two years since the Department of Justice’s civil rights division opened an investigation into the death of Sevierville resident Pamela Ross. The investigation itself was started ab...
11 days ago | 3 3 comments | 5 5 recommendations | email to a friend
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Hospital unveils new outpatient therapy clinic
SEVIERVILLE — Members of the LeConte Medical Center team recently showed off their new therapy services outpatient clinic, highlighting the facility's new equipment, expanded treatment options and ...
12 days ago | 1 1 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: Three Cheers
Giving away Ribfest leftovers good decision When storms carrying baseball-sized hail stones and strong winds created havoc at the city of Gatlinburg’s annual Ribfest, Wings and BBQ event, and...
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EDITORIAL Harsh Reminders: Jump in traffic fatalities sparks TDOT campaign to display number of deaths on message boards
Editor: When the Obama Administration's healthcare financing plan was signed into law, President Obama and Congress promised that funds under the new law would not cover abortions. This has now...
13 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL On the right track: Pigeon Forge heading in right direction in forming group to brainstorm about car shows
There will be no easy solution to the problems the roll into town every time a car show is slated in the area. In some cases, there may not be a solution at all. The Pigeon Forge City Commission i...
14 days ago | 9 9 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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Show at Majestic Theater first-class, excellent evening
Editor: Thanks to the management, Doug and Jackie Miranda, at the Majestic Theater for providing the opportunity for discounted prices during Sevier County Days. A group of us took advantage of...
15 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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A 'gateway' to problems: Vague, misguided bill would further hamper teaching of sensitive subject
Is it just us, or does it seem like the Legislature is now trying to come up with ideas that will make Tennessee the laughing stock of the nation? In the most recent show of what we would deem bad ...
16 days ago | 3 3 comments | 8 8 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL The bully pulpit: Rep. Faison shows ignorance, irresponsibility in comments about bullying
Sometimes when people debate issues they say stupid and irresponsible things in an effort to score points. Such is the case with State Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby. During a House floor debate last...
18 days ago | 2 2 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: Three Cheers
Gatlinburg Chamber, SCES earn much-deserved awards Congratulations to Sevier County Electric Systems and the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. The Tennessee Valley Authority and its Green Power...
19 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL The day the music cried: Deaths of Levon Helm, Dick Clark sad times for lovers of music
Levon Helm and Dick Clark. Two giants in the music business, each with his own distinct style and contribution, each important in his own way. We lost them last week, one to a heart attack, one to ...
20 days ago | 2 2 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Fitting memorial: Mountain Man March continues to shine spotlight on military, Gatlinburg
Congratulations, as usual, go to the city of Gatlinburg for another splendid and memorable Mountain Man Memorial March. The streets of downtown Gatlinburg were filled last weekend with military pe...
21 days ago | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Thanks to a Sevier supporter: Pat Summitt has given countless hours to help local organizations raise money
Pat Summitt loves Sevier County. Every year you could count on her to speak at a handful of fundraisers and banquets here in support of causes she believed in. She was a regular at Boys & Girls Clu...
22 days ago | 1 1 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL A positive impact: Youth of the Year Ty Smith good reason why support of Boys & Girls Club so critically important
The Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains does a lot of fundraising throughout the year, and some people who are asked for donations may wonder if this organization really needs that money and h...
23 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: New law cracks down on impaired drivers carrying underage passengers
It’s bad enough when drivers get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or other substances that impair behavior. It’s even worse when they are carrying underage passengers with them.
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Three Cheers April 21, 2012
Keep Sevier Beautiful keeps anti-litter efforts The drive to rid the county of litter and trash tossed from automobiles is neverending. Keep Sevier Beautiful continues to take the lead in that e...
26 days ago | 0 0 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL The Earth leader: Gatlinburg at head of class in county's observance of Earth Day
The leader in Sevier County observing Earth Day has always been Gatlinburg. The city takes seriously the aims and education that go with the special event, filling the day with special activities t...
27 days ago | 0 0 comments | 3 3 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Chemical highs: Law enforcement right to crack down on synthetic drugs
Trying to control illegal drugs is a constant, often frustrating battle between lawbreakers and law enforcement. Now we have so-called synthetic drugs to deal with, and that complicates matters a g...
28 days ago | 3 3 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Snack smack: Time for all schools to end kids’ access to vending machine junk foods
As hard as many school nutritionists work to make healthy lunches that children will actually eat, many kids have access to vending machines in their schools that usually contain not-so-healthy alt...
29 days ago | 6 6 comments | 2 2 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Minimum standards: Move to set up qualifications for being constable an important step
If we are going to be a county that keeps the system of constables — and there are many who question that wisdom — then at least we can have some minimum qualifications for who can serve as one. Th...
1 month ago | 2 2 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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Editorial: New rules to govern pain clinics should be adopted in Sevier County
The death rate for drug overdoses has nearly tripled to 16 deaths per 100,000 people in Tennessee since 1999, according to data from the state Division of Health Statistics.
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EDITORIAL: Thank you to the heroes
When you build a cabin or house on top of a mountain, you get beautiful views and solitude, but the tradeoff is that when you need emergency help, it is much more difficult to receive.
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Editorial: Three Cheers
Herbert Clabo remains a Sevier County treasure Let's all give a cheer for Herbert (not Herb) Clabo, who is celebrating his 101st year on this earth. This man knows the Smoky Mountains as well...
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EDITORIAL Done in by the coverup: Thanks to an AD with integrity, a good but fatally flawed coach is shown the door
The Bobby Petrino story is sad, but don't call it a tragedy. A tragedy suggests something happened that was unexpected or caused by outside forces beyond one's control, like a plane crash or cancer...
1 month ago | 0 0 comments | 1 1 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Order in the court: New system to oversee, discipline judges an important change in process
The Tennessee Legislature has approved a bill that appears likely to improve the way judges are reviewed and disciplined, making it less political and avoiding what had been a case of judges review...
1 month ago | 1 1 comments | 6 6 recommendations | email to a friend
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EDITORIAL Death to meth: Let’s support new campaign targeting use, sale of methamphetamine
There are a lot of illegal and unhealthy substances to be worried about these days, from salt and sugar in the diet to alcohol abuse and cocaine usage. But perhaps the No. 1 scourge of society is t...
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EDITORIAL A nice victory: Successful recruitment of KaTom to Sevier will mean good things for county
It’s always nice to win one, and when you win against a bigger, more dominant opponent at that, it just makes the victory taste sweeter. Bur that’s being too simplistic. Sevier and Knox may have b...
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EDITORIAL Clubbing for a cause: Campaign to help Boys & Girls Club organization needs your support
There may be no agency in the county as important as the Boys & Girls Club of the Smoky Mountains. Once children leave school or are out of school, they need a constructive, safe and encouraging pl...
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EDITORIAL Day of celebration: Easter a time for Christians to feel glad, grateful
On this most holy and joyous of days for Christians, the retelling of the Resurrection story is timely and fitting. This is a holiday for Christians to be glad and grateful. Church service attenda...
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Editorial: Three Cheers
Great Smokies association due praise for new awards Congratulations to the Great Smoky Mountains Association, the non-profit partner that runs the bookstores inside the park, for earning seve...
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