Here is today's news, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland: From the Cleveland Daily Banner… In a vote Thursday night, Polk County became the first comm
Here is today’s news, sponsored by Toyota of Cleveland:
From the Cleveland Daily Banner…
In a vote Thursday night, Polk County became the first community government in Tennessee, and second in the South, to declare itself a gun sanctuary.
The nine-member Polk County Commission voted 8-1 to approve a resolution submitted by Commissioner Jeremy Kimsey declaring Polk County a Gun Sanctuary County.
A similar resolution was approved in early March by commissioners in Cherokee County, N.C.,
These resolutions follow a trend of actions initiated in the Western United States, in New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Oregon, meaning the localities would not enforce any gun control measures passed by state lawmakers, for example.
Upwards of 20 community governments have now become gun sanctuaries, although the action has not yet been upheld as constitutionally legal by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The resolution emphasizes that the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment declares that the “right to keep and bear arms.”
According to social media reports, several other gun sanctuaries were approved last week, in Colorado, Nevada and Illinois. There are now 26 gun sanctuary communities in Illinois, although these are being challenged in court.
Also from The Banner…
Tim Siniard reports: The next step for a bill restricting vaping in Tennessee is for the proposed law to land on Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
The Tennessee General Assembly has passed new legislation that treats vaping the same as cigarettes and tobacco products, which are already restricted in certain public areas such as schools and restaurants.
The new law was sponsored by two members of Bradley County’s legislative delegation: state Rep. Dan Howell (R-Georgetown) and state Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga).
According to a release from Howell and Gardenhire, “after years of aggressive anti-tobacco campaigns aimed at teenagers, students have largely rejected smoking. However, millions have tried vaping. As a result, school leaders are scrambling to revise discipline policies and drug prevention classes to warn students of the danger of inhaling flavor-infused nicotine vapor which is highly addictive.”
Federal officials estimate the number of high school students using vaping products has risen 75 percent in the past year to about 3 million students and has overtaken tobacco in popularity.
From the Banner…
Autumn Hughes reports: Two proposed water line extension projects are one step closer to becoming reality, based on votes by the Bradley County Commission.
Both proposed projects are pending approval by the Southeast Tennessee Development District and financial commitment by the affected residents.
The first request came from Ocoee Utility District on behalf of 15 households in the area of Cedar Springs Road and Old McClure Road. The proposed distance of the water line is 2,500 feet at a cost of $54,000.
According to the project application, residents contacted Ocoee Utility District “after concerns due to the poor quality of their wells. A few other wells were then tested and found to have higher levels of coliform than water quality standards allow.” OUD then contacted the other residents of the area to gauge interest and need, the application stated.
Bradley County’s portion of the project (25 percent) would be $13,500, and OUD’s portion (50 percent) would be $27,000. The remaining 25 percent – $13,500 – would be the responsibility of the 15 households.
The second request came from Tim and Tina Colbaugh, residents of Bell Road S.E., because their well is drying up. The proposed distance of the water line is 950 feet at a cost of $23,750
According to the project application, Cleveland Utilities will pay half of the cost up to $12,000. Both Bradley County’s and the Colbaughs’ 25 percent portions is $5,938.
