Crossville Chronicle, Crossville, TN

EDITOR'S BLOG: When all else fails, look to the Almanac

With so much talk about the near-drought conditions that we are experiencing, I thought it might be interesting to see what the Old Farmer's Almanac said. Found this interesting blurb I thought I would share to cool us down.
The 2007 Old Farmer's Almanac is predicting another summer of wild storms on the East Coast.
According to the Almanac, above-normal rainfall is predicted for the Southeast (predominantly Georgia and North and South Carolina) and Florida, especially in June and July. The Almanac also predicts that "a major hurricane will threaten the Northeast, including much of New England as well as the area from Boston south to Richmond, Virginia (the Almanac's Atlantic Corridor region) in late September — specifically, during September 27-30.
"Conditions indicate that we will have an active hurricane season: The Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico are warm, the atmosphere over the Atlantic is free of volcanic ash, and the winds are favorable," says Janice Stillman, editor of The Old Farmer's Almanac>. "A lot will be determined by the strength and timing of La Niña. History suggests that hurricanes are stronger and steer toward the East Coast when La Niña is present."
Stillman went on to say, "In fact, this La Niña could rewrite history for quite some time. We won't give away too much, but The 2008 Old Farmer's Almanac<I> is predicting that during next year — from winter 2007-'08 through summer '08 — we will have record-breaking warmth, thanks in large part to La Niña."
Hurricane season began on June 1 and will last through November 30.
The Old Farmer's Almanac is produced by Yankee Publishing Inc. of Dublin, New Hampshire. The Almanac product line also includes themed calendars for 2007 Gardening, Country and Weather Watcher's (for wall display); Every Day (in the page-per-day format); and a spiral-bound Engagement calendar. Created for cooks (and anyone who likes to eat) are their Blue Ribbon Recipes and Best Home Baking cookbooks, featuring award-winning recipes from state and country fairs.

June 14, 2007 04:36 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: Rise in sexual assault cases

If you have kept up with what is going on in Cumberland County Criminal Court you have noticed a rise in sexual assault and abuse cases, especially incidents involving children and teenagers.
I was told once that only 10 percent of these cases ever get reported. If this is the case, then this county has a serious problem.
The following was received this week and expresses one opinion. What do you think?
"What is wrong with the picture? Great article but frustrating. I could find no extenuating circumstances for a clean record. What about other children? I am a 66-year-old Indiana resident who hopes to be a Crossville resident within a few months.
Inappropriate sexual conduct touched my life when I was a young woman. The guilty party got off and ultimately in his life engaged in the almost daily rape of a child from age 8 to 16. Finally, finally he went to state prison when he was 68. How many other children were there? The 16-year-old I referenced never came forward until she was 32.
I feel so passionately about this issue ... there is no excuse ... there should be, at least, a record. Up to me ... he would wear a scarlet letter "P" on his forehead!
Marilyn

May 03, 2007 05:50 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: We can fight crime together

Thefts in the county seem to be on the rise. Received the following e-mail this week and am passing it along in hope that someone among our readers can help out. Erin wrote me:
"Here you go: I appreciate any help you can provide. Just when you think you found paradise something like this happens to bring you back to reality. I own a home and property in Crossville. Last week my barn was broken into and two ATVs were stolen. One is a red 2006 Honda and the other is a 2007 green Kawasaki with winch and basket.
"Someone was able to access my property which is at the end of a cul de sac, open my gate, pry the lock off my barn, hand load the two ATVs into a trailer, leave the property, drive past multiple houses on the way back out and no one allegedly saw them. I also find it hard to believe that these two new ATVs can then be brought to someone s home and no one question where they came from.
"You have to wonder how they can look at themselves in the mirror each morning and how their families must feel knowing they are nothing but a thief. These are both fairly new vehicles (in fact, one was brand new) and would either have to have keys made for them or be hot wired. I writing this letter to the editor in hopes that someone will provide information on the theft or the name of the person who committed the theft. "It is very obvious that these were targeted as someone knew we would not be there. I can be reached at travis3fan@yahoo.com.
"I can also be reached at (941) 628-8497, or contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department at 484-6176."

April 30, 2007 02:39 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: Reader reaction to Gibson's plight

Tuesday I asked what readers thought about the situation with our District Attorney General. Here is one of the responses we received, coming from FH.
"I read the Editor's Blog and would like to respond. I worked around the system for some time.
"I fully think the BPR should permanently suspend his license regardless of the case loads. There are a lot of GOOD attorneys that could take on the job and NOT succumb to all his crying woes.
"I do not feel that Mr. Gibson should ever work for the State of TN again, and if the BPR thinks he should keep his license, then it should be confined to private practice, and not on the dollar of the public or State.
"I think it's a good move and a great change to get him out of the public's pocket, and I also think many more should be looked into, in several offices...... perhaps."
Send your thoughts to mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com.

April 12, 2007 07:51 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: More on last week's tornado

Readers David and Kelli Reagan of the Lantana community reported that at about 9:15 p.m. April 3, hail fell that was nickel size for about 10 minutes. After a very silent period, large hail fell for about two or three minutes. All were extremely large. After the hail ceased, a guest, Jeff Thurman, went outside and collected pictures.
Thanks to David and Kelli for sharing.
Ernie, another reader/reporter, wrote:
"A home on Clint Lowe Rd. was practically destroyed by the storm. Falling trees knocked the attached garage and master bedroom totally loose from the rest of the house and destroyed the entire roof.
It also knocked down what was probably the tallest pine tree in Cumberland County — landmark for a long time in the area. The young man who just bought the house and moved in about a month ago was home alone when the storm hit."
Thanks for sharing, Ernie.
Anyone wishing to share news on any topic can do so by e-mailing mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com.

April 10, 2007 07:15 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: What do you think should happen to the prosecutor?

A decision is still pending before the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility concerning District Attorney General William "Bill" Gibson's appeal of the temporary suspension of his license to practice law.
As a result, Gibson was suspended as serving as chief prosecutor for the13th Judicial District of which Cumberland County is included.
As acting District Attornery Tony Craighead noted when asking Gibson's reinstatement, the district is one attorney short. Considering the case load in Cumberland County alone, that is not acceptable.
What do you think the BPR should do in reference to practice law? Should the suspension become permanent, should it end now, or should it continue for some time to come?
Autumn B sent the following e-mail to your editor:
"You know the prosecutor should get what he deserves. He made the choice to become pen pals with a killer. He made a choice to become an alcoholic. He made a choice to take pills. Why should we forgive him? He wouldn't think twice to put someone behind bars, why should he be any different?"
E-mail your thoughts to: mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com.

April 09, 2007 01:59 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: What can be done about a careless neighhbor?

The following is a problem that affects a lot of homeowners in Cumberland County. Received this note in e-mail this morning and I am not sure quite how to answer this reader. Do you have some suggestions?
The writer's name and e-mail is being withheld for obvious reasons. I would say it would be helpful to law enforcement to record tag numbers of vehicles who visit often, and keep a log of comings and goings. Anyone else have a suggestion for the following?

Mike,
What can we do? We live in a nice neighborhood and have lived here for 16 years. But a few years ago one of the houses was sold and now is being rented out.
The owner of the house does not keep it up and does not apparently care if the renters do either. It was busted for having a meth lab, which at that time, a hazardous materials team did come in for a few hours. The backyard of the house looks like a field.
We have tried to get the city involved. However, that has not worked. I have also contacted the owner with no luck. He continues to either tell me he will check on it or just ignore my phone calls. If the city nor the owner will do anything regarding this, where do we go next?
mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com.

March 19, 2007 04:11 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: Repentant thief returns goods

Last week a reader wrote to the Editor's Blog about a problem he and his neighbors were having with thieves in his neighborhood. Apparently, the culprits read the blog, too. In the morning e-mails, our reader wrote a following post.

Mike,
I wrote you recently about a rash of burglaries that were happening in my neighborhood. You posted my story in Friday's paper which got lots of attention from folks all around the county. I had a couple of phone calls from concerned neighbors.
After dinner this evening I went out for a walk around the backyard. I noticed something shiny in the bushes. When I got closer I saw that someone had returned part of the stolen items.
Someone brought my eight fishing poles and my almost new weed trimmer back. They have been gone for two weeks but were mysteriously returned.
Thank You Very Much for posting my story. I appreciate your help.
Chad

Something on your mind, e-mail your thoughts to: mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com

March 15, 2007 03:35 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: Turn right on red continues to spark reader comments

My suggestion that a turn right on red after 9 p.m. at night on West Ave. at Miller Bypass at what locally was known as Five Points continues to draw comments. Here are a few.

Coy Loveday called and said he has been a resident of Old Sparta Dr. for many years. "You cannot get out of there without the no turn on red," he said, unless one wants to take a chance exiting the other end onto Hwy. 70 W.
Not much of an option for residents, I admit.
Coy added, "I do not have a problem with it (right turns on red) after 9 p.m."

Reader, Cliff, sent the following:
I find the one statement very troubling — and way too common. Namely: "But, the enforcers run that stop sign too."
If ever asked or challenged about these sort of actions, the officer would give a very curt answer of it being in the line of duty. That is hog-wash; pure and simple. Those charged with enforcing the laws of the road are often the worst offenders.
But who is going to stop them? They are totally unwilling to police themselves and it certainly behooves the rest of us to just look the other way. The 'internal review board' is certainly not going to find the offending officer guilty. And the complaining private individual will doubtless be subjected to intense scrutiny for quite a while afterward."

March 12, 2007 03:16 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: Here's the scoop on police reports

Burglaries trouble county homeowner
I live on Prentice St. and there have been six or seven break-ins in the last two weeks. This appears to be the same person or persons. They pry the lock off the storage shed and then steal anything they can carry away. I have filed reports and the neighbors have also.
They took three chainsaws, one weed trimmer, a skillsaw, eight fishing poles, and two tackle boxes from me. They have stolen lots more than that. I found their tracks thru the backyard and each time this happens — we can follow the tracks toward the same general direction.
I was wondering why there has not been anything in the paper about this. Maybe it's not as important as someone running off with the cash register — but it will cost me over $1,000 to replace my equipment. There's no telling how much the total from all the break-ins would be.
Thanks for your time.
Chad Wheeler
chadley22@citlink.net

Chad:
A Chronicle reporter every week day visits the city police department and the sheriff's department and reviews reports. We are not naive enough to think we see all reports, we are confident we see the vast majority of reports that are filed.
Sometimes it takes a few days for the reports to surface in the media files, and sometimes when detectives are working on cases, they keep those files handy rather than release them.
Hopefully someone will read this, recognize some of your property, and tip off authorities as to who is involved in these burglaries and thefts.
Michael R. Moser
mmoser@crossville-chronicle.com

March 08, 2007 03:51 pm
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EDITOR'S BLOG: When all else fails, look to the Almanac

EDITOR'S BLOG: Rise in sexual assault cases

EDITOR'S BLOG: We can fight crime together

EDITOR'S BLOG: Reader reaction to Gibson's plight

EDITOR'S BLOG: More on last week's tornado

EDITOR'S BLOG: What do you think should happen to the prosecutor?

EDITOR'S BLOG: What can be done about a careless neighhbor?

EDITOR'S BLOG: Repentant thief returns goods

EDITOR'S BLOG: Turn right on red continues to spark reader comments

EDITOR'S BLOG: Here's the scoop on police reports

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