The issue of the North Shore Road issue has been clouded over the years by emotion on both sides, FOR and AGAINST. On the one side you have the emotion of the people or their relatives who have strong ties to past and the promises made, i.e. Contract / Agreement.
On the other we have the strong emotion of being good stewards in the present time through environmental conservation for an undeveloped area with the lure of a monetary settlement in lieu of a road.
Should we ever be able to lay all the emotion to the side and consider only the facts as they actually exist, and how we have gotten to the present day without the influence from any side the situation should be solvable.
This Blog would propose formulating a time line from the conception of the idea of the Fontana by the US Government / TVA to the present, including all known agreements, promises, and actions taken by any party or agents involved to show the actual situation as it was and is presently. But again emotion must be left aside. It would be very important to place these items or events in the order of which they occurred so as to accurately show a path to the present day.
Once the facts are out in front of all then it would be time to intelligently work through a reasonable solution regardless of the outcome to either side.
Are there any takers?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
A LETTER FROM THE PAST to THINK ABOUT
From the Desk of Lamar Alexander
http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1078&Month=12&Year=2006
SEN. ALEXANDER SAYS STOPPING ‘ROAD TO NOWHERE’ WOULD BE GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR TENNESSEE Urges New Park Service Director to Abandon Construction Plans
December 21, 2006
The Honorable Mary A. Bomar
Director
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Director Bomar,
I am writing to suggest that a good Christmas present for the people of Tennessee and North Carolina would be a National Park Service decision to abandon the proposed $600 million "Road to Nowhere" through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Environmental Impact Statement review for this proposed road is near a conclusion. Now is the time to bring this dispute – which has lasted since World War II – to an end. There is surely a federal obligation to the people of Swain County, North Carolina, but the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no legal requirement to satisfy it by building this road. Common sense, as the elected Swain County Commissioners and the governors of Tennessee and North Carolina have said, suggests a cash settlement instead.
The proposed road would be a stupendous waste of taxpayer dollars – costing at least 75 times the annual roads budget for the Smokies – and it would be an environmental disaster, tearing up slopes and streams in one of the largest wilderness areas of the eastern United States.
I have opposed this road since 1984 when, as governor, I hiked the Forney Creek area of the Park where the road would be built. I reported what I had seen to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on which I now serve. I have not changed my mind. I am enclosing my February 2006 letter to former Interior Secretary Gale Norton that further outlines my opposition to the road.
I urge you to brighten this Holiday Season by making the decision to abandon this ill-advised road so that we can begin to work together on an appropriate cash settlement for Swain County.
Sincerely,
Lamar Alexander
United States Senate
Enclosure
cc:
The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne
The Honorable Phil Bredesen
Members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation
Food for thought, what do you think?
http://alexander.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1078&Month=12&Year=2006
SEN. ALEXANDER SAYS STOPPING ‘ROAD TO NOWHERE’ WOULD BE GOOD CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR TENNESSEE Urges New Park Service Director to Abandon Construction Plans
December 21, 2006
The Honorable Mary A. Bomar
Director
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Director Bomar,
I am writing to suggest that a good Christmas present for the people of Tennessee and North Carolina would be a National Park Service decision to abandon the proposed $600 million "Road to Nowhere" through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Environmental Impact Statement review for this proposed road is near a conclusion. Now is the time to bring this dispute – which has lasted since World War II – to an end. There is surely a federal obligation to the people of Swain County, North Carolina, but the U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no legal requirement to satisfy it by building this road. Common sense, as the elected Swain County Commissioners and the governors of Tennessee and North Carolina have said, suggests a cash settlement instead.
The proposed road would be a stupendous waste of taxpayer dollars – costing at least 75 times the annual roads budget for the Smokies – and it would be an environmental disaster, tearing up slopes and streams in one of the largest wilderness areas of the eastern United States.
I have opposed this road since 1984 when, as governor, I hiked the Forney Creek area of the Park where the road would be built. I reported what I had seen to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on which I now serve. I have not changed my mind. I am enclosing my February 2006 letter to former Interior Secretary Gale Norton that further outlines my opposition to the road.
I urge you to brighten this Holiday Season by making the decision to abandon this ill-advised road so that we can begin to work together on an appropriate cash settlement for Swain County.
Sincerely,
Lamar Alexander
United States Senate
Enclosure
cc:
The Honorable Dirk Kempthorne
The Honorable Phil Bredesen
Members of the Tennessee Congressional delegation
Food for thought, what do you think?
Just what is the view worth?
On any day when the sky is clear as one drives over the mountains headed south from Newfound Gap, or from Clingman's Dome's vantage points you can view just what Swain County once was. Oh, one could say, there's other counties out there in the "VEIW SHED" but over 85% of everything you can see is what was once Swain County.
And what about along Hwy 28 going toward Graham County, as you drive along you can look to the north and see just what was once Swain County as well from another angle. Simply breath taking, mile after mile of Swain County undeveloped in raw form.
From an environmental stand point heaven on earth. From a human stand point concerning those who once lived in this heavenly place simply an open wound which is salted from time to time by a simple broken promise.
Let's put it in prospective.
They, those who once owned and flourished in this land gave there all or it was simply condemned and taken for a simple pittance, along with a small insignificant promise to build a road so that the burial sites of their ancestors could be visited from time to time, and as well to allow these people to return and remember for only a moment of what once was.
As time has went on the priorities of this mighty nation changed and little thought is given to this small insignificant promise since the prize of an INTERNATIONAL BIOSPHERE has been accomplished. Priorities to live and let live is given over to the environmental aspects with little concern to the Americans who surrendered to what they thought was a worthy and respectable cause in duty to their Country. All they want now is what they were promised. All they want is that this Country simply live up to its responsibilities and commitments.
We as a Country in times of peace as well as in war spend billions of dollars abroad to live up to commitments made over the years, its very troubling to understand why we can't live up to commitments made at home just because they seem to be politically incorrect now when it wasn't politically incorrect then. Why have our priorities, responsibilities changed? Why have we forgotten our own who came before us? Remember they gave what they had, it may not have been diamonds and gold but it was all they had.
When you cross over the mountains or stand at Clingman's Dome or drive along Hwy 28 and look upon this beauty, I would hope it weighs heavy on your mind that all of this scenery once belonged to those who gave all they had. For a pittance and a promise that is now politically incorrect.
In the overall scheme of things a simple road to allow people to return and visit their heritage, their beginning.
We should be ashamed of this injustice upon our own.
And what about along Hwy 28 going toward Graham County, as you drive along you can look to the north and see just what was once Swain County as well from another angle. Simply breath taking, mile after mile of Swain County undeveloped in raw form.
From an environmental stand point heaven on earth. From a human stand point concerning those who once lived in this heavenly place simply an open wound which is salted from time to time by a simple broken promise.
Let's put it in prospective.
They, those who once owned and flourished in this land gave there all or it was simply condemned and taken for a simple pittance, along with a small insignificant promise to build a road so that the burial sites of their ancestors could be visited from time to time, and as well to allow these people to return and remember for only a moment of what once was.
As time has went on the priorities of this mighty nation changed and little thought is given to this small insignificant promise since the prize of an INTERNATIONAL BIOSPHERE has been accomplished. Priorities to live and let live is given over to the environmental aspects with little concern to the Americans who surrendered to what they thought was a worthy and respectable cause in duty to their Country. All they want now is what they were promised. All they want is that this Country simply live up to its responsibilities and commitments.
We as a Country in times of peace as well as in war spend billions of dollars abroad to live up to commitments made over the years, its very troubling to understand why we can't live up to commitments made at home just because they seem to be politically incorrect now when it wasn't politically incorrect then. Why have our priorities, responsibilities changed? Why have we forgotten our own who came before us? Remember they gave what they had, it may not have been diamonds and gold but it was all they had.
When you cross over the mountains or stand at Clingman's Dome or drive along Hwy 28 and look upon this beauty, I would hope it weighs heavy on your mind that all of this scenery once belonged to those who gave all they had. For a pittance and a promise that is now politically incorrect.
In the overall scheme of things a simple road to allow people to return and visit their heritage, their beginning.
We should be ashamed of this injustice upon our own.
The Truth never satisfies the Dishonest.
Through exhaustive research of the ALLEGED Supreme Court Case cited so many times in the argument of the North Shore Road. It appears that the case in question was relative to no more than 6 families of the area looking for access to their property. With this said the rationale for furnishing access to this limited number of individuals was the reasoning behind the condemnation of the property's in question. Simply it was not reasonable for the Governmental Agencies to provide access based on this limited number of individuals.
There is NO relation to this case regarding the North Shore Road, i.e. replacement of Hwy 288.
Simply the case has never been brought.
Please reference this case through the internet by simply searching,
"USSCvsSwainlandowners"
Too many times we beleive some idle comment from someone who manipulates the truth to their own benefit. We believe it is time for YOU to DECIDE.
There is NO relation to this case regarding the North Shore Road, i.e. replacement of Hwy 288.
Simply the case has never been brought.
Please reference this case through the internet by simply searching,
"USSCvsSwainlandowners"
Too many times we beleive some idle comment from someone who manipulates the truth to their own benefit. We believe it is time for YOU to DECIDE.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Comment from a Commissioner?
The blog has found the comment forwarded by this person seems to represent the Commissioner's view in the proceedings of last Tuesday night. It speaks for it's self.
You have got to be kidding. Multiple times, names were called who either were not present, or the person who was called seemed surprised that they were on the list. Obviously, the pro-road forces were signing in for other people, which is against the rules.
Also, public comments are supposed to be limited to 3 mins or less. This simply was not followed by multiple speakers.
Linda Hogue, Mike Clampitt, Ellen Monteith, David Monteith, Mike Kesselring and a host of others all spoke. Clampitt spoke for far, far longer than his allotted time. Exactly who missed out? The leaders all seemed to get their shot, and in several cases, they abused the privilege, Clampitt in particular.
Finally, public comments are supposed to be limited to 30 mins total for a commissioners meeting. The commissioners let the comments run for far longer than this. They did not have to allow the comment time to continue, but they did. No one has any room to gripe that their voice did not have an opportunity to be heard last evening.
Mike Kesselring spoke about other communities making fun and ridiculing Swain County citizens. Your post here gives them just that much more ammunition - claiming that somehow last night you were denied an opportunity to talk and involking the Bill of Rights is beyond ridiculous. All that occurred last evening was that the county commissioners regular business was held up for hours while the same people made the same arguments that have been voiced time and time again.
You have got to be kidding. Multiple times, names were called who either were not present, or the person who was called seemed surprised that they were on the list. Obviously, the pro-road forces were signing in for other people, which is against the rules.
Also, public comments are supposed to be limited to 3 mins or less. This simply was not followed by multiple speakers.
Linda Hogue, Mike Clampitt, Ellen Monteith, David Monteith, Mike Kesselring and a host of others all spoke. Clampitt spoke for far, far longer than his allotted time. Exactly who missed out? The leaders all seemed to get their shot, and in several cases, they abused the privilege, Clampitt in particular.
Finally, public comments are supposed to be limited to 30 mins total for a commissioners meeting. The commissioners let the comments run for far longer than this. They did not have to allow the comment time to continue, but they did. No one has any room to gripe that their voice did not have an opportunity to be heard last evening.
Mike Kesselring spoke about other communities making fun and ridiculing Swain County citizens. Your post here gives them just that much more ammunition - claiming that somehow last night you were denied an opportunity to talk and involking the Bill of Rights is beyond ridiculous. All that occurred last evening was that the county commissioners regular business was held up for hours while the same people made the same arguments that have been voiced time and time again.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Weight Watcher Gone Astray?
Comments from the teaching staff in Swain County have generated grave concern. This blog puts out this information so that this situation can come to light and it can be worked out.
It appears that a weight watcher pool was formed within the Swain County School system to encourage weight reduction over the holidays for staff and teachers. This pool it appears to have been formed with the blessing of the Swain County School System which in principle is great,,, gambling but for your own good so to speak.
The real story is that since the effort was to be over a period of time surrounding Thanksgiving 2007 and pay outs for the pool were to be for each school winner, as well as over the whole system, nothing yet has happened.
So the question is really where's the BEEF, the CASH, the MOO LA. Currently nobody knows.
So how about let somebody know who won or where the funds went, otherwise it would appear the School System should cough up. Don't you think?.
By the way who knows who the Bag Lady or Man is? Let us know.
It appears that a weight watcher pool was formed within the Swain County School system to encourage weight reduction over the holidays for staff and teachers. This pool it appears to have been formed with the blessing of the Swain County School System which in principle is great,,, gambling but for your own good so to speak.
The real story is that since the effort was to be over a period of time surrounding Thanksgiving 2007 and pay outs for the pool were to be for each school winner, as well as over the whole system, nothing yet has happened.
So the question is really where's the BEEF, the CASH, the MOO LA. Currently nobody knows.
So how about let somebody know who won or where the funds went, otherwise it would appear the School System should cough up. Don't you think?.
By the way who knows who the Bag Lady or Man is? Let us know.
LATE BREAKING NEWS
It appears the roster for public comment session last night, may have been censored so as to deny individuals the right to free speech. We live in AMERICA, this is a representative government not some third world joke! How dare anyone step on the BILL OF RIGHTS.
Maybe the guilty party has the guts to step forward?
Maybe the guilty party has the guts to step forward?
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