Mountain Views
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” —United States Constitution, Amendment One
■ The Mountain Press ■ Page A7 ■ Saturday, September 18, 2010
commentary
Three Cheers Park hooks a Troutman to lead major programs
Recession beneficial to the NFL Take it from me because I see the Nielsen television ratings every day: NFL football is riding a huge wave of popularity in America. In the first week of play, the ratings are up by double digits, and the games have even taken some viewers away from my news program, which is a complete and utter outrage. Why are more people watching football? The first reason is economic: It’s free. Because of the recession, fewer people are going out for entertainment. Instead, they grab popcorn and a beverage and watch huge men run into each other. Simple and inexpensive. The second reason expands on the simplicity factor. We are living in a time of incredible spin and gross dishonesty in the public arena. Propagandists are everywhere, and they’re spitting out so much bilge it is sometimes hard to even breathe. Football is an honest game. The toughest, smartest team usually wins. There is something pure in the presentation. As this week’s primary votes prove, Americans are fed up with b.s. Most of us understand that we are being used by powerful forces beyond our control. The country slid into recession because greedy fat cats decided to create risky mortgage schemes, and guys like Congressman Barney Frank, who were supposed to be watching out for bogus investments, allowed it to happen. Let me ask you something: Had you ever heard of subprime mortgages before President Bush told us they had ruined the economy? I’m in the news business, and I had no idea this giant con was in play. And if I had to bet, I’d say Bush and Frank didn’t understand the situation, either. Thus, many Americans have developed a bunker mentality and are being very cautious with their money and time. The folks are walking away from flimflam artists and are throwing the bums out with their votes. They want a simple, understandable message. And football is one of the things Americans understand. The downside, of course, is the brutality. NFL injuries are reaching catastrophic levels. Three-hundredpound guys running up and down 100-yard fields will yield some brutal collisions. The danger of the game is part of its attraction, and there’s no doubt that a well-played contest is a tremendous escape from the sorry real world. The worse things get the more escape mechanisms are needed. Welcome to the NFL. But the league should be careful. There is a move to expand the schedule to 18 games from 16. That would lead to even more injuries and carnage. Also, many teams have priced tickets so high that working class folks can’t afford to go to the stadium. Nobody likes to be excluded from something because of money. So football is flying right now, one of the few beneficiaries of the recession. But what goes up can also come down. In a hurry. — Veteran TV news anchor Bill O Reilly is host of the Fox News show “The O Reilly Factor” and author of the book “Who’s Looking Out For You? Distributed by Creators Syndicate. (C)2009 Bill O’Reilly.
Jeff Troutman should take to his new job like a fish to water. Troutman has recently been named to oversee the Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s natural and cultural resources. And with 28 years in National Park Service leadership and resource management, Troutman literally has a mountain of experience. A native of Bristol, he is a Duke University graduate. Since 2003 he was chief of natural and cultural resources at the NPS’s Southeast Utah Group. He has also worked at national parks in Alaska, Delaware, Pennsylvania, The Everglades and Cape Lookout. Included in Troutman’s responsibilities are fisheries, fire, wildlife and vegetation management, inventorying and monitoring air, water and biological resources. Park Superintendent Dale Ditmanson had high praise, calling him ideal to “help the Park handle new challenges on the horizon.” It appears they got the right man.
High note: Local musicians Food City brings home make Knox youth orchestras bacon for Sevier schools
Hundreds came — relatively few were chosen. The event was the Knoxville Symphony Youth Organization auditions for the five orchestras for the 2010-2011 concert season. Many of those who earned spots were from Sevier County. Their names have appeared elsewhere in the newspaper, but they deserve to take another bow here. They are: Youth Symphony, the top group, ages 13-17: Alexandre Horton, violin, Seymour HS senior; Ben Parton, age 14, violin, Sevierville, ninth grade homeschool; Moriah Yarnell, french horn, Sevier County HS junior. Junior Philharmonia: Katelyn Hedrick, cello, Sevierville, seventh grade homeschool; Hannah Shipstad, violin, seventh grade Boyds Creek Elementary. Philharmonia: Stephen Byrne, violin, Gatlinburg seventh grade homeschool; Lydia Dowdy, viola, ninth grade The King’s Academy; Lindsey Hedrick, violin, Sevierville fourth grade homeschool. Youth Chamber Orchestra: Stephanie Horton, violin, Seymour High School freshman; Daniel Zeller, Cosby, sophomore homeschool.
There are benevolent civic organizations and community-minded businesses from one end of the county to the other. Whether helping the needy, sponsoring a youth athletic team or raise money for a specific disease, there are no bad causes. Today, the spotlight’s on Sevierville’s Food City, which this week presented a check for $56,807 to Sevier school from its School Bucks program. Each school in the system registered for the program and was assigned a link. When family and friends shopped, port of the money benefited their school. Sevier County High School received the largest portion, $11,800. Pi Beta Phi Elementary was second with $5,590, followed by Pigeon Forge Primary with $4,445, Northview Primary with $3,845 and New Center Elementary with $3,614. Other schools received lesser portions. Food City is to be commended for providing a lot of educational groceries.
Political view
New library’s teen center has inappropriate behavior, language
Editor: The other day when gathering my children after their trip the new King Family Library, I was disappointed to see the “Teen Center” misused and being abused by local school children from the area. I spoke to several staff members of the library with concerns about the language and conduct as I entered the teen room. I had witnessed several out-of-control boys jumping from the brand new furniture, as though they were outside on the play-
Public forum ground still at school. I heard foul language, and saw inappropriate behavior between a few teens. I was given the name and number of K.C. Williams, who is the head person at the library. Parents of these children should be aware this facility is not a drop-off baby sitter, and if your children are using this free service, your children should have some respect. When speaking to the very nice ladies who work at the library, you could see the hurt in their faces and hear it as they spoke out about the treatment these children give to this facility. It is sad that the children here in Sevier County have a place that
is awesome beyond measures, but yet have no respect for it. We as parents need to take a stand and help the library seek some way of controlling this behavior. What happened to the days when the library was a hang-out, but the children and teens had respect for it. As a mother of three and a local person who frequently goes to the library, my children will not use the Teen Center until some sort of control is brought to that area. Stacy Day Sevierville
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Editorial Board:
State Legislators:
Federal Legislators:
◆ Jana Thomasson, Publisher ◆ Stan Voit, Editor ◆ Bob Mayes, Managing Editor ◆ Gail Crutchfield, Community News Editor
◆ Rep. Richard Montgomery
◆ U.S. Sen. Bob Corker
1-800-449-8366 Ext. 1-5981; 207 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov
◆ Rep. Joe McCord
(202) 224-3344; 185 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., B40A, Washington, D.C. 20510
◆ U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander
(202) 224-4944; S/H 302, Washington, D.C. 20510
1-800-449-8366 Ext. 1-5481; 207 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 rep.joe.mccord@capitol.tn.gov
◆ U.S. Rep. Phil Roe
1-800-449-8366 Ext. 10981; 320 War Memorial Bldg., Nashville TN 37243 sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov
◆ U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr.
◆ Sen. Doug Overbey
(202) 225-6356; 419 Cannon House Office, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5435; 2267 Rayburn Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515