Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Erwin Record
The
www.erwinrecord.net

The Valley Beautiful in a Whole New Light

44 Pages Vol. 82, No. 22

THIS WEEK
SPECIAL SOFTBALL SALUTE INSIDE!

Erwin makes plans for civic center

Theater, ofces may replace old Municipal Building
Staff Writer erush@erwinrecord.net

Dreams

A Season Of

By Eileen Rush

Although the buildings burned out shell now holds debris, among the bricks, twisted steel and charred wood, it also holds one gem possibility. One of the possibilities that has arisen out of the ashes of the old Municipal Building, which was destroyed in a blaze April 8, is to

build a civic center-like structure in its place, complete with a theater. Theres a lot of options out there, and this is really early in the process, said City Recorder Randy Trivette. Im very cautious to talk about it as a done deal. I think its a good option that should be considered. The possible new structure could hold, along with a theater, a space for banquets, conferences and ofces. Trivette and Erwin Mayor Brushy Lewis said they would like to see a structure that will bring people into downtown Erwin and help revitalize the community.

We hope to have something we can all be proud of, to be a center downtown, Lewis said. Id like to see something like ... the (International) Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. It would take quite a bit of money. The town is still waiting to hear from its insurance provider. The money that the town receives will be based on the cost of what it would take to rebuild the exact structure of the old Municipal Building up to code at todays cost. While the town will not have to use that money to rebuild an exact replica of the old Municipal Building, the gures take a long time to calculate.

Trivette said he speaks with the insurance company at least twice a week. Martha Stromberg provided the town with the buildings original plans, which has helped with the insurance companys assessment. Those plans, Trivette said, could potentially be incorporated into a new buildings design. It is even possible that the town could use the concrete sign that reads 1923, which once sat atop the Municipal Building, in the new structure. However, Trivette insists that the idea hinges on the opinion of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and on insurance gures.
Please see ERWIN, Page 8-A

Lady ampions TSSAA State Ch S

A SPECIAL COMMEM
ORATIVE UPPLEMENT OF

School Unicoi County High all Team Devil 2009 Softb

RENAISSANCE FAIRY

JUNE 2, 2009

NEIGHBORS
Birthdays, 2-B Bradley William Metcalf Engagements, 2-B Annalize Watkins and Randy Joe

Anis

Anniversary, 2-B Mr. and Mrs. Ray Davis Travel Record, 2-B Heritage, 3-B Classieds, 6-B, 7-B & 8-B Doug Bradford, 67 Brittany Kamile Erwin, 8 Margie Pearl Hammitt, 78 Willa Mae Jackson, 82 Ina Mae Edwards Pickett, 86 Linda Sue Richardson, 52 Marie Swofford, 80 Dewey Taylor, 78 Lula Mae Marie Roberts Trombley, 84 Joshua Williams, 20 Linda Ann Williams, 62

OBITUARIES

Cecilia Johnson blows bubbles at the Unicoi County High School Theater Arts Departments annual Renaissance Faire held at Rock Creek Park recently. For more photos see Page 10-A (Staff Photo by Anthony D. Piercy)

Event to celebrate softball victory

By Lesley Hughes lhughes@erwinrecord.net In a collaborative effort by the State Championship Unicoi County High School Softball team and The Erwin Record, a Meet the Champs event will be held at Erwin Town Hall Thursday, June 11. Following their win of the state TSSAA title, the Lady Devils learned of the cost of purchasing championship rings for their entire team for $6,000. The meet-and-greet opportunity will serve as a communiPlease see VICTORY, Page 8-A

News Editor

Unicoi could withdraw funds for high school

By Lesley Hughes lhughes@erwinrecord.net Unless an agreement is reached between the town of Unicoi and county commissioners, the town could stop funding its portion of the bond for the high school, an amount in excess of $200,000 each year. When the contract was signed in 1996 to fund the construction of Unicoi County High School, Unicoi
News Editor

AMERICAN PROFILE

leaders agreed to fund an additional 36 percent of its sales tax revenue, but, at that time the monthly amount was about 12 times less than the current payment. To complicate matters, the original contract states the bond can never be renanced, at least without the towns agreement. Despite that, the county commission renanced the bond in 2001 for a lower interest rate. The town says it was never consulted. As you know, the towns posi-

tion is that it is no longer obligated for these payments pursuant to the provisions of the agreement, City Recorder Larry Rea said in a letter to County Mayor Greg Lynch, dated March 19. In order to foster cooperation between the respective governmental agencies and to continue to fund superior educational opportunities in Unicoi County for the betterment of all citizens, the town has not sought to discontinue payments although the same has been paid under protest.

In an effort to resolve the issue, the town wants to modify the contract to end the towns contibutions to the original contract year of 2020 and to x the monthly payments at a reasonable cap. A Piece Of The Pie Two cuts come from sales tax that is designated to the entire county. The rst, a 50 percent cut, is taken by law and given to education. From that, the town averages
Please see FUNDS, Page 8-A

U C H S

G R A D UAT I O N

2009

WEATHER
Tuesday, June 2

87 59 86 60 74 61 78 55 80 53

Wednesday, June 3 Thursday, June 4 Friday, June 5 Saturday, June 6

By Joe Reedy Visit erwinrecord.net for details!

Whitley Hensley

Corey Headley

Jeff Lengel

Holly Bradley

Unicoi Countys Own Newspaper

218 Gay St., P.O. Box 700 Erwin, Tennessee 37650 Phone: 423.743.4112 Fax: 423. 743.6125 news@erwinrecord.net

168 receive diplomas at UCHS graduation

Staff Writer erush@erwinrecord.net

By Eileen Rush

We did it! The words echoed repeatedly on Thursday night from the mouths of students, teachers, parents and administrators within the Unicoi County High School gymnasium. A crowd gathered there, with a sea of students swathed in blue, to celebrate the graduation of the senior class of 2009. To be honest, we may never see each other again, said senior class speaker Cody Lewis. But dont let that discourage you. Lewis, senior speaker Emily Finan, UCHS Principal Becky Love and Director of Schools Denise Brown repeated this message: Tonight is not the end, but the beginning. We are the future, Lewis said to the crowd of students before him,

watching him from beneath their tasseled caps. We have the power to change our lives and the lives of others, and I challenge each of you to do that. Yet, while the graduates were challenged to look to the future, the speakers also looked back at what the past four years has taught them. Finan recalled how, when she rst moved here from Hawaii, she had a difcult time understanding the accent that is native to the Appalachians and others had a hard time understanding her. Even though I came in as an outsider, you all accepted me with open arms, as you do with every new student to the system, which I sincerely appreciate, Finan said. Now, after four years, I can look at the senior class gathered here and speak in terms of we and us, as all
Please see UCHS, Page 8-A

PHOTOS BY LESLEY HUGHES | THE ERWIN RECORD

Director of Schools Denise Brown presents Bryan Ledford with a diploma at last Thursdays commencement at UCHS.

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