The Fur Ball was a Great Success!

The Bouffants put on a rocking good show that got everyone up and shaking it! We had some great donated items that brought lots of interest and helped make a lot of money for the new animal center.

Just wait til next year!

Let’s Raise the Woof

The Look Rock Bakery and Pizzeria just opened today in the space formerly occupied by the Atlanta Bread Company in Alcoa at 133 Associates Blvd, which is near the SunTrust Bank and the Alcoa Municipal Building.

They don't have a website yet, but they were kind enough to fax a menu which I have attached. The breakfast and lunch menu is similar to the Atlanta Bread offerings but with more variety, and bonus, they have some great sounding pizzas. And beer!

Link...

Groundbreaking has started. Concrete is soon to be poured. Now is the time to really get involved with all the things going on with Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation and the New Blount County Animal Shelter.

Our next meeting is Saturday, January 12, 2008, at the Blount County Library. 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Come see shelter plans. Hear what we are doing to see that the animals in Blount County have a chance at life. That they do not starve on our streets, or be hit by cars, or shot or poisoned by people who are tired of dogs running loose.

Let us know if you are interested in the Memorial bricks which will pave a garden walk at the shelter, and I will see if I can have one of them brought to the meeting.

Come and make plans to dance the night away in the Gala Fundraiser, the first annual "Fur Ball" at the Royal Oaks Country Club. Dance for the Animals!

Come see us at the next meeting!! Bring your friends! Everyone who is interested in helping or learning about the new shelter is welcome to our meetings.

Terry

Boy the Ruby Tuesday stock is taken more of a hit after the financial report yesterday. It's gone as low as $6.07 today, the lowest it has ever been. I looked at the five year trend and the stock was between $20 and $30 for the past five years until this past Fall went it started a sharp decline.

I blame this solely on the Daily Times. How dare they report disgruntled local people who complained about the food and new decor. A coworker said she went to Ruby's the other day and she said it was a glorified hamburger joint.

This could have serious repercussions for the city of Maryville. If RT goes down, so does most of downtown.... Of course there's always Blackberry Farms and the Three Sisters tract.....

The Sheriff stated in the Blount Today Link... article;

“We generate money for our vehicles through our federal inmate program,” he said. Berrong buys an average of 25 vehicles annually.

“If you didn’t buy 25 a year, in four years you have to buy 100,” he said. “Based on needs we have, it just makes good sense to do 25 a year.”

“This time of year, we have 25 more (cars) than normal because our new fleet comes in,” said Berrong. “In the next couple or three months we’ll auction off 20 to 25 vehicles. You could say our fleet is 225.”

"Berrong countered that he has consistently bought 25 cars year."

What happened in 2007? Did Neil Sandler stiff the Sheriff? If the Sheriff "has" to buy 25 a year, how did we revert back to 2005 totals? And what happened to 4 of our motorcycles? I don't remember 4 motorcycle accidents last year. Were they "scrapped" anyway?

The fact those who would like this all to go away claim "no further investigation" is necessary is a farce.

This from today's Opinion in the DT:

Link...

While no breakdown is available on how many of the immigrants are illegal, it is quite obvious that many do not have a green card which would mean they are here legally and employed nor are they in the normal channel to obtain U.S. citizenship or here as a visitor on a legal visa.

It is obvious to me that there is little understanding as to why South and Central Americans come here.

Immigrants from Mexico do not come to Tennessee to live out their lives. They come to work. Their desire is to provide for something or someone at home in Mexico.

This is changing as the border tightens. Now they will pay to get their families across because it is too hard for them to cross to work for a few months or a year, return home to their families, and then return to the US to work a while more.

Most would stay in Mexico if they could make a decent living there. No one has ever told me they wanted to leave their homeland to come here where they know they will be discriminated against and unwanted. They come out of need. We don't have that extreme need so most don't understand. It is out of the realm of our reality.

Not every hispanic who comes to Tennessee will stay here. Most will work a while and then go home. If jobs aren't available they will move on.
Not all want to become US citizens. They want to WORK to make enough money to support their families.
Charge a fee for the damn classes and shut up already!