Tennessee Moves To Allow Guns In Public Buildings

By News Sentinel staff April 18, 2007

NASHVILLE — In a surprise move, a House panel voted today to repeal a state law that forbids the carrying of handguns on property and buildings owned by state, county and city governments — including parks and playgrounds.

"I think the recent Virginia disaster — or catastrophe or nightmare or whatever you want to call it — has woken up a lot of people to the need for having guns available to law-abiding citizens," said Rep. Frank Niceley, R-Strawberry Plains. "I hope that is what this vote reflects."

Read the full story in Thursday’s News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/state/article/0,1406,KNS_348_5491437,00.html

Copyright 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

Organization Will Push For Animal Control

From page 1 of THE COURIER - 4/19/07

"A new Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals organization has formed in Hardin County.

"I believe there needs to be animal control in Hardin County," said Hardin Metro SPCA Inc. President Stanley Shaw.

Currently, the county has no organized animal control program. Previously, the county partnered with the city of Savannah to provide the service to county residents.

Disagreements regarding how much of the total cost each local government should carry prompted the county to effectively eliminate animal control services outside the city of Savannah.

The Hardin County Commission did budget $2,500 to dispatch "vicious" dogs, but according to county Budget Director Linda Franks, not a penny of that money has been spent more than 10 months into the fiscal year.

Officials for the fledgling effort say they hope to encourage the county commission to reinstitute animal control service for county residents.

"They promised this in the last election," said Shaw, who ran for county mayor. The city has "beared the brunt of this for years."

He said Hardin Metro SPCA does not intend to be "this self-appointed group to tell the county what to do. I want the county to have an opportunity to do what they’re going to do, and hopefully they’ll do a good job of it."

Savannah attorney Vance Dennis, a member of the organization’s board of directors and its legal counsel, said the message to be sent is, "We’re here to help."

Officers were elected at the April 2 organizational meeting held at Central Bank on Wayne Road.
Susan Brown, who has been active in animal protection issues for many years, was elected vice president. The treasurer is banker and former Savannah city commissioner Chris Jerrolds.

Brad Silliman, a former prison inmate counselor and past news reporter at The Courier, was elected secretary. Silliman was previously married to the late local prominent animal rights activist Patricia Tretheway.

Local veterinarian Don Edwards is also a member of the board.

The board named Ted Cook, who chartered the public benefit, nonprofit corporation, interim executive director."

Submitted for your consideration and comments.

Uncle Ted

In Re: Hardin County Commissioner - BUSTED

Mayor Kevin Davis Picks Dave Davis, CPA

You ain't gonna believe this, but this guy is up for an appointment to the Mayor's new Advisory Committee on the River Resort District. When ask, the Mayor responded, he's a very smart guy and he did a lot while he was a Commissioner. Yeah, your right about that!!

This guy had to resign from the County Commission in what has to be discribed as disgrace. He smart, alright, he thought he was smart enough to get by with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor by provided alcohol and marijuana, but, after year of rumors, he finally got caught.

There has got to be others who could serve the County besides this guy, Mr. Mayor. Principles do count.

Respectfully

Ted


--- In May 2002 TheNewSavannahJournal@yahoogroups.com, "themaverickentrepreneur" wrote: Hardin County Commissioner - BUSTED

The County Commissioner who lead the drive to eliminate the State Office of Constable in Hardin County was arrested Monday, May 20, 2002 on two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and is released on bond.

County Commissioner David H. Davis, CPA is to appear in General Sessions Court on Friday, May 24, 2002 to answer these charges.

The arrest is the results of an ongoing investigation that resulted from two families filing complaints with the Savannah Police Department. The Complains generally allege that Davis provided alcohol and marijuana to their sons, one of whom was a minor.

Could it be that Commissioner Davis had his own reasons for not wanting Constables in Hardin County?

Submitted for your consideration
Ted G. Cook
The Maverick Entrepreneur

Who Can Do Something About Animal Control In Hardin County Tennessee?

These are the folks that have the statutory authority to develop, fund and implement a comprehensive plan to comply with the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law that is tied to the recommendations of the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2007, published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV).

The recommendations in the compendium serve as the basis for animal rabies prevention and control programs throughout the United States and facilitate standardization of procedures among jurisdictions, thereby contributing to an effective national rabies-control program.

One of the essential elements, as defined by the compendium, is the removal of stray animals from the community. We need this in Hardin County.

Board of Commissioners by Voting District
(Check your voters registration card for your district)

District 1
(Armory/Olivet)
Mr. Gary Combs, 147 Somerset Loop, Savannah, TN 38382 - 731-925-8855
Mr. Fred McFalls, Jr., 380 English Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-7092

District 2
(Nixon/Walkers)
Mr. Adam Coleman, 8645 Hwy 128, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2639
Mr. Charles Howard, 170 Parker Way, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8611

District 3
(Counce/Southside)
Mr. David Childers, 1425 Mayhall Road, Counce, TN 38326 - 731-689-5107
Mr. Roger L. Jenkins, 980 Preacher Dr., Counce, TN 38326 - 731- 689-3829

District 4
(Shiloh/Crump)
Mr. Tracey Grisham, 70 Pauline Rd., Adamsville, TN 38326 - 731-632-0288
Mr. James Whitehorn, St., 300 Hardy Road, Adamsville, TN 38310 - 731-682-4828

District 5
(Saltillo/Morris Chapel)
Mr. Jimmy G. Grisham, 405 C.W. White Dr., Morris Chapel, TN 38361 - 731-687-0154
Ms. Kathy Smith, 215 Ashley Rd., Saltillo, TN 38370 - 731-687-3625

District 6
(Cerro Gordo/Mt. Hermon/Olive Hill)
Mr. Ernie Bigbie, 22068 Hwy 64, Olive Hill, TN 38475 - 731-925-8209
Mr. Nickie L. Cagle, 10155 Clifton Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8022

District 7
(Whites/Walnut Grove)
Mr. Gene Bryant, 2420 Fox Hollow Lp., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2092
Mr. Mike Jerrolds, 120 Burnt Church Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2747

District 8
North (Fairgrounds)
Mr. Wally Hamilton, 3055 Cravens Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5708
Mr. Stacey Stricklin, 136 J. H. Winborn Ln., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-3544

District 9
(Courthouse/Library)
Mr. Tom Haggard, 125 Riverside Dr., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5720
Mr. Emery White, 455 S. Pickwick St., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-6240

District 10
(Fairground)
Mr. James S. Berry, Jr., 175 Patterson Rd., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-4389
Mr. Mike Fowler, 185 Cagle Circle, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-9117

Please call your commissioner and tell them you want the issue on the agenda as soon as possible. Hopefully the March 2007 agenda.

Respectfully requested,

Uncle Ted

County Commissioners by Voting District

Hardin CountyBoard of Commissioners

By Voting District

(Check your voters registration card for your district)

District 1
Mr. Gary Combs, 147 Somerset Loop, Savannah, TN 38382 - 731-925-8855
Mr. Fred McFalls, Jr., 380 English Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-7092

District 2
Mr. Adam Coleman, 8645 Hwy 128, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2639
Mr. Charles Howard, 170 Parker Way, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8611

District 3
Mr. David Childers, 1425 Mayhall Road, Counce, TN 38326 - 731-689-5107
Mr. Roger L. Jenkins, 980 Preacher Dr., Counce, TN 38326 - 731- 689-3829

District 4
Mr. Tracey Grisham, 70 Pauline Rd., Adamsville, TN 38326 - 731-632-0288
Mr. James Whitehorn, St., 300 Hardy Road, Adamsville, TN 38310 - 731-682-4828

District 5
Mr. Jimmy G. Grisham, 405 C.W. White Dr., Morris Chapel, TN 38361 - 731-687-0154
Ms. Kathy Smith, 215 Ashley Rd., Saltillo, TN 38370 - 731-687-3625

District 6
Mr. Ernie Bigbie, 22068 Hwy 64, Olive Hill, TN 38475 - 731-925-8209
Mr. Nickie L. Cagle, 10155 Clifton Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-8022

District 7
Mr. Gene Bryant, 2420 Fox Hollow Lp., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2092
Mr. Mike Jerrolds, 120 Burnt Church Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-2747

District 8
Mr. Wally Hamilton, 3055 Cravens Road, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5708
Mr. Stacey Stricklin, 136 J. H. Winborn Ln., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-3544

District 9
Mr. Tom Haggard, 125 Riverside Dr., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-5720
Mr. Emery White, 455 S. Pickwick St., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-6240

District 10
Mr. James S. Berry, Jr., 175 Patterson Rd., Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-4389
Mr. Mike Fowler, 185 Cagle Circle, Savannah, TN 38372 - 731-925-9117

These could be used for the citizens to contact their Commissioner and inquire about their solution for the stray animals problems.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,


Ted

The Hardin County Budget Committee
vs
The Hardin County Board of Commissioners

In re: Rabies Prevention in Hardin County, or The Lack of It.

I had the occasion recently to ask our Mayor/Chairman of the County Board of Commissioners when the long awaited public safety and welfare issue of stray animals in the community would be put on the County Commissions’ agenda to begin the discussion of a possible solution to the problem associated with stray animals. Like he had promised during the elections.

The Mayor/Chairman advised me that the issue would only be addressed by the Budget Committee and probably around the end of April or the first part of May.

Say, what? As I understand it, the explaination was that since there are 1 Commissioner from each district on the Budget Committee, it is just as good as the whole Board of Commissioners. Not! And Double NOT!!!

That would be the tail wagging the dog, if I have ever seen it.

How does a budget committee end up with the future of the Rabies Prevention Act, and whether any or all of the county’s responsibility are going to be met.

While the Budget Committee has a role to play, they don’t come on stage until the Legislative Body has developed a comprehensive plan to address the issues.

The Budget Committee funds the comprehensive plan, they don’t have the authority or responsibility to originate the comprehensive plan.

What 'budget' is the committee going to consider and how, by whom, and when will that budget be prepared? Or! Are they going to say, sorry, we can't find any money for our part of the Rabie Prevention programs. End of discussion? Don't think so.

To be continued, oh, yah!

Ted

Jail Project 2007 Update

When the Mayor and County Commissioners start patting themselves on the back for their dedication to resolving a critical problem and for their outstanding work on the "Jail Project", don’t you think it’s time to take a serious look at the results of this "outstanding work," by looking at the results?

The results can be determined by the collective answers to the following questions:

How much of the County’s treasury has been spent or committed, to date, on the "Jail Project?" (Land costs; development cost - studies, analysis reports, architects, engineers, etc.; site prep.)

What other costs are there going to be, in addition to the "Jail Project’s" $10,500,000.00 Bond debt.

How much of the $36.00 Wheel Tax is required for Debt Service on the $10,500,000.00 Bonds?

Are the Mayor and/or the County Commission sure that Hardin County’s new "facility" will work well in every way?

Can they assure the taxpayers of Hardin County that this new "Facility" meets the basic requirements of A Correction & Detention Facility as defined by the National Institution of Corrections? If not, why not?

Does the new Hardin County’s Correction & Detention Facility:

a.) Meet Hardin County’s Current and Future Needs - Well, no. Still not enough capacity. At least 100 beds short for current needs and nowhere close for future needs, with the County’s current attitude about correction and detention.

b.) Support Hardin County’s Philosophies and Objectives Regarding Detention and Corrections. - Well, no. Philosophies do not include ending up in the same place we are today, with an overcrowded correction and detention facility, with its related problems even if it is brand new. The only beneficiary of that outcome is the Sheriff, because the Sheriff ends up with a new office facility for his department and a huge increase in the department’s budget, even if the jail is overcrowded, again.

c.) Help Hardin County’s Employees and Staff Do Their Best at Their Jobs. - Well, no. They are going to still have to deal with overcrowding, and its related problems, while they become amiliar with the new facility, themselves.

d.) Work Well for Our Current and Future Staff and Inmates. -Well, no. Overcrowding is overcrowding.

e.) Fit Within Hardin County’s Budget for Construction and Annual Operational Cost? Well, Yes, more than enough. The $36.00 wheel tax should have generated about a Million Dollars in 2006. That Million Dollars would finance a lot more than $10,500,000.00 at 4 ½ % fixed rate over a Thirty Years period with tax-exempt bonds.

Did we do it right, the first time? Well, no. That’s not the way we seem to do it here in Hardin County.

Some will say, Shut Up, Ted, it’s going to be a lot better than it is now!! Point taken. But at what costs?

My problem is that they will wake up in two to three years, at the grand opening, and say, we still have the same basic problems. We could have done a lot better by just looking past today. How soon will they have to make that 100 bed addition?

Next Issue - Can’t you just wait to see how these folk will propose to deal with the other critical public safety and welfare issue. The hazardous rabies/stray animal control problem, due to the lack of any programs, in Hardin County and the Region.

I just can’t wait, that’s a fact. They need to keep their campaign promises and resolve the stray animal problem in Hardin County or at least tell us when they plan on doing something to resolve the problem.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,


Ted

How Many Are There?

Knowing how many animal are in our area can help plan for the future. Foundations, donors, and elected officials usually want see statistics and hard data supporting requests for funding.

One figure that often seem difficult to estimate, however, is the total number of owned animals in the community. The Humane Society of the United States’s recently published Disasters Planning Manual contains advise to help the animals in their area stand up and be counted.

They used the National Pet Owners Survey, conducted by The American Pet Products Manufactures Association - 2003 - 2004 as their source for the percentage of U.S. households owning a pet and the number of pets per household.

The formula by no means is exact; it is based on national averages and does not account for potential variables among regions, states and communities and does not attempt to account for stray animals.

According to the last census count there were an estimated 13,400 households in our community. For dogs, the formula is: 39% of the households own dogs and there are 1.6 dogs per households that have dogs. For cats, the formula is: 34% of the households own dogs and there are 2.2 cats per households that have cats.

When one does the math, one finds that there are an estimated 8,362 dogs and 10,023 cats that live in 13,700 households in Hardin County.

The really sad thing is, that of the 20,046 dogs and cats, that we can estimate, only 4,861 are legally vaccinated according to the Hardin County Health Department.

That would mean that only 24.2% of the estimated dogs and cats in Hardin County are legally vaccinated. That would mean that 75.8% are not. That would definitely be an "F" in responsible pet ownership.

One must remember that these figures do not account for animals that do not reside in a household environment, like stray dogs or feral cats.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Ted

Community Planing?

We don’t need no stinking’ community planning!! Or do we?

Well, before you decide, let’s get a handle on what it is and how it can help our community work together to better address the root causes, as well as the symptoms, of the animal problems in Hardin County.

It’s fair to say that most people in the humane movement got involved through a personal encounter with a homeless animal and the sinking realization that their experience was just the tip of an enormous iceberg.

For many, that realization gave birth to the commitment to do something to help the animals; to take as many as possible from the pound and find homes for them; to promote or fund spay/neuter programs; to educate the public; and to build a more humane shelter or to some combination of these.

As they got more involved they got busier and busier. "The faster I go, the more behind I get!" seems to be the common cry of rescuers everywhere.

They are like a team of janitors attempting to deal with a flooding sink in a locked broom closet by mopping the floor in the corridor because we can’t find the key to the door and they can’t break it down! They are dealing with one crisis after another and have no apparent hope of getting to the source of the problem.

So how can they get further ahead when most of them are already working as hard as they can, running only on adrenaline much of the time.

The answer lies in working smarter, not harder. This is where a community assessment and plan comes in. An assessment will help to identify the gaps in efforts to end the stray animal/homeless pet problem. A plan can help set goals and stay focused on where we want to go.

The questions that stop so many before they even start are: "How do we begin? Do we need a paid staff and state-of-the-art facility? Do we need millions of dollars?" Staff, a shelter, and money help, of course, but you don’t necessarily need them to end the killing of healthy animals. What you need is the initiative to take the first step – A commitment to step outside the way things have always been done to develop and promote innovative and proactive programs to save animal lives.

Now that we’ve taken that step ... Welcome to the beginning of our journey on the path to creating a plan in our community.

What is the plan and what are the goals of the campaign?

Animal lovers have long dreamed of a time when there would be no more stray animal/homeless pets.

We are confident that the dream can become a reality, in Hardin County, within the next 10 years, by participating in a broad-based network of concerned citizens and animal lovers – animal organizations, rescue groups, shelters, businesses and individuals – who work cooperatively for reasonable, effective and humane rabies/animal control programs; to end the destruction of healthy animals in the U.S.; and who help find loving, permanent homes for unwanted animals.

Respected submitted for your consideration and support.


Ted

Local Governments Role in Animal Related Problems - Defined

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROLE

Question: How Can City and County Administrators Most Effectively Respond to the Animal-related Problems in Their Communities?

Solution to such problems can range from basic animal control programs to progressive, integrated animal service programs built on comprehensive ordinances and programs that both create incentives for people to care for animals responsibly and penalize those who do not.

The best solutions modify general responses to take account of local needs, concerns, and resources. Each community, regardless of size, should have a program to handle animal-related complaints and problems.

Successful programs are often characterized by:

Local government support – both political and financial

A comprehensive, regularly updated animal control ordinance and the authority and ability to enforce it;

Policies to ensure that all animals adopted are sterilized Laws and programs that create incentives for citizens to have their pets sterilized, and adjunct programs to ensure that all pets owners have access to affordable sterilization services;

Adequate, well-maintained facilities and equipment;

Animal control officers and animal care staff professionally trained to quickly and humanely handle animals at minimum risk to personnel

Good working relationships with, and the general support of, local veterinarians, law enforcement, social services, and animal advocacy organizations; and

A proactive public education program

A good animal care and control program is a community responsibility and should be budgeted as any other program or service available to citizens.

It needs to go beyond the old-fashioned approach to animal control services, which consisted primarily of a dogcatcher and a pound. If the local government focuses only on operating a skeletal shelter program and catching and destroying dogs, animal problem will create constant headaches for local government officials.

Pet owners who resist animal control will oppose other pet owners, citizens without pets, parent-teachers associations, garden clubs, and other groups that want animal control.

Finally, poor animal control can become a local government liability it citizens seek redress for injury and damage caused by free-roaming animals.

The most common obstacle to establishing and effective animal care and control program – as it is to some degree for virtually all government programs – is the problem of funding. As a general rule, adequate funding of an animal care and control programs costs at least $5 to $6 per citizen annually. However, city and county officials are often tempted to strip down animal control programs to the point of ineffectiveness, or they insist that pet registration (licensing) and other fees pay for all or most of the program.

Local officials should recognize that this governmental responsibility is vital to public health and safety, and they should be proactive in their approach.

If the Commissioners says they don’t have the money, tell them that someday someone will sue for negligence as a result of an avoidable dangerous-dog attack or a rabies exposure. This could cost a whole lot more that a good animal control program that wold minimize such risks.

Dog and cat owners should shoulder much of the burden of animal control costs; furthermore, irresponsible dog and cat owners should be assessed the largest part of that burden.

Public officials, police departments, public health officers, and the citizens they serve in both urban and rural areas all benefit from a comprehensive animal care and control program that reduces costs while it eliminates many other problems.

General public funds need to be allotted to finance the program as necessary. The total program can be partially self-funded, however, if revenues from the following sources are set aside for this purpose:

Income from pet registration (license) and permit fees;
Impoundment fees charged to persons whose animals have been picked up;
Boarding and redemption fees charged to owners who recover their pets;
Citation fines;
Fees from the quarantine of animals;
Adoption fees; and
Private donations to the local government earmarked for the animal shelter.

As put forth in:
Animal Control Management
A GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Published by:
International City/County Management Association
ICMA - 2002

Possible Partial Answer for Animals?

Coming to a neighborhood near you, soon. At least in my mind, that's the plan.

The Patricia Trethaway Memorial Charitable Trust
(A 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Corporation)
The Ultimate Goal of Elimination of the Need to Euphemize Healthy, Surplus and Unwanted Animals.

and

Savannah/Hardin County Metro Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals, Inc.
(A 501(c) 3 Non-Profit Corporation)
A Full Service Regional Provider of Humane Animal Programs and Facility.

Now all we have to do is partner with the citizens and local government. If they won't do their part, it's going to make our part more difficult, but not impossible.

Ted

And The Winner Is

At the bid opening for the construction of the new Sheriffs Department/Jail the County received four (4) bids.

Worsham Brothers, Corinth, MS - $10,139,000
Inman construction Corp., Memphis TN - $10,086,000
Lashlee-Rich, Inc., Humboldt, TN - $9,391,000
Watlington Brothers, Jackson, TN - $9,298,000

The major sub-contractors are:

Electrical - Wade Electric, Trenton, TN
Plumbing - Advanced Plumbing Co., Inc. - Cordova,TN
Mechanical (HVAC) - Hardin-Darious Heating & Air, Savannah, TN

Based on the quality of the bidders that participated, it appears as if the bidding process went off without any major problems and was conducted in a very professional manner. My compliments and kudos to TLM and the Jail Committee.

Respectfully Submitted
Ted

Rabies/Animal Control - Hardin County

Rabies Is a Serious Public Health Problem!
Rabies Is Fatal!
Got It?

If you think we have a rabies/animal control program in Hardin County, you could be dead wrong. That’s a fact, Jack.

So, who is responsible, you say. Glad you ask.

The vast majority of the Citizens of Hardin County are not holding up their end or doing their part and you can bet that our county government, including the Hardin County Health Department, are not doing their part.

That’s just wrong, but then again there has been no one able to make either one of them understand what their respective part was. Thought I would give it a shot.

Less than 5,000 animals in Hardin County have current vaccinations and that can be tracked primarily to the efforts of the privately funded spade and neutering programs, primarily by the Horse Creek Wild Life folks. Thank you, very much.

We don’t have animal/rabies control and your local legislative body, that would be the Mayor/County Commission, of course, gives out lip service about we can’t afford it or we got something else to pay for first. That’s just wrong, too. One needs to cover the costs safety and welfare of the community, whatever that cost may be, before one spends a lot of our resources on inviting others to come visit us.

We (Hardin County) make no contribution to an effective local, state or national rabies-control program. We make no effort to prevent or eliminate exposures to rabid animals.

The standard of procedures among jurisdictions that contribute to an effect national rabies-control program states as a CRITICAL component, that local governments should initiate and maintain effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs, cats, and ferrets and to remove strays and unwanted animals from the community.

This latest version of the standard procedures is known as Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2007 and is published by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. (NASPHV). As a note, a compendium is a concise yet comprehensive compilation of a body of knowledge.

This compendium, the accepted authority on rabies prevention and animal control, also points out that such procedures in the United States have reduced laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in dogs from about 7,000 in 1947 to 94 in 2004.

Rabies prevention activities at the state and local levels, although not in Hardin County, have been aimed at reducing exposure to rabies-infected animals and insuring proper treatment when exposure occurs.

There are six (6) designated critical components of these activities for human rabies prevention and they are as follows:

1.) Enhanced Public Health Education;

2.) Domestic Animal Vaccination;

3.) Responsible Pet Ownership;

4.) Rapid, Accurate Laboratory Testing;

5.) Modern Stray Animal Control; and

6.) Timely and Appropriate Prophylaxis.

Well, let’s see, how does Hardin County compare? Glad you ask.

We have no stray animal control, let alone modern, for all practical purposes we have no effective domestic animal vaccination effort and enhanced would hardly describe the public health education efforts in Hardin County. Responsible pet ownership does not apply or even seem to be a concern to the majority, but then again, what is it? Glad you ask.

This accepted authority’s standards are that to be a responsible pet owner, one must do four basic things:

1.) Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is bitten by a rabid wild animal.

2.) Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals.

3.) Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

4.) Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Well, let’s see. With less than an estimated 15% - 20% of the known domestic animals legally vaccinated, that one is not working very well at all. It's the DUTY of pet owners and caretakers to have their animals vacinatted. That's the law in Tennessee, even in Hardin County.

You may not have known it, but, under direct supervision is another way of saying ‘leash law’ and yes we do have one of those in the State of Tennessee, which of course includes Hardin County. But then again, who knew?

Not being able to call your local animal control agency, because it’s not a secret that we don’t have one, probably shouldn’t be counted against the Hardin County citizens on this score card, but not standing up and demanding one, probable should be.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Uncle Ted

Be Responsible Pet Owners, Yah, Right!!

LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THE TRUTH
AND THE FREEDOM TO DISCUSS IT
AND ALL WILL BE WELL

Rabies prevention activities at the state and local levels have been aimed at reducing exposure to rabies-infected animals and insuring proper treatment when exposure occurs. For example, in some states, like Tennessee, vaccination requirements for both dogs and cats have been statutorily mandated.

Health departments, in collaboration with veterinary associations and animal-control and animal-welfare groups, have provided educational materials to the public about wildlife rabies, pet vaccination, and recognition of exposures to potentially rabid animals. Education efforts have targeted veterinarians and physicians because they often are the first to be informed of possible rabies exposures.

State public health departments, state and local governments, CDC, and other federal agencies are collaborating to develop programs to control rabies outbreaks and the movement of the virus in the wild. Information about rabies is available from state and local health departments and from CDC’’s Viral and Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases; telephone (404) 639-1075.

Human Rabies Prevention: Critical Components

•Enhanced public health education
•Domestic animal vaccination
•Responsible pet ownership
•Rapid, accurate laboratory testing
•Modern stray animal control
•Timely and appropriate prophylaxis

Domestic Animals. Local governments should initiate and maintain effective programs to ensure vaccination of all dogs, cats, and ferrets and to remove strays and unwanted animals. Such procedures in the United States have reduced laboratory-confirmed cases of rabies in dogs from 6,949 in 1947 to 117 in 2003.

What the Citizens Are Told to Do to Help Prevent the Spread of Rabies? Be a Responsible Pet Owner:

Keep vaccinations up-to-date for all dogs, cats and ferrets. This requirement is important not only to keep your pets from getting rabies, but also to provide a barrier of protection to you, if your animal is
bitten by a rabid wild animal.

Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.

Call your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Spay or neuter your pets to help reduce the number of unwanted pets that may not be properly cared for or regularly vaccinated.

Note: [From the most recent Compendium of Animal Rabies Vaccines published by the Association of State Public Health Veterinarians that is used as the guideline, by public health officials. Compendium (2006)]

Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets. All dogs, cats, and ferrets should be [and shall be, in Tennessee] vaccinated against rabies and re-vaccinated in accordance with Part III of this compendium. If a previously vaccinated animal is overdue for a booster, it should be re-vaccinated. Immediately following the booster, the animal is considered currently vaccinated and should be placed on an annual or triennial schedule depending on the type of vaccine used.

Stray Animals. Stray dogs, cats, and ferrets should be removed from the community. Local health departments and animal control officials can enforce the removal of strays more effectively if owned animals have identification and are confined or kept on leash. Strays should be impounded for at least 3 business days to determine if human exposure has occurred and to give owners sufficient time to reclaim animals.

Adjunct Procedures. - Methods or procedures which enhance rabies control include the following:

a. Identification. Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be identified (e.g., metal or plastic tags or microchips) to allow for verification of rabies vaccination status.

b. Licensure. Registration or licensing of all dogs, cats, and ferrets may be used to aid in rabies control. A fee is frequently charged for such licensing, and revenues collected are used to
maintain rabies- or animal-control programs. Evidence of current vaccination is an essential prerequisite to licensing.

c. Canvassing. House-to-house canvassing by animal control officials facilitates enforcement of vaccination and licensing requirements.

d. Citations. Citations are legal summonses issued to owners for violations, including the failure to vaccinate or license their animals. The authority for officers to issue citations should be an integral part of each animal-control program.

e. Animal Control. All communities should incorporate stray animal control, leash laws, and training of personnel in their programs.

Post Exposure Management. Any animal potentially exposed to rabies virus by a wild, carnivorous mammal or a bat that is not available for testing should be regarded as having been exposed to rabies.

a. Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets. - Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets exposed to a rabid animal should be euthanized immediately.

Exposed to a Rabid Animal? - What are the odds or potential that some of the stray, mostly unvaccinated, dogs and cats in Hardin County have been exposed to a wild, carnivorous mammal or bat, that has, or has been exposed to, one of the several types of rabies viruses, known to be in the neighborhood?

Hardin County deserves the enhanced rabies control program, because of our geographical location relative to the movement of rabies in our wildlife around and in the region. This is not something that should be ignored, for any reason.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Uncle Ted

What Does A Model Animal Control Program Look Like?

All I can say is, thanks for folks like the Horse Creek Wildlife folks and other who are trying very hard to fill the void and do something about the additional problems created by the lack of participation by, and lack of concern of, our local government, i.e. the Mayor, the County Legislative Body, the County Sheriff’s Department, and the Apathetic Citizens.

What should the goals of this Hardin County ‘model’ unit, be?

Primary goal is the prevention and eradication of rabies by education of the public concerning local and state laws, promoting animal owner responsibility, and by protecting the public from stray or dangerous animals.

Secondary goal is to provide service to the citizens and animals through impound of stray animals and other animal related issues, issuing warnings or citations as necessary, investigation and prosecution of animal cruelty and abuse cases, and to strive toward the ultimate goal of elimination of the need to euphemize healthy, surplus and unwanted animals.

In order to reach those goals we must develop both short and long range plans to address the County Government’s written, and the citizens unwritten, responsibilities for animal control in Hardin County and the Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) efforts.

BACKGROUND

Tenn. Code Ann. Section 68-8-104 is part of the Tennessee Anti-Rabies Law. Section -103 makes it unlawful for a person to own any dog or cat that is six months of age, or older, that has not been vaccinated for rabies.

Hardin County, not unlike elsewhere in the region, has a problem with too many stray dogs. This problem is aggravated in Hardin County because when one, for whatever reason or excuse, want to get rid of a companion animal, legally, one has no place to take the animals, too.

Instead, the animals are either taken into, or out of, Savannah, who has a responsible animal control program, and dumped, like so much trash, or dumped on the road along the way, where they often roam in packs, hungry, sick and parasite-infested, in some of Hardin County’s most picturesque surroundings.

They often are seen lying beside the road because they’ve gotten too close to passing vehicles. That’s just a cruel thing. Remember, that litter of adorable puppies can easily end up as homeless and unwanted dogs.

Rural spay/neutering programs that sterilize the pets of low-income folks are a must, in order to help animals and pet owners in need. We need to reduce the number of homeless animals in Hardin County. That is what animal control is really all about.

The private or non-profit animal rescue organizations want their position to be a volunteer organization that assists animal control. They don’t want to be animal control. That’s the government’s job.

According to a recent article in the Tennessean, over two-thirds of the Counties in Tennessee have some sort of government-funded animal control activity. That should mean that Hardin County does not have to re-invent the wheel. See what works and go for it. duh!

Animal control costs money, and usually doesn’t get funded in a way that allows them to be really proactive, so they’re generally reactive. We must make the investment to catch up.

One has the right to expect our county government to enforce the laws that are on the books, investigate cases of animal cruelty, like abandoning animals to live or die as a stray. It is understood that it takes money to do this, but it also takes goodwill.

Animal advocates say the assistance that government-funded animal-control programs offer is inadequate and can’t keep up with growth. Fact: Those who do the job, can only do so much. My biggest frustration is that our county government is woefully lagging behind the times in taking the leadership role and the funding responsibility for animal control in Hardin County.

Hardin County does little in the way of offering even the basic service of responding to calls about stray dogs – a problem that local officials know, and say, plagues the community.

Metro Nashville, Rutherford and Williamson counties have been pointed out by the Animal Control Association of Tennessee as examples to follow. All offer a variety of services, from adoptions and spay and neutering clinics to education.

`
As noted in Tenn. Code Ann. §5-1-120. Power to regulate stray animals. -

Counties, by resolution of their respective legislative bodies, may license and regulate dogs and cats, establish and operate shelters and other animal control facilities, and regulate, capture, impound and dispose of stray dogs, stray cats and other stray animals.

Do you really think that the State of Tennessee would delegate this 'power to regulate,' if the State of Tennessee did not intend for the County Legislative Body to use it, to carry out the county's responsibility for rabbis and animal control?

No sign of even the most basic efforts to regulate stray animals in Hardin County, by Hardin County Government. So, what to do?

Tenn. Code Ann. Section 68-8-104 provides:

(a) In addition to but not as a substitute for or in any way detracting from the vaccination requirements of this chapter, authorization is granted for the adoption of local laws or ordinances to require the registration of dogs or cats in counties or municipalities.
(b) Any local laws or ordinances implementing animal registration shall include methods for the collection of registration fees and shall require the expenditure of these funds to establish and maintain a rabies control program, also commonly known as an animal control program. In addition to various animal control activities, the rabies control program shall ensure that dogs and cats are properly vaccinated in accordance with this chapter and that biting animals or rabies suspects are observed or confined in accordance with this chapter and rules of the department [of health].

Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-8-104(a) & (b).

What level of animal control would be considered adequate for Hardin County? Do we want to spend the money for a full blown animal registration program? It’s a high maintenance program. Takes manpower and facilities, both.

At a minimum, the local legislative body should establish, or aid in the establishment of, and operate, or aid in the operation of, shelters and other animal control facilities.

Our local legislative body has, and has had for at least the last decade, the authority to regulate, capture, impound and dispose of stray dogs, stray cats and other stray animals. They NeedUse It!! Duh!!

Respectfully submitted for your consideration.

Uncle Ted

There Is No One Making Us Do It - Animal Control

If one were to take the time to go back and check the audio tapes for the county commission meetings over the last two decades, one would find that the phrase, "there is no one making us do it," would be found to be the most often given reasoning for the county commission not doing anything about the conditions of our local jail.

The same attitude applies to the condition of our educational infrastructure, our schools. This same attitude applies to stray animal and rabies control in Hardin County. Can’t you just hear them say, ‘We know that we have the responsibility, but ‘there is no one making us do it.’

I think it gets down to ‘Want To’ or ‘Don’t Want To.’ They ‘want to’ spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on inviting folks to spend some of their vacation time with us and/or to move to Hardin County. I think they should be required to put a disclaimer on ever ad they run.

The disclaimer would say something like;

WE ONLY PROVIDE SAFETY AND WELFARE SERVICES THAT SOMEONE IS MAKING US DO. WE MINIMIZE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES SO YOU WILL PRETTY MUCH BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. WE MAKE NO EFFORT AT ANIMAL CONTROL SO YOU WILL PRETTY MUCH BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN WELFARE IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH ANY OF THE PACKS OF STRAY, AND MOSTLY UNVACCINATED, ANIMALS THAT ROAM HARDIN COUNTY.

SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO RELOCATE TO HARDIN COUNTY TO RAISE YOUR FAMILY, YOU ARE ADVISED THAT MOST OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES ARE ANTIQUATED AND YOUR CHILD WILL PRETTY MUCH NOT BE IN THE BEST OF LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THIS HAS BEEN NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARTIFICIALLY LOW IN ORDER TO ATTRACT YOU OR TO MOTIVATE YOUR RELOCATION TO HARDIN COUNTY, WHERE WE PROVIDE ONLY MANDATED SERVICES AND THEN ONLY WHEN SOMEONE IS MAKING US.

Now, about the ‘Don’t Want To’ and animal and rabies control in Hardin County.

The City of Savannah spends in excess of $87,000.00 for their animal control program this fiscal year and that is down from the average of $125,000 to $135,000 per year for the last few years. Hardin County has budgeted $2,500.00 per year for the last two years and I’m not sure what that is spent on or who spends it. The County can do better, if we wanted them to.

The budget committee will say, "even though a basic program would benefit the entire community and would improve the overall image of Hardin County, we don’t want to, and won’t, spend the money to support even a basic program. We have other priorities and besides, there are just a few folks actually complaining about us not doing anything and there is no organized effort to make us do it."

"The do-gooders will do it, if we don’t." No problem, right? A tough question, indeed. One that forces each citizen to grapple with his own character, his priorities in this life, and his commitment to the cause of community welfare.

We seem to have many who apparently sit in their living rooms moaning and complaining about the state of our affairs of governance, but who remain too afraid or too lazy to get off the sidelines and join the folks on the field, or to even cheer the team on from the stands.

In the end it's simply reprehensible for citizens to be standing on the sidelines pretending to be concerned and responsible citizens, yelling at those on the field that the game is lost, when in fact the game is not over, it has just begun, again.

Granted, not everyone has the talent, resources or character needed to engage on the field in this rough and tumble contest of wills, with so much at stake for both sides. However, it seems to us the duty of every responsible citizen is to either suit up and get on the field of play or get into the stands and support the home team. Bringing a friend or two to the game wouldn't hurt either.

Quitters never win. Winners never quit. Let's roll.

Our County Government is responsible for the safety and welfare of the citizens, first and foremost. All of their other tasks and functions fall under one of these two primary responsibility.

It is time for the citizens of Hardin County get out of their moaning and complaining mode to do their duty and hold our County Government responsible for not meeting all of their responsibilities or performing all of their duties.

It would be clear that it is not a "unconcerned" local government that is the root cause of these shortcomings, but rather the person they see in the mirror that has, by simply doing nothing, allowed our local government to wither from their responsibility for the safety and welfare of the citizens of Hardin County.

So, what could the County Legislature do, if they were of a mind to do anything? The statutes allow that Counties, by resolution of their respective legislative bodies, to license and regulate dogs and cats, establish and operate shelters and other animal control facilities, and regulate, capture, impound and dispose of stray dogs, stray cats and other stray animals.

But, then again, they are not going to do anything, until someone or something makes them. So be it?

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Ted

Whitehorn Strikes Again

Submitted to The Courier as a Readers Write Article

You know, no matter how much we think things will change, they seem to stay the same. The December meetings of our Board of Commissioners points this out, again.

Due to family illness, I was unable to attend the Commissioner’s Thursday night planning meeting and of course due to the totally inadequate public notice for the Jail Committee meeting, that was held on December 3rd, the only opportunity to exercise my right to participate and get the answers to any questions that I might have had concerning the letting of the construction contract for the Jail, was at Monday’s official/regular monthly meeting.

Other than three somewhat routine housekeeping items, the only other item on the very short agenda was the ‘Discussion and Possible Action on Bid Invitation for [the] Hardin County Jail Project.’ No problem, there should be plenty of time for any ‘discussion', right? Wrong.

There were only two points that concerned me, at this phase of the project.

1. Based on my past experience in the development of commercial and industrial projects, the time that was going to be allowed for the bidding process seemed extraordinarily short, unless you already have an idea who the contractor is going to be. Put the plans out for bid on the 19th of December and opening the bids on January 16th.

That is only 28 day, during the Christmas and New Years holiday season, which actually works out to 19 working days, for the general contractors to get the plans to their sub-contractors, get their bid prices for all labor and material costs back, pull together the total bid package, arrange bonds and to finalize their bids on a estimated 10 Million Dollar, plus/minus, somewhat specialized project.

2. Were the plans for the Jail Project, complete plans? Were they for a turn-key project, which means when the contractor complete the construction, he hands the Sheriff the keys and the County can start operations in the new Jail/Sheriffs Department/Courtroom. Bare in mind that the last time we got an estimate for the cost of the Jail Project, most of the furniture, fixtures and equipment had been left out.

Well, to make this as short as possible, after about only 4 or 5 minutes of the Chairman/Mayor trying to explain something about I should have been there on Thursday night, when the TLM representative was there, and had assured the Commissioners that the time frame was not a problem, Commissioner Whitehorn interrupted and called for ‘the question,’ which stops any further discussions of the matter and prevented even the asking of question #2.

Of course this is just another example of Mr. Whitehorns’ history of telling me to set down, shut up and let things work out the way he wants them to, and I will be a lot better off.

Most folks that know me, know that that set down and shut up thing ain’t gonna happen and for you folks that keep telling me to work with the Commission and use my experience for the good of Hardin County, perhaps you will share with me just exactly how one goes about doing that with this kind of reception to legitimate concerns.

As a matter of information, the entire meeting from opening to adjourning lasted about 30 minutes. It’s not like there wasn’t time for the advertised ‘Discussion’ of the Bid Invitations. If one does the math, the taxpayers paid each commissioner $100 for Monday night’s meeting which lasted 30 minutes.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration,

Uncle Ted

The Tennessee Democratic Party/Randy Rinks Campaign - Nasty Gram

Without referring to Randy Rink the first time, The state democratic folks .sent out a flyers with the following theme:

ACCUSED CRIMINALS DEPEND ON VANCE DENNIS

TO RETURN TO OUR STREETS WITH LITTLE TIME SERVED FOR THEIR CRIMES.

DENNIS DOESN'T SHARE OUR VALUES.

CRIMINALS HAVE TETURNED TO OUR STREETS MORE QUICKLY BECAUSE OF VANCE DENNIS.

Four small children and several other adults were also in the kitchen. Another bag of crack cocaine was on the floor near the refrigerator. The woman was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"VANCE DENNIS GOT HER CONVICTION OVERTURNED ON APPEAL."

Wait a minute here. It was three (3) Judges speaking for the Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee at Jackson that determined that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction when they reversed and remanded the case to the trial court for dismissal of the charges.

If the Criminal Justice System determined that there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction and ordered the trial court to dismiss the charges, who is this Tennessee Democratic Party in Nashville, TN to brand anyone a criminal?

Would the Tennessee Democratic Party suggest we just go ahead and hang the woman because, after all, ‘the woman was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to 14 years in prison, on insufficient evidence?

These folks make a point of saying "Vance Dennis got her conviction overturned on appeal." Well, dah!! Had Vance Dennis not appealed the trial court’s wrongful conviction, an injustice would have occurred.

As an attorney and sworn defender of the Constitution, is that not was what he was suppose to do? Get justice. Somehow, the Tennessee Democratic Party and Randy's campaign folks want to make something bad about that. Won’t Work.

If that is the best they can do, well.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration

Uncle Ted

Did Not Prohibit Credit Card Payments? Wanna Bet?

Say What, Director Rawlins

The minutes of the September 13th, 2006 meeting of the Registry reflects what I thought I heard at the meeting.

"Director Rawlins noted that the statute did not prohibit a candidate from listing a credit card as a payee at the time the reports in question were filed."

This statement is just not true.

As noted earlier, "In reality most of the changes made to the Financial Disclosure Act of 1980, via the Comprehensive Governmental Ethics Reform Act of 2006, merely codified and amplified some of the Registry’s existing Rules, while giving a more explicit explanation of the original intent for the Campaign Financial Disclosure Act of 1980."

"Tennessee’s Campaign Financial Disclosure Act of 1980 was enacted to promote public disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures. As the agency responsible for administering this act, the registry is to ensure the timely and accurate disclosure of campaign finance information for the benefit of the public." (Comptroller of Treasury - Performance Audit - 1998)

Now, about this ‘the statute did not prohibit a candidate from listing a credit card as a payee at the time the reports in question were filed,’ comment by Director Rawlins. Not!

The 1980 Act itself just says ‘and the purpose thereof.’ The Campaign Financial Disclosure Rules, last revised in Feb. 1999, Chapter 0530-1, Section 1-.04 and titled Expenditures from Campaign Contributions says:

"When providing the purpose of an expenditure or category of expenditures as required by T.C.A. §2-10-107(a)(2)(B), a candidate shall provide a brief description of why the disbursement(s) were made. . . .credit card payments shall not be deemed sufficient".

In the Ethics Act of 2006 the statute was further amplified with:

"The purpose thereof which shall clearly identify that it is an allowable expenditure . . .The words ‘reimbursement’, ‘credit card purchase’, ‘other’ and ‘campaign expenses’ shall not be considered acceptable description for purpose. Any purchase made with a credit card shall also be disclosed as a payment to the vendor providing the item or service. Credit card payments to separate vendors shall be disclosed as separate expenditures."

(Isn’t ‘A Brief Description of Why the Disbursement Was Made,’ meant to accomplish the same function and goal, as ‘Clearly Identify That It Is An Allowable Expenditure?’)

Is there an argument that the General Assembly intended a lower disclosure standard than ‘allowable expenditures’, since the inception of the Act in 1980? It has meant the same thing all along. A brief description of ‘why’ the disbursement was made has meant all along to show that it is an allowable expenditure. Duh!!

Credit Cards Payments. The TREF Rules, last revised in 1999, are quite clear - "credit card payments shall not be deemed sufficient." The Ethics Act further amplified the Rule and is quite clear- The words ‘reimbursement’, ‘credit card purchase’ shall not be considered acceptable description for purpose.

The Question: Does the words, "American Express - Monthly Bill", in fact, have any other meaning and was it not meant to say the same thing as "Reimbursement Credit Card Purchase(s)?" Which, of course, shall not be considered acceptable description for purpose, by law.

Respectfully submitted for your consideration

Uncle Ted

Minutes of September Meeting - Rinks Complaint

Minutes of Meeting - REGISTRY OF ELECTION FINANCE

The Registry of Election Finance met Wednesday, September 13, 2006, at Suite 1614 of Parkway Towers, 404 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee.

Attending the meeting were board members :

Karen Dunavant,
George Harding,
William Long,
John McClarty,
Lee Anne Murray and
Marian Ott.

Page 6 of 7

Sworn Complaint against Randy Rinks

A sworn complaint was filed by Ted Cook against Rep. Randy Rinks concerning his reporting of campaign expenditures and the amount of some of his campaign expenditures on campaign financial disclosure reports covering the years 2003 through 2005.

Mr. Cook personally appeared before the board and explained that a citizen or voter can not make a determination of Rep. Rink’s expenditures because the purposes given are very vague including an expenditure to a credit card company listing a credit card as a payee. Mr. Cook further explained his concern that the reports in question were not returned to Rep. Rink’s by the Registry for correction because the descriptions given for some of his expenditures were so vague.

Director Rawlins informed the board that the campaign financial disclosure statements referenced in the complaint refer to reports that have been on file for over 180 days. Therefore, the reports are deemed to be sufficient, absent a showing of fraud. Director Rawlins noted that the statute did not prohibit a candidate from listing a credit card as a payee at the time the reports in question were filed.

On motion by McClarty, seconded by Long, the board voted unanimously to dismiss and take no action in this matter.