March 17, 2002
Future of
Elizabethton railroad uncertain
By Rozella Hardin
STAR STAFF
rhardin@starhq.com
For more than 150 years train whistles have inspired
poets and pierced the American landscape. They are sounds
that have spurred candidates to stage "whistlestop" tours
and inspired Walt Whitman to describe the locomotive as a
"fierce-throated beauty."
The future of the East Tennessee
Railway, the shortline railroad serving Elizabethton since
1983, is uncertain. Photo by Dave Boyd
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
A 12-year veteran of the Tennessee State Senate
hopes to continue to serve the people of Carter and Washington
counties, subject to the August 1 General Election.
Pictured: State Senator Rusty Crowe
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Last year was an incredibly busy year
for the Carter County Highway Department. On Aug. 12 and 13,
Carter County experienced another flood resulting in approximately
$175,000 in damages to roads and bridges. Major repairs were
made on Minton Hollow, Bob's Hollow, Sciotha Road and Peters
Hollow among others.
State
resources answer to local economic hardships
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
East Tennessee needs to utilize the state's resources
in order to recover from its economic recession, according
to State Rep. Ralph Cole (R-Elizabethton). Cole believes Carter
County would be wise to tap into state agency resources in
order to bring highways, industries, jobs, and a better education
system to the region.
Rep. Ralph Cole talks about his hopes
for Carter County's economic future. Cole believes that improved
roads and education will put the county back on top economically.
Photo by Rick Harris
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
The annexation controversies that plagued Carter
County five years ago have left for now. The last of the annexation
cases from 1997 cleared the state Court of Appeals December
28, 2001, and the county is reveling in what appears to be
an extended break in the City of Elizabethton and Carter County
annexation headache.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Fans of the Elizabethton Twins Minor League baseball
team are keeping their fingers crossed for an encore performance,
or better, from the 2001 West Division Champions.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Amidst completing a plethora of reports for the
state, Chris Schuettler, Director of Planning and Zoning for
Carter County, hopes to get some additional local business
done this year. He plans to have the stormwater Phase II regulations
completely written by January of 2003.
By Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
In a year filled with revenue shortages, Carter
County saw three major building projects come to fruition.
The new Health Center Annex, Recycling Center and Cloudland
Elementary School stand as major accomplishments for the county
in 2001.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
Charles Stahl, manager of the City of Elizabethton
since 1994, is hoping for the best but preparing for less
austere times in the city budget planning for the 2002-2003
fiscal year, which begins July 1.
By Kathy Helms-Hughes
STAR STAFF
khughes@starhq.com
America's 15,000 airports were closed almost
immediately following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon. Federal authorities cleared
U.S. airspace and ordered in-flight planes to land immediately.
Those en route to the United States were diverted.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
The Elizabethton Electric System (EES) spent
$1.9 million in 2001 to upgrade its facilities to meet the
needs of its present and future customers, according to Phil
Isaacs, general manager.
Carter County
doing well despite economic hardships
by Megan R. Harrell
Star Staff
mharrell@starhq.com
Despite national and state economic hardships
Carter County has fared very well in the last few years, according
to Haynes Elliott, executive director of the Elizabethton
and Carter County Economic Development Commission. Elliott
believes Elizabethton is holding its own even though several
local businesses have closed.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
It takes a lot of grit, stamina, determination and specialized
training to be a good firefighter. Only a chosen few make
it through the strict selection process.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
President Bush's budget for fiscal year 2003,
the federal government's first post-Sept. 11 budget, almost
doubles spending to secure the homeland.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
The primary goal of the Elizabethton Housing
and Development Agency (EHDA) is to provide safe, sanitary
and decent housing to low and moderate income families in
Carter and Johnson counties, according to Kelly Geagley, executive
director.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
The Urban Growth Boundary enables the City of
Elizabethton to meet future infrastructure needs of residents.
By Kathy Helms-Hughes
STAR STAFF
khughes@starhq.com
Product packaging, grass clippings, furniture,
clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint,
and batteries. In 1999, U.S. residents, businesses, and institutions
produced more than 230 million tons of municipal solid waste,
or about 4.6 pounds of waste per person per day, up from 2.7
pounds in 1960, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency.
By Bob Robinson
Star Staff
brobinson@starhq.com
A five-year-old Dutch immigrant is working hard
to make Elizabethton safer these days.
