An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Front Page News From Podunk
I seem to have skipped last week’s News From Podunk. No doubt, y’all were seriously disappointed, right? 
Seriously, if you’ve been around for a bit, you’ll know I had some REAL good reasons. So, without further ado….here’s the update from our corner of Tennessee.
Two school plan gets an OK
In late breaking news, the Hardin County Commission voted 16-4 to proceed with a $38.5 million plan that will build two new schools, improve five and close five.
Still, the plan is not yet a done deal.
I’ll be perfectly honest, in this economy, I do NOT understand why they feel the need to close any schools, to build new ones. This county is fairly spread out, and the idea that kids are going to have to get up even earlier to stand out waiting for a bus….well, it just doesn’t seem right. How many new buses is the school board going to have to buy? How much for maintenance? How much in fuel costs? Wouldn’t it be smarter to update the existing schools? Just a thought.
Plan includes upgrades for other schools
In addition to constructing two new schools, the Hardin County Board of Education’s $38.5 million school plan also includes the following upgrades for existing facilities that are not to be closed:
Middle School
*Add five new classrooms and additional rest room, storage and electrical facilities.
*Secure breezeway between existing gym and lunch room.
*Modify existing classrooms for better use and security.
And the list goes on for the other schools. Well, some of the updates, I can understand. However, I do have to ask….how did kids survive without breezeways?
School issue draws pro-con crowd
Concerned citizens packed the Hardin County Commission’s meeting room to express their views-both pro and con-on a $38.5 million school construction, consolidation and renovation plan.
Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis said earlier that he is “endorsing the (school) board’s proposal for what it represent for all our students. It’s the right thing to do for the county.”
And this is the best part:
Regarding funding and financing for the school board’s proposal, Mayor Davis told The Courier it is “too early” to discuss specifics, but indicated he did not believe a large property tax would be necessary. He said also he would approach the city of Savannah for possible assistance.
Really now. No ‘large’ property tax, eh? Which, of course, in politician speak, means there WILL be a property tax increase. If you know anything about Hardin County, you’ll know that this is not a wealthy county. There aren’t too many folks here who can really financially stand a tax increase, on top of all the sales taxes too. Makes NO sense at all.
Better be sober at roadblocks
The Tennessee Highway Patrol will be conducting sobriety checkpoint roadblocks in Hardin “County on Friday, Jan. 23, the state Department of Safety announced.
Silly question: Why do they announce when they’re going to have checkpoints? Wouldn’t they catch more drunk drivers if they didn’t give them warning? Just wondering.
Woman makes bomb threat
A bomb threat emptied the Hardin County Courthouse Tuesday afternoon.
“Some woman called in at 1:45 p.m. and made a threat,” said Hardin County Mayor Kevin Davis.
The all-clear was given at 2:50 p.m. after officers from the Savannah Police Department, county Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department searched the building for anything suspicious and turned up nothing, he said.
How much ya wanna bet some yahoo didn’t want to make their court date, and had someone make such a stupid call? Or something similar. There are no shortage of morons, no matter where ya are these days.
And there ya go! All the front page goings on in Podunk.
