Latest stories by Ron Clayton

Tennessee: Grant will pay for popular tourist map

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009

The Tennessee Overhill Association this week received an AT&T Foundation Grant of $2,600 to print a popular map of the three-county area served by the tourist organization.

Athens DUI crash driver gets 16 years

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

The driver in a July crash that killed two people was sentenced to 16 years in prison this week in McMinn Criminal Court.
William Ryan Ottman, 29, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.18 when he drove his Geo Tracker across the center line of State Route 305 and struck an oncoming vehicle, records showed.

Rhea County man charged in mother’s death

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

A Rhea County man is in jail here after being charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of his mother.

ATHENS: Restaurant’s odd name matches owners’ adventurous plans

Monday, Jan. 5, 2009

ATHENS, Tenn. — When Maddi Mas opened downtown, it was often known as the sandwich shop with a funny name — a mash-up from the names of founder Glen Allen’s children, Madison and Mason.

Tennessee: Leaders work on federal stimulus fund

Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — If President-elect Barack Obama’s Main Street infrastructure project becomes a reality, Cleveland has a $61 million list of projects city officials hope will get some attention.

Tennessee: Road crews get ready

Friday, Jan. 2, 2009

Beset by high materials prices and tax shortfalls, Southeast Tennessee city and county road crews nonetheless say they’re ready for the slick season.

Tennessee: Tax collections reflect economy

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008

The dwindling economy nationwide has had definite repercussions on tax revenues in Southeast Tennessee counties north of the of the primary Hamilton-Bradley shopping areas. But officials of two of the smallest counties said they’re seeing surprising increases in the tax take.

Polk in quandary over rafting fee refund

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008

Polk County should plan on having about $1.4 million on had as pay back funds if a ruling is not reversed in a lawsuit over the fee on commercial rafting customers on the Ocoee River.

Women at home in Cleveland State law enforcement class

Monday, Dec. 29, 2008

The number of women students in the Cleveland State Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy is slowly increasing, showing that law enforcement career isn’t just a man’s world.

Athens: Retiring fire chief proud of progress

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2008

ATHENS, Tenn. — One way or another, Bob Miller has been working around hot air most of his life.