Thumbs up; thumbs down: A quick arrest, outdoor fun and a lack of Bluff City leadership

THUMBS UP TO

Bungling burglars caught in the mud

A Carter County, Tenn., deputy quickly found a burglary suspect this week, when the suspect’s car became stuck in the mud in a field next to the burglarized home.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Durham told The Associated Press that he found several stolen items inside the car. And a drawer was missing from a tool chest and was later found inside the house. Durham said William Brian Deel III, 19, was seen trying to climb a nearby bank. Durham told the AP that Deel admitted breaking into the home and said he broke into a nearby truck while trying, unsuccessfully, to hotwire it and use it to pull his car out of the field. The truck had a broken steering column.

Deel, of Johnson City, Tenn., was charged with aggravated burglary, theft of over $1,000, vandalism over $1,000, auto burglary and possession of burglary tools.

We say thumbs up to Durham for this arrest. It’s rare to catch a burglar who admits his offense, and is stuck in the mud outside the house he’s just burglarized.

Great Smoky Mountains sites reopen

Some seasonal facilities in the Great Smoky Mountains have reopened, including five seasonal campgrounds that reopened on Friday: Abrams Creek, Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby and Elkmont. And group camping is now available at Big Creek, Cataloochee, Cosby and Cades Cove.

The Collins Creek picnic area opened Friday and the Sugarlands riding stable opens today. The Little Greenbrier and Straight Fork/Round Bottom secondary roads opened for the season Friday.

The park is the nation’s most visited and has 9.4 million tourists annually. It’s a nearby treasure, so plan a trip for 2010.

THUMBS DOWN TO

Lack of leadership in Bluff City, Tenn.

No one wants to step up to lead Bluff City, Tenn., a town of 1,600 people that has now been through four mayors in two years. The town charter says the job of mayor is offered to the town’s vice mayor if the person holding the office leaves before their four-year term expires. That’s what happened to Tom Anderson when Bob Thomas resigned in February 2008 and what happened to Todd Malone when Anderson quit six months later. It’s also what happened to J.C. Gentry after Malone quit last week.

But Gentry quickly resigned the post, too; less than a week after Malone resigned. At Tuesday’s meeting, Gentry never formally accepted the duties. Town Attorney Shawn McDaniel noted that no one could be forced to take the job. After Gentry resigned, Alderman Robert Miller tried to appoint Alderwoman Irene Wells to the job. She declined and the meeting ended with Bluff City without a mayor.

After the meeting, Miller was asked if he wanted to be mayor and he said he simply did not have the time for the job. The two other aldermen, Melvin Carrier and Mark Weaver, also refused. Weaver said he has recently been hospitalized and couldn’t do it. Carrier just flat out said no way.

Like children playing Hot Potato, these elected officials have tossed the job around and none refuse to hold onto it.

We recognize that the pay is low – $900 a year – and the burden is high. But we assumed these “leaders” thought about that before they ran for public office.

For the residents of Bluff City, take a look at your elected officials. They are full of excuses and unwilling to do their job. Is there not one of them willing to step up to the plate and lead?

Tax collections way down in Tennessee

Like everyone, Tennessee is hurting financially, but the state’s general fund tax collections were off by about $44 million in January. And tax collections are about $196 million below expectations through the first seven months of the budget year.

Prolonged recession is especially difficult for a state like Tennessee, which does not have an income tax, and relies heavily on sales taxes for all of its budget needs. Sales taxes, which account for two out of every three tax dollars in Tennessee, fell $38 million short in January.

Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said the unusually cold month might have contributed to the poor sales tax collections. Goetz said car sales, which grew in the three previous months, dropped 8 percent in January.

Any hope that the recession is really coming to an end is met with sputtering economic figures and months of painful backsliding.