Tennessee voters begin casting ballots Wednesday on whether to keep but modify the state’s current method of selecting appeals judges and Supreme Court justices.
Under the current system, the governor makes appointments to fill vacancies on the state’s top courts. Voters then decide whether to keep or replace them in uncontested retention elections. A proposed constitutional amendment would allow the Legislature to reject the governor’s nominees.
Opponents of the current system say the retention elections violate a provision in the Tennessee Constitution that says the judges “shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state.”
Supporters like Republican Gov. Bill Haslam call the system a way to avoid overly political judicial elections.
Observers fear that failure of the amendment would plunge the state’s judicial system in to uncertainty.
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Tennesseans will soon vote on a constitutional amendment to bar lawmakers from ever imposing a state income tax.
But regardless of what voters decide on Nov. 4, it’s unlikely that Tennessee lawmakers would seriously consider an income tax because it’s become such a toxic political issue.
The last serious attempt to impose one failed in 2002 amid raucous Capitol protests that included a brick being thrown through the window of the governor’s office and demonstrators banging on the doors of the Senate chamber while lawmakers sought to conduct their business within.
The Legislature instead passed a 1 percentage point increase to the state’s sales tax rate to generate $933 million in new revenue, which was the last time the state passed a general tax increase.

The Tennessee Economic Development Council (TEDC) has recognized Ted Hackney, executive director of the Coffee County Industrial Board, as the 2014 Fred Harris Professional of the Year.
Some of his most notable contributions include expanding local industries from 12, at the beginning of his tenure, to the 55 in operations today. His involvement in the construction of eight speculative buildings in the county has resulted in all of them being sold and occupied.
Most recently, Hackney provided leadership in the recruitment of Aspen Technologies to locate a new manufacturing facility in the Manchester Industrial Park. This automotive supplier will invest $5.1 million and create 161 new jobs over the next five years.
The award is given in Honor of Fred Harris, who became a nationally recognized economic development professional during his tenure at the Nashville Chamber. Recipients of the award must be nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of TEDC past presidents from the field of nominees.

A special benefit dinner will be held for Manchester resident Lori Flowers on Saturday night Oct. 18 from 5pm-8pm. She is fighting stage 4 breast cancer again. Lori is the mother of Senior Red Raider football player, Justin Flowers.
The Spaghetti dinner will include salad, bread, dessert, and drink. To go plates will be available. Over 75 awesome silent auction items will be up for bid. Spaghetti dinner tickets are $10 each.
The event will be held at the Raider Academy in Manchester and everyone is invited to help the Flowers family.

The mayor of Normandy was charged with DUI last Friday, Oct 3 in Coffee County, according to a court document.
Larry Nee Jr., 62, of Poplar Street in Normandy was stopped by a Coffee County deputy on Riley Creek Road, said an affidavit filed in Coffee County General Sessions Court.
Nee admitted having consumed alcohol and failed five field sobriety tests, the affidavit filed by Deputy Eric Clem said. He submitted to a blood/alcohol test at United Regional Medical Center in Manchester; results are pending.
Nee chose not to run for re-election after 12 years as mayor but is a candidate for alderman in the November general election. (Shelbyville Times-Gazette)

A Woodbury Highway man was arrested on multiple charges after allegedly firing shots Thursday night.
Leroy Marshall, 52, was charged with possession of marijuana, reckless endangerment, unlawful possession of a weapon and public intoxication by deputies.
Deputies were dispatched to the Woodbury Hwy home after reports of shots being fired. When investigators arrived they found marijuana in the house. Marshall was booked into the Coffee County Jail and held on a $53,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in Coffee County General Sessions Court Dec. 15.

Around 4:00pm Saturday afternoon a 911 call was received that there was a house fire in the North Coffee area of the county. The home is located at 281 Eaton Heights.
When the North Coffee volunteer fire department arrived heavy smoke was coming from the home. North Coffee firemen made entry into the home where they found a grease fire in the kitchen. The firemen were able to quickly extinguish the fire. Apparently there was considerable smoke damage in the home.
No one was injured in the fire.