Local News

NASHVILLE—Rep. Dennis Powers, R-Jacksboro, has managed to pass six bills this legislative session, including House Bill 651. House Bill 651 requires chairs of audit committees to report fraudulent or illegal activity to the state comptroller immediately. The bill amends a 2005 law. Lawmakers realized the 8-year-old law needed updating when a local audit committee failed to report fraudulent activity to the state comptroller.
“They were trying to fall back under the confidentiality provision,” Powers said.

CAMPBELL COUNTY—The Campbell County Board of Education mulled over 14 points in its most recent budget workshop on April 23. Among plans to save money for the 2013-14 school year are measures to consolidate bus routes, restructure staffing at the central office, implement online payments for student lunches and consider rejoining the Clinch-Powell Education Cooperative, a head-start program. The board will also deal with dwindling Race to the Top funds as the program comes to an end at the end of the 2013-14 year.

Saturday evening, teenagers from local youth groups will serve meals to people in the county. Local youth leaders hope this will meet needs of hungry people and keep local teens interested in serving the community.
“Give the kids an opportunity to get back together,” said Shane Carney, youth pastor at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church. “Keep the fire burning since (Disciple Now).”
Disciple Now is a county wide event for teens held March 23-24.

The LaFollette City Council could vote to accept bids to repair the roof over city hall at Tuesday’s meeting.
At the workshop, council member Hansford Hatmaker encouraged the other council members to handle the bidding process correctly.
“Let’s try to do it right this time,” Hatmaker said. “It’s been nothing but a problem.”