Social Apartheid in Tri-Cities Bristol Virginia-Tennessee 2012
by Lewis Loflin
Welcome from the great community of Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee. This is now my 15th year on the web and it's time to start a new year. No doubt our community will suffer another year of political corruption, crony capitalism, and third-world poverty. Just in December 2011 alone we lost another 500 manufacturing jobs within our community of about 50,000.
Oh, we did celebrate the opening of another restaurant. For more on that see Social Apartheid in Bristol Virginia-Tennessee 2011. Bristol Virginia-Tennessee is at the junction of the two most corrupt regions in the two most corrupt states in the union. (Kingsport Times-News May 22nd, 2010)
New Years day started off with a literal "bang" in neighboring Kingsport when a violent black felon emptied a handgun into a complete stranger at the local Waffle House. Two days later a local deputy was run over and nearly killed by a violent black gang fleeing an armed robbery. Two more feral black males, part of a gang of ten people that executed two men at a Kingsport store, go on trial for murder.
Gun sales set records in region, state: The real reason we buy guns
Quoting the Bristol Herald Courier on January 5,
Both Saturday morning handgun safety and carry permit classes were full. A case containing handguns was nearly empty, and a lone rifle for sale rested on the wall. A sign near the front of the (local gun) store proclaimed the absence of certain types of ammunition.
Shooters Edge was busy...That story has been repeated over and over at gun shops across the state and nation. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations filed 379,209 different background checks for gun permits from January to November 2012, according to statistics kept by the bureau. About 96 percent of those were approved, and more than 421,000 guns were sold from January to November 2012..
In Virginia, gun sales reached a new record in 2012, totaling 423,387 transactions. That's a 35 percent increase from 2011...
Of the top ten most wanted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation January 28, 2013 three are black, three are white, and four are Hispanic. Hispanics will be eclipsing blacks on crime as their numbers grow. Tennessee is 76 percent white. See Crime by Race in Tennessee.
Blacks and Muslims (I would add Hispanics) who face the insults of being profiled might direct their anger toward those who've made blacks and crime synonymous and terrorism and Muslims synonymous...For most blacks to own up to the high crime rate among blacks is a source of considerable discomfort. Beyond that, it creates suspicions and resentment, which are destructive of good race relations, and it's devastating to the black community, which is its primary victim...
Prof. Walter E. Williams
Martell Jones
Black Males Arrested in Little Creaser's Robbery
On February 18, 2013, at approximately 8:04 p.m., officers of the Johnson City Police Department responded to a report of a Robbery at a Johnson City business. Officers responded to the Little Caesars Pizza located at 2708 N. Roan Street, Johnson City, Tennessee. A preliminary investigation revealed that a lone black male entered the store, brandished a firearm and demanded money from the safe and cash registers from the employees.
After obtaining the money, the suspect fled the store where he got into a red 4 door car with a spoiler and exited the parking lot traveling north on N. Roan Street with an undetermined amount of cash.
The suspect was described as being approximately 5'5" to 5'7" tall, weighing approximately 130 to 150 pounds, wearing green pants and a brown jacket. He was described as having short hair and some facial hair. Anyone having any information about the possible identity of the suspect is urged to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 434-6166, Crimestoppers at 434-6158 or they can also provide information that can be submitted anonymously by texting 423JCPD and your tip to 847411 (TIP411) or via internet at www.citizenobserver.com.
During the morning hours of the 19th, Unicoi County deputies arrested Martell Jones, 26 YOA, of 3818 Dorris Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee and Ledarius Owens, 27 YOA, of 4005 Highland Avenue Chattanooga, Tennessee, after they were pursued into Unicoi County by Madison County, North Carolina officers.
Evidence located in the vehicle connected the two subjects to the February 18th robbery at Little Caesar's. Warrants were obtained for both subjects for Aggravated Robbery by Johnson City officers. A hold was placed on Jones and Owens, who are currently in the Unicoi County jail where they are awaiting charges in both Unicoi County and Madison County, North Carolina. (Johnson City Police)
February 16, 2013 www.chattanoogan.com
Chattanooga Police are seeking the location and arrest of Martell Jones in connection with two armed robberies. Police said Jones was involved with a robbery from the Speed Mart at 3100 Dodds Ave. and the Cricket Store at 2700 Broad St.
Jones was armed with a weapon during both robberies. Jones has been charged with three counts of aggravated robbery, attempted murder, and kidnapping. If anyone knows the location of Martell Jones, they are asked to call the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525 or Crime Stoppers at 423-698-3333.
On 2/21/13 at approximately 9:30 pm, officers of the Johnson City Police Department arrested Matthew L. Miller, 34 yoa white male of 2359 Upper Stone Mountain Road Unicoi, TN 37692, for Driving Under the Influence 4th offense. The arrest stemmed from the investigation of a drunk driver at 1805 N Roan Street. He is currently being held at the Washington County Detention Center awaiting a Bond Hearing. He is scheduled to appear in Washington County General Sessions Court on Monday, 2/25/13, at 1:30 pm.
Pork Alert - Solar-powered lights for hiking trail
Big Stone Gap, an impoverished and dying mining town in Wise County Virginia will be getting solar-powered lights and distance markers. A gift from the Virginia Department of Health this latest example of pork-barrel waste will soon be installed on the town's Greenbelt trail. The idea is to get those that can't afford health insurance and over weight to walk away the pounds.
To quote one silly official, "The Lenowisco Health District promotes physical activity through a variety of programs, and we are very excited to work with Big Stone Gap and VDH's Healthy Communities Program to provide solar lights and distance markers for the trail." So says health district director Eleanor Sue Cantrell. Further, "This will make the trail easier to use for a longer period of time each day.' She says according to press reports, "trails and greenways connect parks and neighborhoods and help make physical activity part of people's daily lives."
Funny, the area abounds in wilderness and already has plenty of choices during daylight hours. The lights will be install this spring just in time for the longer daylight hours that occurs anyway. Post March10, 2013.
Professor Larry Sabato: "The most corrupt region is Southwest Virginia"
Operation "Big Coon Dog" took place in Buchanan County when a group of contractors and County officials conspired to rip-off government money related to clearing flood damage to the Hurley community. Convicted of racketeering and other charges, about 16 people were sent to prison. That was only one in a string of corruption cases across the region due to the secrecy they operate under and a general culture of corruption in the region due to being a giant welfare state.
At the time the Bristol Herald Courier in the article "Former special prosecutor, analyst cite past corruption," (6/26/04) notes these comments from U.Va. government professor Larry Sabato and from lawyer Gerald Gray about political corruption in Southwest Virginia:
"I have family in Southwest Virginia and I love Southwest Virginia, and it's painful to accept one reality. . . . The most corrupt region is Southwest Virginia. Over the years, more indictments for political and public office corruption have happened in this region than all other parts of the state combined."
In 2012 nothing has changed and in fact has gotten worse. What is in my opinion legalized racketeering is how local governments operate in this region in regards to economic development and an apathetic public that sits in silence speaking up only when demanding the next earmark or government handout.
Pennington Gap chief of police arrested on drug charges
By Wes Bunch Kingsport Times-News October 19th, 2012
Pennington Gap Police Chief William Bryan Young, 41, was arrested at the Lee County Courthouse by ATF agents. Young is currently being held without bond in federal custody...
Court documents contain allegations that Young used and sold prescription narcotics on several occasions and that he was associated with individuals known for selling drugs...A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Young had been charged in a federal criminal complaint with a variety of drug and gun charges.
According to federal court documents, Young was charged with possession of a firearm by a user of controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a Schedule II drug (Percocet) with intent to distribute.
Update: January 9, 2013 - former Pennington Gap police chief William Brian Young pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing prescription drugs and setting up the burglary of the town pharmacy. He headed the town Police Department for nearly a year when federal agents nailed him with selling oxycodone and Percocet as well as breaking into a Right Aid pharmacy stealing 5000 pills.
His codefendants Kevin Andrew Young and Chris Miles both 35 of Duffield, Virginia, also pleaded guilty to other similar charges. Each of the three convicted felons could face as much as 20 years each in prison and a $1.2 million fine for Chief Yound while Kevin Young and Chris Miles each face a $250,000 fine.
Once again this latest scandal from public office proves that Southwest Virginia continues to live up to its title of the most corrupt region in Virginia.
Because of the interlocking cultural and political problems the region is predicted to have among the slowest growth in the nation in coming years. In fact Tr-Cities Virginia-Tennessee will have the slowest growth in both Virginia and Tennessee.
This is something that companies that locate here have to realize that cheap labor isn't everything. We have lots of people looking for jobs, but most are essentially unskilled or have the wrong skill sets, assuming they can even pass a drug test, which many can't. The Christian science Monitor notes the following,
"Of the top 10 hardest-to-fill positions in the US, only three – engineers, nurses, and teachers – require university degrees. The other seven are: skilled trades, IT staff, sales representatives, accounting and finance staff, drivers, mechanics, and machinists.
The reasons employers cannot fill these positions are lack of experience, candidates asking for more money than they can afford (or willing) to pay, and lack of talent and training."
The problem in this region, and I daresay much of the country, is our education system is utterly determined to keep those entering skilled vocational trades from receiving a better academic background in science, math, etc. As a vocational instructor myself I have fought this problem for years only to be stonewalled time after time by the so-called education professionals.
Bristol Tennessee Electric System to Shift Corporate Welfare onto Consumers
Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES, the power company) is setting aside $200,000 over the next two years to use as subsidized loans for private business. The cost of this latest effort at "economic development" will certainly be cost-shifted onto local power bills.
This public subsidy "loan" program will go to businesses that "show their potential to create or retain jobs, add capital investment or otherwise improve the community's economic strength." That is the catch, "retain jobs." That excuse is often used to simply distribute public money into private bank accounts without showing any public benefit or new jobs. The public is barred from verifying if any of the conditions were even met because of privacy clauses.
Local politicians are fearful of tax hikes and struggle to find ways to disburse corporate welfare every business seems to think is a right. So the 33,000 BTES customers in Bristol, Tennessee and Sullivan County won't notice a few more pennies tacked onto their utility bills to cover public subsidies to selected private business. This allows Bristol politicians to defacto raise taxes and hide where those taxes are going. Ref. BHC July 31, 2012.
Sprint Dumps Bristol Virginia for Bristol Tennessee
Here is another example of one low-wage community trying to outbid the neighboring low-wage community at taxpayer expense for low-paying jobs. Sprint has turned down a lucrative corporate welfare package from Bristol, Virginia and will jump the State line to Sullivan County. Read more...
More Crony Capitalism
WJHL.com July 26, 2012 is reporting Century Link is getting $2.1 million in Federal pork dollars to connect SW Virginia residents to the internet. The region has already spent over $100 million on hi-speed internet under the guise of economic development with little to no measurable impact on poverty or jobs. It's expected to connect 2000 residents.
In fact they seldom even check if the money was even used properly. This is part of the Federal Communications Commission's "Connect American Fund" that will pad the bottom line of Century Link very nicely. "The FCC says about 744,000 Virginians lack access to broadband service."
Question: when did hi-speed internet become a right for every barn and cow pasture in the state? Once again taxpayers absorb the cost/risk while private business reaps the profits. See the following:
DialAmerica in Gray, Tennessee is hiring 100 part-time workers. The region has sunk as much as $200 million into hi-speed telecom subsidies promising to create real jobs and get away from low-end call centers. Instead we get call centers paying even less than old call centers.
Call centers are routinely employed to displace and fire other workers from their jobs and the massive subsidies these companies get from local governments results in two things: communities cutting each others throats in a corporate welfare bidding war, and lowering wages across the board. These huge subsidies allows one call center to underbid another while keeping pay low.
By receiving huge subsidies and with locating in labor hostile regions such as Tri-Cities where local government assist business in keeping wages low, these are a disaster for the working poor.
Among DialAmerica's portfolio of clients, the Gray facility supports fundraising programs for various national non-profits, and provides sales and customer service support for financial services and travel services clients.
DialAmerica will be hosting two open houses for interested job candidates on August 7 and August 14 from 10a.m. to 5 p.m. at the contact center located on KLM Drive in Gray. Candidates interested in joining DialAmerica can view all available positions, including job responsibilities, and submit an employment application online at www.dialamerica.com/careers, or contact Donna Cody at (423) 283 - 4759 or Johnsoncityrec@dialamerica.com.
The website will tell you absolutely nothing in regards to wages, etc. Make sure one checks his/her eligibility for food stamps if one has children.
Number of babies born addicted to drugs on the rise in East Tennessee
WJHL TV March 22, 2012: Doctors are fighting another drug problem...newborn addiction. Mountain States Health Alliance's Tennessee facilities reported a 31.3 percent increase in babies born addicted to drugs. Many of those cases involved prescription drugs and medications used to treat other drug addictions...
"A lot of times these patients have oxycontin abuse histories and they are doing the sebutex in order to try and do the right thing for themselves and to get themselves healthier...
Mountain States Health Alliance is also sending out a letter, endorsed by more than 80 doctors and healthcare professionals, to providers of prescription pain and addictive medications, asking for their cooperation and help, in cutting down on the number of drug addicted newborns.
Question, what are the actual base numbers? Prescription drug abuse is a massive problem in this region.
Tennessee's drug related death rate nearly triples since 1999
January 31, 2012 BHC - Johnson City: Tennessee's death rate from drug overdoses has nearly tripled since 1999 prompting governor Haslam to propose expanded regulations. The proposal would require doctors and pharmacists to check a controlled substance database before writing or dispensing prescriptions.
TennCare reported a 48 percent jump in narcotics prescriptions over the last four years despite efforts to end abuse...Governor Haslam's proposal would force anyone dispensing controlled substances to update the database every 24 hours. This is a change that could keep people out of emergency rooms...
Exide Dumps Bristol Workers after Receiving $34 million in Stimulus Funds
In 2009 Exide announced the firing 567 workers at Bristol battery plant or 70 percent of its workforce. Opened in 1994, Exide's Bristol plant is a manufacturing and distribution center of lead-acid batteries used in the automotive, marine and specialty industries. They had 817 employees at the time. They did some rehires that were proclaimed "new jobs." Read more...
