(Posted Friday, May 17, 2013) UPDATE - Gov. Bill Haslam signed an annexation bill today that places a year-long halt on all city-initiated annexations of residential and farm land except those that were formally introduced before April 15.  Proposed city-initiated annexations introduced prior to the April 15 deadline would have to have a majority vote approval of the respective county commission before moving forward. The one-year moratorium, which will last until May 15, 2014,  applies to annexations of residential and farm lands that have not been requested by the affected property owners. Under the bill, residents petitioning to join a city could still do so.

(Posted Wednesday, May 15, 2013)  Eagleville residents should have no shortage of fireworks choices for the July 4 holiday.  On Monday, the city's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) granted permission for two fireworks sales tents to be placed temporarily on the north and south ends of town. The dates and hours that the fireworks stands can be open are from June 20-July 5 from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week except July 3 and 4 when the stands can be open until midnight.  

(Posted Monday, May 13, 2013) Eleven senior cadets in the MTSU military science ROTC program were recently commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, including the following three cadets from Rockvale and Chapel Hill. Cadet Elliott Ralston of the Rockvale area was to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He is the son of Laura Ralston of Rockvale and Marvin Ralston of Unionville. Cadet Arthur Powers of Rockvale was to graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in plant and soil science. He is married to Danielle Powers of Rockvale and is the son of Joel and Jody Powers of Rockvale; Cadet Jared Blanchett of Chapel Hill was to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in foreign language (French). He is the son of John and Janice Blanchett of Chapel Hill.   

(Posted Monday, May 13, 2013) The city of Eagleville received only one bid for excavation work to be done at the cul-de-sac at the end of  Proud Eagle Drive in Eagle Crest Subdivision. Johnson Excavating of Eagleville submitted a bid of $3,000, which is the amount city councilmen had previously voted to pay for the work. The bid was opened Thursday. The project  is part of an effort to fix the drainage and a steep bank on the north side of the cul-de-sac, which the city's contractor put in place earlier.  

Rep. Rick Womick

By Rep. Rick Womick, District 34 

(Posted Friday, May 10, 2013) On Friday, April 19, 2013, the first session of the 108th General Assembly adjourned on the 33rd Legislative Day, an accomplishment not seen in over 40 years and a savings to the Tennessee taxpayer of over $300,000.  Balancing the state budget, jobs, tax reduction, education, reducing crime, healthcare, and workers compensation reform were the important issues addressed during this session. This year’s budget was $32.6 billion dollars, which is less than a 1 percent increase over last year’s budget of $32.3 billion dollars.