The West Blount Development Association and Friends of Rickwood Caverns will hold a joint meeting at the Hayden Town Hall on Wednesday, May 20, at 8 a.m. Probate Judge David Standridge and District 1 Commissioner David Cochran will report on a recent meeting with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADNCR) on the status of Rickwood Caverns State […]
Faltering county tax collections matter of concern, not panic, says Probate Judge Standridge
Out-of-county spending takes toll...Talking from a detailed breakdown of county accounts showing decreases in revenue from last year, Blount County Probate Judge David Standridge said that while the decreases are a matter of concern, the county is in good position to weather them without resorting to drastic measures applied in some other counties. The analysis shows seven accounts significantly affected by revenue decreases, […]
Meth lab seized in west Blount
The Blount County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Trafford and Warrior police departments, executed a search warrant last week that led to the seizure of meth lab components at a residence in western Blount County. The residence, on White Oak Trail in the Smokerise community, was discovered to have chemicals that could be used in the production of methamphetamine […]
Snead council accepts bid for new police cruiser
Snead town councilors voted to accept Valley Ford Mercury’s low bid of $23,445 for its new police cruiser. Acting police chief Phillip Weaver offered the bids, explaining the town can receive delivery on a new 2009 Crown Victoria within two to three months. Awaiting a 2010 model might delay receipt beyond the Sept. 30 expiration for the state grant the […]
YOU LISTENED!
The Blount Countian changed its hours (Mondays through Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Wednesdays when the office closes at 11:30 a.m.) and urged readers to submit copy as early as possible, even before deadline times (Thursdays at 4 p.m. for classifieds; Thursdays at noon for legals; Fridays at 4 p.m. for display advertising for both shopper and paper; […]
Locust Fork council votes to observe school tax holiday
The town council of Locust Fork voted at its last meeting held April 28, to notify the state that it will observe the 2009 school sales-tax holiday, set for midnight Aug. 7 through midnight of Aug. 9 this year, according to town clerk Tammy Riebe. The council was set to pass the local ordinance required at its meeting last night. […]

History close to Heaven
McDonald CemeteryBetween Cleveland and Oneonta is the small, quaint community of Easley. It’s the kind of place that could easily be taken for granted. If you blink, you may miss it; but, take a couple of small turns, and it may surprise you. Easley is quite a jewel, harboring a hidden treasure in the form of a cemetery. Approaching the McDonald […]

American Legion elects officers
These new officers of Oneonta’s American Legion Post 72 were elected in a called meeting April 20: (seated from left) Donny Jackson, vice commander; Leland Venable, post commander; Edward Herd, adjutant; (standing) Dalton Wester, service officer; Jim Nabors, sergeant-at-arms; Pete Tracy, treasurer; and Wallace Todd, historian. The post was chartered following World War I. Rice Howard, one of Blount County’s […]
Readers write
Federal Reserve Bank needs transparencyA monumental bill before Congress right now is gaining more momentum by the day, HR 1207. “The Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009” is a bill that would effectively audit the Federal Reserve Bank. The Federal Reserve Bank is the central banking system of the United States and is the only bank in America that has never been audited. The […]