Pikeville News

The Tennessee Volunteer Gourd Society will hold its fifth annual spring gourd festival, Home Grown and Hand Made, at the Bledsoe Community Complex, on April 20-22. The complex is at 234 Allen P. Deakins Road in Pikeville.

Following a 20-minute address to members of the Chattanooga Rotary Club, Gov. Bill Haslam said the closure of the Taft Youth Development Center was a tough but necessary decision to provide Tennesseans with the most effective government for the lowest cost.

Department of Children's Services Commissioner Kathryn O'Day is defending Republican Gov.

Regional lawmakers from both parties are objecting a provision in Gov. Bill Haslam's $30.08 billion spending plan that closes Taft Youth Center in Pikeville.

Under the theme "believe in better," Gov. Bill Haslam proposed Monday a $31 billion state budget for the coming year that provides a 2.5 percent pay raise for state employees while abolishing 1,166 government jobs.

State tax revenues are on the mend, but Gov. Bill Haslam and GOP legislative leaders are trying to throw a wet blanket on any would-be celebrations in advance of Haslam's release today of his proposed 2012-13 budget.

Tennessee Deputy Gov. Claude Ramsey, Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau and General Services Commissioner Steven G. Cates recently announced a series of energy efficiency projects in state government, as well as the new Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program.