The two lobster tails to go might have been over the top.

The two lobster tails to go might have been over the top.

Ya think?

Of course, we don't know if the lobster and lobster to go was ordered by Ragsdale's assistant, Lady Di or Lady Di's friend. Maybe Margie had the turkey and dressing for $11.

Why was Ragsdale's assistant (secretary) in charge of informing Commissioner Jordan? That seems like a stretch.

So, now we need a full-time watchdog to oversee the spending in the Mayor's office? How did we get to this point?

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Mayor sees his political future in jeopardy (yes, he wants to run for Governor). He has 3 years left, so a lot can happen. Watch next year's Commission races. The importance of who fills those seats to Mayor Ragsdale's political future cannot be overstated. He will be deeply involved.

Ragsdale and Governor... that's a stretch... just think back to all the missteps and misdeeds by Ragsdale and his administration...

With regards to Werner... I can not believe it took this long... in any private sector business he would have been fired the first day the spending was discovered... Werner quitting was a good first step... now it is time for Mike Arms to go too...

If Ragsdale has any chance of running for Governor, which I like is small; he needs to rid himself of Arms… Arms and his hot temper and mouth have caused Ragsdale all kinds of problems… Can you say Tyler Harber, Jay Witt… the list goes on and on… I believe you will find Mike Arms figure prints on a lot of the mess… but Ragsdale is as guilty because he has condone and encouraged the behavior out of his office…

Governor probably not but head of Vanderbilt… and maybe Vanderbilt will give Ragsdale and his team American Express Platinum cards… since that seems to be this groups taste… Champaign taste in a beer town…

How good would lobster tails even be, after making the trip home in a plastic box to be eaten later?

No one could remember who ordered the lobster tails, when confronted. I can just hear the lunch conversation - "Don't worry, I have my county credit card - get some to go!" These people are supposedly public stewards, and this didn't cause any guilt or even second thoughts? Pretty weird.

Werner jumps on the grenade so now I guess we can get back to the business of creating great schools, taking care of seniors and making government better everyday. I’m guessing it probably won’t be that easy…

I have no idea why the taxpayers are expected to pay for county workers/representatives lunches (or their gas for that matter). But, if we do have to pay for their lunches, should there no be a cap on the cost, say no more than $11 a person? The state has per diem ceilings for breakfast, lunch and dinner, why doesn't the county?

It seems that now, the sky is the limit, and I am beginning to see why all of these blood suckers would sell their mothers to get a county job. Oh, wait, there are a lot of mothers and sons and cousins and brothers--whole extended families--already on the county payroll. What a life.

Meanwhile, I continue to pay property tax to bankroll their cruises and trips to Disney World and the Bahamas and lobster lunches.

Show of hands...who thinks Margie and Lady Di don't know who the third was at lunch? You spend $227 on lunch, complete with shortcake and a couple of tails to go...and that's not memorable? Was it so commonplace as to not stick out? If it was my business and my money, I'd dang sure remember.

Domestic Perdiem Rates
Tennessee - FY 07
(October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007)

Cities not appearing below may be located within a county for which rates are listed. To determine what county a city is located in, visit the National Association of Counties (NACO) website (a non-federal website).

NOTE: If neither the city nor the county is listed, the location is a standard CONUS destination with a rate of $60.00 for lodging and $39.00 for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE).

State Tax Rates & Exemption Forms

Properties at Per Diem (FedRooms)

Lodge Food Max
Brentwood/Franklin Williamson 82 49 131
Chattanooga-Hamilton 81 44 125
Gatlinburg/Townsend-Sevier & Blount 67 49 116
Knoxville-Knox 74 49 123
Memphis-Shelby 83 49 132
Nashville-Davidson 99 54 153
Oak Ridge-Anderson 72 39 111

Please visit: (link...)

They must have taken the Alberto Gonzales CRS course.

____________________________

I'm a guy in a Reagan mask -- and I'm running for President!

opps... not sure how to cut and paste so it looks nice maybe someone else can cut and paste the GSA perdiem website so you can actually read it...

what is the recall process for knox county elected officials

Yep, just 14.6% by my calculations. Classy ladies, classy!

I guess if they were good enough at math to calculate out a decent tip they would have known that at $200 lunch was a little excessive as well.

That would have made them culpable.

My customers would think they were paying too much for our product if we bought them lobster for lunch.

I hope they have a good excuse for giving a 14.6% tip when eating lobster at Regas!

It's all truly amazing and sad.

and some day someone will ask to see the receipts from this county's credit cards........

I would be happy as hell to see the full budget, line by line before it is voted on.

google that & see where it takes you

or who shall in any public place be in a state of intoxication produced by strong drink voluntarily taken

Oh my...

This prompted a discussion about tipping on carry-out orders. I always thought you were supposed to kick in a couple bucks for that, but a few folks disagreed w/me.

server: "Have you ladies decided? Let's start with you, mam"
diner1: "I'll take the turkey and dressing."
server: "Ok, good choice. How bout you?"
diner2: "I'll have the lobster tail."
server: "Excellent choice. And you?"
diner3: "Well, shucks. Give me the lobster tail as well."

Anybody want to guess who is who?

It's wrong to blame Margie Lloyd and Diane Jordan for this.

Margie was following orders, which apparently were to do whatever it took to make Commissioner Jordan happy.

And for all Commissioner Jordan knew, this meal could have been paid for out of that hospitality fund, not with taxpayer money. Yes, it doesn't look good, but the blame for this kind of lavish spending should go to Ragsdale, who set the tone and gave the orders.

Screw them all, let god sort them out.

or who shall engage in any form of illegal gambling

Uh oh...all those trips to Tunica by the Memphis delegation and local officials (and various other elected officials when conventions are held in the bluff city).

Ooops...I note it says 'illegal gambling'. My bad. It's legal south of Memphis.

But, better watch those poker games and private dens of iniquity.

Quick, someone check the p-card statement for charges in Cocke County!

it doesn't look good, but the blame for this kind of lavish spending should go to Ragsdale, who set the tone and gave the orders

This would seem to contradict some high profile editorials calling for Werner's resignation...

I tip delivery people (they brought it to me) and restaurant servers...fairly well, I think. My quandry comes when I order take out (usually chinese or lunch at work), drive/walk to the restaurant, pay for it and take it home/back to the office in a bag. Am I supposed to tip for them bagging it up? Sometimes I throw in a dollar or two. Sometimes I don't.

From today's online KNS:

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale said today that some county purchasing card transactions are being reported to the state Comptroller’s Office.

Ragsdale also said that he has had “multiple discussions” regarding inappropriate use of purchasing cards with Knox County District Attorney General Randy Nichols, but he did not elaborate.

Mark it down. From the Mayor's office will come..."The district attorney has looked into this matter and found nothing. The finance director was fired. He can't get any more fired. These continued questions are just politics. We need to move on to issues about improving our schools, honoring our seniors and making government better every day".

Sounds familiar to me.

Or are you suggesting that the buck stops with Ragsdale's secretary?

Not at all. But, I'm getting the feeling that to some degree, Werner is getting tossed in front of the bus... He is indeed very much responsible for his own conduct, just as everyone else should be in this mess. I just have to wonder what the heck went on up on the 6th floor from the time the Mayor was on HHH until Werner resigns while on vacation later that day. I'm sure I'll read all about it on Monday...

I hear there was a all-day meeting last week of Team Ragsdale (all the higher-ups) and the decision on Werner was made at that time. Why they waited to make it public, I have no idea. Maybe it was Mr. Werner's request.

While Mr. Werner created some of his own problems, I am certain he has now learned that all members of Team Ragsdale are expendable with the exception of Arms. For the good of the future political prospects of the Team no doubt.

Ragsdale should wipe that stupid-looking smirk off his face, butch-up, and and fall on the sword of resignation. Alas, he doesn't have the testicular fortitude to do what is right because he has no clue!!!!!!

And criminal investigation and prosecution? What a joke our DA (and I don't mean District Attorney) is. He cannot spend the time looking into corruption because he is too busy stuffing his pie hole. Perhaps it is time to call in the the TBI and State Attorney General.

Knox County truly lives up to its motto for those elected and appointed and their cronies and family members...A Great American Community - taxpayer provided credit cards, automobiles, and NO OVERSIGHT!!! AH, YES, THE GOOD LIFE. For those of us footing the bill, IT AIN'T SO GREAT! Where is Robespierre when you need him?

I wonder if we had "political farm teams," whereby we could review the skills of the politicians in training somewhat like the interns/rookies these same politicians currently bring on to assist them during the course of the year?
In other words before a politician becomes a politician they have to be an intern/rookie someplace be it the local university or "school of enlightened political consciousness or hard knocks?" Still, everyone would be invited to tryout at these "schools." Then the each municipality would have political coaches (university/college poly sci professors among others I suppose) that can help the communities pick who they want and help them purchase rookies.
But then I wonder if James Madison and his colleagues would agree? Of course he and John Adams and their fellow revolutionaries might be surprised that we haven't changed the Constitution to reflect changing times. If they were to revisit us to day they might find the medieval personage of Sheriff still in existence with all the power associated with it. (Will the Sheriff's departmental p cards be audited? Or do they need P cards with all the confiscated stuff they possess?) Don't ya just love democracy?

I'm getting the feeling that to some degree, Werner is getting tossed in front of the bus

I don't know the job description, but as I would think that the one of the duties of "Finance Director" would be to set up and monitor a system to look for misuse of public funds.

____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

I would think some educational qualifications should be a requirement for the finance director job as well. Hiring someone who is a CPA seems not out of line.

suggesting that John Werner is/was not qualified to be Finance Director? If you are. You are wrong.

John Werner is/was more qualiifed than any previous Knox County Finance Director.

The tabloid journalist got what they wanted, John Werner has/is returning to the private sector. Now they need to move on to any other political targets and everyone leave Werner alone.

leave Ms. Lloyd alone as well. The tabloid journalist has/have gotten their pound of flesh from her as well.

Mrs. Bean. There you go again.

I know what you said about Ms. Lloyd on this board and I agree with you. I didn't cite who or what tabloid journalist, so I guess you think I was referring to you. I was NOT.

As for your comment about Ragsdale. I NEVER said anything about Ragsdale. In fact I said leave Werner and Lloyd alone, now. and then everyone could set their sights on other political targets. So I am not sucking up to Ragsdale, I never even mentioned him.

I do not think that buying vacations and $200 lunches are appropriate. I didn't do it(I always took the per diem the few times that I traveled as an elected official) and I haven't said that I believe its right.

As for being the third choice behind Lou Moran and Phyllis Severance who ever or what ever voice in your head told you that. It or they are wrong. I know both of those individuals (Phyllis was a political mentor to me in the early days) and had they even considered running for Chairman I would not have run and would have supported either of them. They both supported me. So as usual your sources or the voices in your head are wrong.

Thanks for asking. I am happy to respond and clear the record of your many false statements about me.

Have a great Saturday. Hope to see you soon at Commission. Maybe you will get your beat (coverage) back now that the rezoning is over. By the way, Larry did a Great job while you were away.

do you know what John Werner's background was before becoming Finance Director? That might be helpful to you.

I don't care about supposed emails that you may have gotten from whereever by what ever means you got them.

Chadwick B. Tindell announced in December 2006. Believe it or not I received phone calls immediately upon Chad's announcement and talked with numerous elected officials and Mike and Mike was after I talked to close associates of the Sheriff's.

Know the readers here can believe you (someone who is employed by a publication that knowingly and unknowingly prints Lies and Gossip on a weekly basis) or they can believe me. Either way, your credibility with past reports is not as credible as mine.

Have a great Saturday.

since this thread is "Werner out". If you want to continue the dialogue about a Republican Chairman's race that happened in 2005, you may want to start a new thred.

Also, a correction I misstated the year that Chadwick B. Tindell announced his intention not to pursue a second term I said 2006, it was actually 2004. I was thinking of December 2006 as the time that your Supervisor Sandra Clark and her Publisher Bruce Hartmann encouraged me to submit my statement clearing the record of all your errors in the portion of County Confidential that pertained to me.

The one where you violated the Standards of Jounalistic Code of Ethics. If you need to read it again I am sure it is in the archive section of Shopper News Now January 2007.

I would agree with what you have just previously stated. I certainly do not believe that Knox County while Mike Ragsdale is Mayor will EVER face this problem again.

And he has required every employee to go back to 2002. Why, 2002? Mike Ragsdale came into office September 1, 2002. If there is anything that doesn't pass the smell test the employees have been required to pay it back.

O.k. Bean. This is the first time that I have mentioned Mike Ragsdale's name and it ain't exactly sucking up. I was stating fact. If you need to verify what I said then review the Hallerin Hilton Hill morning show from Thursday July 12, 2007 between the time of 7:05 - 8:00 a.m.

Tess, when you said this "It is apparent that professional standards and procedures were not in place/and being followed" does that also apply to Bean's portion of County Confidential that she authored about me? Just kidding.

the memo telling county employees not to use their P-cards at restaurants owned by Mike Chase.

Oh, so NOW you admit that he did indeed impose some fiscal restraints and oversight!

his degree in?

"insight to her (Kathy Hamilton) & Tommy's reasoning concerning the contra fund"

It was to aid the contras who were conducting a guerrilla war against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. Just kidding.

kathy said tommy cuda shuda called it something different.

Not sure if that reflected a lack of understanding, poor communication skills, or inability to find enough words of one syllable to speak to some Commissioners (or maybe all three).

Are you sure you are not talking about Hornback? I have seen third graders with a better handle of the alphabet.

Are you a relative of Bean or an employee of Sandra Clark & E.W. Scripps? It seems that way.

Have a Great weekend.

Here's why Werner is staying until September.

(link...)

in a phone conversation with Mike Arms he said no such email was generated by him about Lou Moran and Phyllis Severance so what ever research you found has been disputed.

Your research were probably emails that Tyler supplied you. Everyone needs to remember that from 2001 when Tyler first came on the scene through the Spring of 2006 the Shopper was a huge critic of Tyler.

Even three - four months before you snagged the interview to meet with Tyler for County Confidential. The Shopper printed a photograph of Tyler in March 2006 in which the paper made the allegation that Tyler has/had an alternative lifestyle.

No one believed it and Sandra had to run a retraction in her column the very next week. But the facts are the facts.

What did you think of the Shopper photo and verbage that Sandra had to retract in March of 2006?

The one that generated the media firestorm of every television newsroom beating down the Shopper doors, where Sandra refused comment to the television stations.

Was it responsible journalism? or Was it tabloid journalism?

the next Knox County Investigation is previewed here.

Arms denied threatening me, but I have phone records. You know, lawyers sometimes record calls.

this was about what beanster said that her "research" revealed an email that Arms sent talking about two other potential candidates for GOP Chair.

Believe this or not (I know it is going to hurt you) I don't talk about you to anyone (Elected Officials, members of our party or even Arms)

I know you think the whole world revolves around you. It doesn't.

Sorry.

BTW, It was great seeing you last week at Regas. Beanster, for the record, I ate the Mesquite grilled steakburger without the bun, burgundy mushrooms and drank water. It wasn't paid for by the taxpayers.

What goes on at Regas stays at Regas

BH, I know what the thread was about. I wanted to point out that Mr. Arms isn't truthful in some matters. That could easily be true in his purported comments about asking others to run for GOP Chairman. In fact, I'd say it is true.

It's likely hard for you to believe Mike and Mike were looking for an opponent to run against you for school board. But, I know that's also true.

I had the medit. grilled chicken salad. I'm eating healthy these days. It's cost me 10 pounds or so. I like the food at Regas. The lunch was for former GOP Chairs.

just as you choose to believe the distortions that the E.W. Scripps tabloid prints and because you have personal issues with Mike and Mike. Don't drag me into your little playground fight with Mike and Mike. You choose to believe reporters that knowingly print lies on a weekly basis. I choose to believe people who do not knowingly lie every week.

You complain about your emails being printed in the Sentinel. Well, I know because in my November 2006 meeting with Hartmann and Clark that it was your friend Sandra Clark that gave your emails to Hartmann. Now who is your friend?

I suggest that you quit hiding behind the tree on the playground and come out and confront Mike Arms on your own. Both of you need to settle this between the two of you, soon.

BTW, if I were a betting man, which I am not. I believe Arms can/will take you.

you are right. I hope the comment was not taken seriously. It was meant and intended as a joke.

However, I apologize and retract the comment based on your wise and seasoned counsel.

Thanks.

Hiding? That's a laugher. I post here weekly. I'm in the book. I am very active in the community. As for issues concerning Tyler Harber or Mike Arms, I've answered any questions put to me, by law enforcement, the DA's office, reporters or anyone else. It's no game. It's just me telling the truth. And, I will continue to tell the truth.

I know it was Sandra who gave copies of my emails to Hartmann. She did so to prove the contents of the emails. Sandra called and told me she was going to do it before she took them to Hartmann. It was not her intention that they be published. That was Hartmann and McElroy's call. I think that decision was wrong for lots of reasons. But, I didn't whine and demand a meeting with Hartmann to complain. A simple phone call to Bruce and Jack was enough.

I really don't want to go on and on about this, this will be my last advice to you on this issue.

However, my suggestion is that you schedule a meeting with Arms and both of you put this behind you. It doesn't serve either one of you well.

You don't need to have to be stressed everytime you see Arms name and the fact that you believe he lied or threatened you.

It really helped me to meet with Sandra and Hartmann in November. They gave me an opportunity to respond to Bean's errors and all is well.

Really you have a wife and you really need to bring closure to this and you and Arms need to settle it in a civil fashion.

I really don't believe that Arms is aware that you are so ticked over something that happened a year or so ago.

I will be happy to facilitate a meeting if you want.

I have no need for closure on this issue.

I did my part. I offered and I will be available should you ever reconsider.

I really don't believe that Arms is aware that you are so ticked over something that happened a year or so ago.

I don't think it would come as any surprise. I have made my feelings known to those in the Mayor's office. The Mayor's office has someone who reads this blog frequently, if not daily. For all I know, they post here under an assumed name as well.

I don't take lightly to being threatened and later called a liar in the press. But hey, I've just made a few blog posts and written a letter to the paper. Those are minor irritations. But, rest assured. I believe in good, honest government. Should there be a governor's race in the future, I have sufficient information, a budget for radio and a memory that lasts more than 3 years.

you don't have to cry for CBT. Beanster "Bwahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" It first started out like a sheep, but then it appears that you are crying. That isn't neccesary.

CBT is accustomed to the give and take of politics. Heck, he just announced his intention to run for Governor. CBT said "I have sufficient information, a budget for radio and a memory that lasts more than 3 years."

No, no...not me. I'm happy in my lawyer job. In politics, I am better at supporting candidates and working in campaigns.

There will be a candidate for the Republican nomination from Knox County,it may even be a Mayor or, after we elect a woman for president,i see no reason we couldn't elect one governor but either way... it will be one you can campaign for from Mountain City to Memphis.

Absent a run by our local City Mayor, my candidate for Governor will likely hail from Chattanooga or Nashville.

I thought this blog was about John Werner and what happened under his and the Mike's watch...

Why has no media news people found John Werner and asked him direct questions... or why has no media news folks looked up Diana Jordan and asked who the third person was at the lobster lunch... why has no news media type called MaryLou and asked if Margie Lloyd took her to lunch and kept her informed on what was happening in county government... if these folks refuse to answer or return phone calls is that not a story too... what are they hiding?

Why does our news media not go after this story??? I can see plenty of smoke and a few small flames with this story...

Good point. I can't believe I haven't considered that before now.

as in Mary Lou Horner? Former Commissioner from the Seventh Ditrict. That Mary Lou?

Sandra and Betty ain't going to ask that question. After all Sandra was Mary Lou's campaign manager for upten campaigns.

Folks, the News Sentinel did a disservice to Mary Lou Horner in their lobster dinner coverage.

If you read the entire story carefully, you'll see that Margie Loyd said she was tasked to maintain a relationship with then-commissioners Jordan and Horner.

Then KNS reported that 3 people ate lunch -- one (probably Loyd) ate turkey and dressing for $10 and two others (probably Jordan and her unnamed guest)ate two lobsters each.

Only on the tag page did they say that Horner did not eat lobster. She wasn't even at the lunch in question. In fact, she is allergic to shellfish.

The ONLY time Mary Lou Horner's name has been mentioned in connection with the ongoing scandal is in the News Sentinel story cited above. Most unfair to Horner. -- s.

In your post you say that the KNS story was a dis-service to Mary Lou. Are you suggesting that your Supervisor Bruce Hartmann, publisher of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the publication with which you are employed (Shopper) was in error? If so are your actions and words toward your employer qualify you for insubordination?

You did not address it. So, I will ask the questions. Have you served as Mary Lou's campaign manager for the upten election cycles when she has been a candidate? Have you asked Mary Lou about the Regas lunch?

The last question. Are you the author and publisher of the many postcards (last count about 12-14) that were circulated to the voters of the Seventh district about R. Larry Smith during the 2006 election?

question, not an accusation. Not Libelous.

Sandra can opt to not answer. I am requesting as a member of the media (blogger) for an upcoming feature article at my real blog.

This is similar to research that Beanster did or did not do for County Confidential.

If R.Neal gets an answer that it is an inappropriate question he can remove it and I will schedule an interview with Sandra at a later date.

I am requesting as a member of the media (blogger) for an upcoming feature article at my real blog.

Real blog? You need public comments and interaction to host one of those, something your site is desperately lacking.