The management and staff of Scott County News, welcome letters of community interest. Letters must be original and contain the signature, address and the daytime telephone number of its writer. The letter should not exceed 250 words. Please send letters to P.O. Box 4399, Oneida, TN 37841 or email scnoneida.net The editors reserve the right to edit or reject any letter and to limit frequent writers. The opinions and views represented on this page are not necessarily those of Scott County News or its employees. We welcome your comments and suggestions, feel free to contact us at (423)-569-8351

Honoring Our Veterans: A Legacy of Service and Sacrifice Each year on November 11, we pause as a nation to observe Veterans Day, a time to honor the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces. This special day is more than just a federal holiday; it is a…

By Ethan Cotton Every time I pass by Oneida City Park, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride. It’s beautiful, it’s spacious, and it’s one of those places that just feels like home. The Huntsville park, on the other hand, may not have the same wow factor yet, but I think both parks…

Dear Citizens of Scott and McCreary Counties, I can think of no bigger issue in our community right now than the impact of landfills on our health and safety. That is why I, along with other local leaders, created the Scott McCreary Environmental Coalition. While we all wish that the creation of this Coalition could…

Dear Editor and Mr. Gilreath: I just wanted to take a few minutes to commend you on the excellent job you’re doing with reporting the news. As a McCreary County resident, I appreciate your coverage of important and newsworthy articles from here at home. Although your paper is in another town, county and state, we…

A Salute To First Responders               Dear Editor, On some anniversaries we celebrate. On others we reflect. The 24th Anniversary of the attack on America and New York’s World Trade Center is one of the times for reflection. There is truly nothing to celebrate in the extraordinary tragedy of…

The Growth of Scott County By Ethan Cotton I still remember the day I lived on Vine Avenue and prayed for a coffee shop, ice cream shop, or donut shop—something special for me and for the community. I even asked for it to be on the end of Main Street near the Hartco facility, where…

Scott County is being targeted for a landfill that never should have been permitted. The proposed Roberta II site in north Oneida, beside the Volunteer Regional Landfill, was issued a state permit in 2010 without following the law. The Scott County Solid Waste Board never voted, and the County Commission was denied its right under…

As an idealist born and raised in Scott County, I’m an advocate for growth, and even though I’m on the Autism Spectrum, I am passionate about my community and its future. The proposed Rail Trail will bring growth in many ways. Community events could take place there, a bicycle culture will bloom, and increased traffic…

Enough is enough: Why authorities should reject the proposed landfill in Scott County Dear Editor I am a lifelong resident of Scott County, Tennessee, a region known for its rough-hewn beauty and people living in concert with its rugged terrain. Unfortunately, it also has a history of “boom and bust” economies associated with outside business…

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor While it seems that our county leaders are willing to “resolve” to be against a conservation project to save wilderness land for public good along a proposed rail trail, it seems they have no issue allowing or encouraging the dumping of trash on our beautiful county.  Commissioners, who owns…