Blount County



I am a lifelong citizen of Blount County. I pastor a church, I have seen both of my children graduate from Heritage High school, and I serve at the Blount County Sheriff’s Office as the Chaplain Coordinator as well as a Chaplain for the Alcoa Police Department and the United States Secret Service. 

My son played youth sports with Mayor Ed Mitchell's son. I knew our register of deeds, Phyllis Crisp, when she ran a cash register at Friendsville market and sold my then 2nd grader his chocolate milk after school. I have at least one representative from every law enforcement agency in our county that attends my church.

I don't write to you as someone who sees police as only cars and badges and budgets and elections. I'm speaking as someone who has done 6 weddings and prayed over 13 newborn police babies. I don't write as someone who doesn't know about Blount County, my County, my home, because I have lived here for 46 years. Wait, what? 46? That's crazy. Maybe its more like 32 years!

Chaplains can tell stories of acts of bravery, courage, and genuine honor. Deputies and officers that have taken the money they earned, some on their second job, to pay for a gift for a victim that touched their heart. We do marriage counseling because of this amazing, stressful job. I held a weeping deputy minutes after a newborn was pronounced dead that he had performed cpr on while waiting for the ambulance. We've sat with numerous in law enforcement as they described the joys, horrors, highs and lows of being a law enforcement officer. None regret their service. None consider the sacrifice too great. And none check to see if a homeowner is pro or anti-police to determine the level of service. 

And they continue to serve. This year they are getting killed at astounding rates, yet they serve. Regardless of the politics or today's news, when they are dispatched they go. If your daughter has a flat on the side of a Blount county road they will serve. When there is another car crash, they will be first and they will serve. If your child is missing they will stay up all night if necessary to find them and they will serve. If you call... They always serve. 

My wife, Tammy and I were both born in Blount County but as adults we chose to stay here and it wasn't to tolerate our community or our government but it was because we love this place. We love the beauty, we love the people, to be honest, we love the safety.

 I had a conversation with a friend of mine that lives in another country. He said, "America is the only place I know, where people take things that are working perfectly, throw them out, and get something new just because they want something new. What was wrong with the other?"

 We laughed and talked about the fact that there are no yard sales in his country. If it still works, they keep it. He's right. We as Americans like change. I, myself, have traded perfectly good automobiles because I wanted another only to find out that it got old also. I'm not immune to the bug... 

 Maybe my church needs a new pastor. I mean, I have served here for 12 years now. That's 3 terms in a politician's years (I may have to campaign to keep serving there if this gets out). 

 I guess my musing today is this. If it's working so well, why change it?  Today, I am so proud to see my grandson raised in Blount County. I'm not sure what needs to change!

 Have a great week,
Pastor Dad

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