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Mountain City, Tennessee 37683Your Community Newspaper, Established 1874 75 centsVol. 147 No. 3

www.thetomahawk.com

THE TOMAHAWKWednesday, January 20, 2021

Community Calendar ...........A2Education .............................A3Public Safety ........................A4Accents.................................A5Service Directory ...............A4,5From Page One ...................A6

Sports ...........................B1,3Obituaries ........................B2Faith ................................B4Classifieds .......................B5Community Matters .........B6

INSIDE: MOUNTAIN CITYHome of Your Community Bank

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Printing January 6through February 3

By Jill PenleyFREELANCE WRITER

Johnson County lost an icon of the community last Wednesday when Danny Herman, 78, died after an extended illness. Although born and raised in California, Johnson County became his home in 1979 when Herman moved his family to East Tennessee.

The bulk of his adult life was dedicated to building a

County mourns passing of community icon

Danny Herman

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

The Tennessee Comptrol-ler’s Office recently released an inves-tigation report on “allegations of mal-feasance related to A.C.T.I.O.N Coali-tion.” On Monday, January 11, the John-son County Grand Jury indicted former A.C.T.I.O.N. Execu-tive Director Angela Dickens on one count of Theft of Property over $2,500 in violation of Tennessee

Code §39-14-103, a Class D felony.

Officials focused on three main points of spending

in this investiga-tion: misappropri-ated funds, misuse of company credit cards, and question-able purchases. The inquiry spans from July 1, 2014, through August 14, 2018.

According to the Comptroller’s Of-fice, Dickens misap-

propriated “at least $3,674” for personal use. The major-

Former nonprofit director indicted

NASHVILLE – United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) today released the following statement com-memorating the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday:

“We appropriately pause

today to reflect on the lessons and legacy of Dr. Martin Lu-ther King, Jr. and recognize that we must strive every day to achieve his dream of free-dom, justice, and equality for all. Dr. King once said: ‘Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, ‘Love your enemies.’ It is this: that love has within it a redemptive

Hagerty Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Angela Dickens

See Dickens Page A6

See MLK, Jr. Page A3

See Herman Page A6

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

The Comptroller of the Treasury’s Office has been investigating several non-profits in the Johnson County area for misuse of funds and

related issues. Comptroller Jason Mumpower recently released an investigative re-port on the Johnson County Safe Haven and its executive director Richard Walsh.

Safe Haven is a nonprofit organization that provides

shelter and support to do-mestic violence victims in Johnson County. In this case, officials report that Walsh, referred to only in title, seemed to reimburse the or-ganization for all funds used.

Officials focused on two

main points of spending in this investigation: misuse of company credit cards and misuse of the company’s cell phone plan. The inquiry spans from July 1, 2016, through May 31, 2020. There

Investigates Safe Haven

By Meg DickensSTAFF WRITER

Johnson County High School Culinary Arts pro-gram led by Travis Heath who was hired at the start of the 2020-2021 school year is launching a new hands-on type of “work-based learn-ing opportunity” through its Rachel Ray Foundation

JCHS jumpstarts food truck program

“Snow” much fun!

Contributed

Rep. Scotty Campbell has been appointed to serve on the Finance, Ways and Means Committee and the Appropri-ations Subcommittee. These committees are responsible for measures relating to taxes, state government spending, and alterations to revenue. Speaker of the Tennessee

House of Representatives Cameron Sexton made the announcement of his appoint-ment live during proceedings in the House Chamber.

“I’m grateful for the op-portunity to serve on the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee and the Appropriations Subcommit-tee. Taxpayers here at home

Rep. Campbell to serve on the Finance, Ways and

Means Committee

COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE:

See Safe Haven Page A6

See Culinary Page A3

See Campbell Page A6

Lizzie Sexton of Mountain City, TN, enjoys a fun-filled snow day with her children Brayden, 4, and Emmaline, 3, earlier this week. The recent weather resulted in school closings in Johnson County, as more snow is in the

forecast for the region in the coming days. Photo by Tamas Mondovics

The Johnson County School Board unanimously approved for the JCHS Culinary Arts program to purchase a Homesteader Model concession

trailer to launch a food truck for students. Online photo.