Federal judge: ‘Vacate’ the RV park
Seven travel trailers remained on the site at the Covenant Life Church’s RV park on Friday (May 3), out of 16 available spaces. A federal judge has ordered the church to shut down the park and remove the occupants by May 31. - G. Chambers Williams III
Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Knoxville last Wednesday issued a summary judgment and permanent injunction ordering Covenant Life Church in Norris to shut down its RV park and remove the occupants from it within 30 days. That means that, pending a stay on appeal from the church if one is sought, the church must close the RV park, which it has recently begun referring to as a “retreat,” until or unless it can obtain a certificate of occupancy and a permit for use of city water on the site. Here is the court’s exact language granting the city’s request to close the facility, which sits on church property along Andersonville Highway and Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) and has been in operation without having any permits to allow for it since sometime in 2019: “Covenant Life is PERMANENTLY ENJOINED from the following conduct: (1) operating the Retreat without a certificate of occupancy; and (2) supplying water to the Retreat from the garden hose in circumvention of the now-lifted stop work order and without a plumbing permit. “The terms of this injunction shall take effect 30 days from the entry of this Order (May 1). “If Covenant Life fails to obtain a certificate of occupancy and fails to obtain the required permit for its use of the garden hose within 30 days from the entry of this Order, Covenant Life SHALL cease operation of the Retreat, and all guests SHALL vacate the premises.” As the church’s own attorney, Daniel Sanders, has acknowledged in open court, Covenant Life built and opened its “Solid Rock RV Park” in 2019 as a commercial enterprise on restricted church property without first obtaining a city of Norris required change in zoning for the property, or getting the necessary city building permits.
Read MoreHamock’s to open in downtown Clinton
Jason Hamock (from left); his mother, Darlene Hamock; and his wife, Danielle Hamock, staff their Hamock’s booth in the parking lot of their new restaurant site at 325 Eagle Bend Road in downtown Clinton during the Spring Antique Festival last Friday. - G. Chambers Williams III
The son and daughter-in-law of Darlene Hamock, owner of the former Hamock’s Perkadeli restaurant in Clinton, plan to open a new eatery within the next few months called Hamock’s, featuring some of the same foods of the original, which closed three years ago. Jason and Danielle Hamock said their restaurant will be in the previous Real Dry Cleaners building at 425 Eagle Bend Road. The dry cleaners closed in late December following the death of its owner earlier in the year. Clinton real estate developers Ken and Jamie White of WB Realty bought the building in February, along with the small Lirio Chocolate factory building next door at 419 Eagle Bend, along the Norfolk Southern railroad. The Lirio Chocolate building was razed in mid-April, and Jamie White said that property will remain clear for use as a parking lot and picnic patio for Hamock’s restaurant. The Whites also hope to hold a farmers’ market on that site on Saturdays during the growing season. “We’re looking at about a four-month construction project” for remodeling the Real Dry Cleaners building to house Hamock’s, Jamie White said last Friday.
Read MoreDespite rain, Antique Festival draws crowd
Downtown Clinton merchants enjoyed another Cinch River Spring Antique Festival last Friday and Saturday as big crowds turned out despite some rain early on both days. Some very light rain fell off and on Friday as the festival ran from noon to 6 p.m., but Saturday’s weather turned quite pleasant after an early rain shower around opening time at 10 a.m. After that, the skies remained cloudy, but the temperatures hit the mid- to upper-70s, making for a great shopping day without visitors having to deal with a beating-down sun or any more rain. Crowds were at their peak beginning around noon on Saturday, continuing until the event closed at 5 p.m. A steady stream of visitors crowded Market Street, visiting the street vendors and the downtown brick-and-mortar stores. Greg Powell and his wife Paula, of Powell, said they were pleased with the turnout at their booth, Raino Ice and Funnel Cakes. Powell said he has been selling at the Clinton festivals for the past 25 years. Yvette Meredith-Cubero said she came to check out the festival because she plans to move to Clinton soon from Knoxville. This event is presented annually by the Historic Downtown Clinton Merchants Association.
Read MoreWhat will be the future of parking downtown?
During a recent Clinton City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Burton discussed the idea of expandion of parking capacity in downtown Clinton. “I hope we do have a parking issue because, man, it’s going to be exciting to have that much excitement and energy going on downtown,” he said at the April 22 council meeting, in response to citizen comments. “And I think we have a pretty good plan to bring more parking spaces in there when that’s needed,” Burton said. One major development downtown and a subject of two citizens’ concerns about parking was the Daugherty Furniture building, recently converted into an apartment space called Daugherty Lofts at 307 North Main St. City Manager Roger Houck told The Courier News that he is not worried about the parking there, and believes that the Daugherty Lofts will use the public parking designed for the downtown business district that has been in existence since the mid-1960s. Burton said parking will continue to be open to the public on both sides of the Daugherty building. He added however, that he hoped to restripe this public parking area to add at least 20 spaces. He said the city might, if needed, add more parking along some of the city’s roads, possibly even making some of them one way for that purpose. Houck said a contractor hired by Daugherty Lofts damaged a small portion of the Commerce Street Parking Lot, but plans to repair it.
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News
Federal judge: ‘Vacate’ the RV park Read More
Despite rain, Antique Festival draws crowd Read More
Anne Backus to run for Tennessee House seat Read More
What will be the future of parking downtown? Read More
Opinion
A robust economy is vital to Anderson County’s success Read More
Sports
District champ Read More
Russell wins singles, Gillum, Mayes advance Read More
Lady Mavs earn spot in district tourney Read More
Lady Dragons blank Lady Patriots in round one of 4-AAA tournament Read More
Dragons’ season concludes in district tourney Read More
Mavs end season with 24-12 record Read More
Wildcats win district, first since 2002 Read More
Lady ’Cats drop game to AC in season finale Read More
Senators advance to region play Read More
Lady Senators are district champs Read More
Anderson County wrestling club shines at championship Read More
Soccer teams race toward season close Read More
Soccer teams race toward season close Read More
Community
OR pool reopening Memorial weekend, hiring lifeguards now Read More
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER Read More
Veterans invited to breakfast Saturday Read More
Park revives swing dance at Jackson Square tennis courts Read More
School
Artrip honored for leadership at Alvernia Read More
Artrip honored for leadership at Alvernia Read More
Business
Hamock’s to open in downtown Clinton Read More
Norris Farmers Market opens; Clinton’s is next Read More
Norris water employee enrolled in apprenticeship program Read More
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