There are currently 14 users and 164 guests online.
Tyler Harber was here
Submitted by Number9 on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 6:23am.
Gene Patterson has a post on his blog reporting that Betty Bean will have a three part series in the Halls Shopper News about the life and times of Tyler Harber.
Patterson writes that Tyler Harber "never worked a single case while employed by Knox County’s Office of Probation and Pre-Trial Release. He worked exclusively for Ragsdale. He called himself "Ragsdale’s body man.""
Is this a case for the Knox County District Attorney? Should Mayor Mike Ragsdale have to pay back Knox County for Tyler Harber's salary? How much did Harber make in his Knox County job?
More on this story on Gene Patterson's Sunday talk show "Tennessee This Week" on WATE television and on Lloyd Daughtery's radio program "The Voice" on AM 1180 on Monday morning. Betty Bean and Frank Cagle will be on the air with Lloyd Daughtery Monday discussing the interesting life of Tyler Harber and the politicians he worked for.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 9:22am.
Wow, won't this expose' of Knoville's most famous cretin, Tyler Harber, be an embarassment for Mayor Ragsdale?????? Yahoooooo!!! The chickens are finally coming home to roost! Tyler Harber is finally going to get his just deserts. Or.....what goes around, comes around, Or...lie down with dogs, get up with fleas, Or....you judge a man by the company he keeps, Or.....give him enough rope to hang himself, Or.....birds of a feather, etc.
It has never ceased to amaze me that mature adults would turn an immature "frat boy"(did he even go to college?) loose to be function as an attack dog. But, there you have it. It was wrong to assume mature adults were involved.
Submitted by Jeff (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 9:36am.
that's why KCSO detectives showed up at Ragsdale's home to question him during the episode of Tyler's missing computer/ Chad Tindall's stolen emails episode.
Submitted by Old Hickory (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 9:56am.
By the time Ragsdale leaves office, assuming he stays for a full 4 year term, he will be battered, defeated in all areas, and best of all broken financially and broken politically.
Submitted by John Werner (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 10:07am.
Found crashed and drunk in a county car with keys to many offices in the City County Building, loaded 9 mm pistols, and id cards to a number of law enforcement agencies in the area.
Worked directly for Ragsdale, paid by the public, didn't do much at all and may himself be reporting to a probation officer.
Submitted by Stacey (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 2:15pm.
I bet this info was all there for the research during the time from Spring 05 to the mayor's race in May. But anyway, will be interesting to see. I've always figured there is some affair or something more illegal than what we know going on with somebody out of the bunch. I wouldn't think that someone would go as far as to hide their computer and hack into a computer just over petty politics. Will be interesting to see Hornback's reaction and role in the this as the whole mess hit the fan the day he was elected chair last year. Stacey
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2006/08/24 - 3:41pm.
that's why KCSO detectives showed up at Ragsdale's home to question him during the episode of Tyler's missing computer/ Chad Tindall's stolen emails episode.
I have heard the TBI is in Knoxville actively working this case. Apparently Jamie Hagoods computer was hacked too. Is it true Mike Arms son has Harbers old job. Tindall could have cleared this up but he has to protect Ragsdale and Arms. Typical republicans.
Submitted by One of Hootie's Blowfish (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 8:26pm.
Well, Dwight Van De Vate has already called him a "deeply troubled young man," per Geno's blog on WATE.
What are the ways Tyler is going to be maligned next by Ragsdale and Company? Here's my guesses, and feel free to add others:
1. we hope he can get the "help" he so desperately needs
2. he's a liar
3. he's bitter about losing his job and simply striking back, and that's just sad
4. Ragsdale and Arms had nothing to do with caswalker.com, that was all Tyler
5. while employeed by the county, we quickly realized he had "issues" and we tried our best to help him through them, but because of all of his illegal activites, he had to go, and we're only guilty of trying to help someone out out of tough personal times
Wow, Blowfish. Those are some excellent points. Gene might have trouble selling this. Young, "troubled", "bitter", self-styled "body man" (whatever that is) political operative apparently in exile, v. a popular and well respected elected County Mayor in charge of a half-billion dollar budget. Who knows? It will be interesting to see what plays out on News 6 and the local talk radio.
Damn. Good catch, Nine. Looks like Gene Patterson is all over this story with an inside track. Sounds like the makings of a fall season TV News blockbuster series. And months of fun on Lloyd's inside dope radio show. Can't wait to see what comes out of it. Sounds juicy. Hope they aren't getting set up. Where is the KNS?
Submitted by CL (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/19 - 10:41pm.
Actually, it's Betty Bean's story. The first part of it should go online tomorrow night at hallsnews.com. The print verison comes out Monday morning. As Number9 said, Betty will be on Lloyd's show Monday morning. The show runs from 7-11 but I'm not sure when she will be there.
Tyler Harber was not known for "truthiness". His claim that he "never worked a single case while employed by Knox County’s Office of Probation and Pre-Trial Release" should be easy to discredit. Go to the files and look for work product. Check the emails for work product. Check his expense reports. Do you want to bet this job required a lot of power lunches?
If his claim is true then the Shakespearean tragedy begins. Of course the easy out will be to claim that Harber destroyed the files and emails. What would Karl Rove do?
Which play by Shakespeare does this mess most closely resemble? Will it end with the words, "Ragsdale, I knew him well".
My psychic prediction is that the biggest crime has yet to be committed. It will be a conspiracy to cover up what the real truth is and that will be the final note for his most harmonious the Mayor of Knox County. The conspiracy cover up is a Republican art form. Wait for it.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 11:04am.
I understand through the grapevine that in the months before GOP Gate went down, there is speculation that Tyler Harbor was retained by a local lawyer(s) to hack into a persons home computer in an effort to gain access to emails and, once through with the emails, to disable the persons computer in some way. The computer that was hacked into is the home computer of a government lawyer who law clerked some 20 years ago for the attorney suspected of retaining Tyler's services while attending UT Law School. The thinking is that the hacking into her computer and subsequent destruction of the hard drive and modem served as a sort of precursor for Tyler to see how well he could hack into someone's computer. While it is only speculation, the computer specialist who ultimately repaired the ladies home computer told her that someone had clearly hacked into her computer. He suggested that she save the hard drive and consider having forensic experts look at it one day. Mention of this incident has been made on other message boards and blogs, as one element of vandalism this attorney(s), allegedly perpetrated on this lady over the course of the past few years. The speculation of Tyler's possible involvement stems from the similarity of what happened with her computer and the home computer of the new GOP Chairman that was hacked into and became a part of GOP Gate. Moreover, it has been alleged that Tyler and the young adult son of the suspected attorney who retained Tyler's services are friends who share in common a background of experimenting with computers. In addition, the easy access to Tyler back then when he worked at the courthouse to the supected lawyer(s) that may have retained his services is another reason the two situations have been linked.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 11:37am.
There is only one person who can fix all this mess, brave enough to stand up to this corruption, and has the background to put education, economic development, and smart growth back on track while ending this corruption.
Bill Johns is the guy. A former candidate for Mayor in the Republic of Farragut, former VP for Jobs Now!, evangelist for education, has a background in public administration and business, and possibly was a former SEAL or something. He's the guy who ran the dog for mayor and has a technology program on WVLZ.
The story is that once he found out about the corruption in the machine while working for Jobs Now!, he separated himself and started exposing it. Mike Ragsdale and Mike Arms fear him most. He cannot be bought.
Submitted by Stacey (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 3:05pm.
According to Daughtery on WATE this morning, the thinking was that Tyler would get into Chad Tindell's computer so he could get some lists that Ragsdale had asked for.Some of this came out last year that Ragsdale and others supposedly wanted to see if Chad was truly supportive of Ragsdale and if he chose sides in the Stokes / Hagood campaign. I remember a quote from Tindell that said he and Ragsdale were friends and there would be no reason to see if he was supportive. Thats why I keep thinking there must be someting more going on here than who likes Ragsdale and Stokes, something more serious to cover up. Unless the kid is just attention starved. Stacey
Submitted by Tommy W. (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 4:27pm.
I have known Bill for several years. You will never meet anyone else like him (or his wife) – they broke that mold after Bill. He would be a great Mayor for all sorts of reasons but most importantly, Bill Johns is the most qualified guy around and does not play politics. I wished he was our President.
Bill is intense and does not settle for anything status quo as seen in this week’s articles to the Farragut Press about our leadership being negligent with our educational needs and the Metro Pulse about why our community keeps missing opportunities in economic development, business, technology, and creativity.
Just saw Gene Patterson's show with Lloyd Daughtery on the Tivo, and I was a little disappointed. I was under the impression that Gene had the inside track (he had quotes from the story on his blog and everything), but he and Lloyd both acted like they didn't know anything about it. They both spoke highly of Ragsdale and the Sheriff, though. I guess we will have to wait for the Halls Shopper and Gene's follow-up report tomorrow night.
Just saw Gene Patterson's show with Lloyd Daughtery on the Tivo, and I was a little disappointed.
What was up with Gene's show today? Was it a teaser? Or maybe Gene does know and it is just too radioactive to talk about?
After the block buster quote on his blog I thought there would be some discussion on that quote at the very least. Maybe the PTB made phone calls to chill out this story?
Harber's Knox County emails will be critical to this case. The person with absolute authority over those emails is Jon Gustin. The same Jon Gustin who registered Link... on "his own time and with his own money". If there is no evidence of actual Knox County work in those emails the Tyler will hit the fan.
When the Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols elected not to prosecute Tyler Harber, his excuse was Chad Tindell did not press charges and the statue expired, I wondered how deep the tentacles of this story reached. After the Jay Witt episode you really had to wonder if this government could break the law and get away with it.
The guy I feel sorry for is Dwight Van de Vate. His life will be miserable this week.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 5:42pm.
Bill Johns running for County Mayor in 2010 or a draft Johns to replace an ousted Ragsdale have to do with this thread? Create a draft Bill Johns for Mayor thread as stand alone.
Submitted by CL (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 6:55pm.
At the time the show was shot Friday afternoon, I don't think Gene knew that much. My understanding is that Betty had been working on the story and contacted Ragsdale's office for comments Thursday. After that, the rumor mill at the C&C Bldg. went into overtime. I heard that someone finally called Gene Friday morning and told him. WATE's news director left and I don't know who is in charge now, so Gene may be able to do something with the story.
If the things I have heard so far are true, Ragsdale is in big trouble. I expect that the TBI will be, at least, asked to handle the investigation.
Ragsdale doesn't have the power that he had just a few weeks ago. Of the 5 people he backed in the election, all lost. If just one of the things Harber says can be proven, Ragsdale's credibility will take a serious hit.
Submitted by One of Hootie's Blowfish (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 7:43pm.
I bet Ragsdale, Arms and Van Devate are developing repetitive stress syndrome by now clicking on "refresh" so much on Link... trying to see the article.
I bet Ragsdale, Arms and Van Devate are developing repetitive stress syndrome by now clicking on "refresh" so much on Link... trying to see the article.
Great poll question.
How many people in Knox County are hitting the F5 key right now?
Submitted by Old Hickory (not verified) on Sun, 2006/08/20 - 7:48pm.
If the TBI can bust sitting judges for extorting computers out of folks running the traffic schools, they'll have very little difficulty tracing Harber's illegal activities right back to Mike Arms and Mike Ragsdale.
Van DeVate is paid in excess of $120,000 per year, for what, spinning and playing hide the truth. Let him earn some of that incredible salary this week.
The media has lost all confidence in Ragsdale and they too sense blood in the water and they need a public flogging to carry us to the holidays. Ragsdale is a very, very easy target, as evidenced by his chosen candidates going down to ugly defeats (Gary Drinnen didn't even get 1,000 votes against Stacey Campfield.)
Sound bite mike and his inner circle of egos need to hire lawyers and polish up those resumes.
"After I moved over to probation, the cover story was that I'm there to make sure the electronic monitoring (ankle bracelets) were working. That was my cover story. I had zero caseload and never saw a single probationer. I had no obligation or task relative to IT or Pretrial Release and Probation, although I did help Todd and Dick with some things, when they asked.
"I even learned how to put on and operate an electronic tracking device in case a journalist ever asked me to do so (they never did). When there'd be a TV story about electronic tracking, I made sure I was there. … Eventually, I was moved to an office on the 6th floor of the Andrew Johnson with Community TV, where there were not so many eyes."
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/21 - 7:18am.
The legislative (Knox County Commission) branch and judicial (Randy Nichols) branch MUST investigate these very SERIOUS and DANGEROUS allegations involving the administrative branch (Mike Ragsdale and Mike Arms) of local government. Since Harber has stated that there are many “friends” of the County Mayor and his Chief of Staff, the TBI must be involved as well to ensure a properly handled investigation. The TBI needs to also look at probation office’s misconduct too!
Submitted by Old Hickory (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/21 - 7:52am.
Hoping Betty Bean stick a recorder in front of Jay Witt.
He has no reason to protect these guy's political shennanigans any longer.
We have created a "ruling aristocracy" that live at the trough of the Knox County taxpayers and they all need to go get real jobs and real salaries with expensive benefits, so we can throw that money at the schooly system.
We have created a "ruling aristocracy" that live at the trough of the Knox County taxpayers and they all need to go get real jobs and real salaries with expensive benefits, so we can throw that money at the schooly system.
It really is a feudal system in this town. These Lords, Dukes, and Earls are above the law. I am curious to see how Randy Nichols will dodge this one.
Ragsdale has some insulation. He could just blame Harber's immediate supervisors and declare victory. The village will be safe again and harmony will return to the peaceful valley.
Dick Moran is gone now isn't he? How convenient. Dick Nixon has got nothing on these people.
Submitted by Tiny Tim (not verified) on Mon, 2006/08/21 - 11:26am.
Shurf Tim is atter him since he was filmed with his minions clapping and cheering when Tyree's early numbers were posted showing him ahead of Shurf Tim.
People forget that Ragsdale lost the Sheriff's race too and he should have not gotten involved in that one and certainly shown no visible signs of excitement when Shurf Tim was not ahead.
Submitted by Wink Martindale (not verified) on Tue, 2006/08/22 - 8:21am.
"Patterson writes that Tyler Harber "never worked a single case while employed by Knox County’s Office of Probation and Pre-Trial Release. "
Hmmm, is that the same office that Mike Arms' son now works in?
I think one would be amazed at now how many files Tyler was able to work on now that Arms' son has had access to those files to supplement them.
Mike Ragsdale's response as given by Dwight Van De Vate:
RAGSDALE RESPONDS (sort of)
We offered Mayor Mike Ragsdale an opportunity to comment. His spokesperson Dwight Van de Vate said: "This is a sad situation involving a deeply troubled young man; all we can do is wish him the very best as he tries to put his life together."
Submitted by tennesseevalues... on Wed, 2006/08/23 - 8:15am.
We offered Mayor Mike Ragsdale an opportunity to comment. His spokesperson Dwight Van de Vate said: "This is a sad situation involving a deeply troubled young man; all we can do is wish him the very best as he tries to put his life together."
Submitted by One of Hootie's Blowfish (not verified) on Wed, 2006/08/23 - 9:29am.
Tennessee Values said: "Heh. That's pretty funny, given that one of Hootie's Blowfish suggested this very response in an earlier comment in this thread: http://www.knoxviews.com/node/1842#comment-6755"
Ah yep, and from that same post, here's what the 6th Floor mantra will be for next week's article:
4. Ragsdale and Arms had nothing to do with caswalker.com, that was all Tyler
Submitted by Tiny Tim (not verified) on Sat, 2006/08/26 - 12:22pm.
If Arms/Ragsdale gave Tindell a Quid Pro Quo or other opportunities in exchange for not prosecuting the case, that may be tatamount to obstruction of justice and if it silenced Tindell during an investigation that would be interfering with an investigation.
Suppossedly, the FBI, TBI, and US Justice Department are going to nail Judge Tommy Austin to the cross and send him up the river for a long, long time, well beyond anything any other public official has seen in the State of Tennessee. If they can drop a bomb on a sitting judge, a county executive, with an amateur hour political staff, is a sitting duck.
Wow, won't this expose' of Knoville's most famous cretin, Tyler Harber, be an embarassment for Mayor Ragsdale?????? Yahoooooo!!! The chickens are finally coming home to roost! Tyler Harber is finally going to get his just deserts. Or.....what goes around, comes around, Or...lie down with dogs, get up with fleas, Or....you judge a man by the company he keeps, Or.....give him enough rope to hang himself, Or.....birds of a feather, etc.
It has never ceased to amaze me that mature adults would turn an immature "frat boy"(did he even go to college?) loose to be function as an attack dog. But, there you have it. It was wrong to assume mature adults were involved.
that's why KCSO detectives showed up at Ragsdale's home to question him during the episode of Tyler's missing computer/ Chad Tindall's stolen emails episode.
By the time Ragsdale leaves office, assuming he stays for a full 4 year term, he will be battered, defeated in all areas, and best of all broken financially and broken politically.
Paybacks and egos are hell to deal with.
Found crashed and drunk in a county car with keys to many offices in the City County Building, loaded 9 mm pistols, and id cards to a number of law enforcement agencies in the area.
Worked directly for Ragsdale, paid by the public, didn't do much at all and may himself be reporting to a probation officer.
I bet this info was all there for the research during the time from Spring 05 to the mayor's race in May. But anyway, will be interesting to see. I've always figured there is some affair or something more illegal than what we know going on with somebody out of the bunch. I wouldn't think that someone would go as far as to hide their computer and hack into a computer just over petty politics. Will be interesting to see Hornback's reaction and role in the this as the whole mess hit the fan the day he was elected chair last year. Stacey
that's why KCSO detectives showed up at Ragsdale's home to question him during the episode of Tyler's missing computer/ Chad Tindall's stolen emails episode.
I have heard the TBI is in Knoxville actively working this case. Apparently Jamie Hagoods computer was hacked too. Is it true Mike Arms son has Harbers old job. Tindall could have cleared this up but he has to protect Ragsdale and Arms. Typical republicans.
Well, Dwight Van De Vate has already called him a "deeply troubled young man," per Geno's blog on WATE.
What are the ways Tyler is going to be maligned next by Ragsdale and Company? Here's my guesses, and feel free to add others:
1. we hope he can get the "help" he so desperately needs
2. he's a liar
3. he's bitter about losing his job and simply striking back, and that's just sad
4. Ragsdale and Arms had nothing to do with caswalker.com, that was all Tyler
5. while employeed by the county, we quickly realized he had "issues" and we tried our best to help him through them, but because of all of his illegal activites, he had to go, and we're only guilty of trying to help someone out out of tough personal times
6. (you fill in the blank)
Wow, Blowfish. Those are some excellent points. Gene might have trouble selling this. Young, "troubled", "bitter", self-styled "body man" (whatever that is) political operative apparently in exile, v. a popular and well respected elected County Mayor in charge of a half-billion dollar budget. Who knows? It will be interesting to see what plays out on News 6 and the local talk radio.
It's a plot -- the sheriff and Mike Chase are behind all of this.
There seem to be a lot of people out to get Ragsdale. He must be doing something right.
Damn. Good catch, Nine. Looks like Gene Patterson is all over this story with an inside track. Sounds like the makings of a fall season TV News blockbuster series. And months of fun on Lloyd's inside dope radio show. Can't wait to see what comes out of it. Sounds juicy. Hope they aren't getting set up. Where is the KNS?
Actually, it's Betty Bean's story. The first part of it should go online tomorrow night at hallsnews.com. The print verison comes out Monday morning. As Number9 said, Betty will be on Lloyd's show Monday morning. The show runs from 7-11 but I'm not sure when she will be there.
Tyler Harber was not known for "truthiness". His claim that he "never worked a single case while employed by Knox County’s Office of Probation and Pre-Trial Release" should be easy to discredit. Go to the files and look for work product. Check the emails for work product. Check his expense reports. Do you want to bet this job required a lot of power lunches?
If his claim is true then the Shakespearean tragedy begins. Of course the easy out will be to claim that Harber destroyed the files and emails. What would Karl Rove do?
Which play by Shakespeare does this mess most closely resemble? Will it end with the words, "Ragsdale, I knew him well".
My psychic prediction is that the biggest crime has yet to be committed. It will be a conspiracy to cover up what the real truth is and that will be the final note for his most harmonious the Mayor of Knox County. The conspiracy cover up is a Republican art form. Wait for it.
I understand through the grapevine that in the months before GOP Gate went down, there is speculation that Tyler Harbor was retained by a local lawyer(s) to hack into a persons home computer in an effort to gain access to emails and, once through with the emails, to disable the persons computer in some way. The computer that was hacked into is the home computer of a government lawyer who law clerked some 20 years ago for the attorney suspected of retaining Tyler's services while attending UT Law School. The thinking is that the hacking into her computer and subsequent destruction of the hard drive and modem served as a sort of precursor for Tyler to see how well he could hack into someone's computer. While it is only speculation, the computer specialist who ultimately repaired the ladies home computer told her that someone had clearly hacked into her computer. He suggested that she save the hard drive and consider having forensic experts look at it one day. Mention of this incident has been made on other message boards and blogs, as one element of vandalism this attorney(s), allegedly perpetrated on this lady over the course of the past few years. The speculation of Tyler's possible involvement stems from the similarity of what happened with her computer and the home computer of the new GOP Chairman that was hacked into and became a part of GOP Gate. Moreover, it has been alleged that Tyler and the young adult son of the suspected attorney who retained Tyler's services are friends who share in common a background of experimenting with computers. In addition, the easy access to Tyler back then when he worked at the courthouse to the supected lawyer(s) that may have retained his services is another reason the two situations have been linked.
There is only one person who can fix all this mess, brave enough to stand up to this corruption, and has the background to put education, economic development, and smart growth back on track while ending this corruption.
Bill Johns is the guy. A former candidate for Mayor in the Republic of Farragut, former VP for Jobs Now!, evangelist for education, has a background in public administration and business, and possibly was a former SEAL or something. He's the guy who ran the dog for mayor and has a technology program on WVLZ.
The story is that once he found out about the corruption in the machine while working for Jobs Now!, he separated himself and started exposing it. Mike Ragsdale and Mike Arms fear him most. He cannot be bought.
According to Daughtery on WATE this morning, the thinking was that Tyler would get into Chad Tindell's computer so he could get some lists that Ragsdale had asked for.Some of this came out last year that Ragsdale and others supposedly wanted to see if Chad was truly supportive of Ragsdale and if he chose sides in the Stokes / Hagood campaign. I remember a quote from Tindell that said he and Ragsdale were friends and there would be no reason to see if he was supportive. Thats why I keep thinking there must be someting more going on here than who likes Ragsdale and Stokes, something more serious to cover up. Unless the kid is just attention starved. Stacey
I have known Bill for several years. You will never meet anyone else like him (or his wife) – they broke that mold after Bill. He would be a great Mayor for all sorts of reasons but most importantly, Bill Johns is the most qualified guy around and does not play politics. I wished he was our President.
Bill is intense and does not settle for anything status quo as seen in this week’s articles to the Farragut Press about our leadership being negligent with our educational needs and the Metro Pulse about why our community keeps missing opportunities in economic development, business, technology, and creativity.
Here are the links:
Farragut Press
Link...
Metro Pulse
Link...
Bill Johns for County Mayor!
Tommy W. / Farragut
Just saw Gene Patterson's show with Lloyd Daughtery on the Tivo, and I was a little disappointed. I was under the impression that Gene had the inside track (he had quotes from the story on his blog and everything), but he and Lloyd both acted like they didn't know anything about it. They both spoke highly of Ragsdale and the Sheriff, though. I guess we will have to wait for the Halls Shopper and Gene's follow-up report tomorrow night.
Just saw Gene Patterson's show with Lloyd Daughtery on the Tivo, and I was a little disappointed.
What was up with Gene's show today? Was it a teaser? Or maybe Gene does know and it is just too radioactive to talk about?
After the block buster quote on his blog I thought there would be some discussion on that quote at the very least. Maybe the PTB made phone calls to chill out this story?
Harber's Knox County emails will be critical to this case. The person with absolute authority over those emails is Jon Gustin. The same Jon Gustin who registered Link... on "his own time and with his own money". If there is no evidence of actual Knox County work in those emails the Tyler will hit the fan.
When the Knox County District Attorney Randy Nichols elected not to prosecute Tyler Harber, his excuse was Chad Tindell did not press charges and the statue expired, I wondered how deep the tentacles of this story reached. After the Jay Witt episode you really had to wonder if this government could break the law and get away with it.
The guy I feel sorry for is Dwight Van de Vate. His life will be miserable this week.
Bill Johns running for County Mayor in 2010 or a draft Johns to replace an ousted Ragsdale have to do with this thread? Create a draft Bill Johns for Mayor thread as stand alone.
Johns to replace an ousted Ragsdale
Why would Ragsdale be ousted? Even if there were term limits, he's only on his second term, isn't he?
At the time the show was shot Friday afternoon, I don't think Gene knew that much. My understanding is that Betty had been working on the story and contacted Ragsdale's office for comments Thursday. After that, the rumor mill at the C&C Bldg. went into overtime. I heard that someone finally called Gene Friday morning and told him. WATE's news director left and I don't know who is in charge now, so Gene may be able to do something with the story.
If the things I have heard so far are true, Ragsdale is in big trouble. I expect that the TBI will be, at least, asked to handle the investigation.
Ragsdale doesn't have the power that he had just a few weeks ago. Of the 5 people he backed in the election, all lost. If just one of the things Harber says can be proven, Ragsdale's credibility will take a serious hit.
You seem to have a lot of inside info, CL. Who are you? Tell us more! TBI? Wow!
I bet Ragsdale, Arms and Van Devate are developing repetitive stress syndrome by now clicking on "refresh" so much on Link... trying to see the article.
I bet Ragsdale, Arms and Van Devate are developing repetitive stress syndrome by now clicking on "refresh" so much on Link... trying to see the article.
Great poll question.
How many people in Knox County are hitting the F5 key right now?
If the TBI can bust sitting judges for extorting computers out of folks running the traffic schools, they'll have very little difficulty tracing Harber's illegal activities right back to Mike Arms and Mike Ragsdale.
Van DeVate is paid in excess of $120,000 per year, for what, spinning and playing hide the truth. Let him earn some of that incredible salary this week.
The media has lost all confidence in Ragsdale and they too sense blood in the water and they need a public flogging to carry us to the holidays. Ragsdale is a very, very easy target, as evidenced by his chosen candidates going down to ugly defeats (Gary Drinnen didn't even get 1,000 votes against Stacey Campfield.)
Sound bite mike and his inner circle of egos need to hire lawyers and polish up those resumes.
If I told you who I was that would spoil all the fun! ;)
Well, as per the rules, we are trying to be serious here. I know it's hard to tell with all the anonymous jerks sometimes.
Us well-known jerks resent the amateurs!!!!!
True happiness is knowing you are a hypocrite. -- Ivor Cutler
Link...
Paging Randy Nichols:
"After I moved over to probation, the cover story was that I'm there to make sure the electronic monitoring (ankle bracelets) were working. That was my cover story. I had zero caseload and never saw a single probationer. I had no obligation or task relative to IT or Pretrial Release and Probation, although I did help Todd and Dick with some things, when they asked.
"I even learned how to put on and operate an electronic tracking device in case a journalist ever asked me to do so (they never did). When there'd be a TV story about electronic tracking, I made sure I was there. … Eventually, I was moved to an office on the 6th floor of the Andrew Johnson with Community TV, where there were not so many eyes."
The legislative (Knox County Commission) branch and judicial (Randy Nichols) branch MUST investigate these very SERIOUS and DANGEROUS allegations involving the administrative branch (Mike Ragsdale and Mike Arms) of local government. Since Harber has stated that there are many “friends” of the County Mayor and his Chief of Staff, the TBI must be involved as well to ensure a properly handled investigation. The TBI needs to also look at probation office’s misconduct too!
Hoping Betty Bean stick a recorder in front of Jay Witt.
He has no reason to protect these guy's political shennanigans any longer.
We have created a "ruling aristocracy" that live at the trough of the Knox County taxpayers and they all need to go get real jobs and real salaries with expensive benefits, so we can throw that money at the schooly system.
We have created a "ruling aristocracy" that live at the trough of the Knox County taxpayers and they all need to go get real jobs and real salaries with expensive benefits, so we can throw that money at the schooly system.
It really is a feudal system in this town. These Lords, Dukes, and Earls are above the law. I am curious to see how Randy Nichols will dodge this one.
Ragsdale has some insulation. He could just blame Harber's immediate supervisors and declare victory. The village will be safe again and harmony will return to the peaceful valley.
Dick Moran is gone now isn't he? How convenient. Dick Nixon has got nothing on these people.
or click on Link... to listen
Bend over Ragsdale, this is what happens when you mess with the shurf.
Shurf Tim is atter him since he was filmed with his minions clapping and cheering when Tyree's early numbers were posted showing him ahead of Shurf Tim.
People forget that Ragsdale lost the Sheriff's race too and he should have not gotten involved in that one and certainly shown no visible signs of excitement when Shurf Tim was not ahead.
"Patterson writes that Tyler Harber "never worked a single case while employed by Knox County’s Office of Probation and Pre-Trial Release. "
Hmmm, is that the same office that Mike Arms' son now works in?
I think one would be amazed at now how many files Tyler was able to work on now that Arms' son has had access to those files to supplement them.
An update on the Betty Bean story. I may be mistaken but I think team Ragsdale is implying something here.
Link...
Mike Ragsdale's response as given by Dwight Van De Vate:
RAGSDALE RESPONDS (sort of)
We offered Mayor Mike Ragsdale an opportunity to comment. His spokesperson Dwight Van de Vate said: "This is a sad situation involving a deeply troubled young man; all we can do is wish him the very best as he tries to put his life together."
We offered Mayor Mike Ragsdale an opportunity to comment. His spokesperson Dwight Van de Vate said: "This is a sad situation involving a deeply troubled young man; all we can do is wish him the very best as he tries to put his life together."
Heh. That's pretty funny, given that one of Hootie's Blowfish suggested this very response in an earlier comment in this thread: http://www.knoxviews.com/node/1842#comment-6755
Tennessee Values said: "Heh. That's pretty funny, given that one of Hootie's Blowfish suggested this very response in an earlier comment in this thread: http://www.knoxviews.com/node/1842#comment-6755"
Ah yep, and from that same post, here's what the 6th Floor mantra will be for next week's article:
4. Ragsdale and Arms had nothing to do with caswalker.com, that was all Tyler
I've heard the FBI is now looking into it.
If Arms/Ragsdale gave Tindell a Quid Pro Quo or other opportunities in exchange for not prosecuting the case, that may be tatamount to obstruction of justice and if it silenced Tindell during an investigation that would be interfering with an investigation.
Suppossedly, the FBI, TBI, and US Justice Department are going to nail Judge Tommy Austin to the cross and send him up the river for a long, long time, well beyond anything any other public official has seen in the State of Tennessee. If they can drop a bomb on a sitting judge, a county executive, with an amateur hour political staff, is a sitting duck.
Part 2 is up.
Post new comment