"LAKE CITY - A $6 million training center for military personnel, high-risk couriers and company executives going into the world's danger zones will be built soon near the Anderson-Campbell county line, officials said. Link... [1]

The Echota Tactical Training Center will have classrooms, a half-mile-long track for training drivers in high-risk situations and several firing ranges.

Echota Technologies Corp.'s long-range plans include housing and dining facilities for students and staff and a 1,000-meter sniper firing range.

Law enforcement agencies, special operations military personnel and Department of Energy couriers who transport classified materials would be trained there.

Special courses also would be available for company executives going into global hot spots, said James R. Fish, executive vice president of Maryville-based Echota."

People often say they don't want to have a casino move into their neighborhood or a race track because they are concerned about the kinds of people it will bring into the area. Well, if I lived in Lake City, I sure wouldn't be thrilled to know this proposed project would bring mercenaries and macho- commando types in my town.