PRESS COVERAGE

Below are links to just a few articles reporting news related to the Raven Society found in The Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times (unless otherwise indicated). See the Times on the web at http://www.thedailytimes.com:

Land use policies to deal with growth a delicate balance
4/27/10

Did you miss the recent Raven Society presentation on Land Use, mentioned in the April 27th Daily Times Editorial? View the slideshow. Note: The resolution has been reduced to allow for viewing from slower internet connections.

Raven Society briefs audience on land use issues
4/26/10

Raven Society land use program
4/18/10

National Geographic Traveler puts Smokies in 'Places with Troubles' Category
[From the Knoxville News Sentinel] 12/6/09

Dunlap: Southern Loop is Dead
9/30/2009

Committed to the future: Maryville couple grants conservation easement on farm
12/28/2008

Pro-preservation citizens dominate workshop
7/16/2008

Raven Society benefit set for Saturday
6/19/2008

Black Sulphur Spring effort is volunteer jewel
5/11/2008

Was Sunshine Law violated? County mayor, commissioners disagree over legality of meeting
4/25/08

Citizens, officials prep for meeting on Pellissippi Parkway extension
2/17/08

Raven Society hears ideas for achieving quality growth
Date: 1/28/08

Raven Society to welcome Jones at meeting
The Raven Society will hold its annual meeting Sunday.
Date: 01/25/08

Implementation of farmland plan discussed
Gerry Cohn brought a lot of ideas about preserving agricultural land to local residents during a Wednesday workshop. Now comes the hard part putting them into practice.
Date: 10/04/07

Public seminar on farmland preservation planned locally
Gerry Cohn, Southeast States Director of the American Farmland Trust, will conduct a public seminar about steps other communities in the United States have taken to protect farmland.
Date: 09/29/07

Residents discuss population gap at growth hearing
Blount County Planning Director John Lamb held the first of three public hearings Tuesday to determine how the public thinks the county should deal with growth. At least 24 people attended the session.
Date: 07/18/07

Daily Times corrects quote of Raven Society Chairperson
Date: 06/30/07

Lamb asked to draft proposal revising zoning regulations
The Blount County Planning Commission has asked Planning Director John Lamb to draft a proposal to increase the allowable density of residential units permitted in those portions of the R-1, Rural District, that lie within the urban growth...
Date: 06/29/07

Proposed sports complex: Out for county, in for Alcoa? [From Blount Today]
Date: 6/13/07

County Commission approves residential amendments
The Blount County Commission voted unanimously to approve two zoning amendments Thursday that will allow construction of a high-density, multifamily residential complex on William Blount Drive.
Date: 05/18/07

Planners back sports district
The Blount County Planning Commission is recommending the adoption of a revised "Sports Complex District" zoning amendment with hard limits on the amount of commercial and residential development allowed.
Date: 05/02/07

McCord's bill changes building height restrictions in Knox County
State Rep. Joe McCord, R-Maryville, is sponsoring a bill meant to change building height restrictions on a single portion of Pellissippi Parkway in Knox County.
Date: 04/26/07

Will sports site score?
A proposed zoning amendment that would allow construction of a multimillion dollars sports complex on U.S. 411 South could also alter the county's approach to rural development.
Date: 04/10/07 | NEWS

Plan would change maximum combined building size limit
The Blount County Commission is considering whether to delete the maximum combined building size limit for developments in Rural Arterial Commercial zones. The changes will be considered for approval during a public hearing at 6:30 p.m.
Date: 04/09/07

Officials worry proposal would increase rural sprawl
A proposed zoning amendment that would more than double the amount of homes allowed to be built in rural Blount County is drawing criticism from the community and government officials.
Date: 04/08/07

Proposal would allow larger apartment complexes in county
A proposed zoning amendment that would allow a high-density apartment complex to be built on William Blount Drive will allow the county to benefit from increased tax revenues, advocates say.
Date: 04/07/07

'Tweaking the regulations': Commission to consider building-height changes
The Blount County Commission will consider allowing three-story structures to be built in the county's Suburbanizing and Commercial zoning districts.
Date: 04/06/07

Planners want healthy growth for land, residents
Urban sprawl isn't the only planning concern in Blount County and the rest of East Tennessee. These days, government officials worry about sprawling waistlines, too.
Date: 03/30/07

Hord: County must deal with effects of any rezoning changes
Blount County Director of Schools Alvin Hord can't say with certainty how many new students would be added to county schools by proposed zoning changes.
Date: 03/29/07

Zoning changes face scrutiny
Everyone supports smart growth. Not everyone agrees what that is. The Blount County Commission is divided about the potential effects of proposed zoning amendments that will be discussed during an April 10 public hearing.
Date: 03/28/07

Planners recommend steps to relax zoning
The Blount County Planning Commission is recommending the approval of several amendments that would relax current zoning regulations. The recommendations came despite public comments against the measures at the Planning Commission's Thursday meeting.
Date: 02/23/07

County planners to consider looser zoning
Several amendments to relax zoning regulations are on tap for the Blount County Planning Commission today, but a citizens group contends the proposals are for private gain rather than the public good.
Date: 02/22/07

Preserving Blount's heritage: Area organizations arise to protect historical qualities
As Blount County grows, several community organizations have arisen to help protect its rural character. The Raven Society is one of these.
Date: 02/17/07

'Smart growth' on Raven agenda
The Raven Society will continue promoting the concept of 'smart growth' during 2007.
Date: 01/30/07

Raven Society meets Sunday
The annual meeting of The Raven Society will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Blount County Public Library. The featured speaker will be Joel Haden, a projects manager at the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Date: 01/26/07

Key vote at hand on crowding schools
Letter to the editor by Treasurer, Bob Frink
Date: 12/08/06

Raven Society endorses Blount Candidates
Date: 07/21/06

Commission approves Top of the World rezonings By Lesli Bales-Sherrod
Small lots at Top of the World were rezoned from R-2 to R-1 Thursday after the Blount County Commission heard differing opinions from the chairman of the Raven Society and the director of the Planning Department.
Date: 04/21/06

Raven Society reviews county growth strategies
Kim Soltero looked from her Jericho Road home one day to the Chilhowee Mountains and saw something that concerned her.
Date: 03/06/06

Economic official urges public to guide growth
Billy Minser was thinking about 2050.
Date: 01/30/06

Group holds seminar on running for office
County spending and taxation prompted Mark Elmy, 25, to start thinking about running for a seat on the Blount County Commission.
Date: 10/31/05

Marrison, Graham withdraw candidacy for BZA
The Blount County Commission had two choices for the Board of Zoning Appeals: the outgoing chairman of the board or one of their own recommended by the Intergovernmental Committee.
Date: 08/18/05

Groups work to preserve rural quality of life
Look around: fields, streams, the Smokies ... .
Date: 02/12/05

Getting in touch: Woman aids group in connecting with politicians
When Kathleen Williams first started working with the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association, she noticed the association hadn't been able to get any bills passed in almost 40 years.
Date: 01/31/05

Committee asks for review of zoning action
A controversial rezoning will be reviewed by the county attorney, the Blount County Intergovernmental Committee decided Tuesday night.
Date: 01/12/05

Raven Society backs McDonald as planner
The Raven Society wants to keep Carl McDonald, the city of Maryville representative on the Blount County Planning Commission, on board.
Date: 12/24/04

Murphy rezoning on agenda
One U.S. 411 South property that Blount County Commissioners approved for rezoning to commercial use will be challenged at Thursday's commission meeting.
Date: 12/15/04

Raven Society bucks political leanings for common good
Black bears and bobcats don't cast ballots.
Date: 10/31/04

Wheel tax deferred
The wheel tax seemed to have momentum Thursday, enough for the Blount County Commission to pass it on first reading.
Date: 10/22/04

Mayor"s dealings with choice for planning post raises concerns
Blount County Mayor Beverley Woodruff is selling her Friendsville home, and the Maryville branch of the company handling the sale is managed by Pat McGill, who Woodruff recommended for a county Planning Commission seat.
Date: 10/21/04

Developer: Rigsby quit commission on his own - Resignation not yet accepted by Woodruff
Four Seasons Properties Inc. didn't ask Rick Rigsby to resign from the Blount County Planning Commission, according to company officials.
Date: 08/17/04

Forum lets candidates speak to public
Getting money for new schools and adequately funding the school system topped the issues discussed Monday night at a Blount County Board of Education candidate forum sponsored by the Raven Society.
Date: 07/13/04

County holds growth forum; residents" questions run the gamut
Protect the Little River Watershed. Consider the shape of county roads and schools. Preserve our open spaces. And how fast are we growing anyway?
Date: 07/01/04

Ravens raise awareness of Southern Bypass
Right now, it's lines on a map, a dotted loop running from East Lamar Alexander Parkway to Topside Road.
Date: 02/01/04

Planning commissioners support revised commercial zoning regulations
After seven months of debate, Blount County planning commissioners recommended a proposed revision of the county's Rural Arterial Commercial (RAC) zone.
Date: 11/26/03

Citizens apprise landowners of proposed road
In a convenient-store parking lot at the intersection of Topside Road and Alcoa Highway, William "Booty" Miller reviewed destinations and rules for the walk, handwritten on a big white writing tablet.
Date: 11/02/03

Rezoning requests deferred
Blount County Planning Commissioner Gail Harris' last meeting promised no shortage of action.
Date: 10/24/03

Raven Society sponsors hike
The Raven Society is sponsoring a hiking tour of Kyker Bottoms Wildlife Management Area and the "green"' Creekside Community.
Date: 10/02/03

Committee asked to cut pay increase for commissioners
J.C. Franklin asked Blount County Budget Committee members Monday to consider a resolution rescinding the Commission's pay increase and approving a lesser amount of $500 per month for each member.
Date: 09/09/03

Group to voice opposition to pay increases
The Raven Society plans to take a stand at Thursday's Blount County Commission meeting on commission pay increases.
Date: 08/19/03

75 mull zoning along U.S. 411 South
Their opinions ran the gamut, but that was the point of Thursday's public hearing on U.S. 411 South: To hear what Blount County residents think about zoning and land issues along the busy thoroughfare.
Date: 07/11/03

Citizens, officials differ on Pellissippi Parkway extension
Some residents said the Tennessee Department of Transportation didn't get enough public input about the Pellissippi Parkway extension.
Date: 05/23/03

Move to remove Rigsby stalls
Momentum to remove Rick Rigsby from the Blount County Planning Commission Thursday hit an obstacle.
Date: 02/22/03

Woodruff refiles campaign finance disclosure statements
Under pressure from a Blount County political action committee, County Executive Beverley Woodruff refiled campaign finance disclosure statements Friday.
Date: 01/11/03

Woodruff must refile campaign financial disclosure statements
Group seeks audit of all 2002 county election disclosures
Date: 12/18/02

Raven Society hosts reception Sunday
The Raven Society will host a reception Sunday to honor the community"s commissioners, executives, mayors, councilmen, aldermen, and planners.
Date: 10/19/02

Citizens speak out against extension
It'll take more than opinions to stop the Pellissippi Parkway extension.
Date: 01/30/02

TDOT chief says no to Southern Loop
Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Saltsman says the proposed Southern Loop is too expensive to build -- at least right now.
Date: 03/09/01

Raven Society thanks County Commissioners
For voting in a zoning plan.
Date: 06/22/00

Environmentalists: Growth comes with price
Your hear about the overcrowded schools; you sit in traffic on congested roadways. You notice the new faces in church, the new shopping center on the corner, the vast new subdivision.
Date: 06/04/00

One reader ready
to pay for space
Date: 05/24/00

New political action committee opposes Southern Loop
A political action committee called The Raven Society has been organized for the purpose of maintaining the rural character of Blount County.
Date: 05/16/00