| The Rhea County Newspaper |
| "Rhea County's REAL Information Source" |


| Welcome to the Rhea County Newspaper! People will say, "Hey, Rhea County already has a newspaper called the Herald-News". Well to those, I can't argue that point no more than I can argue the point that a guy named Billy Ray Patton, a peanut vendor by profession, being the Rhea County Mayor. Next question please. The Herald-News is a newspaper that is perfectly fine for birthday announcements, obituaries and advertising, but as a news source it is as one-sided as a fiddler crab. So people around here on the local level only read what the Herald-News decides to print and be stuck with it. RheaCountyNewspaper.com is quickly changing all of that. Thanks to the Internet, anyone from anywhere in the world can read what is happening in and around Rhea County, Tennessee. Naturally, I figure that this web site will "piss off" a few public officials. The truth seems to always piss someone off it seems. To that I say, "so what"? The Herald-News has been the only county wide general circulation paper in Rhea County. That advertising circular disguised as a newspaper thrives on "spinning" events to promote the agenda of the Herald-News along with the agenda of the tight knit system of elected officials around Rhea County. RheaCountyNewspaper.com does not have a mission statement that includes acting as a "watchdog" for corrupt politicians and other scrupulous activities. However, one thing for sure, we do intend to saturate this web site with research tools, information, law, letters, news....you name it. But rest assured, if any public official thinks he/she can swear to uphold the constitution and then turn around and pretend no such constitution even exists, then we have a problem. I will burn their asses with the worst thing a politician wants, which is "PUBLIC AWARENESS". A public awareness that reaches far beyond the borders of Rhea County. One of the mightiest tools we have until it is taken away (and it will be sooner than we think) is the First Amendment. The First Amendment is just as important as the rest of them. So in essence we will use the constitution that any person swears to uphold against them if they try to cheat and enhance their lives by virtue of their elected or appointed position. Long gone are the days of the Herald-News and it's reporters sucking hickeys on each other's ass just to keep so called people with authority happy. With that said, we envision this web site project quickly becoming the most powerful media in Rhea County, Tennessee by reporting and providing commentary on endless subjects. Almost 10 years ago the Herald-News was slapped around by a new watchdog styled newspaper called The Mountain Morning News. However, the poor old Mountain Morning News was basically run out of town back after the 1998 elections. The MMN tried to compete against the Herald-News but due to a conspiracy styled pressure of the select few around here, the MMN went under. The MMN was basically destroyed by targeting of the MMN's advertising. No ads meant no Mountain Morning News. No Mountain Morning News means no competition for the Herald-News. Once this web site is firmly established in the minds and computers of Rhea County and at a point in time of our choosing, then off to the presses we go. It is our vision to use this web site to give birth to a NEW hard copy newspaper offering FREE ADS and more interesting stories other than Billy Ray Patton or Jim Cobb all the time. So by giving away ads we will not become slaves or dependant upon them and can maintain a truly free press styled media. In the process, the Herald-News can compete with us, not the other way around. They too can give free ads if they want. Sure, not selling ads may directly effect revenue, but why should a media dedicated to a free press be interested in making money? If we take money from anyone for advertisements then in a way we are beholden to them. If we were to piss off the advertisers then they would advertise somewhere else. With free ads anyone can feel free to place a free ad or not. In any event, it will be no skin off our asses at RheaCountyNewspaper.com. Also, you will notice that RheaCountyNewspaper.com. does not regulate free speech in this website. We believe that profanity is only profane in the eyes of the individual. A sort of "one man's garbage is another man's treasure" outlook on free speech. So if a few cuss words upset you, then leave. We invite you to browse around in this web site. Fill free to submit any articles, thoughts, comments or anything of interest you would like to share. At RheaCountyNewspaper.com it is policy to not use real names, if requested, and to use pen names instead because we are very aware of the "good old boy" syndrome and threatened retaliation. However, threats and retaliation do not work unless you let them. So be as anonymous as you desire and say what is on your mind and whatever you guys submit will be considered as true by RheaCountyNewspaper.com as are all submissions to this website. Only gross vulgarity will be edited or discarded. But to try to transform this site into some sexual, perverted or distorted website simply will not fly. After all, why be an editor if I can't edit? The input of people with a common cause can learn some truth and not just the fiction writing slanted to serve the benefit of the few. |