2008 | 2007

Half-century later, woman still honors brother killed in WWII
November 11 – It took 50 years for Madeline Warren of Cleveland to receive the flag the U.S. government sent to her family when her 19-year-old brother died in World War II. Warren had letters revealing her brother earned the Purple Heart and three other medals of distinction for making the supreme sacrifice for his country but no one had ever received them. In December of 1996 Warren took her case to the Oak Ridge office of Congressman Zach Wamp who made the matter a top priority. On March 15, 1997, Wamp had the privilege of presenting them to Warren as the guest of honor during a special ceremony in Roane County. Wamp later wrote, "Few things I have done as a Congressman have meant more to me. Few moments have been as emotional.” The honor Wamp showed her 19-year-old deceased brother who served in the Army with the Tank Destroyer Battalion was something Warren said she will never forget.
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'Tunes 4 Troops' founder honored
April 23 – "Tunes 4 the Troops" founder Kaylee Radzyminski will receive a Spirit of Community Award from Prudential companies for sending CDs and DVDs to deployed military personnel. In addition to the Spirit of Community Award, Radzyminski has been accepted to a six-day Summer Seminar at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. She still has to keep up her grades, score well enough on the SATs and get letters of recommendation from Congressman Wamp and Sen. Alexander.

Ocoee River Gorge Road must balance business, environmental interests
March 4 – Moving forward with the development of an east-west transportation connector between southeast Tennessee and western North Carolina was the major topic discussed at the 14th Annual Ocoee Stakeholders meeting at the Ocoee Whitewater Center. Congressman Zach Wamp said Corridor K will open up the Cumberland Plateau when it is completed in 24 months. “This is not a notion from Mars,” Wamp said. “It’s already being done.”

Valley leads alternative fuel search
February 23 – In June 2005 when he introduced the Trail of Tears Documentation Act, Congressman Zach Wamp said, “The Cherokee removal was a dark time in our history — but a time that should be properly archived and never forgotten.” An old log cabin in Bradley County, was the last home, east of the Mississippi, of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Michael Willis has begun a campaign to establish a local organization to restore the one-room log structure.

Effort to save John Ross cabin begins
February 23 – The forced removal of the Cherokee from their homes in Appalachia to Oklahoma in 1838 is known as the Trail of Tears. In June 2005 when he introduced the Trail of Tears Documentation Act, U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp said, “The Cherokee removal was a dark time in our history — but a time that should be properly archived and never forgotten. I want to protect these historic footsteps taken by the Cherokee and honor the Cherokee’s contribution to history.” An old log cabin, located on Red Hill Valley Road in southern Bradley County, was the last home, east of the Mississippi, of John Ross, principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Michael Willis, former assistant to Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis, has begun a community public awareness campaign to establish a local organization or partnership to restore the one-room log structure.

2008 | 2007