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LaFollette
www.LaFollettePress.com Thursday, January 31, 2013

Campbell County native Jamey Chadwell is thrilled with his latest coaching gig. He has been named the head coach at Charleston Southern University, a Division I school. For details, see Page 1B.

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Wanted The LaFollette Press wants your input. Page 3A

Bomb scare

Inappropriate language allegations

CCHS teacher resigns
By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com An investigation by the board of education led to the transfer and ultimate resignation of a Campbell County High School teacher. Some of the allegations included asking the students if they had pictures of male genitals Jason Ivey resigned on their cell on Monday following phones, if allegations he had they engaged used vulgar language in sexting, and sexually and if they explicit terms had been to an in his classroom. abortion clinic, according to documents provided by the Campbell County Board of Education. Jason Ivey was also questioned about the repeated use of derogatory female terms in the classroom. On Dec. 12, CCHS principal Jamie Wheeler met with then-Spanish teacher Ivey, secondary education supervisor, Larry Nidiffer, and Johnny Bruce regarding student complaints. Ivey responded to the allegations at that point and said the alleged incidents had been happening since just after Thanksgiving. Ivey told Wheeler, Nidiffer and Bruce he had never asked students about nude photos on their phones, and if he did, he probably said it joking. According to Ivey, it was the students who often used the vulgar terms and he instructed them to stop. Ivey did admit to telling a student who was texting in class, do not be sexting, to which the student replied she did not do things like that. Nidiffer reportedly asked if Ivey called the students any insulting names. Ivey never directly used insulting terms to refer to the students, the report said. Ivey advised students they should not place pictures or other personal information online or on Twitter, the documents said. A second interview took place on Dec. 14 with Ivey, Nidiffer, Bruce and director of schools Donnie Poston present. During the interview, Ivey admitted to allowing students to use their cell phones for up to 15 minutes during class time in order to look up definitions. He denied ever looking through any of the phones, but did admit to occasionally picking a phone up off a desk. The administrators asked if Ivey thought students enjoyed his class. I am more friendly than an authority figure, he answered, according to the See IVEY, Page 7A

Warned A Campbell County attorney gets censured. Page 5A

Weather Ice hit Campbell County last week. For photos see Page 2A and Page 5A for a recap of the conditions.

Put yourself in the picture: Snapshots Page 1C

On Monday a handwritten threat was found scrawled on a bathroom stall at Jellico High School. This prompted staff and students to be evacuated from the school. Authorties spent the afternoon at the school. (Above) Campbell County Deputy Darrell Mongar and K-9 Officer Dano patrol the grounds. Photo by Chris Cannon

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Bomb threat closes JHS

By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com A handwritten bomb threat found late Monday morning caused students and teachers to evacuate Jellico High School. We did have a bomb threat and our SRO [school resource officer] notified the sheriffs department and the city police department and we evacuated the building and took them to our safe haven, which is over at the Crouches Creek Baptist Church, said Jellico High School Principal Harry Chitwood. The note was found just before noon. An announcement was made for all students and staff to exit the building. There are 50 staff members and 350 students at Jellico High School. Officials from Campbell County Emergency Management, the Jellico Police Department, the Campbell County Sheriffs Department, and the Jellico Fire Department responded to the scene. While students were corralled at the church, Campbell County EMA director Danny Sheckles was stationed at the Arbys with two crews from North Regional Ambulance Service. A fire truck and police cars surrounded the school as officers began searching the building. Two-way radios crackled with instructions, questions, and updated information. School personnel guarded closed gates at the high schools parking lot. Police also called for an explosive sniffing dog from Knox County. We had to call Knox County Sheriffs Office. We had to call one of their K-9 units that deals with bombs. It took some time for him to get there, obviously, and it took some time for us See BOMB, Page 6A

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Volume 102, Number 5 LaFollette, TN 37766 38 Pages, 3 Sections

Copyright 2013

Citizens voice support to keep Poston

By BETH BRADEN bbraden@lafollettepress.com Drivers on Highway 25W may have noticed a new message on the sign at Jacksboro Middle School on Monday. Concerned citizens of Campbell County support Donnie Poston for superintendent of schools scrolled across the sign this week. The display came after the Campbell County Board of Education had a change of heart and voted 4-4 against extending Postons contract. In December, the board voted 9-1 with only Rector Miller dissenting. While members of the general public can pay to post messages on the sign, the support from Poston came from Debbie Farmer, the secretary and bookkeeper at Jacksboro Middle School. I paid my $10, and I put my ad out there, and I support my supervisor, she said. A conversation among friends sparked interest in paying for the message to run, Farmer said. Im not against anyone else, I just think Mr. Postons done a good See POSTON, Page 7A

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