January 8, 2010

Let’s welcome John Easley and his U.C.H.S, Senior Band Members. John is in his 25th year as director of Union City High School Bands, and in his 27th year of teaching. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Martin, and began his teaching career at Dresden and Camden Central High Schools.

During his tenure here, the band program has made excellent strides, including five-time finalist at the prestigious Contest of Champions at MTSU, five-time Tennessee Class AA State Champions, and Bands of America Class A Champions and Finalists in Atlanta, ST. Louis, Indianapolis and Murfreesboro.

Mr. Easley is active professionally as a member and officer in a number of organizations; including Past President of West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, board member of Tennessee Music Educators Association, member of TN. Bandmasters Assoc. and current President of Phi Beta Mu. He also serves as Director of Music for the First United Methodist Church here in Union City. He is married to Delana Easley, who is staff accompanist and music lecturer at UTM. They have three children, Benjamin, Rebecca and Andrew.

His Senior Band Members consist of Larkin Austin, Brooke Beachum, Chambry Callicott, Brenna Duncan, Rebecca Easley, Paige Fisher, Elizabeth Fuller, Gifford Skye, Heather Gilliland, Bryan Harper, Elizabeth Mary Harpole, Katie Hawks, Carly Hollis, Hunter Jackson, Treymar Johnson, Kristin Moss, Katelyn Ray, Wil Regan, Dustin Scott, Katy Searcy, Allecia Smith, Nic Sudbury, Joseph Sutton, Thetford Ashley, Katie Townes and Sarah Triplett.

Next week, Should be very interesting, as Union City Rotary welcomes an Obion County Native Son, in the capacity of now Circuit Judge Clayburn Peeples.

Judge Peeples grew up in South Fulton, graduating from So. Fulton High School in 1964. He attended UT Knoxville and UT Martin, graduating from University of Tennessee Law School. After graduation he spent four years in the army.

After discharge, he taught at UT Martin for three years. In 1977 he went to work in Gibson, Crockett, Haywood and Henry Counties as a prosecutor for the district attorney’s office. in 1982 he was appointed district attorney general, an office he held until 2000, when he was elected circuit judge.

Three weeks ago, Senator Roy Herron visited and began his comments by thanking Union City Rotarians for the influence the club has had in his life. He also provided all members present with a copy of one of his books, "God and Politics".

He explained that even though he had decided to run for the seat vacated by the decision of Rep. Tanner not to run for another term at Congress, he was not going to politic, but instead, talk about the State of the State of Tennessee.

The State Budget was the main topic, saying a state like Tennessee which depends on sales tax, is being very hard hit, with the economy the way it is, and we have not seen times like this, referring to month after month of unexpected low revenues. He said there will be more cuts in departments of the state again this year, of at least 9% and perhaps more. "Some of the departments cannot be cut, especially where children are concerned" he said.

Although times are tough, he said Tennessee has been able to balance it’s budget. He also said it is going to be painful and it won’t be easy, but Tennessee will be able to balance it’s budget in the up-coming year. He said he knew there was waste in the government, and asked if anyone in attendance knew of places where fat could be cut, to please call him and it would get his prompt attention.

He spoke briefly of the Great Depression and how his family and others conserved and made it through those tough times, he compared those times to the times we are going through now and said he would do his best to make sure state government did the same, in conserving every tax dollar sent to Nashville. He said he was a very conservative person and tries to handle the tax dollars as he handles his own, but he said he does believe in investments and Tennessee needs to invest into it’s future by investing in education and our youth.

Jan. 15 - Judge Clayburn Peeples

Jan. 22 - Coach Darren Bowling & UCHS Football Team

Jan. 29 - Al and Laura Oliver, recent trip to Australia

Michael Hagan

&

Dr. Peter Katz

Jan. 09 - Bill Tanner

Jan. 10 - Wes Creech

Jan. 12 - Doug Carter

Jan. 12 - Nick Hall

Jan. 13 - Bob Sanner

Jan. 08 - Jimmy and Karen White

Jan. 11 - Mike and Rhonda Rinker