Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Senator Stevens Speaks to Chamber Event

Posted

HUNTINGDON (April 9) — Tennessee State Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon) was the featured speaker at the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce forum on Friday, April 9.
Brad Hurley, president of the Chamber, said Stevens is the 10th most senior member in the Senate and serves on the Finance, Ways and Means, Ethics, Judiciary, and Transportation committees.
Senator Stevens said the permit-less handgun carry bill was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. Now, persons 20 years and older can carry a weapon without the required training. Stevens said he still encourages citizens to take safety classes.

The senator said he is carrying a bill for Governor Lee to make reforms to criminal justice, to help people who need help in some criminal cases, such as minor drug cases, and to punish the more serious crimes. Many times, the convicted return to jail for missing payment of a fine or fee or for a dirty drug screen. Treatment and job training can help former inmates return to society.
The state spends over one billion on the prison system. Some 50 percent of the inmates are there for probation violations.
Regarding the budget, Stevens said he would like to see funding fully restored to Carroll Academy, an educational model and day-treatment program that works. State revenues are strong. The challenge is to be judicious with savings and committing revenues to necessary programs.