Chairman Of Polk County Commission In The Dark On Planned Road Rally In Cherokee Forest

  • Monday, March 20, 2023

The chairman of the County Commission in Polk County said he is in the dark about a planned road rally in his county in the Cherokee National Forest.

Barry White, president of the Chattanooga Tourism Co., announced the event last Wednesday, saying it would draw visitors from around the world and have a $34 million economic impact.

Chairman John Pippenger said, "In the past three days the Polk County Commission has been contacted multiple times on the International Rally Race that Chattanooga Tourism Co. President Barry White announced.

"The commission is hosting a Town Hall Meeting at the Polk County High School Cafeteria on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. A request is being made for the Forest Service and all entities involved to bring forth information for the people of the county to review.

"I am not aware of any commissioners having knowledge of any specifics on this until Tuesday, March 14, and then the info was from a news flash. The commission was NOT part of the process and has not been contacted to help facilitate any services that would be required for an event such as this – (this does not mean other groups have not been contacted, just that the commission has not been).

"Please come to the meeting and let your feelings be heard on this issue, I will speak as one of the commissioners, I'm not happy to find out about this from Mr. Barry White with Chattanooga on the news the other day.

"Please Share this info to everyone in the county."

Breaking News
TVA Says It Is Taking Steps To Keep Up With Growing Power Demand
  • 5/8/2025

The Tennessee Valley Authority Board of Directors met in Cookeville on Thursday and received an update on TVA’s financial health as well as "the historic buildout the agency has undertaken to ... more

Hamilton County Man To Serve 30 Years In Georgia Prison For Domestic Abuse
Hamilton County Man To Serve 30 Years In Georgia Prison For Domestic Abuse
  • 5/8/2025

A 43-year-old Hamilton County man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison with 30 to serve after a tirade at his Catoosa County home. Stefon Smith was convicted by a Catoosa County jury after ... more

Red Bank Getting A Bicycle Boulevard; Commercial Development Planned At Tom Weathers Drive
  • 5/8/2025

A project that was started three years ago in Red Bank is now moving toward construction. The Red Bank Commission approved entering into an agreement with Barge Design Solutions for professional ... more