BYBEE-Rose Lovell has announced her candidacy for the Third District Cocke County School Board seat in the upcoming Aug. 7 General Election.

"I have lived in the Bybee community most all of my life, having moved to Tennessee from Cleveland, Ohio, with my parents, brother, Tommy, and sister, Shelby, when I was five years old," said Lovell.

"My parents bought a farm in the Basinger Hollow and I learned what hard work was when I was very young and I guess that is why I love to work and have always tried to do the very best at whatever I was doing.

"I went to work at American Enka right after graduating from Parrottsville High School. I attended both Parrottsville Grammar and High Schools and have a love for that area. After getting married, my husband Glenn and I moved to his home place and continue to live on Needmore Road in Bybee.

"I worked at American Enka for around 16 years until the old Rayon Plant closed and I lost my job. Shortly thereafter I started working at Centerview School as a substitute teacher and cafeteria assistant and that job taught me a lot about the duties of the teachers and their interest in their students and the role that the principal, teachers, assistants and students play in having a school that the whole community can be proud of.

"Also, it brought me experience for my next endeavor of life because with the permission of then Principal David Bible and Secretary Christine Holt I began work in the school office and assisted them with office duties and typing reports for teachers while I was on my lunch break. They had gotten

a computer in the office and I was very interested in how it worked. This gave me the opportunity to be ready for my next job which was secretary at the Cocke County Sheriff's Department under the leadership of Sheriff Tunney Moore.

"Being secretary was just a small part of the duties that I had while I was employed there. I became the first (TAC) and systems administrator in the Cocke County sheriff's department after the TBI terminals were installed in the department. Part of those duties were to make sure that all information concerning the CCSD reports-accidents, offense, arrests were entered promptly in order for officers to be able to get information they needed to perform their jobs more efficiently.

"I was responsible for making sure that I and all dispatchers and any one using these systems were certified and continued their certification updates by attending classes in Nashville annually. I was audited by TBI also to make sure that I was doing my duties the way that was expected of me. I was also audited by county auditors annually to make sure that all money taken in was used and turned in to the proper places and that included the county funds and drug funds.

"I also was a certified dispatcher and would help the dispatcher when it became necessary. For several years I was the only one working in the office and had to be secretary, receptionist, and dispatcher. Ilearned very quickly to multi- task. I assisted the sheriff in preparing budgets three budgets to turn to the county mayor's office.

"The sheriff's department also helped me to meet a lot of troubled parents and children because they would come to the office to request advice and help and any time I could help them I would or advise them where to go for assistance. I love being able to help people and that is still what I try to do most. I try to talk to children about how important education is to them and advise them in the best ways possible."

Lovell said she also furthered her education by taking classes at Walters State Community College and the University of Tennessee.

"I am a member of the Centerview Ruritan Club and have been president several times since being a member. I joined because Ruritan responsibilities are to do community service and help your fellowman and help the community in every way possible.

"While being president I received the President's Award and the blue ribbon award and was instrumental in organizing the first Bybee Days for the people in the community and elsewhere to come together to enjoy themselves. We also started the first annual Easter egg hunt for the children of the community and other communities and I then put together the annual senior meal for the seniors of the community to let them know how important they are to the community. With the help of all of the Ruritan members who work very hard for the community these have become some accomplishments that I am very proud of. We also give scholarships to students in the community every year to help them further their educations.

 "All of these examples are just a small portion of the things that I have done to enable me to become not only a good member for the 3rd district (Rankin, Forest Hill And Centerview) but for all of the citizens to be proud of and one that is interested in the teachers, parents and students in all of Cocke County.

"My children and grandchildren all attended Centerview School and I have always boasted of the great concern and interest that the teachers had for their students. Centerview Elementary is a wonderful school and started out with great leadership with Principal David Bible who is now director of Newport Grammar School and had wonderful teachers including Larry Blazer, the former director of Cocke County schools. Pam Messer attended Centerview School and is now the principal and has seen Centerview become one of the top ten percent of all schools in achievement tests for the past two years in the state of Tennessee.

"Centerview students have placed well in all county academic contests and have recently found that the school had made adequate yearly progress for the years 2007 and 2008. I have boasted a lot about Centerview Elementary School, for I know more about the school in my district than any other, but I also have great respect for all schools and their authority figures in all of Cocke County.

"I am a member of Basinger Chapel Church in the Parrottsville area and have been secretary and treasurer for several years.

"I also have been singing with a gospel trio (the Gospelettes) for several years and help with the music at Mom's House every Friday night, which is sponsored by the Basinger Chapel Auxiliary Club. Mom's House is the homeplace where I was raised and is owned by my sister Shelby and her husband Orvel Elkins.

"I am a concerned individual who loves the community and people everywhere and would like to see the schools keep improving

"And I will support and promote the 3rd district to the best of my ability and work together with the new Director Manney Moore and all of the schoolboard members to assist teachers, parents and students all over the county to keep progressing in every way possible to help educate our children.

"I will not get to see each individual but I do ask for your support by voting for me. Early voting begins July 18 at the Courthouse Annex and the county election will be Aug. 7.

The Lovells have two children, Ricky and wife Michelle, and Glenda and husband Jeff Smith.

They also have two grandsons and one great-granddaughter.