This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: JoeStephens28 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.tennessee.counties.union/2176/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I am the family historian for the branch of the Heatherly Family originating from the spot now known as Heatherly's Point on Norris Reservoir. And, I am adamantly opposed to the proposed marina. My Great-Great-Great Grandparents, William and Catherine Heatherly were early pioneers on Powell River. Their log home stood in the grove of locust trees near the tip of the point. Our family lived there and buried their dead there for over one hundred years. Slave graves which remain under water would be disturbed by the proposed development. For our family, Heatherly's Point is sacred ground. We have an annual reunion ever year on Labor Day weekend. At that time many of us make an annual pilgrimage to the point. The property was taken by TVA under the federal government's power of imminent domain in 1934 when Norris Reservior was formed. I have no illusions that I or any member of my family will ever live there again, but I am at peace with public use. For decades it has served as a defacto public park. Only a few short years ago, I learned that TVA had sold it to the LaFollette Methodist Church in 1948 for $4,000. About the same time I also learned that this so called church was trying to sell it for four million dollars! The LaFollette Methodist Church has not maintained a presence there in my lifetime. Land speculation does not reflect well on any nonprofit entity- especially not a religious institution. Nothing about this proposal passes the smell test. The church barely advertised that it was taking bids. No "for sale" signs were posted on the property. The bids were "sealed" allowing someone from the inside to tip off a preferred buyer of the highest bid. Obviously aggressive marketing and an open bidding process would have been likely to have resulted in a highter bid. More recently I learned that the successful bidder, Mark Hoskins, was the son of a church member, Nancy Hoskins, when her obituary ran in The Lafollette Press. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he is also a member. Last go around, I was surprised to find myself the target of the weekly editorial "Pressing Issues" in the LaFollette Press. Jim Dossett, the report who was covering the story at the time was both supportive of the so called church and hostile towards me. Before long he had secured a lucrative position at LaFollette Utilities Board. Mark Hoskins is a member of the board at LaFollette Utilities. By now, readers should be holding their nose. The United Methodist Chuch has convictions against the consumption of alchool-in cyberspace anyway. "We affirm our long standing support of abstinence from alchool." I found it right there on their website under "Alchool and Other Drugs" How then can the LaFollettee United Methodist Church possibly justify selling property that was sold to the church by TVA to be used for religous purposes to anyone, even one of their possible members, who intends to serve alchool there? The proposed marina would destroy the tranquil atmosphere of adjoining Camp Galilee. In fact, the orginal deed from TVA stipulates that the LaFollette Methodist Church is supposed to be using Heatherly's Point for similar purposes. It also stipulates that TVA can retake possession of the property if the church fails to live up to those stipulations, and that is exactly what TVA should do. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.