Developing story: 2 Sevier County deputy clerks charged after FBI raids Sevier County Courthouse

[Jilly_in_VA]

3. It used to be

that Cocke County, next door, was well known as the dirtiest county in east Tennessee. Still is, to some extent. As my late ex was fond of saying (he was, when we first moved down there, shift supervisor at a knitting mill in said county), "You can buy anything or anyone you want here." I-40 runs right through it. It was at one time famous for moonshine and bootlegging. When we moved there, it was pretty well-known for prostitution, gambling, and cockfighting. Some parts still are. They also grow pretty good weed. However, it's cleaned itself up some. At least, as we said down there, the part that shows. Don't ask about the back country.

Sevier County wasn't known for that kind of thing nearly as much. Gatlinburg is a big tourist town, as is Pigeon Forge. But lately there's been a lot of drug activity, much of it, sadly, from the Latino community. And a few local people who want to make money from it. And some Latino drug guys preying on local women, I suspect. Anyway, that's my take.