Mike Chesney, incoming Maynardville City Manager, aspired as a child to become a person who would help others and make a positive difference in their lives. The very young see heroes in firefighters and policemen, then as they grow up realize there are a lot of other people helping communities run and flourish.

I recently spoke to Jack Rhyne to learn his story and it is a fascinating one! Like most little boys growing up in a Roy Rogers world, Rhyne hoped to grow up to be a cowboy. That didn’t quite work out, but he has lived an adventurous life. Rhyne grew up in Anderson County, enlisted in the Army as a young man, and married Marie Merritt from Grainger County, who served as Rutledge’s City Recorder.

When Jack Rhyne, current Maynardville City Manager decided to retire, Maynardville had not completed its search for a replacement. In the October called meeting, the Board of Commissioners accepted Rhyne's retirement and sought the advice of their attorney regarding the next step. According to state law, Maynardville would need to declare the position vacant and then proceed to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy was filled by a current employee other than the recorder then the person would be an acting city manager, not an interim city manager.