| Sources |
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 10 Dec 2006.
Emma Ruth Hurley Hill obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 16 Dec 2011.
Just Plain Talk
Cruising sidekick no Poncho in world of law enforcement
(c)2011 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL
Lieutenant C.J. Ball, at right, stopped by the Newport Plain Talk to meet with his father Newport Mayor Connie Ball. Father and son often ride together on patrol in Cocke County. Lt. Ball is also president of the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 14. See photos in newportplaintalk.com Photo Gallery.
Author: David Popiel
Wednesday surprised us with temperatures in the mid-60s even with the first day of winter only days away in our hometown, where school students have abandoned their books for a few days.
Before finally getting around to presenting a story I've been sitting on since summer, let's finish our trail blazing with Glenn Lane. Then we will return to the Great Smokies with another avid hiker, Ronnie McGaha, and his friends. Glenn has easily surpassed the 900-mile mark for Appalachian Trail travels and still has many miles he hopes to go. He has had fun and avoided danger and injuries. It seems that I heard earlier in the year that our former Plain Talk writer Caleb Abramson, an enthusiastic trout fisherman, was in the park backcountry about a year ago when a boulder he stepped on gave way. He fell abut six feet vertically and the boulder landed on his lower leg and foot. Had not a group of fellow park employees been with him he would have been trapped, said his father, Tim Abramson. Caleb suffered multiple broken bones but still hikes and is a temporary park service worker. Glenn's worst experience was being attacked by an irate grouse. There were a lot of low weeds along a trail section when the grouse started flapping its wings, squawking and heading directly for Glenn, who bravely stood his ground. The hikers must have disturbed the nesting grouse. "We got misplaced once but never lost" and that was on an unmaintained trail. His advice to those who want to get started hiking for enjoyment and better health is to go to Greenbriar and try the Old Settlers Trail. Or even closer are Hen Wallow Falls near Cosby Campground and the steep hike to White Rock. "You can do a five mile or a 25 mile hike." It's just a matter of time and attitude.
When father rides shotgun
The Newport Kiwanis Club usually hears from Newport Mayor Connie Ball during the year, as a guest speaker. The reason for this is the humorous and sad stories he tells both from his experiences as principal at Edgemont and riding with his son, Cocke County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant C.J. Ball, who accompanied the mayor to Kiwanis. While the mayor does not reveal names and identity of students or parents, or those encountered during road stops, he does tell about real events. He also is quick to note that the Kiwanis Traffic Kids program "does make a difference" in the lives of students.
Mayor Ball refers to himself as "a ride along deputy" who never gets promoted or paid to accompany C.J. on patrol. They started riding together about 2005 as a way for Connie to relieve stress. C.J. had worked at Lisega but joined the sheriff's dept. in 2000. The early rides go back when D.C. Ramsey was sheriff and later Billy Wayne Moore. "Everything that I've seen has prepared me to be a better principal." His advice to parents and teachers: "Never be mean to a kid. We are lucky they are here to teach them." He also has learned that citizens don't appreciate the job law enforcement does. "There neck is on the line. They don't get the respect due" and words can't recount the difficult tasks performed by deputies and city officers. When you see a fast-moving patrol car, don't assume the officer/deputy is going to get coffee and donuts. Most of the time they are traveling quickly to a domestic situation, which escalates fast. In a month's time city and county officers answer about 2,500-3,000 calls and combined more about 30,000 in a year. There are usually five city officers and five deputies working on any shift. Often, and especially during holidays, law officers help people and if needed feed them "out of their own pockets and their $20,000 salary a year." Connie has heard suspects say to approaching officers: "I want C.J. to arrest me." Law enforcers are among the three least appreciated professions, the others being teachers and sanitation workers, he said.
"I've witnessed a little bit of everything from murder victims to the theft of medicines. The scariest are traffic stops and domestic violence calls."
While some calls are frightening, others are funny. During a "welfare check" to determine if a resident was OK, when family had not heard from the person, the man invited Connie and C.J. in for milk and cookies. While at the home there was the not-so-funny accident. C.J. asked Connie if he had his vest on, and Connie replied that he did. C.J. walked up behind him and touched his upper back with a taser. Apparently C.J. did not hit the vest but a strap, and Connie went down quickly. "That's for all the times he whipped me," quipped C.J. Connie said he wonders if this qualifies him to use a taser since he knows what it feels like.
On one 911 call, an hysterical resident said, "There's a snake in the house." Connie led the way into the house with C.J. right behind. Fortunately the boa constrictor was back in its cage by then. Another common call is a "1044" radio request to find a stolen vehicle. C.J. and sidekick Connie spotted the car on Clevenger Cut-Off Road and followed it to Judd's Lane. "This driver was drinking," said Connie. Of course, the driver said "I've not had any to drink." Then he admitted to having one drink and finally said, "I've had a lot." He didn't know how much he had to drink. C.J.'s investigation revealed that the driver was sent to the store to get more beer and he was driving their stolen vehicle.
Then there was the sad end of a bull near Bridgeport. A farmer's bull had gotten out one too many times. C.J. spotted the bull but Connie was worried about how they would handle the situation. He asked C.J., "Have you ever dealt with a bull?" Convinced he did not know how to handle a mad bull, C.J. got back in the cruiser and used the siren to frighten the bull along the road back into its field. Deputy David Crowder also arrived to help. The very next day the bull escaped again but this time it was a fatality. It was the last time the bull ever broke through the fence.
Sometimes events are not the thrill of pursuit and arrest with guns and sirens, but embarrassing. A winter past, the men were answering a call near Hall's Top and it was snowing. At Low Gap the snow became much deeper until C.J. got the cruiser stuck. They called for assistance and waited about an hour before Connie got impatient and wanted to try to back up "to get a run at the hill." He heard C.J. exclaim in the night, "Go, Daddy, Go!" As Connie explained, "I think he was afraid Armando might write him up." Connie is experienced in snow driving and did get them moving.
Connie said officers deal with every sort of situation and learn from each one. Some are darkly amusing such as the time they arrested some folks for "fighting over a deadman's medications." And some of the worst are arriving on the scene of accidents with serious injuries. One that sticks in his memory is the time a pickup truck hit a guardrail. The driver stepped out into the darkness and was killed when a tractor trailer struck him. Investigating officers found the victim's marijuana strewn along the pavement.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Marsha Lynn Hurley
Also Known As Name:
Name Suffix:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 27 Nov 1975
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Spouse's Name: Connie Boll
Spouse's Also Known As Name:
Spouse's Name Prefix:
Spouse's Name Suffix:
Page: 106
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(Age 73 years) 