Latest news with #Bumgardner
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘A county of stories' Anderson County's rich history revealed through archival records
CLINTON, Tenn. (WATE) — Anderson County is among the oldest counties in East Tennessee, with a rich history that has made a footprint across the world. In the hallways of Clinton's courthouse, Anderson County records archivist Zach Foster holds the keys to the rich history of where he grew up. If you need to know something about your family in Anderson County, Foster has you covered. 'I did have someone from California once reach out to me, needing to see her ancestor's will from right around the turn of the century. And we actually had it, which was fantastic,' said Foster. Foster can tell you all about Anderson County's roots too. It was initially Cherokee land, and was later claimed by people coming over from Virginia in the late 1700's. Emory Valley Center continues to serve disabled community in Anderson County 'The three biggest things for Anderson County: agriculture when we were first founded, that moved into pearling of all things in the 1890s, and, of course, that moved into coal industry,' said Foster. That's right, finding pearls along the Clinch River was rather lucrative. 'The pearling industry was so big because we had people come as far away as Chicago, they would get off on Market Street. That is where the actual merchants would come and buy pearls up from the local guys like crazy. Some of the pearls made it as far as Paris, France to be showcased for how fantastic they were,' said Foster. The county's history can be found throughout the area, including at the David Hall Cabin, which sits just outside of town. It was built in 1799. 'Well, it was built on Emory Road. So, all the pioneers and gunslingers would go right in front of it, so I supposed it was quite popular,' said Libby Bumgardner. The cabin has been in Bumgardner's family for generations, with documents and artifacts dating back to the Civil War found inside. 'When we got in it and found all those receipts and letters it just told a story, told a history. And I had to save it,' said Bumgardner. ORNL innovation leading the way for over 80 years Between Bumgardner and Foster, the rich history of Anderson County is not hard to find. 'There's countless stories in Anderson County, we're a county of stories. And I guess I'm kind of the steward of that, which is a huge honor,' said Foster. Foster jokes he is related to everyone in Anderson County, but has time to learn everyone's names, eventually. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Science Hill man accused of sexually exploiting teens, juveniles
SCIENCE HILL, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Science Hill man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch investigation into child sexual abuse material. State police said in a news release that Ricky Bumgardner, 44, was arrested after an undercover investigation. RELATED l Pulaski County man accused of uploading child sexual abuse material online According to a news release, the investigation began when authorities allegedly found Bumgardner uploading sexually explicit images of juveniles to one of his accounts on social media. Equipment used to upload the images was allegedly found at his residence in Science Hill on Tuesday. The equipment was seized and taken to the KSP forensic laboratory for examination. Science Hill man accused of sexually exploiting teens, juveniles Rowan County principal reassigned amid student protests Suspect killed in Ashland officer-involved shooting Bumgardner was charged with three counts of promoting a minor under age 16 in a sexual performance, as well as 20 counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under age 12. The former charge is a class B felony and could carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison, and the latter charge is a class C felony punishable by five to 10 years, KSP said. He was lodged in the Pulaski County Correctional Center on Tuesday. The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Short-term rentals are expanding in CT. Their impact on housing availability concerns residents.
A Connecticut state representative has heard from more than 100 of his constituents in Groton and Stonington expressing their concerns about the rise of short-term rentals and their impact on neighborhoods, availability of housing and quality of life. In response, State Rep. Aundré Bumgardner, D-Groton, has co-sponsored 'An Act Establishing a State Short-term Rental Registry and Authorizing an Optional Municipal Supplemental Tax on Short-term Rentals,' which took another step forward this past week during a Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee hearing on March 24. Bumgardner said the proposed legislation, also known as HB-07238, will create a short-term rental registry maintained by the Department of Revenue Services and reduce administrative burdens on local governments. It will allow communities such as Groton and Stonington to 'opt into a local supplemental tax (up to 2.75%) on STRs, with revenue directed to local housing initiatives, including deposits into an affordable housing trust fund, require short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to collect and remit taxes and report revenue by municipality, giving towns better tools to track activity and enforce local regulations,' Bumgardner said. 'As a member of the Groton Town Council, I worked closely on this issue, and I've continued to carry that work with me to the legislature,' he added. 'In 2023, I proudly co-sponsored legislation that explicitly gave municipalities the authority to regulate STRs through local ordinances — an important clarification that empowered towns to act,' Bumgardner said. Bumgardner said in recent years, the Town of Groton Planning & Zoning Commission passed regulations restricting short-term rentals including requiring permits and limiting rentals to certain residential zones. Noank, a fire district with independent zoning authority and political subdivision of the Town of Groton, banned short-term rentals entirely. 'Groton, like most municipalities, is in the midst of a housing crisis, both in terms of availability and affordability,' Groton Town Manager John Burt stated in written testimony. 'I strongly support the ability for local municipalities to create a supplemental tax on short-term rentals, which could be used to combat the housing crisis by increasing the supply of housing for renters and prospective homeowners. Additionally, this would create a more level playing field with hotel operators.' 'The Town of Stonington pursued regulation through its ordinance, supported by the framework we established in 2023 legislation,' Bumgardner added. 'I believe these decisions should remain in the hands of our local communities, as Groton and Stonington have demonstrated through thoughtful public processes.' Among the biggest supporters are those in the lodging business, such as hotels and bed and breakfasts. Several members of the industry voiced support for the proposed bill. Victor Antico, the owner of Holiday Inn Express in Vernon, believes this bill 'is a necessary step toward creating a fair and equitable lodging marketplace while ensuring transparency, tax compliance, and consumer safety.' 'For too long, hotels, inns, and bed and breakfasts have been subject to strict regulations, including health and safety inspections, licensing fees and the full remittance of state and local occupancy taxes,' Antico said. 'Meanwhile, short-term rental operators who compete directly for guests have operated with minimal oversight. This has created an unlevel playing field that places traditional lodging establishments at a disadvantage. Bill No. 7238 addresses this imbalance by requiring short-term rentals to meet the same registration and tax obligations as hotels and other licensed lodging providers.' Alan Miller, the general manager of Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport, is a strong proponent of the bill 'By passing Raised Bill No. 7238, the Connecticut General Assembly will take a meaningful step toward modernizing lodging regulations, protecting consumers and ensuring tax fairness across all accommodation providers,' Miller said. 'I urge you to support this legislation and create a more balanced and competitive hospitality industry.' Ryan Albers, the senior manager of government affairs of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, said his organization was also in ardent support of the bill. 'Hotels, inns, and bed & breakfasts have long been subject to strict regulations, including health and safety inspections, licensing fees, and the full remittance of state and local occupancy taxes,' Albers said. 'Meanwhile, short-term rental operators—who compete directly for guests—have operated with minimal oversight. This has created an uneven playing field that places traditional lodging establishments at a disadvantage. Bill No. 7238 addresses this imbalance by requiring short-term rentals to meet the same registration and tax obligations as hotels and other licensed lodging providers.' One of the highest-profile opponents of the bill is Mark D. Boughton, the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services commissioner. 'After careful review, the Department of Revenue Services opposes this legislation as drafted due to the significant administrative and fiscal burden that would be created for the agency,' Boughton said. 'The legislation as proposed creates additional enforcement responsibilities, which has the potential to take us away from our core function of collecting and administering taxes. In addition, this legislation would result in significant administrative costs, including but not limited to additional staffing.' David Haberfeld, a Bristol-based real estate investor and entrepreneur, runs Haberfeld Enterprises. He owns 11 short-term rentals and manages four others. He also opposes the proposed law. 'It's more overregulation and it's a double tax because short-term rental hosts already pay taxes to Airbnb and VRBO and we already pay taxes on our income. It's like a double tax which is always inappropriate if you ask me,' Haberfeld said. As far as the registration part of the proposed law, Haberfeld said short-term rentals shouldn't be handled any differently than long-term rentals. 'The registration is so someone can reach out when there is a problem like a party,' Haberfeld said. 'I'm not going to say it's not an issue, but it's barely an issue. But it's what they think they have to combat. … we discourage parties, but Airbnb hosts are the victims of parties, we are not proponents or the cause of them. The guest is the person who has the party. They want to have this so if there are too many complaints they can shut you down.' Bumgardner said the bill is still in the beginning stages, but the public hearing was a big step. He initially raised this concept two years ago and didn't get a hearing. Bumgardner said he spoke with a representative from Airbnb recently who said said they would not oppose a registry, 'which I was shocked by,' Bumgardner said. 'I'm not anti-Airbnb, it's another tool in our municipality. 'Airbnb said they would like to be involved in the process and as someone who is passing legislation, it's good to give someone a seat at the table,' Bumgardner said. 'I believe when you follow that process and bring as many people as you can to the table, you have a better bill.'
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Proposed commission would regulate tribal members' hunting, fishing rights
Southeastern Connecticut's federally recognized Indian tribes — the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans — expressed support this week for a bill calling for a 20-member commission that would regulate tribal members' hunting, fishing and gathering on nontribal lands and water in the state. The tribes testified on the bill during a public hearing Monday conducted by the legislature's Environment Committee. Introduced by Rep. Aundré Bumgardner, D-Groton, the measure would exempt members of Connecticut's five state-recognized tribes from paying hunting and fishing license fees. The tribes are the Mashantuckets, the Mohegans, the Eastern Pequots of North Stonington, the Golden Hill Paugussetts of Colchester and Trumbull, and the Schaghticokes of Kent. 'This legislation is a step forward in recognizing and respecting the sovereignty of Native American tribes in Connecticut,' Chuck Bunnell, the Mohegans' chief of staff, wrote in testimony submitted to the committee. 'By establishing the Connecticut Tribal Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the act ensures that tribes ... have a direct role in developing and administering hunting and fishing regulations for their members.' Hunting and fishing, including shellfishing, sustained the Mashantuckets for centuries, providing the tribe with a critical source of food and economic activity, 'inextricably binding us to the lands and waters of this region,' the Mashantuckets said in their testimony. 'In short, hunting and fishing have been and remain fundamental to the survival of our tribal traditions and lifeways,' they said. Both tribes suggested a change in the bill's language to clarify the bill would apply to their tribal members' activities on state land outside their reservations, which are located on land held in trust by the federal government. The tribes already regulate hunting and fishing on trust land. Bumgardner said Tuesday the bill's final language would include the change sought by the tribes and would make it clear that the exemption from license fees would apply to members of all five state-recognized tribes. He said it has yet to be determined whether the bill would call for issuing tribal members free lifetime licenses or eliminating the licensing process altogether for tribal members. The Connecticut Fisheries Advisory Council opposed the bill as written while supporting the establishment of a wildlife and fisheries commission. The nonprofit Friends of Connecticut Sportsmen opposed the bill on the grounds it would grant a group of citizens 'special privileges to hunt, fish and trap, etc. while excluding others.' Bumgardner said courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of laws pertaining to tribes' hunting and fishing rights. He said a number of states, including Vermont, have enacted laws granting tribal members hunting and fishing rights and exempting them from license fees. 'It's time for Connecticut to fully recognize the sovereignty of tribes, not just through words but through policy,' he said. 'This bill ensures they will have a seat at the table when it comes to regulating (hunting and fishing). It's about justice and partnership.' The 20 members of the proposed commission would include one member from each of the five state-recognized tribes; the commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the commissioner's designee; one member from each of DEEP's Fisheries, Wildlife and Forestry divisions; one member from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; one member for the state Department of Agriculture; one member from the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Aquaculture; one member from Connecticut Sea Grant; one member from UConn's Native American and Indigenous Studies Department; two Indigenous people chosen by the tribes; and the co-chairmen and ranking members of the legislature's Environment Committee. Bumgardner said the Environment Committee could act on the measure Friday.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Connecticut lawmaker granted entry into program that could dismiss DUI charge
NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) — Democratic State Rep. Aundré Bumgardner faced a judge Friday in New London Superior Court after his DUI arrest earlier this month. The state representative and his attorney requested that he be able to enter into a diversionary program for first-time offenders. It's an opportunity for a second chance. 'Do you understand that if I grant your application, you'll be required to attend alcohol education classes and begin those classes within 90 days?' Judge Kaila Calling asked. 'Yes, your honor,' Bumgardner said. State Rep. Aundré Bumgardner arrested for DUI Bumgardner will now be allowed to enter into the impaired driving intervention program. Police said he was observed driving on a flat tire on March 2 on the Gold Star Highway in Groton. He allegedly failed field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, according to police. 'I am so grateful that no one got hurt because that is a consequence to so many who have made that same poor choice,' Bumgardner said. He left court with his wife and family by his side. Bumgardner represents the 41st District, which is in both Groton and Stonington. He must complete about a dozen alcohol education classes and attend one victim impact panel as part of the program. 'This is an opportunity. Nothing is going to be dismissed today,' Calling said. 'You need to successfully complete the program.' 'I'm squarely focused now on ensuring this never happens again,' said Bumgardner. 'I would implore any individual to think twice before making the poor decision that I did.' Body cam footage details Rep. Bumgardner's DUI arrest in Groton 'I hope he learns a lot from what he's going through right now,' Groton resident Ryle Beasley said. 'That's amazing that they're helping him and he has a support.' Bumgardner says he is focused on completing the diversionary program and earning back the trust of his constituents. 'Everybody has their problems,' Groton resident Charles Boyd Sr. said. 'He can overcome this. We've got to give him support.' 'I own it, and I bear that responsibility, and so, again, this is a tough day. This is a disappointing day, but I'm ready to move forward,' Baumgardner said. 'My family is ready to move forward.' If Bumgardner successfully completes the diversionary program, the charges against him will be dismissed. He is due back in court in a year on March 13, 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
