QUESTIONS ARISE OVER SHERIFF'S AIRSTRIP

Lawyer Says Property Owned By Drug Dealer

Knox County is paying a convicted drug dealer at least $2,700 a month so
the Sheriffs Department can operate its helicopters out of his airstrip, a
Knoxville lawyer said in court Friday. But Sheriff Tim Hutchison said
Friday evening he didn't know Scott Sheldon Walker had pleaded guilty to
conspiring to possess and distribute marijuana.

Walker, 38, of Gatlinburg is set to be sentenced next month in federal
court after being caught last year with a load of 300 pounds of marijuana
at a Louisiana airport.

Knoxville lawyer Herbert S. Moncier filed court papers that included the
Sept. 7, 2001, agreement between Knox County and Walker Aviation Services
LLC, "for the purpose of landing and parking its aircraft" at a site off
Mascot Road.

"Absolutely not," Hutchison said when asked if he knew of Walker's
background. The sheriff said a representative from the aviation company
offered its field, and the company was referred to the Knox County Law
Department.

"The first we heard about (the drug conviction) was when Herb started doing
his little dance and calling all the media," Hutchison said. "The only time
I spoke to him (Walker) was when the (Knox County) Law Department was
working that contract with his lawyers."

The sheriff said he still didn't know if Walker had been convicted of a
drug offense and indicated that his office is looking into the matter.

If it confirms that Walker did plead guilty to a federal drug charge - and
if he remains involved in the Gatlinburg-based Walker Aviation Services LLC
- - Hutchison said his office will end the agreement.

"We can't be doing business with someone who has (a drug conviction),"
Hutchison said. "So if he's part of it, we'll have to find another place.

The "Landing Fee Agreement" between Walker Aviation Services LLC and Knox
County was signed on Sept. 7 - just three days after Walker Aviation
Services was formed, according to state records. Scott S. Walker is listed
as its registered agent.

According to now-sealed court records, Walker was arrested after being
caught at an airport in Pineville, La., with a shipment of marijuana he was
flying to Sevier County. He subsequently agreed to cooperate against his
associates.

The Landing Fee Agreement is signed by Walker, Hutchison and Knox County
Executive Thomas Schumpert. The Law Director's office also signed off on it.

Moncier discussed the agreement Friday during a hearing on one of two
bitterly contested lawsuits brought against Hutchison by Knox County
Commissioner Wanda Moody.

The lawsuits - dubbed "Moody I" and "Moody II" to distinguish them -
contend that Hutchison cannot by state law use taxpayer money or employees
on things like construction projects and maintaining aircraft. The first
lawsuit, or "Moody I," was filed in 1999. It aimed at preventing Hutchison
from overseeing the proposed downtown justice center.

The nearly $100 million project was shelved, however, after Moncier and
Knox County Attorney General Randy Nichols argued it wasn't needed and was
a waste of money. Even though the project is dead, Moody and Moncier still
seek a ruling that Hutchison cannot legally oversee such a project.

"Moody II," filed last year, sought to ground the department's six
helicopters and block construction of a dormitory and horse stables on
Maloneyville Road.

Moncier has since added claims that Hutchison is building an airstrip at
the Walker Aviation property on Mascot Road and has renovated a barn on
private property on Topside Road to house the department's horses.

"That's public funds being put into private property," Moncier said.

A motion to dismiss the lawsuit - filed by Deputy Knox County Law Directors
John E. Owings and Mary Ann Stackhouse - was heard Friday by Hamblen County
Chancellor Thomas R. Frierson II.

Moncier argued no one knows how much the alleged projects cost or the
source of the money that funded them and that Hutchison uses his employees
to build them.

That violates state law, according to Moncier, who characterized
Hutchison's department as being a government unto itself.

Frierson took the motion to dismiss under advisement and will rule later.

Hutchison denied he was building an airport or renovating anyone's barn.
"Well, of course we are not building an airport out there," Hutchison said
Friday evening. "That's another untruthful statement made by Commissioner
Moody and her lawyer."

He also said the dormitory's construction was approved by the commissioners.

"It most certainly was, and Wanda even voted on it," he said.

Hutchison said his department isn't doing anything wrong.

"We are not going to knowingly do anything to break the law," he said.
"Would that not fly in the face of the business we are in?"