This exciting story takes a turn as Jeff Woods uncovers a letter penned by House Speaker Kent Williams to TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely:

Whoa! What’s this on the very top of the pile of documents? Why, it’s a letter from House Speaker Kent Williams to Transportation Commissioner Gerald Nicely on behalf of Barrett. “My hope is that we can reason together to resolve this issue,” Williams writes on Jan. 28.

He suggests that TDOT cave in to Barrett’s demands and grant easement along I-24 to extend a road to his ammo factory. As you know, certain legislators have amended a bill to force TDOT to do just that. It would specifically benefit Barrett—big campaign contributor, boyfriend of Rep. Donna Rowland, R-Murfreesboro, and winner of the NRA’s coveted Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award.

“I have been asked by my colleagues representing Rutherford County to write you regarding a right of way issue in the district,” Williams tells Nicely.

Kudos to Woods’ keen eye. For those of you who are just joining us, check out the original story that uncovered this whole mess here.

UPDATE!

As Woods continues to sort through documents acquired via Sunshine Law requests, he uncovered another gem:

We’re still rummaging through our new file of public documents on the Ronnie Barrett melodrama. Let’s see, a motion to dismiss, a document about a deposition, letters from Barrett to Nicely and Nicely to Barrett, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wait, what’s this? Barrett is worrying about terrorists staging a commando raid on his firearms factory?

Yes, he made an official request of the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security to evaluate the terrorist threat that might be posed by one of the alternate routes proposed by TDOT for the access road to his factory. (Apparently, you can order up a terrorist threat assessment in this state like a cheeseburger and fries.) That route would have come closer to the plant, thereby making it handier for terrorists to attack, according to Barrett. He’s especially concerned that terrorists might swipe some of his .50-caliber sniper rifles, giving them the power to shoot people from several continents away.

Stay tuned…

I purposely allowed myself 24 hours to cool down before I pontificated on the events which transpired yesterday on the floor of the House of Representatives of the State of Tennessee. Many bloggers, commentators, and newspeople have already presented the facts and opinions surrounding this story, but I feel that I should write a full account of the events as I saw them – sort of as an affirmation of the posts by other bloggers or an alternative point of view to what the newsmedia may be presenting.

Without further ado – here goes:

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