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Read comments (48)Ethel Gardella was terminated from her position at the Highway 64 West Convenience Center Thursday evening, according to Stanley Smotherman, after Gardella repeatedly called Tammy Cunningham and her 14-year-old son "ignorant."
Members of the county's Solid Waste Authority, including Smotherman, who run the county's solid waste department, Bobby Vannatta, Robert McAnally and solid waste coordinator Gay Irvin, met with County Mayor Eugene Ray in his office Thursday with the Cunninghams to discuss the incident.
Gardella was invited to the meeting but chose not to attend, Ray said. Smotherman said Friday that after the meeting he informed Gardella she was no longer an employee of the department.
Cunningham, her son and her husband, Bobby, concurred with the written report of Deputy Jason Freeman about the incident, which happened shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Cunningham told members of the authority she and her son went to the center to dispose of several containers of trash. According to Freeman's report, Gardella approached the boy and asked what was in the boxes he was throwing away. When he did not reply, she called him "ignorant."
The boy walked back to the truck to ask his mother what was in the box and Gardella "asked the juvenile if he was ignorant," the deputy's report read.
The report stated that the boy got in the truck with his mother, who drove to the metal bin to dump some VCRs where Gardella told the youth to place them. Gardella walked to the bin and asked the boy again what was in the boxes. When the child told Gardella he didn't know, Gardella called the boy ignorant again.
Cunningham heard most of this exchange, she told members of the authority, and when the boy got back in his mother's truck, he was crying and told his mother what had happened.
Freeman's report states that Cunningham got out of the truck and asked Gardella what she had said to her son. "Mrs. Gardella said your son is ignorant," the report said.
"She said I was ignorant for raising an ignorant child," Cunningham told members of the authority Thursday. Gardella refused to give her name or apologize, Cunningham said. Gardella "kept yelling 'ignorant'" while four or five people at the center witnessed the incident, Cunningham told authority members.
Cunningham then called 911, the report reads.
"At this time, I talked to Mrs. Gardella and Mrs. Gardella admitted to calling the juvenile ignorant approx. 3 times," Freeman's report said. "Mrs. Gardella stated that if someone would not answer you isn't that person ignorant."
"Mrs. Gardella stated that she will call someone ignorant if they are ignorant. Mrs. Gardella stated this information in front of me and another deputy," the report said.
Cunningham told Deputy Freeman that Gardella had frightened her son and that he "did not want to want to come to this dump anymore."
Freeman's report continues, stating that Cunningham had two boxes with picture frames with glass and one plastic tote with trash left on her truck. Freeman said in his report he asked Gardella where they needed to be dumped and she replied "in the dump with the compactor."
"I told Mrs. Cunningham to put the rest of the stuff in the compactor. Mrs. Cunningham did," the report said. "Mrs. Gardella stepped to the door and stated that the tote does not go in the compactor it goes in the bin marked plastics after telling me to put it in the compactor."
Bobby Cunningham simply said, "I'm glad I wasn't there," when speaking of what his wife and child described.
Both Vannatta and Smotherman stated several times during the meeting that they had previously fielded a number of complaints about Gardella's behavior toward users of the convenience center.
Members of the authority and Cunningham also stated during the meeting that some people have told them they refuse to go to the Highway 64 location because Gardella worked there.
Ray told the Cunninghams he was "sorry that it happened" and told members of the authority that county workers "have got to be nice to the public." Ray also said Gardella "has not denied anything in this report."
Smotherman said that that workers "should act in a professional manner" and that Gardella's behavior "can't be tolerated."
"She admitted saying it," Smotherman said. "This was way over the line."
Repeated attempts to reach Gardella for comment were unsuccessful.
The best of Bedford County. LOL.
I live in Wheel and, too, have had problems with Ms. Gardella. Most importantly, she has been extremely rude with my children when they have taken the trash to the center on Highway 64. I work with the public just as Ms. Gardella did and had I called anyone "ignorant" or any other name, I would have been dismissed immediately. Verbal attacks are unnecessary and should not be tolerated for any reason by anyone who is on a payroll. When you work with the public, you have to take the good with the bad and still remain nice if you want to keep your job. Generally speaking, if you are nice to people, they will be nice to you. Although the firing was long overdue, I commend Mr. Smotherman's action by relieving Ms. Gardella of her duties.
As for the calling of 911, unless you live in the county and understand the process one must follow to receive assistance, please do not be too hasty to judge Mrs. Cunningham. I have had to call for assistance myself and I followed the correct protocol to receive that assistance by calling the Sheriff's Department (NOT 911). Although it was not a life-threatening situation, they connected me to the Comm Center as well. If those who live in the county follow the correct protocol by calling the Sheriff's Department and then are connected by the department to the 911 dispatch, how can we be blamed for misuse when we did nothing wrong? When that call is transferred to the 911 dispatch, it is no longer in our control.
I am reluctant to say what I would and would have not done in Mrs. Cunningham's situation because I was not there. However, it is very easy to sit in a chair over the internet and condem someone for doing something they felt was necessary at the time. As my grandmother said many times during her life, "Don't ever say what you would and would not do ... it could come back to bite you."
This was something that has taken place ever since she was employeed at the center. If you make complaints through normal non emergency channels and nothing is ever done then you do what is necessary to get action. Just since she called this boy a name is not the issue. The issue is REPEATE OFFENSES WITHOUT ANY ACTION TAKEN!!! Gene Ray should have fired Stanley Smotherman from the soild waste dept along with Mrs Gardella as soon as he found out about the list of unanswered complaints.
Is there a sign posted at the centers to outline the proper procedure for filing a complaint? What was the follow-up for the other complaints against her?
Maybe it wasn't a legal matter, but, as an adult, I would have to intervene and then I can almost bet the "adult" calling people names would have called the law for assistance.
justthinkingoutloud,
I have to agree with everything you said but you know what paybacks are sounds like ole' Tammys getting hers somebody making her cry @ a DUMPSTER how hillarious is that finally coming home to the ole' troublemaker herself.. LOL-- they were probally two of kind from what I've read....
I'd like to hear the 911 tape of Ethel, the ruthless dumpster lady who makes people cry.
That has to be hilarious.
Like I said before I dont know the woman at the dump. If she has been ugly to people before then I guess she deserved to get fired but Tammy is one of the biggest trouble makers that I know. I hate that this woman at the dump got in trouble by someone that is probably much much worse then she could ever be. I just really hope there were witnesses and that this woman was really a needed to be fired.
Calling the Sheriff's dept. out over being called ignorant is a bit much...ok, way too much. Somethings not right if a 14 yr old cries over being called that. He wasn't threatened or cussed or anything. I would defend my child if any grown up was calling them names though. I just think calling the law wasn't really warranted. I think they have better things to do than field complaints of people being called names. The worker did need to be turned in for being so rude though. If this is normal for her she should have been gone a long time ago.
I agree . . . people are now arguing about the smallest details. What is done is done and you can't change the past . . . her actions nonetheless eliminated a problem that should have been taken care of years ago. That is all that matters. If the police didn't think the call was warranted, then they would not have investigated.
This thing is starting to sound like the race track message board now! LOL
aint that weird ?
I just found it kind of ironic that racefan would write that people should get their facts straight when they are the ones who provided the facts.
I do know how I would have reacted. I wouldn't have called the police like its a major crisis, nor would I have been fighting mad because I really don't care what some lady at the dump thinks or says. Why should I?
Wow, some of you have ALL the answers don't you? I am never surprised at the responses I see, wherein you explain what you WOULD and WOULD NOT have done were it you in a given situation. The fact is, you weren't there, and you DON'T know how you would have reacted.
Richard - in your statement to Racefan - you have made it clear that you have NEVER made a mistake, right? You and others state that you are against calling the deputy out to begin with, then, in the same sentence, you explain that you think he should have spent his time back-tracking and investigating the situation to make sure that he was sure EXACTLY who the woman called so that you people could correctly pick apart the situation on the T-G website?!?! GEEZ!!!!
racefan,
That makes more sense, but that's not what the report states. That's what we were going by. It states that she called 911 after the lady called them ignorant, which sounds ridiculous. So, your department needs to get their facts straight, not us.
Honestly, I wouldn't have called the police at all. I would have written her off as a rude, old women and let it go at that. I can understand filing a complaint to her superiors, but the police? What are they going to do, arrest her for calling someone ignorant? Here is an old lady who made a mother and her teenage son break down and cry by calling them a name. A little over sensitive, aren't they? The world is full of rude people, get used to it.
Also, if members of the solid waste authority already fielded numerous complaints about her, they should have already taken action. They shouldn't have needed a police report, either.
I guess that made everyone quiet...lol
Ok. I've read your comments about the misuse of 911 and I've had enough. I was working at the Sheriff's Dept. that day and Mrs Cunningham DID CALL THE SHERIFF'S DEPT FIRST!!!! I was the one that spoke with her prior to transfering her to the Comm Center!!!! You need to get your facts straight before you run your mouth. That poor woman was upset and crying and she had every right to be! Had it been me and that woman said something to my kids like that, the Wheelbilly in me would have come out! I don't know the Cunninghams, but I used to live in Wheel and had to use to same trash dump with the same grumpy old woman. That woman needed to be fired a long time ago. Please don't think that some people get special treatment from the Sheriff's Dept. They don't!!!! The officer's report, which I also saw and entered myself, was mistaken. Mrs. Cunningham did not call 911. She was transfered just like everyone else that doesn't have a life or death emergency. Thank You.
No disrespect intended to anyone, but I have contacted the Sheriff's office about what I considered non life-threatening incidents in the past (a burglary found when I got home from work, etc.) and was told that I would have to be connected to the Com Center for an officer to be dispatched out and take a report - that they could not just send an officer from the Sheriff's Department - the dispatch had to be made from the Com Center - so I was switched over, stated what I needed and my address to the 911 center, and they sent an officer out.
I still say the 911 was abused in this case.The chain of command should of been done.
That teen ager was not in fear of his life.And I am not going to judge whos telling the truth or not.But mis use of dialing 911 for some thing petty, should be fined.It takes tax money every time 911 is used,some one else could of needed them during this time of he said / she said.
I am a parent myself. And if his momma lowered her standards to make this a bigger different story, What does that teach her children????And stop making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Yeah, a 14 year old picking on a woman after alot of the people stating here, they did the same thing to them. There were eyewitnesses.
A 14 year old boy "CRYING" casue an old woman called him ignorant???????????????? WOW thats kinda hard to believe. He was probably agging her on when his mom wasnt looking or listening.
Where do I begin? Hmmm
First of all, you don't talk to people or their children in a disrespectful manner. It doesn't matter how old or how bitter you are. You will get your hind end rolled all over Bedford County if you talk crazy to or about MY kids. So I commend the lady for standing up to the ole coot. However, maybe 911 wasn't the best choice at the time. But it got results that she may not have received otherwise. And if she hadn't called 911 maybe there would be a DIFFERENT front page heading "old woman beaten to death by infuriated mother of disrespected 14 year old kid". Call me country, stupid, narrow minded or crazy but that old woman's behavior warrants an a@$ whooping where I come from. She is lucky she did not get one. So stop looking for things to complain about... so what she called 911 it's over now. We need to quit disrespecting each other and learn how to love each other. This town is too dang small and already has too much other news headlining drama going on to be tying up our time worrying about an old hag that SHOULD'VE gotten her teeth knocked out. The best thing for her is to go on somewhere and collect her social security and unemployment and lock herself up in her shed.
call me what you want... but thank God for freedom of speech!
I dont know the woman at the dump but I do know the Cunninghams. I really hope there was some witnesses to this incident because the complaintent is a trouble maker herself. She has caused plenty of trouble herself. If what she did say happened really did happen then I guess the woman should have been fired. I just hope what she said is true because the truth rarely comes out of this womans mouth.
So, does this boil down to the County Mayor actually stepping up and taking care of the problem? If so, kudos to him.
If you don't know the non emergercy number, maybe now would be a good time to learn it or program it into your cell phone. If everybody called 911 everytime someone called them a bad name, their phones would be ringing off the hook. Don't be ignorant. Just kidding, don't call the cops on me.
Exactly who does one need to file a complaint with to get some kind of action?
Evidently, many people had complained and nothing was done and if the law had not been involved, then nothing would have happened this time. I can see why some people would be upset about calling 911. What is the non-emergency number again? Do you call 911 if you have a fender-bender?
Any one else in authority who spoke to a child like that would be charged.
After reading the comments about the misuse of 911, I think something needs to be pointed out. If the victim in this case had not called 911 from the location, a report would probably have never been filed. Chances are if she had gone home and then called, the sheriff's office would not have been able to complete a report because she left the scene. it was easier to call, have them come out on their timetable (if a non-emergency call comes into 911, they prioritize it according to the other calls coming in) and hopefully have some witnesses still there to interview.
Also, Grandpat, no disrespect intended, but she was not entitled to have a lawyer present during any meeting with her boss. None of us are legally entitled to counsel if we screw up on the job and our boss wants to repremand us. Besides, that is not a "hearing", that's just how the world works. If criminal charges were pending and she were being questioned by police, that's different.
Come on folks! Misuse of 911 how many of you have the sheriffs office on speed dial. Should Tammy have gone home looked up the phone number and then gone back? I would have done the same thing in this instance. It was warranted cause this was an emergency.....for Mrs. Gardella....if it wasn't for 911 Mrs. gardella would have gotten her clock cleaned. Go Tammy!!
Wheelbillie . . . I was always super nice to that woman but she would never return the favor but it really never bothered me because I figured she was a bitter old woman and that her attitude had nothing to do with me and I just avoided contact with her. Evidently it wasn't just a bad day though, because several people have expressed complaints over the years and even in this forum. That has to say something . . . if she didn't like the job or the people she dealt with then she would have quit the job. It is that simple. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior but I do agree that calling 911 was unwarranted in that situation and the mother should have called the woman's superior.
The thing is she is in a job that deals with the public. How would you feel if you were standing in line at Wal-Mart and the cashier started calling you ignorant several times because you didn't know something? I am sure you would be outraged and demand for a manager and want her fired or reprimanded. How is that any different than what the convenience center did?
I agree cfrich . . . I sometimes go to that one because it is close to where I work and it is open every day unlike the one where I live in Wartrace and the guy is always super friendly to me or at least he smiles and waves at me. A coworker of mine does not like the one in Unionville and goes to the one close to work because the Unionville one isnt that friendly but maybe it is just a conflict of personalities.
The one in Wartrace is usually friendly but he has his bad days just like the rest of us.
I agree with Richard and Wheelbillie. While reading this story, I was more struck by the misuse of 911 than anything else. Being called ignorant, while upsetting and frustrating, is most definitely NOT a life threatening emergency.
"Repeated attempts to reach Gardella for comment were unsuccessful."
According to her own theory.....
If someone communicates to you and you don't respond, "then SHE must be ignorant."
I agree with Richard.What a waste of tax payers money to send the law out.I'm sure they were needed else where.The next thing you know,evryone will want to be employeed by the Sheriff.What ever happen to Chain Of Command? And I'm sure a 14 year old has heard and said worst language,it wasn't like the quote " The Old Lady " was threatening his life with her cane.And his life wasn't in danger.Whats this world coming too???
In My Honest Opinion it's nobuddys business what i'm throwing away however i know theres bin's for different things metal, furniture, etc.but.....
calling somebody "ignorant." is just plane ole name calling and thats uncalled for...case closed
You know its real easy for every one now to come out and complain,now thats shes gone.One squeeky wheel and everyone has an opinion.What would ya'll do if we had to wash our trash,put it in seperate bins and on different days set it out to the curb. Oh and pay a big price to have it removed,like some other states do??Thought this state was in the Bible Belt. And we are not to Judge people. Maybe you think that job of hers was a piece of cake.I'm sure she had her duties to do.But before you judge her, try doing her job. You know everyone has bad days. And I'd bet my life that every time everyone went in there, that they were on their best behavior.( ya'll need to check your wrists,because I'm sure you are not perfect) The man with the scares on his wrists is supposed to do the judging. He's the one who paid the price for ALL OF US.Instead of pointing the blame, Pray for her.
"Cunningham then called 911, the report reads."
LOL. Was it really necessary to call 911 ? An old lady being rude to you isn't exactly a life or death emergency.
"I drive the extra 2 miles to go to the dump in Unionville versus the other one on 41A North, due to a grumpy old man in charge. The guy in Unionville is friendly at least.
-- Posted by espoontoon on Mon, Jul 14, 2008, at 2:20 PM"
Do you mean the really old guy? He's so nice. My husband doesn't really like him, but he's super nice to me - last summer I locked my keys in the car with my dog in the car and he let me sit in the little house and helped me figure out who to call. Since then, whenever I see him, he always has a friendly smile and a wave.
I have dumped trash at this location for years without any problems from her....Yeah Right its about time she was let go. I wonder why this lady was not let go after the first 50 complaints were filed. It seems someone fell down on their responsibilites of leadership over this person. Atleast I can now come to the center 5 min before it closes and not get in trouble.
She should have been gone a long time ago. She has been hateful ever since she has been there, she is no more than a glorified dumpster diver.
Congrates to the Cunninghams, finally someone stood up to her.
Good she is gone ! No one should have to put up with that kind of attitude. I have had several instances of rude convienience center conduct from those employees and it is unacceptable. The county should send every one of them to classes to learn how to speak to people. Now I understand that metal goes in the metal bin, and roofing shingles and paint cans aren't accepted, but when the staffers continue to rudely and openly yell at the citizens that are trying to dispose of things, thats ridiculous. Be firm, but most of all...BE POLITE !!!!!
Heres to you Mrs Inconvient Center Worker.... Thanks to you, we all may know, even though furniture is made of wood, wood is not allowed in the furniture bin. Maybe someday this boy can be smart enough to work at the local Inconvient Center like you. So Sit back in your homemade mini barn office, scare off the little kiddies, and pop the top off an ice cold Buttweiser. For all you do.... this Buds for you. My name is Seedsower and I approve this message. Please drink responsibly.
I want to commend Tammy for doing the right thing in reporting the abuse and not taking matters into her own hands. By the time I was to the end of the second paragraph I was furious!
The only "ignorant" person here is the one who signed Gardella's paychecks for so long!!!!
I drive the extra 2 miles to go to the dump in Unionville versus the other one on 41A North, due to a grumpy old man in charge. The guy in Unionville is friendly at least.
also is she was not guilty she would be where someone could talk to her and get her side but no one is able to do that.
grandpat, you must be a friend of Ms. Gardela and was one of her favorite people. she should have been fired a long time ago by someone for her hateful behavior. no other convenient center workers have ever treated me like she has and if you did a poll there would be a lot of people who feel she should have been gone a long time ago. only the people she let dump anything would be for her and that got special treatment.
I HOPE GARDILLA APPEALS THIS WRONGFUL FIRING.SHE DID NOT HAVE A LEGAL COUNCIL REPRESENTING HER DURING THE HEARING.MR.MAYOR HAD NO RIGHT TO HEAR THE CASE,AS HIS AUTHORITY TO PERSONNEL IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS IS NOT EXTENDED IN TENNESSEE CODES.THE MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN OFFICE SPACE TO OTHER ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS.MR.SOLID WASTE IS IN CHARGE OF HIRING/TERMINATING EMPLOYEES IN HIS DEPARTMENT,NOT MR.MAYOR.THE TERMINATION PROCESS WAS VIOLATED IN THE "FIRING"OF THIS EMPLOYEE.A COUNTY EMPLOYEE IS NOT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY MAYOR UNLESS HE/SHE WORKS FOR THE MAYOR'S DEPARTMENT.GET IT RIGHT Y'ALL!!!
I absolutely hated dealing with that woman. She was horribly hateful and unprofessional. I don't know who hired her, but there was obviously no evaluations of her performance conducted after she got hired. I bet for every complaint that was actually filed there were at least 10 more that were not. I'm glad she's gone. Now I can take my trash to that location again. The sad part of all of this is that it took a small child being verbally abused for something to be done about her. Thankfully the powers that be have taken responsiblity and have corrected the problem.
Yeah, that woman has always been hateful. I never liked dealing with her either and one time yelled at me for using the convenience center when I borrowed my uncle's truck to haul some garbage off and he had Marshall County tags.
It is about time, this woman should have been let go a long time ago. she had her favorites and tormented the rest of us.