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Rhea: Rhea County
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In the summer of 1925 national attention was focused on Rhea County, because it was here that a teacher named John Scopes was tried for breaking a state law that banned the teaching of evolution in public schools. Since Scopes never denied what he did, he was found guilty and fined $100. That conviction – and the law – were later thrown out by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The Scopes Trial made national history and was made into a movie called Inherit the Wind, starring Spencer Tracy.
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Funding for most county and city government operations in Rhea County is generated through the property and sales tax. Cities levy a separate property tax and collect returns on sales taxes generated by business within their corporate limits.
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One other tidbit about Rhea County: its courthouse hasn't always been in Dayton. The original county seat of Rhea County was Washington. But in the 1880s the Cincinnati Southern Railway bypassed Washington, which is why a new courthouse was built in Dayton in 1890.
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The County Commission-County Executive form of government governs Rhea County. While the County Executive is the chief elected county official, he works in cooperation with the County Commission-the county's legislative body. The County Commission is made up of one representative from each of the county's nine districts. The County Executive is elected at large
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Gay in Rhea; When a county in rural Tennessee made national news by attempting to make homosexuality illegal, a local lesbian decided to host the Rhea County's first gay pride celebration. She wound up paying a high price
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