NEWPORT-Local citizens commuting to and from jobs in Sevier County will soon have the opportunity to save on fuel costs by riding a local bus.

National Bank of Tennessee recently purchased a used 78-passenger bus, which had been retired from use by the Cocke County School System.

"Bill Shults suggested the project," said Keith Ketterman, NBT president. "We thought it was an excellent idea and contacted the school system. Luckily they had just what we had in mind."

According to Ketterman, the target date for the service to begin is August 1.

"We are presently putting the finishing touches on how the service will be operated," said Ketterman. "We are in discussions with the Newport/Cocke County Chamber of Commerce and others in setting up the project."

Among those working with the bank is Annette Mason, owner of the Newport Holiday Inn. "Annette has already been in touch with owners of some of the Sevier County hotels who employ many Cocke County people. They are delighted with the idea. Some say that their employees have purchased motorcycles for transportation to and from work as an effort to cut their fuel costs."

Ketterman emphasized that the service will be strictly for people traveling to and from their jobs. "This will not be available for people going over to Pigeon Forge to shop," he said.

Bus riders will pay a fee. "We don't know exactly how much that will be," said Ketterman.

Riders will leave Newport from a yet-to-be announced central location. "The bus will probably travel through Cosby and pick up passengers there, too," added Ketterman.

The 78-passenger 1994 bus is currently at the Cocke County Board of Education's bus garage.

This service brings to mind buses which carried workers to work at Enka during the 1950s and 1960s. Also, during World War II, a bus took local citizens to work at the Manhattan Project in today's Oak Ridge.