JC TAX HIKE??
JOHNSON CITY’S PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET INCLUDES A 25-CENT PROPERTY TAX HIKE. CITY OFFICIALS SAY THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD GO FOR MUCH NEED PROJECTS, INCLUDING A NEW TOWNE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ON A $200-THOUSAND DOLLAR HOME, CITY TAXES WOULD GO UP BY $125-DOLLARS. CITY COMMISSIONERS THIS EVENING WILL CONSIDER THE BUDGET ON THE FIRST OF THREE READINGS.
FALL BRANCH FIRE
A FALL BRANCH HOME IS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER AN EARLY MORNING FIRE. SEVERAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED TO THE HOME ON RYAN ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE RED CROSS IS HELPING THE HOMEOWNER.
KINGSPORT FIRE LEAVES FAMILY HOMELESS
A HOUSE FIRE IN KINGSPORT HAS LEFT A FAMILY HOMELESS. IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING AROUND 7:00 IN THE 1-THOUSAND BLOCK OF FAIRVIEW AVENUE. WHEN FIRE CREWS ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THE FAMILY OUTSIDE. THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS HELPING THE DISPLACED FAMILY.
MAN FACES CHARGES AFTER KNIFE ALTERCATION
A GREENEVILLE MAN WILL APPEAR IN COURT TODAY AFTER A FIGHT AT A JOHNSON CITY RESTAURANT. POLICE FOUND A MAN AT TULIPS AMERCIAN PUB AND GRUB WHO WAS BLEEDING FROM HIS NECK BECAUSE OF A LARGE LACERATION. AN INVESTIGATION FOUND THERE’D BEEN A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION AND ONE MAN PUNCHED ANOTHER SEVERAL TIMES. PATRICK JAMES ALLEGEDLY USED A KNIFE TO CUT THE OTHER MAN’S THROAT. THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL. JAMES IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.
PAVING WORK TO AFFECT CHEROKEE ROAD
PAVING AND MILLING WORK WILL AFFECT PART OF CHEROKEE ROAD IN JOHNSON CITY. CREWS WILL BE WORKING FRIDAY BETWEEN 6:30 A.M. AND 6:30 P.M. BETWEEN SOUTHWEST AVENUE AND BEECH DRIVE. MOTORISTS CAN EXPECT LANE CLOSURES AND DETOURS. IF YOU CAN, AVOID THE AREA. IF NOT, USE CAUTION AND EXPECT DELAYS.
WOMAN PICKS UP MORE CHARGES WHILE BEING BOOKED INTO JAIL
A JOHNSON CITY WOMAN FACES MORE CHARGES AFTER AUTHORITIES FOUND HER WITH DRUGS WHILE SHE WAS BEING BOOKED INTO JAIL. 27-YEAR-OLD CHEYNNE STOUT WAS ARRESTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES, INCLUDING FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT. WHILE BEING PROCESSED AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER, OFFICERS FOUND HER WITH SUBOXONE AND WHAT’S THOUGHT TO BE HEROIN. STOUT TRIED TO HIDE THE CONTRABAND BY WRAPPING IT IN TWO PIECES OF ALUMINUM FOIL AND HIDING IT IN HER UNDERGARMENTS. BOTH PACKETS HAVE BEEN SENT FOR TESTING. STOUT IS CHARGED WITH INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND INTO A PENAL FACILITY.
9 KILLED IN HOLIDAY CRASHES IN VIRGINIA
IT WAS A DEADLY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IN VIRGINIA, AS 9 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN TRAFFIC CRASHES. STATE POLICE SAY FOUR OF THE FATALITIES INVOLVED MOTORCYCLES, BUT THERE WEREN’T ANY DEADLY WRECKS IN SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. STATEWIDE, JUST UNDER 5-THOUSAND MOTORISTS WERE CITED FOR SPEEDING. CITATIONS WERE ALSO ISSUED FOR NEARLY 2-THOUSAND RECKLESS DRIVERS AND POLICE ARRESTED 89 IMPAIRED DRIVERS.
MAN CHARGED AFTER MAKING THREATS
A JOHNSON CITY MAN FACES CHARGES, AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY THREATENED TO KILL A WOMAN WITH AN AXE. WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE 300 BLOCK OF HERB HODGE ROAD AND FOUND 41-YEAR-OLD RICHARD ARWOOD SITTING ON A COUCH WITH AN AXE AT HIS FEET. THE VICTIM SAID HE’D THREATENED TO KILL HER AND SHE SOUGHT SAFETY IN A BATHROOM, AFTER HE REPORTEDLY BROKE THROUGH A BEDROOM DOOR WITH THE AXE. OFFICERS NOTED MULTIPLE HOLES IN THE FLOOR AND WALLS OF THE HOME. ARWOOD WAS TAKEN TO JAIL WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WILL BE ARRAIGNED TODAY IN WASHINGTON COUNTY SESSIONS COURT.
POLICE ARREST A MAN WITH GUN, CASH
A MAN FACES SEVERAL CHARGES AFTER POLICE FOUND HIM PASSED OUT IN A RUNNING VEHICLE. LARRY HARLESS JUNIOR WAS ARRESTED AT THE PETRO TRAVEL CENTER IN GLADE SPRING VIRGINIA. A SEARCH FOUND FIREARMS, WHAT’S BELIEVED TO BE METH AND OVER $14-THOUSAND DOLLARS CASH. HARLESS IS JAILED WITHOUT BOND. AMONG THE CHARGES: POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION BY A FELON.
NEW CENTER GETS MAJOR BACKING
THE WELLSPRING FOUNDATION OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA WILL COMMIT $4-MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD A NEW WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE CENTER IN ABINGDON VIRGINIA. IT’LL BE IN THE FORMER K-MART BUILDING AND WILL ALSO HOUSE STEM LABS FOR TEACHER TRAINING. THE 87-THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN AND FULLY OPERATIONAL IN JULY OR AUGUST 2024.
CITY WANTS INPUT ON LYNN GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS
THE CITY OF KINGSPORT IS ASKING FOR INPUT FROM THE LYNN GARDEN COMMUNITY ON HOW TO MAKE IT A BETTER PLACE. AN OPEN HOUSE IS PLANNED LATER THIS MONTH AND IT’S IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CORRIDOR STUDY CURRENTLY UNDERWAY FOR LYNN GARDEN DRIVE. THE OPEN HOUSE IS SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 13 FROM 5:30 UNTIL 7 P.M. AT KENNEDY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON WOODLAND AVENUE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CORRIDOR ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED TO CITY OFFICIALS LATER THIS SUMMER
