TUESDAY AUGUST 19
HWY 75 PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
THE JOHNSON CITY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION WILL HOST A PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TO SEEK INPUT ON THE STATE ROUTE 75 (SUNCREST DRIVE) CORRIDOR STUDY. THE PROJECT STUDY AREA IS BETWEEN HUGH COX ROAD AND INTERSTATE 26, AND THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS TRAFFIC, SAFETY, AND CONNECTIVITY AS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE GRAY COMMUNITY. THE PUBLIC INFORMATION HEARING WILL BE HELD THURSDAY AUGUST 28TH FROM 5:30 TO 7:30 PM IN THE GYM AT RIDGEVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
JOHNSON CITY MAN CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO THE 400 BLOCK OF CASH HOLLOW ROAD ON AUGUST 17TH AND DISCOVERED MULTIPLE DECEASED ANIMALS, INCLUDING A PIG AND TWO DOMESTIC RABBITS. A DOG WHICH WAS CHAINED OUTSIDE A BARN DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER. A BUCKET INDICATED TO BE THE DOGS WATER SOURCE WAS FILLED WITH ALGAE AND WORMS. DEPUTIES COULD SMELL DECAYING ANIMALS ON THE PROPERTY. 24-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY MILLER STATE A RACOON KILLED 10 DEAD CHICKENS ON THE PROPERTY DEPUTIES DISCOVERED DECAYING IN FEED BAGS. MILLER WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY. ADDITIONAL CHARGES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ARE PENDING.
STRUCTURE FIRE ON EAST STONE DRIVE
THE KINGSPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE AT 2.23 AM THIS MORNING IN THE 3400 BLOCK OF EAST STONE DRIVE. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT EDUCATION AND INFORMATION OFFICER BARRY BRICKEY, UPON ARRIVAL CREWS FOUND THE KINGSPORT MOTORS BUILDING FULLY INVOLVED IN FLAMES. FIREFIGHTERS IMMEDIATELY INITIATED A DEFENSIVE OPERATION TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE AND PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE KINGSPORT FIRE MARSHALS OFFICE.
WOMAN DEAD AFTER STABBING IN SMYTH CO
VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A HOMICIDE THAT OCCURRED SATURDAY NIGHT IN SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINIA. THE VSP SAID IT WAS NOTIFIED BY THE SALTVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF A STABBING IN THE 100 BLOCK OF DAYDREAM RIDGE ROAD AT ABOUT 11 PM SATURDAY. ACCORDING TO THE VSP, ONE FEMALE DIED AT THE SCENE, AND ONE SUSPECT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. 31-YEAR-OLD DANIEL BAPTISTE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH MURDER, AND USE OF A WEAPON IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY. HE’S BEING HELD IN THE SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA REGIONAL JAIL. THE INCIDENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE DOMESTIC INCIDENT.
ETSU KICKS OFF FALL 2025 WITH WELCOME WEEK
EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY WILL WELCOME STUDENTS BACK TO CAMPUS WITH WELCOME WEEK AUGUST 24TH THRU THE 30TH, FEATURING 7 DAYS OF ENTERTAINMENT, ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND PRIZES DESIGNED TO HELP NEW AND RETURNING STUDENTS CONNECT WITH CAMPUS LIFE. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A BLOCK PARTY KICKOFF EVENT, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY SHOWCASES, FAITH, SERVICE AND IMPACT OPPORTUNITIES, A CAMPUS RECREATION AND SGA POOL PARTY, FEATURING SPORTS AND WELLNESS ORGANIZATIONS, ETSU PRIDE COMMUNITY SHOWCASE, ROTC 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, AND ARTS AND CULTURAL REMIX PROGRAMMING. THE WEEK CULMINATES WITH THE ETSU FOOTBALL TEAM’S HOME OPENER AGAINST MURRAY STATE ON SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH.
GREENEVILLE WATER COMMISSION DEBT AT $30M
HURRICANE HELENE RESULTED IN AN ESTIMATED 30 MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO THE GREENEVILLE WATER COMMISSION, AND THE PROCESS OF JUGGLING CASH FLOWING PENDING POTENTIAL LOANS AND GRANTS CONTINUES. CONTROLLER KACI LOWE UPDATED WATER COMMISSION BOARD MEMBERS MONDAY MORNING ON THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF JUGGLING CASH FLOW TO COVER COSTS OF THE FLOOD RECOVERY. WHILE THE HEAL LOAN MONEY OF JUST OVER 14 MILLION DOLLARS IS USED AS REPAIR COSTS ARE SUBMITTED, THAT STILL LEAVES ANOTHER 16 MILLION DOLLARS NEEDED. GRANTS OF UP TO 10 MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE USDA AND EDA GRANTS WITH NO CAPS HAVE OR WILL BE APPLIED FOR. A RECENT GOVERNORS RESPONSE RECOVERY FUND APPLICATION WAS RECENTLY DENIED, AS IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GREENEVILLE WATER DAMAGES WERE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE DISASTER.
LIMESTONE MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES FRIDAY
A LIMESTONE MAN WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AFTER WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESOUNDED TO AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT IN THE 200 BLOCK OF PENDLETON SMITH ROAD AROUND 7 PM. 39 YEAR OLD ERIC RAYON TOLD DEPUTIES HE RAN OUT OF GAS AND CONTACTED THE VICTIM FOR HELP. HE THEN SAID THE VICTIM TOOK HIM TO GET GAS, AND THEN WHEN HE TOOK THE VICTIM’S CAR KEYS, THE VICTIM BRANDISHED A FIREARM. DEPUTIES MADE CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM, WHO ADVISED SHE BROUGHT A TIRE AND FUEL TO RAYON, AND WHILE ON SCENE, HE TOOK HER KEYS AND BEGAN CHOKING HER. AT THAT POINT SHE WAS IN FEAR FOR HER SAFETY AND RETRIEVED A HANDGUN. RAYON THEN GAVE HER THE KEYS AND SHE WAS ABLE TO FLEE. RAYON WAS CHARGED WITH VIOLATION OF AN ORDER OF PROTECTION, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AND FALSE IMPRISONMENT.
MORE THAN 70 TO BE LAID OFF FROM BUCHANAN CO COMPANY
MORE THAN 70 PEOPLE WILL BE LAID OFF FROM WELLMORE ENERGY COMPANY IN BUCHANAN COUNTY VIRGINIA, THAT ACCORDING TO THREE WARN NOTICES POSTED ON THE VIRGINIA WORKS WEBSITE. THERE WILL BE 27 PEOPLE IMPACTED IN HULEY, 17 IN BIG ROCK, AND 28 IN GRUNDY. WELLMORE IS A SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED COAL COMPANY, AND SPECIALIZES IN METALLURGICAL COALS. THEY LAYOFFS COME AROUND TWO YEARS AFTER MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE WERE LAID OFF FROM THE COMPANY.
KAIROS POWER ANNOUNCES DEAL WITH TVA, GOOGLE
KAIROS POWER, WHICH IS BUILDING A NEXT GENERATION NUCLEAR REACTOR IN OAK RIDGE, ANNOUNCE A DEAL WITH GOOGLE AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY MONDAY. ACCORDING TO THE DEAL, THE UPCOMING HERMES 2 PLANT IN OAK RIDGE WILL DELIVER UP TO 50 MEGAWATTS OF ENERGY INTO THE TVA GRID, POWERING GOOGLE’S DATA CENTERS IN TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA. THE TVA EXPECTS ONE REACTOR AT HERMES 2 TO BEGIN OPERATING IN 2030, WITH THE COMPANY ADDING FURTHER CAPACITY BY 2035. THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTRICITY PRODUCING GEN IV REACTOR THAT THE US NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION HAS APPROVED FOR CONSTRUCTION. THE COMPANY PLANS TO BUILDING IN THE HERITAGE CENTER INDUSTRIAL PARK IN OAK RIDGE, NEXT TO THE FIRST HERMES REACTOR, WHICH WILL PRODUCE HEAT BUT NOT ENERGY.
ELIZABETHTON TO REMOVE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT EAST E ST & SYCAMORE ST
THE CITY OF ELIZABETHTON WILL REMOVE A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT IT SAYS IS NO LONGER WARRANTED. THE CITY ANNOUNCED THAT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF SYCAMORE STREET AND EAST E STREET. THE STUDY, WHICH LOOKED AT TRAFFIC VOLUMES AND SAFETY DATA, REPORTEDLY FOUND THAT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT THE INTERSECTION WAS NO LONGER WARRANTED. THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND PEDESTRIAN CROSS WALKS ARE LSO NO LONGER ADA COMPLIANT. ACCORDING TO THE CITY, THE COST TO REPLACE THE SIGNAL AND CROSSINGS WOULD COST 320,000 DOLLARS. STARTING AUGUST 25TH, THE INTERSECTION WILL BEGIN FUNCTIONING AS AN ALL-WAY STOP, AND WILL FLASH RED LIGHTS IN ALL THREE DIRECTIONS FOR 90 DAYS. DURING THAT TIME STOP SIGNS WILL ALSO REPLACE THE SIGNAL LIGHTS.
MILLIGAN NO LONGER ACCEPTING STUDENTS INTO SEVERAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT IT WILL NO LONGER ACCEPT STUDENTS INTO MULTIPLE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS STARTING IN THE FALL. STUDENTS SEEKING TO ENROLL IN THE FILM, JOURNALISM, COMPUTER SCIENCE, CYBER SECURITY, INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND MASTER OF ARTS IN COACHING AND SPORTS MANAGEMENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. THE UNIVERSITY CITED ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES WITHIN THE PROGRAMS AND MARKET CHANGES AS REASONS FOR THE DECISION. STUDENTS ALREADY ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAMS AND INCOMING STUDENTS IN THE FALL 2025 CAN STILL COMPLETE THEIR DEGREES.
BODY OF SEVIERVILLE MAN RECOVERED FROM DOUGLAS LAKE
OFFICIALS RECOVERED THE BODY OF A SEVIERVILLE MAN FROM DOUGLAS LAKE AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS OF A DROWNING. ACCORDING TO THE TWRA, AROUND 4:30 PM SUNDAY, 44-YEAR-OLD YOSER VALVERDE ENTERED THE LAKE FROM A PONTOON IN THE AREA OF INDIAN CREEK. WITNESSES SAID HE STRUGGLED TOS TAY AFLOAT, WENT UNDER AND DID NOT RESURFACE. THE TWRA FOUND HIS BODY MONDAY UNDER 18 FEET OF WATER, AND DIVERS FROM THE CARTER COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD RECOVERED IT. THE TWRA SAID THIS WAS THE 17TH BOATING RELATED DEATH ON TENNESSEE WATERS THIS YEAR.