WEDNESDAY JULY 2

JONESBOROUGH MAN WANTED IN GREENE CO ARRESTED BY WCSO

A JONESBOROUGH MAN WANTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES OUT OF GREENE COUNTY WAS ARRESTED BY WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES MONDAY. ACCORDING TO SHERIFF KEITH SEXTON, DEPUTIES LOCATED 34-YEAR-OLD CODY BROWDER AT THE BOWMANTOWN RURITAN SHORTLY AFTER 1:30 PM, AND ATTEMPTED TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY. BROWDER FLED, STRIKING A MAILBOX AND A WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CRUISER. AFTER A BRIEF PURSUIT, DEPUTIES EXECUTED A PIT MANEUVER, RESULTING IN BROWDER’S VEHICLE STRIKING A POWER POLE. HE’S CHARGED WITH FELONY ASSAULT AGAINST A 1^ST RESPONDER, EVADING ARREST, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT, DUI AND RECKLESS DRIVING.

CARTER CO COMMISSION PASSES FIRST BUDGET AFTER HELENE

CARTER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED A BUDGET MONDAY NIGHT WITHOUT RAISING TAXES, BUT IT DID INCLUDE SOME SACRIFICES FROM COUNTY AGENCIES. COUNTY LEADERS SAID THAT AFTER HELENE, THE MAIN THING THEIR CONSTITUENTS ASKED FOR WAS NO TAX INCREASE. AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS, HOURS OF DISCUSSION, AND CRUNCHING NUMBERS, A BUDGET WITHOUT A TAX HIKE WAS PRODUCED. MAYOR PATTY WOODBY AND BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR BOB ACUFF SAID IT WAS A TEAM EFFORT, WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS BRINGING BUDGETS THAT WERE AS LEAN AS POSSIBLE. FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE A 75 CENT PER HOUR RAISE, WHILE PART TIME EMPLOYEES WILL GET A 35 CENT INCREASE. THE COUNTY ALSO CHANGED ITS INSURANCE PROVIDER, WHICH WILL SAVE 180,000 DOLLARS, WITH EMPLOYEES KEEPING THE SAME BENEFITS. THE COUNTY WILL ALSO KEEP FUNDING FOR NON-PROFITS THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, WITHOUT ANY CUTS.

ELIZABETHTON CITY COUNCIL OK’S PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

THE ELIZABETHTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A PROPOSED 2026 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET MONDAY NIGHT, THAT INCLUDES A 9 CENT PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. THE TAX INCREASE WAS APPROVED ON SECOND READING AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING. ELIZABETHTON MAYOR BILL CARTER SAID THE INCREASE WILL BENEFIT THE CITY’S SCHOOLS, FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ROADS. CARTER SAID MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE NOT A FAN OF HIGHER TAXES, BUT GRASPED THE IMPORTANCE OF BETTER FUNDING SOME SECTORS. ELIZABETHTON PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER IVAN SANDERS SAID WITH THE TAX INCREASE, AN ELIZABETHTON RESIDENT LIVING IN A HOME VALUED AT 200,000 DOLLARS, WOULD PAY ABOUT 45 DOLLARS A YEAR MORE IN PROPERTY TAXES.

HHS AWARDS $1M GRANT TO SCOTT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL HEAD START

THE SCOTT COUNTY VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOL HEAD START PROGRAM HAS BEEN AWARDED A ONE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. HEAD START IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT PROMOTES SCHOOL READINESS FOR CHILDREN UP TO 5 YEARS OLD FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES. ACCORDING TO ITS WEBSITE, THE SCOTT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL HEAD START SERVES 147 CHILDREN.

TWRA INCREASING WATER PATROLS DURING 4^TH OF JULY WEEKEND

THE TWRA ANNOUNCED MONDAY THAT IT WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN AN ANNUAL EFFORT TO REDUCE BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE FROM JULY 4^TH THROUGH JULY 6^TH. OPERATION DRY WATER IS YEAR-ROUND BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN. FROM JULY 4^TH THROUGH JULY 6^TH, BOATERS CAN EXPECT AN INCREASE IN PATROLS ON THE WATER. TWRA OFFICERS WILL ALSO BE WORKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE DANGERS OF BUI.  ACCORDING TO THE TWRA, ALCOHOL IS THE LEADING CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN RECREATIONAL BOATER DEATHS.

JONESBOROUGH MAN ARRESTED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

A JONESBOROUGH MAN IS FACING CHARGED AFTER WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDED TO AN ASSAULT CALL SATURDAY. THE VICTIM TOLD DEPUTIES THAT 54-YEAR-OLD JACKIE LYNN GRIFFIN POINTED A GUN AT HER HEAD, FORCED HIS HAND INTO HER MOUTH AND GRABBED HER JAW, PUNCHED HER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND TACKLED HER WHEN SHE TRIED TO ESCAPE. SHE EVENTUALLY DID ESCAPE, AND DROVE HERSELF TO THE HOSPITAL. GRIFFIN WAS LOCATED AT A RESIDENCE IN THE 100 BLOCK OF CLOYD ROAD. HE WAS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC AGGRAVATED ASSAULT. HE’S SET TO APPEAR IN COURT JULY 10^TH.

TELFORD MAN FACING DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

A TELFORD MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP SATURDAY BY WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES. DEPUTIES STOPPED 47-YEAR-OLD SHANNON CONLEY, WHO HAD A HISTORY OF DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE, AND HAD ACTIVE WARRANTS OUT OF BOTH WASHINGTON AND GREENE COUNTIES. DURING THE STOP, A FIREARM WAS OBSERVED NEXT TO HIM IN THE VEHICLE. A K-9 ALERTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DURING AN OPEN-AIR SNIFF. DURING A SEARCH OFFICERS FOUND ANOTHER FIREARM, A BLACK BAG CONTAINING TWO BAGS WITH SUSPECTED METH, A SCALE, AND A CONTAINER IN THE CENTER CONSOLE WITH MORE METH. HE’S CHARGED WITH POSSESSION FOR DISTRIBUTION OF METH, 2 COUNTS POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING A FELONY, DRIVING IN POSSESSION OF METH, DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

LEE CO COMPANY TO CREATE 27 JOBS, WITH $1.5M INVESTMENT

ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN’S OFFICE, WHITE ROCK TRUSS AND COMPONENTS WILL INVEST IN A 1.5 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION PROJECT, AND CREATE 27 NEW JOBS IN LEE COUNTY VIRGINIA. THE COMPANY WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN LEE COUNTY IN 2005, MANUFACTURES YELLOW PINE TRUSSES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USE. ACCORDING TO THE RELEASE, THE COMPANY WILL DOUBLE PRODUCTION BY CONSTRUCTING A NEW BUILDING, AND UPGRADING EXISTING SAW EQUIPMENT. YOUNGKIN APPROVED A 100,000 DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH’S OPPORTUNITY FUND TO ASSIST WITH THE EXPANSION. THE PROJECT ALSO RECEIVED A 500,000 DOLLAR LOAN FROM THE VIRGINIA COALFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND, AND A 50,000 DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE TOBACCO REGION REVITALIZATION COMMISSION.

KINGSPORT CITY OFFICES CLOSED FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

CITY OF KINGSPORT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON INDEPENDENCE DAY THIS FRIDAY. THE CITY WILL NOT BE ADJUSTING GARBAGE OR TRASH/YARD WASTE ROUTES DUE TO THE HOLIDAY. BOTH GARBAGE ROUTES AND THE TRASH/YARD WASTE ROUTES WILL RUN ON A NORMAL SCHEDULE. KINGSPORT’S DEMOLITION LANDFILL AND CONVENIENCE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC JULY 4^TH AND JULY 5^TH, BUT WILL REOPEN MONDAY JULY 7^TH.

MOST CITY OF BRISTOL TENNESSEE OFFICES TO BE CLOSED FRIDAY JULY 4

MOST CITY OF BRISTOL TENNESSEE OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY JULY 4^TH IN OBSERVANCE OF INDEPENDENCE DAY. ALL CITY OFFICES WILL RE-OPEN AT 8 AM ON MONDAY JULY 7^TH. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN TRASH PICKUP DURING THE HOLIDAY. TRASH WILL BE PICKED UP ON FRIDAY JULY 4^TH, FOR CUSTOMERS WHO NORMALLY RECEIVE FRIDAY SERVICE. JOB ACCESS BUS SERVICE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE, BUT TRANSIT AND PARATRANSIT BUSES WILL NOT RUN FRIDAY JULY 4^TH. THESE BUSES WILL RESUME THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULES ON MONDAY JULY 7^TH.

HAMPTON MAN ACCUSED OF UPLOADING CHILD SEX VIDEOS TAKE PLEA DEAL

A HAMPTON MAN PREVIOUSLY ACCUSED OF UPLOADING VIDEOS CONSIDERED CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIAL TO THE INTERNET HAS BEEN SENTENCED AFTER TAKING A PLEA DEAL. ROY MCCLELLAN JR WAS ARRESTED IN OCTOBER 2024 BY THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. THE ARREST CAME AS A RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION THAT STEMMED FROM CYBER TIPS. HE ALLEGEDLY UPLOADED 12 VIDEOS DEPICTING PREPUBESCENT FEMALE CHILDREN ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTS. MONDAY MCCLELLAN ACCEPTED A PELA DEAL AND PLEADED GUILTY TO AGGRAVATED SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR. HE WAS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON.

STREET CLOSURES FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

THE CITY OF KINGSPORT IS CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY ON JULY 4^TH WITH THE MACK RIDDLE AMERICAN LEGION INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE. THE PARADE BEGINS AT 10 AM, AND WILL GO DOWN CENTER STREET FROM WATEREE STREET TO MEMORIAL PARK ON FORT HENRY DRIVE. IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THIS EVENT, SEVERAL ROADS WILL BE CLOSED BEGINNING THE MORNING OF JULY 4^TH, AND CONTINUING UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE PARADE, INCLUDING CENTER STREET, FROM SULLIVAN STREET TO FORT HENRY DRIVE, FORT HENRY DRIVE FROM CENTER STREET TO EASTMAN ROAD, AND WILCOX DRIVE WILL BE CLOSED AT SEVIER AVENUE. MAIN STREET WILL BE CLOSED JULY 5^TH BEGINNING AT 8 AM, WITH HARD BLOCKS PUT IN PLACE BY 1 PM FOR RED WHITE AND BOOM.

ONE DEAD AFTER CRASH INVOLVING DELIVERY TRUCK

THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING A FATAL CRASH THAT TOOK PLACE TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON WATAUGA ROAD. ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM THE JOHNSON CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CRASH WAS REPORTED AT 3:25 PM NEAR THE 2500 BLOCK OF WATAUGA ROAD. POLICE SAY A DELIVERY TRUCK TRAVELING EAST COLLIDED HEAD ON WITH A WEST BOUND CADILLAC SEDAN. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER IN THE SEDAN AS WELL AS THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK WERE TRANSPORTED TO AN AREA HOSPITAL. 51-YEAR-OLD MARK WESTERN OF JOHNSON CITY DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. BOTH DRIVERS WERE TREATED AND RELEASED.

MOUNTAIN CITY LEADERS APPROVE REZONING FOR BITCOIN FACILITY

THE MOUNTAIN CITY, CITY COUNCIL TUESDAY APPROVED ON FIRST READING, A PROPOSED REZONING THAT COULD ALLOW A BITCOIN MINING FACILITY TO COME TO THE TOWN. THE PROPOSED REZONING WAS APPROVED BY A VOTE OF 3 TO 1. NEVADA BASED CLEANSPARK WANTS TO BRING A 30 MEGAWATT BITCOIN MINING FACILITY TO A 50 ACRE SITE ALONG HIGHWAY 421 AND RAINBOW ROAD. WHILE TOWN LEADERS HAVE ASSURED RESIDENTS THAT THE MINE WOULD NOT CREATE NOISE POLLUTION, AND COULD ECONOMICALLY BENEFIT THE TOWN, MANY REMAIN SKEPTICAL AND WARY OF CLEANSPARK.

WASHINGTON CO BOE RE-INSTATES EMPLOYEE RAISES DURING BUDGET MEETING

THE WASHINGTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED ITS FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 BUDGET ON TUESDAY, WITH AN AMENDMENT THAT REINSTATES A PREVIOUSLY CANCELED EMPLOYEE PAY RAISE. THE INCREASE IN WAGES WAS INITIALLY CUT FROM THE BUDGET TO HELP DEAL WITH A 4 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT. BOARD CHAIR ANNETTE BUCHANAN SAID AN OVERSIGHT DURING THEIR LAST MEETING ABOUT THE BUDGET LEFT OUT OF CONSIDERATION A TCA CODE REGARDING PAY SCALE, WHICH MUST BE FULFILLED DURING THE NEXT BUDGET. THE VOTE WILL RAISE THE STARTING TEACHER SALARY TO 47,905 DOLLARS. THA FIGURE AS MANDATED BY THE STATE MUST BE 50,000 DOLLARS BY 2026.

CARTER CO SHERIFF WARNS OF RISE IN PHONE SCAMS

THE CARTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS WARNING RESIDENTS TO BE WARY OF PHONE SCAMMERS IMPERSONATING OFFICERS. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE, AN INCREASE IN PHON SCAMS HAS BEEN REPORTED. THE SCAMMERS HAVE BEEN IMPERSONATING REAL OFFICERS WITH THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TELL THE VICTIMS THAT A WARRANT IS OUT FOR THEIR ARREST. SHERIFF MIKE FRALEY SAYS THEY ARE IMPERSONATING AND USING THE NAMES OF ACTUAL OFFICERS WITH HIS DEPARTMENT. HE SAID THEY’RE ASKING THE PUBLIC TO EXERCISE GOOD JUDGEMENT IF SOMEONE CONTACTS YOU DEMANDING MONEY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE CLAIMING THEY ARE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.

ELIZABETHTON MOVES JULY 4 EVENT BACK TO COVERED BRIDGE PARK

AFTER PLANNING TO HOLD ITS ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT A NEW LOCATION IN 2025, ELIZABETHTON PARKS AND RECREATION ANNOUNCED IT WAS MOVING THE EVENT BACK TO COVERED BRIDGE PARK. THE CITY HAD PLANNED TO CELEBRATE THE 4^TH OF JULY AT ELIZABETHTON HIGH SCHOOL, DUE TO INCREASED TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN THAT WAS TIED TO THE CLOSURE OF THE BROAD STREET BRIDGE. HOWEVER WITH T-DOT REOPENING THE BRIDGE WEDNESDAY, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO MOVE THE CELEBRATION BACK TO ITS TRADITIONAL SITE OF COVERED BRIDGE PARK. THE EVENT STARTS AT 4:30 WITH THE LITTLE MISS FIRECRACKER PAGEANT. THE REST OF THE EVENTS WHICH INCLUDE LIVE MUSIC, FOOD TRUCKS AND FIREWORKS BEGIN AT 7 PM.

$1B MANUFACTURING PROJECT BEING PROPOSED IN HAWKINS CO

THE PHIPPS BEND INDUSTRIAL PARK IN HAWKINS COUNTY IS A POTENTIAL SITE FOR A NEW ENERGY RELATED BUSINESS, UNDER THE CODE NAME OF PROJECT ROCKS. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, IF THE PROJECT LANDS, IT WOULD CREATE 450 JOBS, AND HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE REGION’S ECONOMY. NETWORKS SULLIVAN PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER PARTNERING AGENCIES LIKE HAWKINS COUNTY, THE CITY OF KINGSPORT, ETSU AND THE TVA, HAVE BEEN WORKING ON PROJECT ROCKS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IF THE ENERGY RELATED BUSINESS MOVES TO THE REGION, THE COMPANY IS LOOKING AT KINGSPORT AS A POTENTIAL OPTION FOR ITS HEADQUARTERS.

SECOND DEGREE MURDER TRIAL SET FOR NOVEMBER IN GREENE CO

TRIAL IN THE 2^ND DEGREE MURDER CASE OF GUY A BUNCH HAS BEEN SCHEDULED TO START IN NOVEMBER. DURING A HEARING IN GREENE COUNTY CRIMINAL COURT TUESDAY, THE TRIAL FOR THE MOSHEIM MAN WAS SET FOR NOVEMBER 21^ST. BUNCH WHO IS CURRENTLY FREE ON 175,000 DOLLAR BOND, WAS INDICTED BY A GREENE COUNTY GRAND JURY ON 2^ND DEGREE MURDER CHARGES EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE’S CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF HIS FATHER AT HIS HOME IN MOSHEIM. 59-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY BUNCH DIED FROM HIS INJURIES IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF FEBRUARY 13^TH 2024. GUY BUNCH WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY A SHORT TIME LATER.

CITY OF KINGSPORT INITIATES SUMMER RESURFACING PROGRAM

THE CITY OF KINGSPORT HAS STARTED ITS STREET RESURFACING PROGRAM FOR THE SUMMER, WITH REPAVING WORK TAKING PLACE FIRST IN THE COOKS VALLEY AREA, FROM ROUGHLY HARBOR CHAPEL ROAD TO FORT PATRICK HENRY LAKE. CITY CREWS ARE PAVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES OF ROADWAY IN THE COOKS VALLEY AREA, WITH THE 2.5 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LATER THIS FALL. IN ADDITION, CONTRACTORS ARE CURRENTLY MAKING CONCREATE REPAIRS TO CRESENT DRIVE, AND WILL PAVE A SMALL PORTION OF AIRPORT PARKWAY, NEAR JERICHO DRIVE BY THE 1^ST OF NOVEMBER. T-DOT WILL ALSO BE PAVING IN I-81 FROM I-26 SOUTH TO NEAR FALL BRANCH, AND ON THE HAWKINS COUNTY PORTION OF 11-W FROM THE BRIDGES OVER THE NORTH FORK OF THE HOLSTON RIVER WEST TO CHURCH HILL.

CHUCKY MAN CHARGED WITH SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY VIOLATION

A CHUCKY MAN WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY FOR THE 2^ND TIME SINCE DECEMBER, FOR VIOLATING THE TERMS OF THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY. ACCORDING TO GREENEVILLE POLICE, 46 YEAR OLD JEFFREY SWICEGOOD WAS SERVED AN ARREST WARRANT AT HIS HOME IN THE 700 BLOCK OF CHUCKY PIKE. POLICE HAD REQUESTED THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT SERVE THE WARRANT FOLLOWING AN ALLEGED VIOLATION AT HARDIN PARK. ACCORDING TO THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, SWICEGOOD HAS A LONG LIST OF DOMESTIC AND SEX OFFENDER RELATED OFFENSES DATING AS FAR BACK AS 2002. BEFORE TUESDAY, MOST RECENTLY HE HAD ALSO BEEN CHARGED WITH VIOLATION OF THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY IN DECEMBER.

RESEARCHERS CONCERNED 9 HOSPITALS IN TN COULD CLOSE DUE TO POTENTIAL MEDICAID CUTS

RESEARCHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT 9 HOSPITALS ACROSS TENNESSEE COULD CLOSE DUE TO PROPOSED MEDICAID CUTS. THE CUTS ARE PART OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SO CALLED BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, AND INCLUDES MORE THAN 1 TRILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS TO MEDICAID PROGRAMS LIKE TENNCARE OVER THE NEXT DECADE. RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL CONDUCTED A STUDY ON HOW MANY HOSPITALS COULD CLOSE, AFTER A REQUEST FROM SENATE DEMOCRATS. THEY FOUND 9 IN TENNESSEE ARE AT RISK INCLUDING UNICOI COUNTY HOSPITAL IN ERWIN. GOVERNOR BILL LEE SAID THAT STATES WILL NEED TO RESPOND TO WHATEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES TO TAKE CARE OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.