FRIDAY AUGUST 1

JC MOTHER CHARGED WITH KILLING HER KIDS DIES

A JOHNSON CITY WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN THE OCTOBER 2024 DEATHS OF HER YOUNG SON AND DAUGHTER HAS DIED AFTER BEING FOUND UNRESPONSIVE AT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER. 29-YEAR-OLD JESSICA CHANDLER WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE JAIL TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE DIED. THE TBI IS INVESTIGATING THE DEATH, STANDARD PRACTICE WHEN SOMEONE DIES DURING OR AFTER INCIDENTS IN TENNESSEE JAILS. TBI SPOKESPERSON LESLIE EARHART SAID AT THIS TIME FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED, ADDING THAT THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. CHANDLER IMPLICATED HERSELF IN THE DEATHS OF HER 1-YEAR-OLD SON AND 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, AND WROTE THAT SHE PLANNED TO TAKE HER OWN LIFE IN NOTES TAPED TO CABINETS INSIDE HER HOME.

DRIVER INJURED AFTER SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH ON I-81 IN SMYTH CO

THE SOUTHBOUND LANES OF INTERSTATE 81 IN SMYTH COUNTY VIRGINIA WERE TEMPORARILY CLOSED WEDNESDAY EVENING FOLLOWING A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH INVOLVING A TRACTOR TRAILER. ACCORDING TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE CRASH OCCURRED AT 3:39 PM ON I-81 NEAR MILE MARKER 52.7, BETWEEN MARION AND RURAL RETREAT. VIRGINIA STATE POLICE REPORTED THAT THE DRIVER OF THE TRACTOR TRAILER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES, AND THE CRASH WAS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

VA MAN CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BURGLARY

A HONAKER VIRGINIA MAN WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AFTER A SERIES OF ALLEGED BURGLARIES IN THE SULLIVAN COUNTY AREA. ACCORDING TO A RELEASE FROM THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 38-YEAR-OLD STEPHAN THOMPSON WAS ARRESTED IN BRISTOL VIRGINIA. THE ARREST FOLLOWS A SERIES OF DAYLIGHT BURGLARIES IN SULLIVAN COUNTY. THE SULLIVAN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REPORTED THAT THOMPSON ALLEGEDLY POSED AS A HANDYMAN OR A CONTRACTOR. HE WAS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED BURGLARY AND AGGRAVATED TRESPASSING. HE’S AWAITING EXTRADITION TO TENNESSEE IN THE REGIONAL JAIL IN ABINGDON. ADDITIONAL CHARGES ARE PENDING.

BILL MAUK ROAD REPAIR

THE WASHINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING MOTORISTS TO STEER CLEAR OF BILL MAUK ROAD. THEY DESCRIBE IT AS AN ACTIVE CONSTRUCTION ZONE, AS THE ROAD IS BEING REPAIRED DUE TO DAMAGE FROM HELENE. YOU SHOULD NOT TRY TO ACCESS THIS AREA ON FOOT OR OTHERWISE. THE WORK CREWS WANTS TO BE BUSY REBUILDING THE ROAD, NOT TURNING AWAY PEDESTRIANS. YOU SHOULD ALSO NOT PARK NEAR THIS AREA, AS IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BRING IN TRUCKS.

ONE INJURED IN KINGSPORT STORAGE UNIT FIRE

ONE PERSON WAS REPORTEDLY INJURED AFTER A STORAGE UNIT FIRE IN KINGSPORT WEDNESDAY. THE KINGSPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO THE MINI MALL STORAGE UNITS AT 1:15 PM, AFTER REPORTS OF SMOKE IN ONE OF THE UNITS. THE FIRE WAS UPGRADED TO A COMMERCIAL FIRE ASSIGNMENT ACCORDING TO FIRE CHIEF JERRY DEBERRY. DEBERRY SAID THE FIRST ARRIVING UNIT NOTED FIRE COMING FROM ONE OF THE CENTER UNITS IN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS. HE SAID THEY DID HAVE SOME EXPOSURE TO A COUPLE OF ADJACENT STORAGE BUILDINGS, BUT THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO ABOUT 3 OF THE STORAGE BUILDINGS. DEBERRY SAID ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE FIRE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY FOCUSES ON CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS

MILLIGAN UNIVERSITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN AT WORK THIS SUMMER MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR CAMPUS. PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY STEPHEN WAERS SAID THAT ONE OF THEIR BIG PROJECTS IS INSTALLING AIR CONDITIONING IN SUTTON HALL. THEY ALSO PLAN TO PROVIDE HEALTHIER MEALS AT THEIR DINING HALL WITH A NEW TEX-MEX STYLE MENU. UNIVERSITY LEADERS ALSO CHANGED THEIR DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SO STUDENTS CAN HAVE EASIER ACCESS TO THEI CURRICULUM.

ATTACKER SETS DANVILLE COUNCILMAN ON FIRE

DANVILLE CITY COUNCILMAN LEE VOGLER WAS ATTACKED BY A MAN WHO POURED GASOLINE ON HIM AND SET HIM ON FIRE WEDNESDAY. DANVILLE POLICE SAID THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 11:30 AM. ACCORDING TO REPORTS, VOGLER WAS AT SHOWCASE MAGAZINE’S MAIN OFFICE WHEN A MAN CARRYING A 5 GALLON CONTAINER OF GASOLINE FORCED HIS WAY INSIDE. HE POURED ON VOGLER, AND WHEN VOGLER ATTEMPTED TO FLEE, THE MAN FOLLOWED HIM AND SET HIM ON FIRE. THE SUSPECT IDENTIFIED AS 29-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL HAYES WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP. THE ATTACK REPORTEDLY STEMS FROM A PERSONAL MATTER BETWEEN THE TWO MEN. HAYES WAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED 1ST DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED MALICIOUS WOUNDING. VOGLER WAS FLOWN TO THE UNC BURN UNIT IN CHAPPEL HILL NORTH CAROLINA.

DIALING ALL 10 DIGITS MANDATORY STARTING IN AUGUST

ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, IF YOU LIVE IN THE 423 AREA CODE IN TENNESSEE, BEGINNING IN AUGUST, DIALING ALL 10 DIGITS WHEN MAKING A PHONE CALL WILL BE MANDATORY. THE REQUIREMENT IS DUE TO THE ADDITION OF THE NEW 729 AREA CODE TO THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION. ANYONE IN THE 423 AREA CODE WILL BE AFFECTED. THIS WILL INCLUDE BRISTOL, JOHNSON CITY, KINGSPORT, AND CHATTANOOGA, AS WELL AS MANY SMALLER COMMUNITIES. THE NEW 729 AREA CODE WILL SERVE THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC REGION CURRENTLY SERVED BY THE 423 AREA CODE.  THIS WILL GO INTO EFFECT AUGUST 5TH. NEW PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE ASSIGNED THE 729 AREA CODE BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 5TH.

CONVICTED MURDERER BACK IN GREENE CO COURT

CONVICTED MURDERER LAVELLE SCOTT APPEARED IN A GREENE COUNTY COURT THURSDAY. SCOTT WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY EARLIER THIS YEAR ON MURDER CHARGES RELATED TO THE DEATH OF HIS 31 DAY OLD DAUGHTER WAS TO BE SENTENCED ON CONVICTION FOR AGGRAVATED CHILD NEGLECT AND AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE, HOWEVER BEFORE THE HEARING BAGAN, THE JUDGE MET IN CHAMBERS WITH ATTORNEYS, EXPLAINING THAT BECAUSE COUNTS 3 AND 4 ARE MERGED WITH COUNTS 1 AND 2, NO ADDITIONAL SENTENCING WOULD BE REQUIRED. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR 1ST DEGREE MURDER IN PERPETRATION OF CHILD NEGLECT.

RANGERS CRACKING DOWN ON SPEEDING IN GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS ASKING VISITORS TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE VIEWS IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. THROUGHOUT AUGUST, RANGERS AND PARTNER AGENCIES WILL CONDUCT INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN THE PARK. THEY WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SPEEDING, RECKLESS DRIVING, UNSECURED LOADS, IMPAIRED DRIVING AND OTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. THE RANGERS WILL BE IN MARKED AND UNMARKED VEHICLES, AND BE STATIONED THROUGHOUT THE PARK. SO FAR IN 2025, RANGERS HAVE RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 152 MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS, AND SINCE 2013, THERE HAVE BEEN 28 FATAL CRASHES IN THE SMOKIES.